DEAL ALERT: $99 All-Inclusive St. Lucia

For the first 99 bookings only, Almond Smuggler’s Cove in St. Lucia is offering rooms for $99 per person, per night all-inclusive. Valid for travel in peak season through April 15, this deal saves 70% off regular rates.

Everything is included: all meals, drinks, taxes, gratuities and even activities that cost extra at other resorts like waterskiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking and three rounds of golf (per person) at the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club (based on a seven-night stay).

Almond Resorts is an award-winning chain of Caribbean all-inclusives. After $30 million in renovations, this property reopened in 2007 as Almond Smuggler's Cove.

Located on 60 beachfront acres on a secluded bay, the resort features four restaurants, five bars, six pools and a supervised kids' club with programs for all ages from newborns to teenagers.

SOURCE: CheapCaribbean.com

DEAL ALERT: 50% OFF All-Inclusive Punta Cana

$599 - All Inclusive Punta Cana Getaway w/Air, 50% OFF
Beachfront Riu Bambu vacation; 2 kids stay FREE
Depart through March 6; +$100 later dates; book by Feb. 17

SOURCE: Apple Vacations

DEAL ALERT: Puerto Rico - 4 Nights w/Air From $389

$389 Puerto Rico: 4 Nights w/Air at 4-Star Sheraton Hotel
Stay at Sheraton Hotel & Casino; Near historic Old San Juan
Travel through June; Book by Feb. 26

Source: CheapCaribbean.com

Caribbean Travel Tips 2010

With the recent trends in Caribbean travel, we wanted to share some tips that will help you save money this year:

1. Airlines - Secure your flights soon, the earlier the better. More seats are available than ever before. The more seats available at the time of purchase, the cheaper they will be. Airlines will continue to cut costs by unbundling services to generate more revenue. Many airlines are now charging for all checked baggage thus costing the traveler more. Watch for promotions and opportunities to upgrade for a fee at check-in. New routes have been announced recently by airlines such as AirTran and JetBlue, so look for promotions for these new routes as they try to build a customer base.

2. Hotels & Resorts - Go for the gusto! Bargain and mid-range hotels can only discount their rates so far. With so many travelers staying at these hotels, occupancy for upper tier properties is on the slide. This is an advantage for the budget traveler as these properties have been forced to deeply discount their rooms to increase occupancy. Look for promotions with free nights or upgrades and added values such as complimentary breakfast, golf or tours. Cruises are cheap which means the ships are running at capacity. Cruise lines are also unbundling services to increase revenue, so consider a land + air package at an all-inclusive resort. The all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean are offering incredible pricing right now.

3. Travel Packages - Suppliers offering vacation packages will continue to offer better package deals than the traveler booking the components separately. Be sure to check auction sites as there has been a decrease in bidders, but an increase in offers. This can mean huge savings for savvy bidders.


4. Vacation Homes - You may want to consider checking vacation home prices for your destination. The downturn in the economy has freed up many villas throughout the Caribbean, forcing the properties to slash their rental prices. Imagine staying in a private home away from home for the same cost as a hotel room, or even lower!

These trends in Caribbean travel will continue this year. Save money and take advantage of all the deals that are out there!