Caribbean Deals Are Hot in the Summer

Who would want to go to the Bahamas or the Caribbean in the summer? You just might, after you hear about some remarkable deals that various resorts wheel out to cure their 40% low-season falloff in business--especially this year, when they have to contend with more than the usual interest in Europe.

Though the tropics don’t get much hotter, temperature-wise, in summer, the bargains heat up considerably. Prices start dropping by about 20% (declining up to 40% at some hotels) and generally stay low through the end of the year. Last-minute deals can be found for deeper discounts still.

Following are some of the standouts:

Bahamas bargains: The Bahamas are among the few tropical destinations that still do reasonably well in the summer because their location 50 miles south of Florida makes them an easy hop for Southerners hoping to escape the higher heat back home. But there are still plenty of values to be found.

Tourscan ([800] 962-2080) can send you to Nassau for seven days for less than $75 per person per day (air fare, but not meals, included). Stay at beachfront Casuarinas Cable Beach Hotel for just $502 from New York, or on the other side of Nassau at the first-class South Ocean Beach Resort for $568.

On chichi Paradise Island, the basic but comfortable Paradise/Paradise Beach Resort is yours for just $654 (to all these prices add $170 more from the West Coast).

Barbados on a budget: Even buttoned-down (and not particularly cheap) Barbados (tourist board [800] 221-9831) has created its own summer promotion sweepstakes. Dubbed “BOSS” (for “Barbados Offers Summer Savings”), it is a program of air-land packages and perks offered by about a dozen resorts, including the famous landmark Sam Lord’s Castle. Prices vary depending on where you’re flying from and where you’re staying, but at the low end is five nights at the Woodville Beach Apartment Hotel for $599, departing from Atlanta and Newark, N.J., (from Air Jamaica Vacations, [800] 622-3009).

Other participating packagers include Apple Vacations ([800] 727-3550), Friendly Holidays ([800] 344-5687), Funjet ([800] 558-3050), Travel Impressions ([800] 284-0044) and Vacation Express ([800] 848-8047). Discount rates remain through Dec. 10 (except from July 19 through Aug. 9).

Jamaica jaunts: Jamaica (tourist board [212] 856-9727) is cookin’ with deals, mon, though island-wide promotions are devoted to themes such as music and food rather than savings. But tour operators such as Sunburst Holidays ([800] 786-2877) have a number of goodies at spots such as the Negril Gardens.

Among all-inclusive resorts, there’s the Trelawny Beach Hotel in Montego Bay, for $769 from New York. Even better deals are expected come fall.

Puerto Rico promotions: Puerto Rico (tourist board [212] 599-6262) is running an “Endless Summer Sounds” promotion, whereby guests staying at 20 participating hotels get extras such as continental breakfast, their seventh night free, a $25 casino coupon, a multi-service discount card, free meals for kids under 12 and a rental car.

Some seven-night air-land packages to San Juan, offered by InterIsland ([800] 245-3434) now through mid-December, include: Hampton Inn Isla Verde for $749, San Juan Marriott for $834 and the deluxe San Juan Grande for $899. That’s for New York departures midweek; add $125 from Los Angeles.

St. Maarten on sale: Half laid-back French, half bustling Dutch, St. Maarten/St. Martin (tourist board [800] 786-2278) is pulling together for a “Double the Fun, Double the Value” program through mid-December. It features air-land packages from various U.S. cities priced under $700 for five nights at two dozen resorts from moderate to deluxe. Other perks thrown in include a rental car for two days and a book of 20 $10-discount coupons.

Festa Holidays ([800] 288-1435) has some of the best packages going and will grant even better rates to readers of this column. From New York, for example, enjoy a five-nighter for just $737 at the French side’s Beach Plaza, Le Flamboyant, Anse Margot and Maho Beach Hotel. Even better is Festa’s $683 combo to Nettle Bay Beach Club and the Mercure Simson Beach (from Los Angeles add an additional $285). And as of early September, all prices drop by about $60.

Other packagers include Gogo Worldwide Vacations (sold through Liberty Travel and other retailers), Travel Impressions and American Airlines Vacations ([800] 433-7300; press 5).