August 3, 2004 -- There's a big something for everyone down in the Caribbean this fall and winter, including a huge promotion from the US Virgin Islands called "Fall Into America's Caribbean," repeating a similar program from previous years. Offered by the USVI Department of Tourism in conjunction with the local Hotel & Tourism Association, it runs from August 31 through December 15, 2004.
In the promotion, you get a free room upgrade (based on availability) and the fifth night free when you book a minimum four-night stay at participating hotel. You also get a four-day car rental for the price of three days at participating rental companies. The third element of the deal is extra spending money in the form of a $50 American Express traveler's check, and the fourth part is a coupon booklet, said to contain discounts totaling more than $500 in savings for attractions, activities, restaurants, retail shops and other items on all three islands.
You have to book for this promotion by November 15, 2004, through a travel agent of your choice. There are some blackout dates, of course. For more information, call your travel agent or one of the hotels, which are as follows:
- On St. Croix: Buccaneer Hotel, Club St. Croix, Colony Cove, Carambola Beach Resort, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort, Hotel Caravelle, King Christian Hotel and Sugar Beach Resort.
- On St. John: the Westin Resort & Villas St. John.
- On St. Thomas: The Anchorage, Point Pleasant, Sapphire Village, Best Western Carib Beach Resort, Best Western Emerald Beach Resort, Bolongo Bay Beach Club, Holiday Inn Windward Passage, Marriott Frenchman's Reef, Sapphire Beach Resort, Secret Harbour Beach Resort, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort.
- The car rental firms are Avis, Budget and Judi on St. Croix; Avis and Cool Breeze on St. John; and Amalie, Avis, Budget (mention code SAQI) and Tri Island on St. Thomas.
You can get more information about the USVI itself at 800/372-USVI or by visiting www.usvitourism.vi.
Women Only
The Bolongo Bay Beach Club on St. Thomas is running a "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" program from now through October 31, 2004, for which you need to make reservations by September 30, 2004. The five-night package from now through August 31, 2004 sells from $1122 semi-inclusive plan or from $2,000 all-inclusive plan, and is ideal for a reunion or a bachelorette party in the sun. You have a choice of semi-inclusive or all-inclusive programs, the prices for which drop to $1007 from September 1 through October 31, 2004 (semi-inclusive) and to $1875 (all-inclusive) for the same period. All prices are per person in a double room. Extra people sharing the same room (maximum four to a room) are charged $250 per person for the five-night package. The prices do not include air transport.
For semi-inclusive, you get a beachfront room with view of the Caribbean for five nights, a half-hour massage per person, roundtrip shuttle to Charlotte Amalie, island tour of St. Thomas, daily continental breakfast buffet, choice of West Indian Carnival Night buffet on Wednesday or beach barbeque on Sunday (drinks and tips not included), all-day sail and beach outing to St. John with lunch and open bar, one introductory scuba lesson per person, free use of some sports activities (sunfish sailboats, paddle boats, snorkel gear, swim mats, windsurfing equipment and kayaks with instruction), beach volleyball (and tennis and basketball), taxes and service charges!
For all-inclusive, you get the semi-inclusive items plus all meals (a la carte for breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus beverages and tips. For a trip to Bolongo Bay, contact the resort at 800/524-4746 or email info@bolongobay.com. The website is www.bolongobay.com.
Short-Stay Steals
Three-night specials are available, too. One, from Discount Vacations, is for an all-inclusive fall package to Jamaica, said to be 50% off, costing only $449. That takes you from Boston, and puts you down at the Starfish Trelawny, one of the SuperClub family of resorts. You fly US Airways, and your room, meals and many activities are included. Add on $30 from Atlanta or Miami; $50 from Chicago or New York. Add-ons are also available from more than 30 other cities ranging from $30 to $80 or more. Just ask. The promotions runs from September 1 through November 30, 2004. Get this by phoning Discount at 800/650-3612. Discount's website is www.discountvacations.com. The offer is on the front page at time of writing.
Another deal is to Sandals Inn on Jamaica from $420 per person for three nights, a savings of 33%. Good from September 1 through December 26, 2004, this gets you there on American Airlines. Also from American is a three-night stay at Sandals Halcyon Beach on St. Lucia for $576 per person, which they say is a savings of 40% off regular prices, and for the same dates as the Jamaica deal. For either this or the Jamaica stay, contact them at www.aavacations.com. Click on Caribbean, then the island name, name of resort, then price grid.
