For months now, we've witnessed a raftload of deals on Caribbean vacations, and there seems to be no end in sight. In the past two days alone, we've reported on promotions for St. Maarten, the Bahamas, and Barbados and St. Lucia. Now comes news that the booking window for the US Virgin Islands' "Winter Escape" promotion has been extended until the end of the year. The deal itself is straightforward: Book a minimum of five nights and receive:
- $300 in travelers
checks
- 5th night free at your hotel, which amounts to a 20% discount
- $50 credit on attractions
- $50 credit on meals
- Coupon book worth $1500 in additional savings on
activities and attractions
First you choose your hotel: The good news is that this deal can save a family $700 or more, without including the coupon book. The bad news is that finding the right hotel can take some time, since not all of the 26 participating properties are ideal for a getaway with kids. Some aren't that family-friendly (like The Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas, whose standard guest rooms accommodate a two-person max). Others, such as the
Holiday Inn Windward Passage, are located in a busy commercial port
area. Here's the complete list of all participating properties:
St. Croix: Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Club St. Croix (Antilles Resorts), Colony Cove (Antilles Resorts), Divi Carina Bay Resort, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Holger Danske Hotel, Hotel Caravelle, King Christian Hotel, Sand Castle on the Beach, The Buccaneer, The Palms at Pelican CoveSt. Thomas: Best Western Carib Beach, Best Western Emerald Beach, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Holiday Inn Windward Passage, Pavilions and Pools, Point Pleasant (Antilles Resorts), Sapphire Beach Resort (Antilles Resorts), Sapphire Village (Antilles Resorts), Secret Harbour, Ritz-Carlton, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa
St. John: Estate Concordia Campground and The Westin
One great bet for families is the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa,
on St. Thomas, which has a gorgeous beach, three interconnecting pools
and waterfall, on-site mini golf and watersports, a well-regarded spa, kids' programs, and a fridge in every
room. A five-night stay in January for a family of four would normally
start at about $1,350. With this promotion, the same hotel stay would cost
just $1,080, plus you'd get an additional $400 back in travelers checks
and credits.
Then you double check, and do the math: It never hurts take a peek at the hotel's web site in case there just happens to be a sweeter deal on the table. On the Wyndham Sugar Bay's special offers page, we found a 4th-night-free deal. This is the same as a 25% discount on a four-night stay, but it doesn't includes the $300 gift check or other credits. Better yet, we saw a "Caribbean Vacation Stimulus Package" for stays before January 9, 2009: Book two nights, and get two free additional nights (essentially a 50% savings!) plus a $100 food and beverage credit. Since the nightly rate at this resort starts at $270, we're talking about a savings of at least $640 ($270 x 2 nights + $100 credit).
It's a very close call. If you can travel before January 9, the "Caribbean Vacation Stimulus Package" is a great deal, saving you $640 on a four-night getaway (or $160 per night), and you don't have to deal with as many credits and coupons.
But if you travel between January 9 and March 31, 2009, then the USVI tourism organization's "Winter Escape" promo wins out, saving you $700 on a five-night stay (or $140 per night), or more if you use the coupon book. Plus, when you factor in the expense of airfare, a longer stay makes more sense.
Finally, you book it. The "Winter Escape" promotion is available until December 31, for travel between December 15 and March 31, 2009. You need to book through a participating booking site, travel agent, or tour operator. Here's a short list: Expedia, Orbitz, Cheap Caribbean, American
Airlines Vacations, Delta
Vacations, TNT Vacations, and United Vacations.
Whew! Sometimes it's a lot of work to make sure you're getting a good deal.
