6 Affordable Beach Resorts

Fall is a fabulous time to save at these all-inclusive resorts

By Elizabeth Armstrong

Summer may be prime time to travel, but savvy vacationers know that if they wait just a bit longer, they'll enjoy lower prices and fewer crowds at many tropical resorts. Around late August, rates go down as families wrap up their vacations and kids go back to school.

"Fall is a terrific time to travel to beach resorts in Mexico and the islands of the Caribbean," says Troy Bringle, vice president of the tours and resorts division of Vacations To Go, a leading seller of tropical vacations. "After Labor Day, it becomes a slower travel time. Hotels and resorts have more availability, so they reduce prices to get these rooms filled."

Below are six resorts that offer particularly good values in fall. They're located in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico. While temperatures might drop just a tad, the weather is still perfect for swimming.

Each one is all-inclusive, with lodging, meals, snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and a bevy of sports and activities rolled into one price, which you pay up front. You'll know exactly what you're spending before you leave for your vacation, and you'll have fewer out-of-pocket expenses during your stay.

We checked rates at www.ResortVacationsToGo.com for a seven-night stay in mid-September. The prices below are for two people sharing a room and do not include airfare. While rates were current at press time, they are subject to change.

For more information or to book your own getaway, visit Vacations To Go, or call (800) 998-6925.


Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The four-star, 346-room Iberostar Punta Cana in Punta Cana on the Dominican Republic's easternmost tip exudes a colorful Caribbean palette, from the vibrant green, yellow and blue mosaics adorning the beachside bar to the pink flamingos that roam the grounds. Guests check in at the open-air lobby and are ushered to rooms in four-story buildings overlooking a cool, lush interior courtyard.

The staff compiles a roster of daily activities: Take Spanish lessons, learn the merengue -- the country's national dance -- or try your hand at archery. Guests can play up to an hour a day at the tennis courts, work out in the fitness center or hit the tables of the casino.

The star attraction here, though, is stunning Bavaro Beach, where thatched-roof palapas and lounge chairs await. Diving enthusiasts will appreciate the dive center, which offers excursions to a dozen different sites at reefs close to the resort. These cost extra and leave right from the hotel's beach.

Several buffets cater to a variety of tastes, and specialty restaurants serve Caribbean, Asian, Mexican and steakhouse fare.

Rates: From $1,063 for two people ($531.50 per person) for seven nights in mid-September 2008.


Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Get three resorts for the price of one when you check into ClubHotel Riu Bachata in Puerto Plata on the Dominican Republic's north shore: Guests also are entitled to use the amenities, recreation and restaurants of neighboring Riu Mambo and Riu Merengue.

Riu Bachata enjoys a picture-perfect setting, perched on a small peninsula that juts into Maimon Bay. Low mountains carpeted by green foliage form the backdrop.

You can expect all the typical resort activities here -- tennis, beach volleyball, snorkeling, kayaking and sailing are offered, and daily activities are planned both for adults and for kids ages 4 to 12. The Caribbean Street promenade offers an assortment of shops, a spa and a gym.

There's no chance of going hungry: Snacks are available 24 hours a day, and there are buffets with cooking stations for made-to-order dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations can be made for a la carte restaurants that specialize in steaks or Italian cuisine. The 610 rooms come equipped with minibars and liquor dispensers.

Rates: From $760 for two people ($380 per person) for seven nights in mid-September 2008.


Negril, Jamaica

The three-star Point Village resort is named for its villagelike setting amid 14 tropical acres in Negril. It enjoys a prime spot on Rutland Point, where Negril's famous Seven Mile Beach ends and Bloody Bay Beach begins. All 175 rooms have kitchenettes and private balconies or patios.

Guests can take a dip in the freshwater swimming pool or in the natural rock pools filled with seawater. Glass-bottom boat rides are offered twice a day. Kids up to age 13 are entertained with movies, games, treasure hunts, nature walks and sand castle-building contests.

The main dining area serves buffet-style international cuisine, including Jamaican dishes. On Wednesday nights, dinner is served shoreside for a Jamaican-style beach bash. Chefs at the Sundrenched Grill whip up sandwiches, hamburger, jerk chicken and salads, while the Paradise Garden Cafe specializes in pizza and pasta. The specialty restaurant, Incognito at the Point, is open Tuesdays for dinner and requires a surcharge.

Rates: From $969 for two people ($484.50 per person) for seven nights in mid-September 2008.


Cancun, Mexico

Just 20 minutes from the airport in Cancun, the whitewashed, Mediterranean-style Barcelo Costa Cancun overlooks the aquamarine waters of Playa Linda. About 350 rooms are housed in low-rise buildings grouped around a meandering, freeform pool. Just beyond the pool awaits a sugar-white beach studded with shady palapas.

Head to the beach for kayaking, pedal boat excursions and snorkeling, all included in the price of your stay. Guests are entitled to one free scuba lesson in the pool as well. In the wellness center, vacationers can make use of the sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and plunge pool.

Children up to age 5 stay free, and guests ages 6 to 12 pay reduced rates. The 6-to-12 set also can participate in supervised activities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with diversions that range from arts and crafts sessions and puppet shows to dance lessons and video games.

Four on-site restaurants include Il Pescatore, showcasing Italian fare, and Maria's, which focuses on contemporary Mexican cooking. Catch the nightly entertainment on the outdoor stage, or head for downtown Cancun, just five minutes away, and dive into its famously spirited nightlife.

Rates: From $1,190 for two people ($595 per person) for seven nights in mid-September 2008.


Cozumel, Mexico

The 4.5-star, 150-room Melia Cozumel provides plenty of recreation and other amenities for active guests. Play a match on one of the lighted tennis courts, or hit the beach for snorkeling, kayaking and windsurfing. Spoil yourself in the spa with a massage or facial (there's an extra charge for this), or join an informal class in cooking, bartending or Latin dance. Kids can play at the resort's Flintstones-themed activities club, and children up to age 6 stay free when sharing a room with two adults.

An 18-hole, par-72 golf course created by Jack Nicklaus' design group lies just across the street, and guests can play a round here for an additional charge. About 15 miles from Mexico's mainland, Cozumel boasts spectacular diving opportunities at the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef in the world.

Dining options include beachside La Isla, serving Caribbean-style cuisine, and the elegant Cafe Paraiso, situated in a small lagoon within the resort. Sip your favorite tropical drink at one of five on-site watering holes, including a swim-up bar and beach bar.

Rates: From $1,008 for two people ($504 per person) for seven nights in mid-September 2008.


Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

An imposing white edifice with hints of art deco design, the 4.5-star Riu Vallarta overlooks Flamingo Beach on the Pacific Ocean in Puerto Vallarta. Guests mingle at a variety of lounges, including a sports bar and poolside bar. The Flamingo steakhouse and Asian-themed Nirvana are among dining choices, and there are special themed buffets twice a week. At night, unwind with live music performances or at the Pacha nightclub.

The 550-room Riu Vallarta has all the usual beach offerings -- windsurfing, sailing and snorkeling -- plus two pools, a Jacuzzi, gym and sauna. Guests also can access the amenities and restaurants of sister resort ClubHotel Riu Jalisco at no extra charge. Riu Vallarta plans a daily activities program for young guests ages 4 to 12; they also have their own kids' pool. Horseback riding, bicycle rentals and treatments at the Renova Spa are available for an extra fee.

Rates: From $887 for two people ($443.50 per person) for seven nights in mid-September 2008.

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