US AIRWAYS continues to look toward the Caribbean
for expansion opportunities. The carrier will begin code sharing
Jan. 13 with Windward Island Airways. The code-share flights, on
which US Airways customers can earn miles, will bring US Airways
customers expanded access to six Caribbean destinations: Anguilla,
Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis and St. Barthelemy. Customers
can connect to Winair via US Airways flights from its Charlotte,
N.C., and Philadelphia hubs to St. Maarten. Customers on flights
from the Caribbean will be able to access all 203 cities served by
US Airways across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Separately, US
Airways has begun taking bookings on two new Caribbean routes it
will begin serving March 15: Pittsburgh-Montego Bay and
Boston-Cancun.
ISLAND DESTINATIONS offers an automatic
one-category upgrade for all arrivals through Feb. 5 at the
100-room Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.
For example, guests who book an oceanview room at $650 per night
receive an upgrade to a premium oceanview room, which typically
goes for $775. Guests staying five or more nights also receive two
free 60-minute spa treatments (per room) at the Spa at Little Dix
Bay, the resort's new, 5,200-square-foot spa. For reservations and
information, contact Island Destinations at (877) 902-2525.
CLUB MED is offering savings of up to $700 on
seven-night inclusive vacations at Club Med Paradise Island,
Bahamas; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Turkoise, Turks and
Caicos; Cancun, Mexico; Columbus Isle, Bahamas; Sandpiper-Florida;
and Ixtapa, Mexico. Packages, which must be booked by Jan. 24 for
travel through April 26, include roundtrip air, accommodations, all
meals with wine and beer at lunch and dinner; sports activities;
and entertainment. For rates and information, contact www.clubmed.com.
THE LINEUP for the St. Lucia Jazz Festival
2003, scheduled for May 2 to 11, includes performances by the
Michael Brecker Quartet, Elio Reve Y Su Charangon, Nnenna Freelon,
Herbie Mann, Darius Rucker, Unwrapped Allstars, Kindred, Incognito,
Ashford & Simpson, Mike Phillips, Third Eye (St. Lucian band),
Four Play, the Spinners and Earth, Wind & Fire. Although venues
for the various jazz performances are situated all over St. Lucia
-- from Gros Islet in the north to Laborie in the south -- Pigeon
Island, north of Gros Islet, is the home of the festival. For
details, visit www.stluciajazz.org.
PENCIL IT IN
• American Airlines Caribbean TrAAvel Exchange, Las Croabas, Puerto
Rico, May 7 to 9. For details, call (800) 874-2324
• Islands of the Bahamas Travel partners conference, Nassau, May 13
to 16. For details, call (888) 627-7281.
• St. Maarten/St. Martin Regional Trade Show, Marigot, St. Martin,
April 23 to 25. For details, call (305) 443-3040.