St. Vincent Planning its First International Airport! Currently, when flying into St. Vincent, you must change planes and go through customs on one of 6 neighboring islands - Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. From these islands, you can make the connection to Union Island, Canouan, Mustique, Bequia, or St. Vincent. The tiny island nation recently announced plans to build an International Airport with completion set for 2011. While it is a long way off, many loyalists to the region are thrilled at the expected ease in travel.

Planning a Group Trip? A new company, Triporama, has launched a website catered towards group travel leaders. Visit our Group Travel page to see direct links. Triporama.com will allow you to post information about your trip and sent e-vites to others to join in the fun and coordinate flight and hotel plans. Created in a similar fashion to the ever popular wedding website industry, Triporama has attempted to make their services unique. Group leaders using Triporama can poll their friends to find out what travel dates work best for the majority. The format is fabulous because it allows all group members to share in the travel research process and work on their own time. Visit CaribbeanJourney.com's group pages to get started!

Who Knew? The US Coral Reef Task Force. I knew the US Government had many areas that I was not familiar with, but I was extremely surprised today to learn that the government sponsors a Coral Reef Task Force. The organization was established in 1998 in an effort to protect the underwater environment surrounding our shores. They made headlines today in an article documenting the recent and rapid decline of larger types of Coral in Coral. The large coral is being replaced by smaller, less protective coral. The US Virgin Islands could see a vanishing act of large Coral within 50 years and Jamaica has already lost most of its large coral. We can all take steps to help preserve the Caribbean, visit our Go Green Pages to learn more.

Changes are coming to St. Thomas! I am glad to see that the recent improvements scheduled for the US Virgin Islands are focused on St. Thomas. Over the past few years, St. John has taken the lead as the most popular US Virgin Island with St. Croix in a close second. But what happened to St. Thomas? It was catering to tourists on a mass-market scale long before its sister islands. I think it was a combination of a shift in the marketplace and lack of attention to the once booming island. Most of my visitors to the USVI want places off the beaten track so St. John and St. Croix fit the bill. The USVI government has decided “if you build it, they will come” – a mega yacht club that is. The Yacht Haven Grande is set to debut in March and will offer accommodations and amenities to mega yachts and their owners. Opening this December is the $28Million Crown Bay Plaza offering all the upscale shopping a gal could wish for! And to show off these changes, the island is increasing its air lift from many cities.

Couples Resorts & the Jamaican Tourist Board are offering a passport promotion. As most of you know, come January 8, 2007, all visitors to the Caribbean & Bahamas must have a passport. The increasing cost of passports is seemingly a deterrent for those wanting to visit the Caribbean. One of my favorite all-inclusive chains, Couples Resorts, has teamed up with The Jamaican Tourist Board and is offering a $200 spa credit per room for travelers who make Jamaica their first stop with their new passport. The passport promotion is valid for travel Jan. 1-April 1, 2007 and travelers need to show their passport at check-in to prove Jamaica is their first international stop. A five-night minimum stay is required and the offer is valid at all four Couples Resorts in Jamaica.

Westin St. John launches a pre-holiday sale. The Westin St. John is often ranked as one of the best family resorts in the Caribbean. The resort offers full kiddie amenities, a splendid sugar sand beach, and proximity to all of the eco-adventures St. John has to offer. The Westin St. John Resort & Villas is offering a pre-holiday special starting at $439 per night, available for stays November 25 through December 22-a savings of more than 60% off regular rates for this time period.

Philadelphia plans first Caribbean Festival. Ok all you Philadelphians! If you don’t have any plans this weekend, then head down to The Philly Travel Show for a “Caribbean Village” and learn all about the changes and seasonal offerings the Caribbean is featuring. Prior to that you can visit Macy’s in the King of Prussia Mall for some lively and entertaining Caribbean cooking demonstrations.