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.