7 Bargain Beach Escapes

Weeklong fall stays at these tropical resorts
start at less than $600 per person

By Elizabeth Armstrong

While summer may be the prime time to get away, bargain-savvy travelers know that if they wait a bit longer, they'll enjoy lower prices and fewer crowds at many beachfront resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. Around late August, families wrap up their vacations and kids go back to school, so properties end up with more availability. To fill these rooms, they reduce their rates. This value season ends just before Thanksgiving.

Below are seven resorts that offer particularly good buys in fall. They're located in Jamaica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Each one is all-inclusive, with lodging, meals, snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, and sports and activities galore rolled into one price that you pay in advance. 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. All of our picks also are family-friendly.

We checked rates at Vacations To Go for a weeklong stay for two in mid-October, starting on a Wednesday. The prices below 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 the resort specialists at (800) 998-6925.


Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Silver turrets and red-tile roofs cap this palatial, bright white edifice on the golden sands of Mexico's Pacific coast, about eight miles from Puerto Vallarta's airport. Public areas and restaurants at the four-star spot gleam with polished woods, marble floors, frescoes and hand-painted ceilings. Travelers will find minibars and liquor dispensers in their rooms.

Areas for lazy lounging include two whirlpools, a sun terrace and loungers next to sparkling pools. The beach beckons with body boards, catamarans and windsurfers, and the two tennis courts are lighted for night play. RiuLand keeps kids busy with supervised activities split between groups of ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12.

When hungry, head to an ample buffet that features made-to-order cooking stations; Brazilian Rodizio offers table service in the evening. Sundown brings live shows and music, and those looking for after-dinner drinks and dancing can pop into the Pacha nightclub.

Rates: From $938 for two people ($469 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.


Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This 4.5-star escape is next door to Xcaret, one of the Riviera Maya's premier ecological and historical preserves. Occidental guests receive discounted tickets to the park, which is within walking distance. There, they can snorkel through an intricate cave system, explore Mayan ruins, swim with dolphins or gaze at exhibits of Technicolor butterflies and tropical birds.

Plenty of alluring diversions await back at the resort, which is about an hour south of Cancun International Airport and 10 minutes from Playa del Carmen. Get wet in five pools and 10 whirlpools, or at the man-made beach that's tucked into a tranquil cove. The staff plans daily entertainment programs for children and adults, as well as evening shows.

Eleven on-site restaurants tempt visitors: Chefs prepare steaks at Sonora Grill, Mediterranean fare at Los Olivos, Mexican specialties at La Hacienda, and Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indian cuisine at D'Oriental. For casual eats, La Piazza doles out pizzas and paninis. Ten bars and lounges round out the food and drink scene at Occidental Grand Xcaret.

Dark woods, tile floors, earthy colors and Mexican-style decor lend a warm, inviting ambience to the 769 rooms.

Rates: From $966 for two people ($483 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.


La Romana, Dominican Republic

Civilization seems far removed from this 4.5-star resort near La Romana, on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. The cluster of red-roofed buildings fronts a swath of tawny beach and is hugged by an immense sea of coconut palms and verdant fields. It's within 45 minutes of the airport in Santo Domingo, the capital.

Pueblo Principe is a shopping and entertainment center at the resort's entrance, where colonial-style architecture in sorbet hues of yellow, lime, pink and peach house the disco, casino, piano bar, shops and a hamburger joint. Guests migrate here for evening amusement, including dancing in the balmy Caribbean nights (you may even learn the merengue, the country's national dance).

The main dining venue is a buffet that features themed culinary evenings. Three a la carte restaurants specialize in Italian fare, seafood preparations and gourmet dishes. There's also 24-hour room service. Four bars -- including watering holes at the beach and pool -- offer refreshing libations.

A large, free-form pool rambles through the center of the property, while kids have their own place to splash about. Youngsters also are kept busy at the activity center for ages 4 to 12, El Principito, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tennis courts, a gym and a spa with a steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi round out the amenities. Services at the spa include aloe vera treatments (good for skin that's seen too much sun) and couples' massages.

Rates: From $898 for two people ($449 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.


Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Vacationers at this 4.5-star resort on lovely Bavaro Beach at the Dominican Republic's eastern tip have a range of restaurants, bars and amenities at their fingertips, all just a little over 12 miles from the airport at Punta Cana.

Grab your paperback and head to one of the shady palapas on the beach, which stretches for more than a mile and is protected by a coral reef, making for calm seas. Recreation at the waterfront includes water polo, snorkeling, windsurfing and kayaking. Scuba diving and motorized sports like water skiing, banana boating and parasailing are offered for a fee. Four tennis courts, a baseball diamond, volleyball net, pingpong table, billiards and darts provide additional diversions. Or, learn a few phrases of the local language at a Spanish class. Instructors also can teach you how to dance the lively merengue or the slower-paced bachata.

Mealtime options include beachside barbecue at La Pina, Dominican and Italian delights at an a la carte restaurant and grilled offerings at the steak house.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe recently unveiled chic new junior suites on the beach. The contemporary spaces are decorated in breezy, neutral tones with occasional punches of color, like deep reds and rich golds. Each has a sea view and Jacuzzi for two.

Rates: From $1,162 for two people ($581 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.


Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The five-star Hotel Riu Guanacaste opened its doors in late 2009 and is the first Costa Rican development from Riu Hotels & Resorts. It's a secluded cocoon enveloped by velvety green hills. Coconut palms and thatched cabanas circle the pool, and just steps away, cerulean waters lap a crescent of pristine sand.

There's plenty to keep vacationers busy at Riu Guanacaste, which is about 21 miles from the airport in Liberia. It offers a full array of land and water sports, plus a gym, billiards, tennis and scuba diving lessons in the pool. Kids can frolic in their own miniclub and playground, while adults looking for late-night action can hit the casino and nightclub.

The Renova Spa has eight treatment rooms, a salon and wet area with steam room and Jacuzzi. Sybaritic services include chocolate body wraps, hot stone massages and shiatsu sessions. Four dining venues cover a range of culinary temptations, and six bars are located throughout the property.

Rates: From $1,188 for two people ($594 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.


Montego Bay, Jamaica

Two enclaves -- the Grand Palladium Jamaica and the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton -- comprise this four-star complex on Jamaica's northwest coast, about 25 minutes from Montego Bay. The whitewashed buildings occupy a peninsula that juts into aquamarine seas. The Jamaica section has 540 rooms, and the Lady Hamilton has 516, including 48 oceanfront villas designed for couples.

Guests share three buffets, seven a la carte restaurants (including Italian, Indian, Creole and Mexican options) and 12 bars, like the swim-up Blue Lagoon.
Activities and recreation are abundant, from darts, petanque, table tennis and miniature golf to tennis, volleyball, basketball and soccer. Cool off in one of the five freshwater pools, or strip away those last bits of pre-vacation tension in any of the four Jacuzzis. Three separate beaches of silky sand edge the Grand Palladium compound. Guests can explore the waters by kayak or catamaran, or borrow snorkeling gear to see what lies beneath. The spa sports a sauna, hydrotherapy shower and solarium.

Kids ages 4 to 12 are welcomed at a children's center that's open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Rates: From $798 for two people ($399 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.


Montego Bay, Jamaica

Fresh from a 2009 renovation, the three-star Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort is about 10 minutes from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, so you can go from the terminal to the beach in record time.

All the usual water toys are here -- snorkel gear, kayaks and pedal boats -- as are a game room, tennis courts and a fitness center equipped with exercise bikes, stair-steppers, treadmills and weights. A large lagoon pool is supplemented by a second oasis reserved for adults. For a bit of pampering, indulge in a honey-and-ginger scrub or aromatherapy massage at the Sol Mer Spa. The KidSpree activity center schedules events throughout the day for the resort's youngest guests, like pool games, concerts and volleyball matches.

Daily buffets are laid out at the Portside Restaurant. SeaBreeze on the beach showcases Caribbean favorites, while ocean-view Trattoria and Sorrento on the terrace serve up Italian classics. Jus' Kiddin' aims to please hungry little ones with pizza, hot dogs, popcorn and ice cream at lunchtime.

Rates: From $1,088 for two people ($544 per person) for seven nights in mid-October.

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