Travel Deals to Caribbean Warm up Winter Blues

Leave those scarves and mittens at home. Escape the winter by heading south. Despite the upcoming holidays, the Caribbean is on sale right now, with fourth night free and other travel discounts. Here are some Tuesday Travel bargains for family travel or romantic getaways without the kids:

Curacao — Book before January 8, 2011 and visit before April 1, 2011, and you get the fourth night free at participating hotels. These include the Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, Habitat Curacao Dive Resort, and the Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club. Airlines also are partnering with Curacao with special package deals. Curacao is one of the Top Ten Destinations for 2010 by Bing.com, in part for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, the capital city of Willemstad, but also for its sugar sand beaches, nightlife and shopping.

St. Maarten — Book before Nov. 30, 2010 for either 25% off or fourth night free at participating hotels from Dec. 15, 2010 through April 15, 2011. Take the family to the all-inclusive Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino, where the deal is 25% off nightly rates, which start at $154. Plus, the winter holiday deal includes $50 SXM Bucks to use almost anywhere on the island for food, souvenirs or activities such as sunset sails. Oyster Bay Beach Resort is another family resort, nestled along mile-long Darn Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Rates start at $200 a night, with 20% off for this promotion, plus $100 SXM Bucks per room. Several other St. Maarten resorts are offering specials on stays from now through Dec. 15th.

Dominican Republic — The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana opens officially in January 2011, but until then there are special pre-opening discounts. Until December 15th, guests receive a $350 airfare credit per person plus a 20% discount on the daily rate. There’s also a $1,500 resort credit on stay’s five-nights or longer, to use for room upgrades, golf, spa treatments and local excursions. The credit does not cover gaming in the Vegas-style casino.

Apple Vacations is running its annual Super Sale to destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico’s Caribbean resorts, and Hawaii. Book before Nov. 25, 2010. Sample deals include three all-inclusive nights at RIU Caribe in Cancun, including nonstop air from Chicago or Dallas, starting at $499.99 per person.

There are plenty of holiday travel deals and discounts around. You just have to know where to look.