Lush garden oasis atop Jamaica
From pricey resorts to exclusive cruises, cheap is not a word that applies to a typical vacation in Jamaica. For those willing to put in a little time and effort, however, many of the island's most rewarding experiences can be had for free.
( By Claudia La Rocco, Associated Press, 11/04/2002 08:21 AM PST)

Getting away from it all -- and at oh-so-tempting rates
You've heard it all by now: how palm trees sway in gentle breezes, how soft waves caress the shore, how couples stroll hand in hand on moonlit walks, how everyday cares fade amid the sensual pleasures of lush islands.
( BY JAY CLARKE, jclarke@herald.com, 10/28/2002 09:18 AM PST)

In Grenadines, islands from another time
TYRELL BAY, Carriacou, Grenada - The late afternoon sun was behind us, turning the high, racing clouds almost silver as we motored into the embracing arms of this beautiful, sheltered bay.
( By Dick Cooper, Inquirer Staff Writer, 10/28/2002 09:18 AM PST)

An isle for those who like it rough but not too much
Some travelers relish roughing it. Pasty granola bars, lumpy sleeping bags and bad cases of kayak butt are prices they're willing to pay to commune with wild nature.
( By CURTIS MORGAN, cmorgan@herald.com, 10/28/2002 09:16 AM PST)

Resorts' wine cellars are the toast of the Caribbean
ST. JOHNS, Antigua - Wine in the Caribbean? You bet. Increasingly, wine enthusiasts are coming to the islands for a taste of some of the best wines in the world.
( By Barnini Chakraborty, Associated Press, 10/28/2002 09:20 AM PST)

For fine scuba diving, it's hard to beat the reefs off Cozumel
It took only one dive into the blue Caribbean waters off the island of Cozumel for marine biologist Jacques Cousteau to declare the coral reefs among the world's greatest.
( By Kyle Wingfield, Associated Press, 10/28/2002 09:25 AM PST)

Plunge into Cozumel
COZUMEL, Mexico - It took only one dive into the blue Caribbean off the island of Cozumel for the late marine biologist Jacques Cousteau to declare the coral reefs among the world's greatest.
( By KYLE WINGFIELD, The Associated Press, 10/21/2002 06:24 AM PST)

Asleep in St. Barts: On this glamorous isle pillow talk isn't cheap
It's hard to show off around here, because St. Barts (as the cognoscenti call it) is such a little place, only 11 miles long and 2-1/2 miles wide. Loaded with prestige, yes, but where to find it?
( BY ROBERT CROSS, Chicago Tribune, 10/21/2002 10:17 AM PST)

He went in search of a perfect beach and found love in Zihuatanejo
Rick never married, never had children. He used the money he made in a career selling cars to find the perfect beach with the perfect sunset. Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Vieques, all the British Virgin Islands - he visited each over the years in search of a warm place to retire.
( BY TOM UHLENBROCK, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/14/2002 09:40 AM PST)