Airfare: $200 Roundtrip (via Cancun)
Airline: Air Tran
Take a shared shuttle for $33 from the airport on this small island off the southern tip of Mexico, just south of Cancún and across the bay from sure-to-be-mobbed Playa Del Carmen. Cozumel is Mexico’s top destination for scuba diving. But if you prefer a more low-key vacation or you’re bringing the kids along, don’t miss the Amazing Cozumel Race, an interactive, clue-based game that will take you all over the island and ends in a dinner and awards ceremony at a Cozumel restuarant.
(Airfare quoted by Expedia.com)
Airfare: $248 Roundtrip (via San Juan)
Airline: JetBlue
This tiny island west of Puerto Rico is famous for protesting the U.S. Navy’s use of its land for a bomb testing ground. (The Navy finally cut it out in 2003.) It’s also beloved for its deep Spanish identity and, most of all, its white sand beaches. It’s also the home of the surreal Puerto Mosquito, a bio-luminescent bay full of dinoflagellates, organisms that glow around swimmers in the dark. Even with the $62 airport transfer fee, it’s an incredible getaway for less than most domestic flights.
(Airfare quoted by Expedia.com)
Airfare: $401 Roundtrip
Airline: Spirit
If you want to see Honduras’ historic sights, San Pedro Sula is the best place to start -- transportation from here to Tegucigalpa and other cities is a snap. You can rent an economy car from Ace for $26 a day and visit Pulhapanzak waterfall, Honduras’ most beautiful natural attraction. And while you’re in town, shop for handcrafted cigars, rums, and tortillas made while you wait at the famous Guamilito Market.
(Airfare quoted by Kayak.com)
Airfare: $258 Roundtrip (via Cancun)
Airline: Continental
Take a shared shuttle for $50 into this Mexican town on the Caribbean Sea. Then, you’ve got your choice of modern or ancient: get massages at one of the town’s many resorts, or spend your time wandering through the ancient Mayan city of Tulum, one of the best-preserved pre-Columbian cities in Central America.
Airfare: $280 Roundtrip (via Puerto Vallarta)
Airline: United
If you’re an aspiring surfer, don’t miss Sayuilta. A tiny fishing town discovered by roving surfers in the 1960s, it remains small, with only about 4,000 residents. You can get there from the airport for $27 on a shared shuttle service. It’s the perfect off-the-beaten-path destination, with activities like horseback riding and hiking. And as a mecca for surfers of all skill levels, it’s the perfect spot to get comfortable on your board.
(Airfare quoted by Expedia.com)
Airfare: $512 Roundtrip
Airline: American
Everybody knows the Beach Boys sang about Aruba. What you might not know that this tiny Caribbean island is one of the four countries that officially make up the Netherlands. With a rental car from U-Save starting at $37 per day, you can easily see the whole thing. Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, is full of brightly-painted, idiosyncratic architecture, and the island is known for its many natural curiosities, many of which you will find in Arikok National Park. And of course, if you just want to escape the snow, there’s plenty of clear water and white sand waiting for you.
(Airfare quoted by Kayak.com)
Airfare: $444 Roundtrip
Airline: Hawaiian
Honolulu regularly charts on lists of the the global cities with the highest quality of life. You’ll want to rent a car ($32 a day and up) for transportation from the airport and to neighboring islands. Walk into downtown Honolulu to see the state capitol and statues of Hawaii’s greatest kings. Drift through Chinatown to sample some of the best Asian cuisine in the United States, relax on the famous Waikiki Beach, or take advantage of the island of Oahu’s numerous opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling.
(Airfare quoted by Kayak.com)
Airfare: $370 Roundtrip (via Punta Cana)
Airline: U.S. Airways
Miches is the tourist destination of the future. A former fishing town hoping to transform into a resort center, it’s currently undergoing a massive, government-sponsored facelift. But go now while it’s cheap: you can ride horseback across its stunning beaches or take a truck to visit its breathtaking waterfalls and other natural wonders. Airport shuttles run around $30.
Airfare: $557 Roundtrip (connect in Miami)
Airline: American
St. Thomas is the only United States territory where it’s customary to drive on the left side of the road, an old tradition leftover from the island’s days under Danish rule. But don’t bother driving, because it’s tiny and open-air “safari” cabs canvass the capital city of Charlotte Amalie. There’s almost no activity unavailable at St. Thomas, from golf and tennis to windsurfing and parasailing. Or you can ride to the top of one of its many mountains for incredible panoramic views.
Airfare: $328 Roundtrip (via Montego Bay)
Airline: Continental
Negril’s famous “seven mile beach” is consistently rated one of the top ten in the world. The town isn’t bad either -- though it’s less developed than most Caribbean hotspots, it has a wide variety of resorts and hotels to suit travelers of almost any means. It’s cheapness, charm, and love of topless sunbathing are turning it into a spring break destination, so avoid the March rush. Airport shuttle service is available for $45.50.
(Airfare quoted by Expedia.com)
Airfare: $516 (connect in Philadelphia)
Airline: U.S. Airways
If you like your beach getaways a little more urban, Santo Domingo is your spot. This city of 2 million is the largest metropolis in the Caribbean and the oldest European settlement in the Americas. Not surprisingly, it’s full of museums that tell the island’s history from Christopher Columbus to the present. But you can still get away from the skyline to the bright blue waters whenever you feel like it.
Airfare: $386 Roundtrip (via Los Cabos)
This small Mexican town on the Baja California peninsula is a popular destination for Californians who flock there for its fish. Catch some mahi-mahi, and local restaurants will prepare it for you in time for dinner. For a day on the town or the water, you can rent bicycles, kayaks, and sailboats. At night, when it’s cooler, head down to the city’s surfside avenue to watch boats coming in and out of the harbor. Shared shuttle transport from the airport is available for $28.
(Airfare quoted by Expedia.com)
