Current Caribbean Deals, Steals, Bargains and Packages

The Abaco Beach Resort in Boat Harbour -- part of the Out Islands of the Bahamas -- has a "Bahamas Boarding Pass Package" that includes airfare to and from Marsh Harbour from South Florida for a three- or five-night stay.

If you're a fan of The Bachelor reality-TV show, you might want to check out this romance package from Jalousie Plantation in St. Lucia -- a hotel featured in the latest season of the boy-meets-girl(s) show.

The resort's January Thaw deal includes a free night when you book six, full daily breakfast, daily afternoon tea, a nightly three-course gourmet dinner at the Great House restaurant, and airport transfers.

Resorts across the island of St. Lucia are offering some nice winter deals and travel packages.

Book a stay at the Sonesta Resorts in St. Maarten over Thanksgiving weekend and you'll enjoy Black Friday savings of 50 percent off regular room rates plus up to US$100 in island credits that can be used at local restaurants, spas, casinos, shops, and more.

The boutique Ceiba del Mar resort in Puerto Morelos on the Riviera Maya will give you a fifth night free when you book a four-night stay by Dec. 15.

From Nov. 22-30, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and The Fairmont Southampton are running a Bermuda Escape Sale with room rates starting at $129 nightly.

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is cutting room-only rates for ocean view accommodations in half from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

In celebration of its 21st birthday, the Hyatt Regency Aruba is offering a Cyber Monday deal that starts at 12:21 a.m., last 21 hours, and includes a $121 resort credit and 21% off the best available rate for travel in 2012.

The all-inclusive Rendezvous resort on St. Lucia's Cyber Monday deal includes 55% off bookings in Verandah Suites category or higher; a minimum stay of 5 nights is required.

The luxury Gansevoort Resort in Turks and Caicos is celebrating Cyber Monday by offering travelers 25% off Rack rates and $50 resort credit on four-night minimum stays.

Now through December, take advantage of some fun package deals from some Aruba hotels.

The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort in the Bahamas is offering new family rates and deals with its "Family Time in Paradise" package.

It's not cheap, but the Total Romance Package at St. Lucia's Anse Chastanet lives up to its name: it covers all the bases and brings the love with a capital L.

This spring and summer, kids stay and eat free at the Blue Horizons Garden Resort in Grenada, and parents can take 50 percent off the nightly rate on adjoining rooms for the youngsters.

Stay three nights at The Sands at Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos from May 1 to Dec. 21 and get your fourth night free.

Rules for making duty-free purchases in the Caribbean and bringing tax-free liquor, jewelry and other goods back to the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe.

Caribbean travelers can find duty-free shops at virtually any airport, but certain island destinations and ports are famous for their concentration of duty-free shopping, where visitors can find jewelry, watches, perfume, liquor and other goods at a deep discount -- 25 to 40 percent in many cases.