In November and December (prior to Christmas), it costs so little to vacation in Mexico and the Caribbean that you can scarcely afford to stay at home
by Vincent Sorel

In every tropical location other than Hawaii, the deadest time of year is the seven-or-so weeks from November 1 until around December 20. That's when, in desperation, hotels, airlines, and tour operators slash their rates with abandon-- especially to the big, intensely competitive properties offering all-inclusive arrangements (round-trip air, hotel, meals, drinks, and sports) for one set price. For under $800 or $900 a week (and sometimes for considerably less), an “everything vacation” can be had in pre-Christmas November/December that could never be touched at similar levels in any other period of the year. Some of America's most experienced tour operators to the Caribbean/Mexico have tipped us off to ten particular “steals” in the November/December ahead:

Barcelo Las Perlas, Cancún, Mexico
Nominated by Sidney Pease, marketing manager, Vacation Express (800/848-8047)

A longtime bargain-hunter's favorite in Cancún, this quiet (bayside) resort, recently purchased by the Spanish hotel group Barcelo, offers calm waters (great for kids) and proximity to everything that makes Cancún so popular. Between November 1 and December 15, seven-night all-inclusive packages (meaning round-trip air, meals, and drinks, in addition to lodgings) from Vacation Express start at $659/person (double occupancy) from Atlanta, $739 from Nashville, $759 from Baltimore, $769 from Charlotte, and $789 from Louisville. Prices can vary slightly according to departure date.

Blue Bay Village Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Nominated by Jeremy Pask, president, Capricorn Leisure Corp. (800/426-6544)

The Blue Bay group of resorts, found throughout the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, consistently offers solid value at sensible prices. This beachfronter (perfect for active vacationers) features rooms with verandas and A/C. From November 1 to December 9, a seven-night air-hotel-meals-drinks-sports package costs $863 per person (double occupancy) from Miami, $881 from Dallas/Ft. Worth and other southern gateways, and $1,009 from New York and other eastern seaboard gateways.

Caribbean Village Playacar, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Nominated by Jacque Fox, Baja Motion Tours (800/511-4848)

Located just “down the road” from hopped-up Cancun is laid-back, low-rise, relatively underdeveloped (though that's changing) Playa del Carmen, an ideal place for anyone who wants just to relax and wind down. The Caribbean Village chain is noted for its no-nonsense, value-conscious approach, and this beachfront property remains true to form. From Baja Motion Tours between November 1 and December 15, the price of a seven-night air-hotel-meals-drinks package to the Playacar is $741 per person (double occupancy) from Newark, $745 from Chicago, and $763 from Los Angeles, including hotel taxes and transfers.

Negril Gardens, Negril, Jamaica
Nominated by Jill Ackerman, director of marketing, Sunburst Holidays (800/SUN-BURST)

Right in the heart of Negril's seven-mile beach, Negril Gardens' no-problem friendly attitude makes it a solid choice here in Jamaica's sleepiest resort town. From November 15 to December 18, you can get a seven-night all-inclusive package (air, room, meals, drinks, non-motorized water sports) at Negril Gardens, from Sunburst, for $779 per person (double occupancy) out of Miami, $829 from Atlanta, $889 from New York, and $899 from Chicago.

Rumba Heavens, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Nominated by Karen Bushell, Caribbean Concepts (800/423-4433)

Forget the gimmicky name: “cute little place” is the description most guests have for this unpretentious, smallish--112 rooms--resort, which used to be called just “Heavens,” right on the beach (or as close to it as hotels are allowed to be in the D.R.) that draws a lot of active travelers. Between September 15 and December 15, the price from Caribbean Concepts for a seven-night all-inclusive stay (air fare, hotel, meals, drinks, sports, you name it) is $749 per person (double occupancy) from Miami, $819 from New York, and $859 from Boston.

Miramar Mision, Cancun, Mexico
Nominated by Jacques Abitan, president, Vacation Travel Mart (800/288-1435 or 305/947-0777)

A giant supply of hotel rooms turns into a glut during the slow season, which is how this impressive four-star resort morphs into an equally giant bargain at this time of year. Throughout the month of November (and into mid-December as well), a seven-night air-hotel-meals-drinks-sports package offered by Vacation Travel Mart for the 266-room Miramar Mision is priced at $599 per person from Miami, $699 from New York, and $707 from Dallas/Ft. Worth. On selected dates the prices may drop even lower.

Club Marival, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Nominated by Claudia French, general manager, Express Holidays (800/266-2639)

Modest but pleasant, this property located right on the Pacific Ocean is one of Puerto Vallarta's secret values. Between November 1 and December 12, Express Holidays will bring you an all-inclusive, seven-night, air-lodgings-food vacation at Club Marival for a remarkable $676 from Los Angeles, $807 from Chicago or Newark.

Reef Club, Cozumel, Mexico
Nominated by Frank Recca, vice president, Caradonna Caribbean Tours (800/328-2288)

Over on the Caribbean side of Mexico, this diver's hangout is a top bargain on an island (half-hour flight from Cancun or a slightly longer ferry ride) where bargains are the norm. There's lots to do here even if you're a nondiver, from tennis to kayaking to a children's club. For an air-included, all-inclusive seven-night stay from November 1 to December 23, Caradonna Caribbean will charge you $715 per person (double occupancy) from Houston, $810 from Atlanta, $880 from Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Baltimore or Washington, D.C. To add six days of two-tank boat dives, add $330.

Portofino Hotel, Margarita Island
Nominated by Esther Lorenzo, vice president, Servitours, Inc. (305/381-9026)

Off the coast of Venezuela (and subject to that country's currently depressed currency), Margarita offers some of the most remarkable all-inclusive bargains in the Caribbean, and this unassuming but quite pleasant beachfront property is one of the top budget-busters. Between November 1 and December 15, seven nights with round-trip air fare, hotel, meals, drinks, and more, cost $760 per person (double occupancy) out of Miami.

Occidental Flamenco Beach Resort, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Nominated by Arthur Mehmel, president, TourScan (800/962-2080)

One of the more appealing Puerto Plata resorts, right in the heart of the popular Playa Dorado area, the goodly sized (582 rooms) but low-rise Flamenco Beach generally offers one of the best values in the D.R. In this slow season, prices plummet even further--between November 1 and December 20, the charge from TourScan for an all-inclusive (room, meals, drinks, sports) seven-nighter with round-trip air fare is set at $835 per person out of Miami, $869 from New York, and $969 from Chicago.