40 Best Vacations

Bonaire for $1,354
Air from Miami, transfers, and eight nights at the beachfront Plaza Resort Bonaire, near the capital of Kralendijk. The hotel has a pool, man-made lagoon, spa, gym, dive shop, four tennis courts, three restaurants, and a bar. When Until July 31. Other Gateways Houston (add $7), New York (add $122), Chicago (add $186), D.C. (add $194), Boston (add $204). Details Extra nights from $79. Single supplement from $517. Contact Caradonna Dive Adventures, 800/328-2288, caradonna.com.

Jamaica for $399
Air from Fort Lauderdale, transfers, and three nights near Montego Bay at the all-inclusive Starfish Trelawny Resort & Spa--with a three-mile-long beach, 18 holes of golf, four tennis courts, four pools, four restaurants, six bars, and a disco. When May 1--June 30 ($418), July 1--31 ($399). Other Gateways Orlando, Tampa ($478/$459); D.C. ($568/$549); Atlantic City, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Providence ($598/$579). Details Extra nights from $99. Single supplement from $149. Contact Leisure Link International, 888/801-8808, eleisurelink.com.

St. Lucia for $699
Air from Miami and seven nights at the Bay Gardens Hotel on Rodney Bay. The locally owned 71-room hotel has two pools, a restaurant, two bars, and a free shuttle to the beach, five minutes away. When May 1--4, May 16--July 31. Other Gateways New York ($852), Baltimore ($912), Charlotte ($932). Details Extra nights $57. Single supplement $399. Add $55 for round-trip transfers; the hotel is just over an hour from the airport. Contact Atlas Vacations, 800/634-1057, atlasvacations.net.

Central America

Belize for $744
American Airlines flights from Miami to Belize City, an onward flight to Ambergris Cay, and seven nights' lodging. Spend four nights at the Spindrift Hotel in the center of Ambergris's San Pedro Town, and three nights at the beachfront Anchorage Resort on Caye Caulker. When Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday departures May 1--June 30 and Sept. 1--Oct. 31 ($744), July 1--Aug. 31 ($804). Other Gateways Dallas ($789/$849); New York ($843/$903); Chicago ($946/$1,006); L.A., San Francisco ($1,006/$1,066); Seattle ($1,048/$1,108). Details Extra nights from $25. Single supplement from $189. Water taxi transport from San Pedro Town to Caye Caulker is not included ($12). Contact Capricorn Leisure, 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.

Buenos Aires & Santiago for $899
Aerolíneas Argentinas flights from Miami to Buenos Aires, four nights at the downtown Regis Hotel, a half-day city tour with an English-speaking guide, onward flights to Santiago, Chile, two nights at the Hotel Principado in Plaza Italia, and breakfast daily throughout. When Until Nov. 30. Other Gateways New York (add $60). Details Extra nights from $27. Single supplement $240. Add on a tour of the Cusino Macul Winery ($40), or a full-day trip to coastal Chile's Viña del Mar beach community and the port city of Valparaíso ($65). Contact Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Costa Rica for $898
American Airlines flights from Dallas, Houston, or Miami to San José, all transfers and local transportation (by bus and boat), six nights' lodging (three in San José at the Hotel Irazú Best Western and three at the Pachira Lodge in Tortuguero), breakfast daily, two lunches, two dinners, and a four-hour river-sightseeing cruise through the rain forest with an English-speaking guide. When Until June 30 ($898), July 1--Aug. 15 ($998). Other Gateways Boston, D.C., New York (add $120); Atlanta, Chicago, L.A., San Francisco (add $180). Details Extra nights from $48. Single supplement $432. Contact Tara Tours, 800/327-0080, taratours.com.

El Salvador for $997
American Airlines flights from Dallas, D.C., Houston, Miami, or New York to San Salvador, transfers, and six nights at the all-inclusive Hotel Royal Decameron Salinitas. The beachfront hotel has both fresh- and saltwater pools, a kids' club, three restaurants, and a disco. When Wednesday and Thursday departures until June 30 and Aug. 17--Dec. 8 ($997), July 1--Aug. 16 ($1,057). Other Gateways Atlanta, L.A., San Francisco ($1,047/$1,167); Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle ($1,147/$1,267). Details Add $60 for weekend travel. Extra nights from $48. Single supplement from $360. Contact Tara Tours, 800/327-0080, taratours.com.

Nicaragua for $899
American Airlines flights from Miami to Managua, all transfers, and seven nights' lodging. Spend two nights in the colonial city of Granada at the Hotel Alhambra (on the main park), three nights near the beach at the Pelican Eyes Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort (on the Pacific coast in San Juan del Sur), and two nights near Lake Apoyo at the Norome Resort and Villas (in the Norome Private Reserve). When May 1--June 30 and Sept. 1--Dec. 9 ($899), July 1--Aug. 16 ($959). Other Gateways Dallas ($937/$997); New York ($1,069/$1,129); L.A., San Francisco ($1,123/$1,183); Chicago ($1,135/$1,195); Portland, Seattle ($1,264/$1,324). Details Extra nights from $25. Single supplement from $410. Contact Capricorn Leisure, 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.

South America

Summer Skiing for $1,200
When the last pockets of snow melt in the Rockies, die-hard skiers and boarders head south of the equator, where the season is roughly mid-June to mid-October. Chile's Portillo is the oldest (and, many would argue, the most charming) ski resort in the Andes. Its three lodging options can only accommodate 450 guests at a time, which means the slopes are never crowded. Weeklong packages--the only kind that are sold--include seven nights at the Hotel Portillo, all meals, a seven-day ski pass, and unlimited use of the resort's extensive facilities (gym, pool, hot tubs, yoga classes, climbing wall, cinema, etc.). When Saturday-to-Saturday stays. June 17, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30 ($1,200); June 24, July 1, 8, 29, Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26, Sept. 2 ($1,900); July 15, 22 ($2,340). Details Extra nights from $171 (all-inclusive). Single supplement from $100. Portillo is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the Santiago airport; add $90 for round-trip shuttle transfers. The resort offers free day care for children ages 3--7. Contact Ski Portillo Chile, 800/829-5325, skiportillo.com.

Peru for $1,678
LanPeru flights from Miami to Lima, transfers, three nights at the Hotel Leon de Oro (or similar), an onward flight to Cuzco, three nights at the Plaza de Armas Hostal (or similar), a full-day tour of Machu Picchu by Backpacker train, a full-day excursion by bus to Nazca (includes a visit to Huacachina Lake and a flight over giant desert geoglyphs), breakfast daily, two lunches, all entrance fees, and tours of all three cities with English-speaking guides. When May 1--Sept. 30. Other Gateways New York (add $150), L.A. (add $250). Details Extra nights $25. Single supplement $180. Contact Analie Tours, 800/811-6027, analietours.com.

Europe

A New Way to See Scandinavia for $979
In January, Pennsylvania-based Gate 1 Travel expanded its roster of European destinations to include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. "This is our first season in Scandinavia, and basically, it's due to customer demand," says Ilene Braun, vice president of sales and marketing. After two years of researching the right hotels and tour guides, Gate 1 is now selling independent city stays in Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki, and Stockholm, as well as 12- and 15-day fully escorted trips. The Copenhagen package, for example, includes round-trip flights from New York and four nights at the Hotel Opera--a short walk from the Royal Theatre and Amalienborg Palace--and breakfast daily. When May 10 ($979); June 28, July 5 ($1,169); Aug. 9, Sept. 6 ($1,259), Oct. 4 ($999). Other Gateways Boston (add $4); Miami (add $62); Atlanta (add $73); Baltimore, Houston (add $97); San Francisco (add $228). Details Extra nights from $188. Single supplement from $221. Contact Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Greece by Land & Sea for $2,495
Viking Yacht Cruises' 13-night Magnificent Greece combines a seven-day cruise of the Aegean with seven days touring Athens and major archaeological sites. On a round-trip sailing from Athens, the 40-passenger yacht stops at the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Páros, Kíthnos, Syros, and Naxos. Then the tour moves onto land and visits Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora. The price covers lodging (three nights in Athens, seven aboard the ship, and one each in Olympia, Delphi, and Kalambaka), transportation (by boat and private bus), most meals, and English-speaking guides throughout. When Thursday departures May 11--Oct. 19. Details BT readers will receive a $250-per-person discount on sailings July 6--Aug. 31. Airfare to Athens is not included; add $65 for port taxes. Extra nights from $85. Single supplement $490. Contact Viking Yacht Cruises, 800/341-3030, vikings.gr.