4 hot vacations at cool prices

For the best deals on warm-weather getaways, you've got to head off the beaten beach.

The Dominican Republic
Punta Cana's all-inclusives are very kid-friendly.
For families with kids:
The Dominican Republic
The D.R. may not have the star-studded cachet of other chichi Caribbean destinations, such as St. Bart's or Anguilla. But the country that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti does have a lot to offer to those with kids in tow, and at reasonable prices.

"The D.R. is an all-inclusive hotbed right now," says Ana Chavier Caamaño, author of "Moon Dominican Republic." "Because of this, it's a great place for money-conscious people who want to be treated well."

Meals are part of the package, and you don't have to fret about unanticipated expenses (a.k.a. Junior's demand for umpteen sodas a day). Besides that, the resorts offer almost around-the-clock kiddie activities that allow you and your spouse a little alone time.

The coastal area of Punta Cana, where many of the all-inclusives are situated, offers white sand beaches and coral reef snorkeling. Though the resorts are pretty insular, the best of them also help guests experience some local culture, from fried plantains to merengue music.

Where to stay: Petra Schmeckpeper, a travel agent with Carlson Wagonlit in La Crosse, Wis., suggests the Spanish-based Riu chain, which runs five resorts in Punta Cana, all with family programs. Weekly packages begin around $1,100 per person, all-inclusive.

Another option: Club Med Punta Cana. The resort offers kids' camps for children four months to 17 years. Rates start at $400 per person per day.
Last updated January 24 2008: 7:01 PM ET

Intro

Nicaragua

The D.R.

Mexico

Florida
Shopping for travel on the Web has become a long-drawn-out chore. Money Magazine's step-by-step strategy will get you to the good deals fast. (more)
Going with friends can slash vacation costs. Just don't let it put the Big Chill on your relationship. (more)
With many airlines adopting new baggage-weight restrictions, luggage manufacturers have shaved pounds off their suitcases. How does that affect durability? (more)

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.