From Jamaica to
Costa Rica, from Maui to Tahiti, here are high-season pricing
miracles chosen by America's top experts in beach vacations
We've called upon the dozen
top industry specialists in tropical vacations to share with us
their personal preferences among bargain-priced resorts. We've
specified that their low-cost finds had to be full of recreational
facilities, well maintained, comfortable, welcoming, in areas
enjoying hot weather in winter, and yet priced for that season at
record low levels. Specifically, the specialists had to guarantee a
rate of under $800 for a full seven nights at the resort--in the
peak months of January, February, and March--including round-trip
air fare from multiple U.S. cities. (For resorts supplying all three
meals daily and unlimited drinks in addition to accommodations, the
air-included price had to be under $1,000.) And they complied. The
resulting article, called "10 Best Bargain Resorts of the
Caribbean--As Nominated by America's Foremost Authorities on
Tropical Vacations," is a proud highlight of our honeymoon section.
Now, for the winter of 2002,
we've kept the monetary limits unchanged--$800 for a week, including
air fare; $1,000 for a week of all-inclusive meal and drink
arrangements, including air--but expanded the search beyond the
Caribbean to all tropical areas (including Hawaii and the Pacific,
Central America, even Polynesia); we've also consulted a larger
panel of experts. And we've required that the $800/$1,000 price had
to be for resorts possessing a large restaurant, bar, and a varied
selection of water sports and other on-site recreation.
Here, in the words of the
experts, are the twelve resorts that supply those facilities and
prices, even in the months of January, February, and March 2002:
Flamenco Hotel,
Villas & Beach Club
Margarita Island
Nominated by Arthur Berman, president,
Moment's Notice
"What's great about this
property is that it's right across the street--and I mean a little
road, barely two lanes--from Playa El Agua, which happens to be the
most beautiful white sand beach on Margarita, where not all the
beaches are great. It's also one of the newer hotels on the island;
it couldn't be more than a couple of years old. A lot of Europeans
stay here, and they really keep the place hopping. Some of the
resorts on Margarita are pretty laid-back, but not this one. The
hotel's a series of low-rise bungalows, and the rooms are all very
much in the Caribbean style; although I don't especially like the
word 'cute,' that's pretty much the best way to describe them.
They're very attractive, though not fancy. There are two nice-size
pools, and the seafood at the beach restaurant, like all the seafood
around Playa El Agua, is terrific. Parents also really like the fact
that the kids' program is right on the beach--it's nice to be able
to sunbathe while you're watching your children having fun close
by."
Moment's Notice can send you
in high season to the Flamenco Hotel, Villas & Beach Club on
Margarita Island on a seven-night air-inclusive and all-inclusive
(meaning all three meals daily, unlimited drinks, and most
activities) package--per person based on double occupancy--for $819
from Miami, $859 from New York. To book your vacation, call Moment's
Notice at 718/234-6295 or visit www.moments-notice.com.
Sunset Beach Resort
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Nominated by Marie Mentone, vice president
and chief operating officer, Sunburst Holidays
"With this particular
resort, it's almost as if you have a choice between two resorts.
It's a large property--420 rooms, all either new or recently
refurbished--with a lot of land, so that you never feel crowded. In
my opinion, it's got the best beaches on Jamaica outside Negril. A
lot of people, especially families, come here because there's an
amazing amount to do, from all of the usual watersports (all the
non-motorized ones are part of the all-inclusive price) to tennis
and volleyball and you name it, as well as a truly top-notch fitness
center with state-of-the-art equipment, not just a few run-down
machines stuck in a room. On the other hand, Sunset Beach has all
kinds of secluded beaches (even one discreet nude beach) and garden
nooks where you can grab your novel and find a quiet spot, then take
afternoon high tea overlooking the tropical gardens. The decor is
your basic tropical look, with dark wood or wicker and tile floors;
it's nothing fancy, but very trim and well-kept. There's also a good
variety in the four restaurants: Italian, pan-Asian, a poolside
grill, and a large buffet-style restaurant. This resort isn't just
for one kind of vacationer--as trite as this sounds, there truly is
something for everyone here."
Sunburst Holidays can send
you in high season to Sunset Beach, Montego Bay, on a seven-night
air-inclusive and all-inclusive (all meals and drinks, and most
activities) package--per person, based on double occupancy--for the
following prices: from Miami, $894; from New York, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and Chicago, $977; six nights from Los Angeles,
$1,067. Call Sunburst Holidays at 800/SUN-BURST.
The Mill
Aruba
Nominated by Roberta Hagerty, product
manager, Vacation Express
"This, I think, is one of
the best-kept resorts in Aruba, if not the Caribbean. The management
is constantly making improvements: The open-air lobby, the new full
fitness center. Maybe because the windmill around which the property
is built is one of the island's real landmarks, they feel a special
need to keep up appearances. I especially like the free-form pool
area; it's very romantic, and you tend not to get romance from a
value-driven property like this one. Nor do you generally get
kitchenettes and whirlpools in nearly every unit, as you do here.
The rooms are all quite nice and extremely clean--I'd call the
surroundings homey and comfy as opposed to luxurious. The Mill is
also very well situated right across the street from Palm Beach,
which is a lot of people's favorite. You also have easy access to a
lot of different hotels and casinos and restaurants in the immediate
area, which is nice if you want a break. However, I happen to think
the Mill's restaurant is one of the better ones on the island.
Finally, I've got to mention the staff. The property has won highest
honors on Aruba for service, and the manager is known for her
personal touch in everything from greeting guests to helping with
special requests."
Vacation Express can send
you in high season to The Mill on Aruba on a seven-night European
plan (no meals) package--per person based on double
occupancy--including round-trip air fare, starting at the following
prices: from Atlanta, $709; from Nashville, $799; from Louisville,
$799. To book your vacation, call Vacation Express at 800/848-8047.
Victoria Resort
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Nominated by Arthur Mehmel, president,
TourScan
"You can find a lot of
Dominican Republic all-inclusives for less, but this one to my mind
offers the most for the money. The resort has a real country club
feel; it's surrounded by a Robert Trent Jones course (not included
in the price, sadly) and an upscale feel. At 190 rooms, it's smaller
than most of the resorts in Puerto Plata, and it's pretty quiet and
laid-back in comparison to its neighbors. It's not on the beach, but
you've only got a walk of 100 yards or so. Plus, the Victoria has
its own beach club with bathrooms and a snack bar and its own beach
chairs, which is a nice touch. Rooms are modern and airy--the decor
isn't specifically Dominican; it's more all-purpose tropical--with
tile floors and triple-door balconies in every room, along with all
the amenities you'd expect from a resort: TVs and hair dryers and so
on. There are both formal and casual dining options, and it's nice
to have that kind of choice within a resort as intimate as this one.
The deluxe restaurant is really superb. Of course, if you want all
the nightlife in the Playa Dorada area (that's the part of Puerto
Plata where the resort's located), it's all within walking distance.
For under a thousand dollars a week all-inclusive, you can hardly do
better anywhere on the island."
TourScan can send you
in high season to the Victoria Resort in the Dominican Republic on a
seven-night air-inclusive and all-inclusive (all three meals daily
and unlimited drinks, and many activities) package--per person based
on double occupancy--for the following prices: from Miami, $887;
from New York, $957; from Boston, $999. Call 800/962-2080 to book.
Playa Los Arcos
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Nominated by Norman Hansen, president, Express Holidays
"The first obvious virtue of
this resort is the location. Not only is it on one of Puerto
Vallarta's most popular beaches, but it's in an area just outside
the center of town that's become known as the equivalent of Mexico
City's Zona Rosa--a quiet, older section, very romantic, with
cobblestoned streets, lots of old buildings converted into B&Bs and
restaurants. There must be 20 good restaurants within a three-block
radius, and one of the best ones is the restaurant within Playa Los
Arcos itself. Part of the dining room extends onto the beach; you
get some spectacular sunsets as well as great people-watching. The
steaks there are magnificent; a lot of people from other hotels come
over to eat. The hotel has 185 rooms, decorated in a pretty typical
Mexican colonial style, with the deep colors of the state of Jalisco.
The decor was totally renovated two years ago, and now you really
know you're in Mexico. Many of the staff have been around for
20-plus years, and the family that runs it has owned the place for
at least 30. I also like stopping by the bar at happy hour--there's
usually live music for free, and often it's a really good mariachi
band."
Express Holidays can send
you in high season to Playa Los Arcos in Puerto Vallarta on a
seven-night package including round-trip airfare and daily
breakfast--per person, based on double occupancy--for $608 from Los
Angeles; $654 from Houston; $680 from Seattle; $680 from Chicago;
$690 from New York. Call Express Holidays at 800/266-2639.
El Cid Mega-Resort
Mazatlan, Mexico
Nominated by Tony Scoringe, director of
product management, Sunmakers
"They don't call this
property a 'mega-resort' for nothing. It's got 1,320 rooms and four
separate sections, each of which could stand alone--even though all
guests have full access to all the sections. Granted, a resort this
big isn't for everyone, but what I love about it is the sheer
variety. 'Something for everyone' is one of the oldest cliches
around, but in this case it's absolutely true. The Castilla Beach
section of the property, for instance, is really sporty, definitely
for a younger crowd and for families that want a more active
vacation; that's where they've got a large tennis facility and lots
of water sports. On the other hand, the El Moro section is a quieter
place for people who want a slower-paced, around-the-pool sort of
vacation. The Marina is also relaxed, and if you're interested in
diving, that's the place for you. The Granada Country Club
concentrates on golf, as you probably guessed from its name. El Cid
is right at the center of Mazatlan's main beach--its sand is darker
than some beaches', but it's a pretty beach and a nice, long
expanse, great for walking. There's also a huge number of
restaurants (six), with all kinds of cuisines and attitudes:
international, local, seafood, casual, formal. It's not as if you're
stuck at the same buffet dinner every night. The rooms all have a
light, clean look after the furnishings were rehabbed a couple of
years ago. Light wood, pastels, tile floors. And all the rooms have
balconies, too. It's hard to believe you get as much as you do for
this price."
Sunmakers can send you
in high season to Castilla Tower at the El Cid Mega-Resort in
Mazatlan on an air-inclusive and all-inclusive (with all three meals
daily and unlimited drinks, and most activities) seven-night
package--per person, based on double occupancy--for the following
prices: from Los Angeles, $765; from San Francisco, $835; from
Phoenix or Seattle, $880. Call Sunmakers at 888/822-3868.
