If you’re a traveling audiophile who likes the idea of those bulky Bose noise-canceling headphones but just can’t bring yourself to spend 300 bucks on something that looks so … well … nerdy, here’s a word of advice: don’t.The folks over at Ultimate Ears sent me a pair of their UE 700 noise-isolating headphones, which I test drove on a flight to Jamaica last weekend, and I have to say: if

The Caribbean is full of surprises. During our recent road trip through the Central American country of Belize, staff photographer Zach Stovall and I enjoyed a rare treat, thanks to Mark Howells, the Aussie owner of the Lamanai Outpost Lodge: We ate breakfast with a nearby Mennonite family. Belize has some 10,000 Mennonites — about 3 percent of the total population — who live in small communities

The Deal: Book a five-night stay at the chic Hotel Kura Hulanda or the quiet Lodge Kura Hulanda by March 15 and you’ll enjoy a free night – plus get up to $400 in air credits, $200 in food and beverage credits and other island-wide perks with Curaçao Now.

Why We Love It: Back by popular demand, the Curaçao Now promotion gives you the chance to experience two of the island’s ritziest resorts for

It’s not every day that you get to straddle the Tropic of Cancer line. But a couple of weekends ago, on Island Routes’ Bahamian Bus Tour on Great Exuma in the Bahamas, I did.

The Deal: Book a last-minute four-night-minimum stay at the luxury Casa Colonial Beach & Spa resort by March 7 and you’ll save 25 percent on nightly rates and enjoy your fourth night free through April 30.

Why We Love It: The all-suite boutique resort in Puerto Plata, DR is one of the most exclusive properties along the island’s north coast, and rates during the promotional period start at just

St. George’s Caye Resort has concocted a new promotion that just might send you on a three-night getaway for two – all on the house. To celebrate the opening of the resort’s new on-site watering hole, the 12-cabana exclusive resort is giving you a chance to christen the venue in its Name Our Bar contest. If your idea is selected, you and a guest will be on your way to the private island in Belize

If you haven’t gotten enough Olympic action in the last few weeks, or if you’re searching for year-round thrills in a decidedly warmer climate, check out Rainforest Adventures at Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios. You can make like the Jamaican bobsled team as you whip through a 3,280 foot track; and you’ll be in good company – Olympic champion Usain Bolt has called the spot his favorite to chill out

Want to see your island-hopping travel story appear in Caribbean Travel + Life? Here’s your chance! Just answer our latest reader question in the comments section below, and your response just may appear in an upcoming issue as well as right here on the web site:

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Good news for travelers who plan to drop some dinero in Cancun: under the destination’s new Tax Back program, shoppers will be refunded the 10-percent value-added tax paid on cash purchases between 1,200 and 3,000 pesos (roughly $90 and $225) and on credit card purchases of any amount over 1,200 pesos.

Just ask for a receipt in participating stores (look for the orange sticker in the window),

Traveling to the Cayman Islands just got easier for you northerners with the addition of Delta’s new weekly direct service. Starting June 12, the airline will begin operating a round trip flight every Saturday between New York’s JFK and Grand Cayman, so you can kick off your island vacation without any of the usual layovers. Just log on to delta.com to book your trip, then surf over to our