After the storms

Most of the Caribbean was unharmed by this year's overwhelming hurricane season

By Cindy Loose/The Washington Post

November 19 2004

The images of successive hurricanes slamming the Caribbean have scared off tourists in droves, forcing even resorts not remotely touched to offer deals.

The devastation in Grenada, Haiti, Grand Cayman and two islands in the Bahamas has been well-documented. What's missing from the reports is the non-news: the rest of the Caribbean islands, which either escaped altogether or suffered only scattered or minimal damage.

"Anytime something of this magnitude hits any part of the Caribbean, it has an impact on the whole region because people don't have the perspective of how huge the area is, or how localized storm damage can be," said Richard Kahn, head of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

The islands of the Caribbean are spread out over more than a thousand miles, the same distance between Florida and Maine, Kahn notes. Even so, misperceptions have so affected bookings that resorts throughout the region are offering deals.

"Sales and promotions are coming out of the woodwork," says Kahn. Although deals are common for the soft shoulder season of October and November, the deals are bigger and more numerous than usual, he said, and many of them remain good until mid-December or so, the start of peak season.

When the CTO asked its members to e-mail The Washington Post with examples, it was overwhelmed with responses. Typically, hotels and resorts offering deals are discounting rates by at least 20 percent; adding free nights to a stay; or tacking on benefits, such as a free car rental, spa treatments or activities.

The Caribbean area was first hit in late August with Hurricane Charley, and in the following September weeks was slammed in quick succession by Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. The islands that escaped all four monsters unscathed include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Bart's, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the CTO. Bermuda, which is not in the Caribbean, was also unaffected.

Most are trying to counter the hurricane fallout with deals. With few exceptions, deals are good until Dec. 15 or 20, before the Christmas holiday rush. Kahn said only time will tell if resorts will be forced to extend discounts into the height of winter season.

If you don't care about which island you visit, the best way to find a pre-Christmas deal is to ask a travel agent. If you already have an island in mind, contact that island's tourism department for a list of deals. If you are partial to a particular property, call it directly and ask about special breaks.

Meanwhile, here is a brief sampling of deals on islands not hit by hurricanes. Some restrictions and variations may apply.

The Mount Nevis Hotel and Beach Club in Nevis is offering four nights free after a four-night stay in a two-bedroom suite with kitchen. That breaks down to $187.50 per night for a family of four. Info: (800) 756-3847, www.mountnevishotel.com.

Arawak Beach Inn in Anguilla is extending its lowest summer rates, beginning at $99 a night for a double, through Dec. 21 - a savings of 27 percent over usual fall rates. Info: (877) 427-2925, www.arawakbeach.com.

Most resorts in the U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John - are offering a fifth night free, a $50 American Express check, a coupon booklet and, when available, a free room upgrade. Rooms must be booked through a travel agent. Details: (800) 372-USVI, www.usvitourism.vi.

Rambutan Villa in Virgin Gorda is offering a free SUV rental for seven days and two in-villa massage or yoga sessions with a seven-day luxury villa booking. A villa for up to four people rents for $4,550 a week. Info: 284-496-7203, www.rambutanvilla.com.

Deals in Turks & Caicos are numerous, including junior suites at Comfort Suites, (877) 424-6423 or 649-946-8888, www.choicehotels.com. for $99 a night - a 25 percent discount. In addition, you get an extra night if you stay a week and up to $100 in food and beverage credits, good through Dec. 19. The Alexandria Resort & Spa is offering a fourth night free after paying daily rates beginning at $225, plus tax. Info: (649) 946-5807.

Resorts in St. Kitts are also jumping into the discount fray. For example, pay for five nights (rates from $69 per night) and get seven at the Angelus Resort, (800) 621-1270, www.angelusstkitts.com. Or grab a $69-a-night special at the Frigate Bay Resort, (800) 266-2185, www.frigatebay.com, with stays of at least five nights.

Among the deals being offered on islands hit by one hurricane or more:

The Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island is offering a 25 percent discount and $50 spa certificate. Doubles at the Sheraton begin at $109, and $129 at the Westin. At both properties, kids stay and eat for free. Info: (877) OUR-LUCAYA, www.ourlucaya.com.

Air Jamaica has put together several special post-hurricane packages. For example, fly from BWI to Negril and stay three nights midweek, all-inclusive, at the ClubHotel Riu Negril for $539, plus tax. An even better deal at a fancier property: three nights at the all-inclusive Wyndham Rose Hall for $519, plus tax. Info: (800) LOVEBIRD, www.airjamaicavacations.com.

Island contacts

Following are Web sites and phone numbers for the official tourism agencies for the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas. For general info, contact the Caribbean Tourism Organization, (212) 635-9530, www.doitcaribbean.com

Anguilla Tourist Board, (800) 553-4939, www.anguilla-vacation.com

Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism, (888) 268-4227, www.antigua-barbuda.org

Aruba Tourism Authority, (800) 862-7822, www.aruba.com

Islands of the Bahamas, (800) 224-2627, www.bahamas.com

Barbados Tourism Authority, (800) 221-9831, www.barbados.org

Bermuda Department of Tourism, (800) 223-6106, www.bermudatourism.com

Bonaire Tourism Office, (800) 266-2473, www.infobonaire.org

British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, (800) 835-8530, www.bvitouristboard.com

Cancun. Mexico Tourism Board, (800) 446-3942, www.visitmexico.com

Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, (800) 346-3313, www.caymanislands.ky

Curacao Tourist Board, (800) 328-7222, www.curacao-tourism.com

Dominica Tourist Office, (888) 645-5637, www.dominica.dm

Dominican Republic Tourist Board, (888) 374-6361, www.dominicanrepublic.com

Grenada Board of Tourism, (800) 927-9554, www.grenadagrenadines.com

Guadeloupe. French Government Tourist Office, (410) 286-8310, www.antilles-info-tourisme.com/guadeloupe

Honduras Institute of Tourism, (800) 410-9608, www.letsgohonduras.com

Jamaica Tourist Board, (800) 233-4582, www.visitjamaica.com

Martinique. French Government Tourist Office, (410) 286-8310, www.martinique.org

Montserrat Tourist Board, (664) 491-2230, www.visitmontserrat.com

Nevis Tourism Authority, (866) 556-3847, www.nevisisland.com

Puerto Rico Tourism Co., (800) 866-7827, www.gotopuertorico.com

Saba. Saba Tourist Bureau, 011 (599) 416-2231, www.sabatourism.com

St. Barthelemy. French Government Tourist Office, (410) 286-8310, www.st-barths.com

St. Eustatius. St. Eustatius Tourist Office, 011 (599) 318-2433, www.statiatourism.com

St. Kitts. St. Kitts Department of Tourism, (800) 582-6208, www.stkitts-tourism.com

St. Lucia. St. Lucia Tourist Board, (800) 456-3984, www.stlucia.org

St. Maarten. St. Maarten Tourism Office, (212) 953-2084, www.st-maarten.com

St. Martin. French Government Tourist Board, (410) 286-8310, www.st-martin.org

St. Vincent and the Grenadines. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourist Office, (800) 729-1726, www.svgtourism.com

Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago Tourism, (868) 639-0509, www.visittobago.gov.tt Trinidad and Tobago, (868) 675-7034, www.visittnt.com

Turks and Caicos Islands. Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Office, (800) 241-0824, www.turksandcaicostourism.com

U.S. Virgin Islands. USVI Department of Tourism, (800) 372-8784, www.usvitourism.vi