40 Best

Reader Report
Sandra and Jay Rush, of Rexburg, Idaho, noticed a cross-country ski package at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins in Yellowstone National Park in our December/January issue and booked it during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. "We had a blast!" writes Sandra. "Even though there were below-zero temperatures the whole time, it was sunny and the skiing was outstanding. The lodge has been there forever, and the rooms are a bit spartan, but the excellent attention and service give the place a warm atmosphere. It felt like a cozy retreat in the Alps but was less than a day's drive from our home. We'd go back in a heartbeat."Contact: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel's summer rates start at $72 per night (Xanterra Parks & Resorts, 866/439-7375, travelyellowstone.com).

MEXICO
Cabo San Lucas for $789
Champion Air charter flights from St. Louis, transfers, and seven nights at the all-inclusive Best Western Posada Real Los Cabos in the hotel zone. When: Monday departures May 7-July 23. Other Gateways: Dallas, May 30-July 25 ($809). Contact: Worry-Free Vacations, 888/225-5658, worryfreevacations.com.

Playa del Carmen for $519
JetBlue Airways flights from New York to Cancún and five nights at the all-inclusive Reef Playacar Beach Resort on Playa del Carmen, 40 miles south of Cancún. Round-trip airport transfers are not included. When: May 6, 9, 10, 13, 16; June 10; July 8. Other Gateways: None. Contact: JetBlue Airways, 800/538-2583, jetblue.com/getaways.

CARIBBEAN
Anguilla for $699
Arawak Beach Inn's Island Adventure package includes round-trip airport transfers, seven nights in an oceanfront room with breakfast daily, four dinners, a three-day car rental, champagne on arrival, a daylong beach excursion with lunch, and a day trip to Saint Martin. This is a land-only price; international airfare isn't covered. When: Until May 31 ($799); June 1-Oct. 31 ($699). Contact: Arawak Beach Inn, 877/427-2925, arawakbeach.com.

Bahamas for $535
JetBlue Airways flights from New York and three nights at the Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino on Cable Beach. Round-trip airport transfers are not included. When: May 7, 20, 21, 22; June 18; July 9. Other Gateways: None. Contact: JetBlue Airways, 800/538-2583, jetblue.com/getaways.

Caribbean Cruise for $679
Seven-night round-trip sailing from San Juan on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas, with two days at sea and stops in Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. The price includes port charges but not airfare. When: Sunday departures May 6-June 24; July 15-29 ($679 inside cabin/$769 ocean-view cabin). Contact: American Discount Cruises, 866/214-7447, americandiscountcruises.com.

Dominican Republic for $649
Air from Miami and seven nights at the all-inclusive LTI Beach Resort Punta Cana Golf & Spa on Bávaro Beach. When: May 1-July 1. Book by June 25. Other Gateways: None. Contact: The Vacation Travel Mart, 800/288-1435, vacmart.com.

Jamaica for $299
Spirit Airlines flights from Fort Lauderdale, transfers, and three nights at the Samsara Cliff Resort in Negril. When: May 7-21; May 29-June 25. Other Gateways: Orlando, Tampa ($374); Atlanta, Atlantic City, Chicago, D.C., Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York, Providence ($424). Contact: Spirit Vacations, 800/617-3325, spiritvacations.com.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Costa Rica for $689
American Airlines flights from Miami, a seven-day Toyota Yaris rental, five nights near Manuel Antonio National Park at the Hotel Costa Verde, and two nights in a 550-acre rain-forest reserve at the Hotel Villa Lapas. When: May 1-June 30, Sept. 1-Oct. 31 ($689); July 1-Aug. 31 ($788). Other Gateways: Dallas (from $714); New York (from $749); Chicago (from $775); L.A., San Francisco (from $782); Portland, Seattle (from $875). Contact: Capricorn Leisure Corp., 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.

Guatemala Tour for $1,149
Grupo Taca Airlines flights from Miami to Guatemala City, all transfers and local transportation (local buses, private van, motor boat), and a 16-day fully escorted tour with 13 nights in simple hotels and two nights in jungle lodges. Itinerary highlights include Antigua's colonial architecture and visits to the waterfalls of Semuc Champey, the Mayan ruins at Tikal, the Chichicastenango market, Lake Atitlán, and both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Add $320 for meals. A local payment of $250 is due upon arrival. When: May 11, 18; June 1, 8, 22, 29; July 13, 20; Aug. 3, 10, 24, 31. Other Gateways: D.C., L.A., New York ($1,199); San Francisco ($1,249). Contact: Adventure Center, 800/227-8747, adventurecenter.com.

Nicaragua for $799
American Airlines flights from Miami to Managua, transfers, and seven nights at the all-inclusive Barceló Montelimar Beach resort on the Pacific coast. When: May 1-June 30, Sept. 30-Dec. 9 ($799); July 1-Aug. 31 ($998). Other Gateways: Dallas (from $829); New York (from $945); Chicago, L.A., San Francisco (from $999); Portland, Seattle (from $1,055). Contact: Capricorn Leisure Corp., 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.

SOUTH AMERICA
Brazilian Coast Tour for $995
A 13-day escorted tour round trip from Rio de Janeiro along the southeastern coast of Brazil with all transfers and local transportation (flight to Florianópolis, ferry, public bus, train), 10 nights' accommodations in simple hotels, and one night on a bus. Spend three nights on the island Ilha do Mel; two nights each in Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, and Paraty; and one in Curitiba. A $300 local payment is due upon arrival. Add $260 for meals. The price doesn't cover international airfare. When: May 27, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 14. Contact: G.A.P Adventures, 800/465-5600, gapadventures.com.