Make it an Island Style Christmas this year. Bermuda, Grenada and St. Lucia are just a few Caribbean Islands ready to welcome you in style and savings.

Perhaps you’ll want to start with a stay in Bermuda. Christmas at The Reefs is a family affair, with two generations of Dodwells managing and longtime staff welcoming repeat guests back for another holiday to remember. This year is extra special as The Reefs will give Christmas free to its guests who stay five nights or more and are at the resort December 25.

The festivities commence Christmas Eve with the resort’s tree trimming. Guests are asked to bring an ornament from home to adorn the tree and sign the ornament book while enjoying mulled wine and hors d’oeuvres. A lively sing along of favorite Christmas carols caps the event.

Each night divine dining will enhance the holiday at The Reefs’ two new restaurants, Ocean Echo and Royston’s. Christmas Day hails with homemade egg nog and presents at Coconuts with Managing Director Ben Tutt, followed by brunch at Ocean Echo and Royston’s.

On New Year’s Eve an early morning refreshing dip in the sparkling Atlantic with the “Cool Dip Club,” including Mr. Tutt, followed by a brandy and coffee will start the New Year celebration off right. Revelers at The Reefs can usher in the New Year together in the lounge with live entertainment. A little New Year cheer the morning of January 1 on the Ocean Echo terrace provides the perfect complement to the evening’s festivities with Bull Pups and Bloody Marys and a visit from the ever-gregarious Warwick Gombeys.
www.thereefs.com

Or maybe a trip to the Spice Island of Grenada?
With the decrease in temperature and increase in holiday cheer, many people have opted to try a more relaxing tropical ‘Holiday Season’ over Christmas and New Year’s. Imagine as the temperature drops in Canada spending the days on a sprawling white sand beach surrounded by lush greenery and clear Caribbean turquoise waters, without a speck of snow insight. Grenada offers a variety of festive activities that allow guests to escape the urban holiday 'hustle and bustle’, while still maintaining the intimate spirit of the holiday season.
Fish Friday: Every Friday to January 4, 2009, the Gouyave Fish Friday Festival Company will be presenting special holiday events. Guests and locals alike can enjoy the Holiday Spirit at a variety of presentations including: Humor and Calypso Friday, featuring the Island’s most talented drama clubs and humorous calypsonians; Family Evenings; Band Splash and Jazzy Drum-Pan Fridays. Visitors can enjoy such traditional favourites as 'Fish-tastic’ recipe tasting, 'Bamboo Bursting’ contests and Parang (Carol) singing.

Christmas: Many of Grenada’s Christmas traditions are similar to those in Canada. The season places emphasis on togetherness and generosity (which there is no shortage of in Grenada), while enjoying such familiar icons as carolers, evergreen trees and most importantly, food. Visitors spending the holiday season on the Island should try to indulge in some of the seasonal dishes, including blackened ham, Christmas pudding, black fruit cake (prepared in October specifically for Christmas), sorrel and ginger beer. Many of Grenada’s fine hotels and resorts get into the spirit of the holiday season by including their guests in the festivities.

New Year’s Eve: Many hotels, restaurants and nightclubs hold gala balls and parties, with special dinner menus, live entertainment and fireworks to welcome the New Year. Events are designed with something for everyone...from the young to the young at heart.

Or you might want to head to the island of St. Lucia, where Christmas has come early at Discovery at Marigot Bay a free night festive season promotion.

Book a six night Caribbean Christmas holiday before December 15 and you’ll get the seventh night free. The offer is valid on stays between December 22 and January 4 and guests can
enjoy savings of up to US$2006 depending on room category.

Festive season rates at Discovery start from US$661 per night for a Resort View Room.

Discovery at Marigot Bay is an ideal escape for celebration-seekers wishing to trade grey skies and dropping temperatures for the cerulean waters and waving palms of the Caribbean.

Guests can enjoy an elaborate Christmas Feast in the French colonial Boudreau restaurant or pick up a tasty picnic and spend the day with their toes in the sand at the rustic Labas Beach.

When it comes to New Year’s Eve, Marigot Bay boasts one of the largest and
most impressive firework displays in the Caribbean, sumptuous fare and dancing under the stars.

For more information and reservations contact Discovery at Marigot Bay, St
Lucia on Tel: +1 758 458 5300 or email resa@discoverystlucia.com

Escape the cold and make this Christmas an island style one to remember.