Speak to a Resort Specialist

Christmas kicks off the peak travel season in Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, and this busy period lasts through Easter weekend. The most popular dates -- by far -- are the last 10 days of December. For many, the year-end holidays are a perfect time to relax and rejuvenate at a tropical beach resort, but time is running out for booking air or a hotel room during this popular travel period.

Here's how you can increase your chances of success in your search for a holiday getaway:

1. Depart and return on a weekday.
2. Plan on at least six or seven nights, as many resorts require minimum stays.
3. Stay flexible in your choice of hotels and destinations while you shop for a deal.
4. Book soon, and no later than the end of September.

And, because of limited availability of rooms that accommodate more than two people, families and groups needing triples and quads should book immediately and may still have to consider two rooms.

On the other hand, the weeks sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas are a naturally slow period with some of the lowest prices of the year. It's the perfect time to get a great deal on a tropical getaway this winter.

To give you a head start on your vacation planning, I have scanned more than 1,000 tropical resorts to provide a sampling of the best year-end holiday deals at budget, moderate and luxury properties. To obtain air-inclusive quotes for your desired length of stay, from any US gateway, simply click on any FastDeal # below, select your airport city and click "Search Hotel & Flights".

Top 10 Budget Resort Deals

1) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at The Reef Playacar, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, arriving December 19, starting at $300 per person based on double occupancy ($600 per room), FastDeal #R10445

2) Canada, 7 nights at Novotel Montreal Center, a 3-star resort in Montreal, Quebec, arriving December 26, starting at $464 per person based on double occupancy ($928 per room), FastDeal #R10451

3) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at Oasis Palm Beach, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving December 22, starting at $328 per person based on double occupancy ($656 per room), FastDeal #R10423

4) United States, 7 nights at Flamingo Las Vegas, a 3-star resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, arriving December 27, starting at $591 per person based on double occupancy ($1,182 per room), FastDeal #R10461

5) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at Hotel Cozumel and Resort, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Cozumel, arriving December 28, starting at $485 per person based on double occupancy ($970 per room), FastDeal #R10444

6) St. Kitts, 7 nights at Bird Rock Beach Hotel, a 3-star resort in Basseterre, arriving December 29, starting at $597 per person based on double occupancy ($1,194 per room), FastDeal #R10462

7) Dominican Republic, 7 nights at Caribbean Village Playa Dorada, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, arriving December 26, starting at $644 per person based on double occupancy ($1,288 per room), FastDeal #R10315

8) Pacific Mexico, 7 nights at Playa Los Arcos Hotel and Suites, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, arriving December 19, starting at $676 per person based on double occupancy ($1,352 per room), FastDeal #R10415

9) Hawaii, 7 nights at ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel, a 3-star resort in Honolulu, Oahu, arriving December 20, starting at $681 per person based on double occupancy ($1,362 per room), FastDeal #R10028

10) Turks & Caicos, 7 nights at Comfort Suites Turks & Caicos, a 3-star resort in Providenciales, arriving December 23, starting at $687 per person based on double occupancy ($1,374 per room), FastDeal #R10032

Top 10 Moderate Resort Deals

1) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at El Cozumeleno, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Cozumel, arriving December 28, starting at $551 per person based on double occupancy ($1,102 per room), FastDeal #R10440

2) Jamaica, 4 nights at Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, a 3.5-star All-Inclusive resort in Montego Bay, arriving December 31, starting at $590 per person based on double occupancy ($1,180 per room), FastDeal #R10190

3) Curacao, 4 nights at Breezes Curacao Resort Spa & Casino, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Willemstad, arriving December 24, starting at $681 per person based on double occupancy ($1,362 per room), FastDeal #R10257

4) Pacific Mexico, 7 nights at ClubHotel Riu Jalisco, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, arriving December 19, starting at $683 per person based on double occupancy ($1,366 per room), FastDeal #R10412

5) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Temptation Resort, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving December 21, starting at $711 per person based on double occupancy ($1,422 per room), FastDeal #R10438

6) Dominican Republic, 7 nights at Breezes Puerto Plata Resort & Spa, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, arriving December 23, starting at $740 per person based on double occupancy ($1,480 per room), FastDeal #R10226

7) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Golden Parnassus Resort & Spa, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving December 19, starting at $731 per person based on double occupancy ($1,462 per room), FastDeal #R10439

8) Puerto Rico, 7 nights at Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort, a 4-star resort in Ponce, arriving December 27, starting at $845 per person based on double occupancy ($1,690 per room), FastDeal #R10326

9) St. Martin, 7 nights at Hotel Beach Plaza, a 4-star resort on the French Side, arriving December 22, starting at $868 per person based on double occupancy ($1,736 per room), FastDeal #R10454

10) US Virgin Islands, 7 nights at Carambola Beach Resort, a 4-star resort in St. Croix, arriving December 29, starting at $951 per person based on double occupancy ($1,902 per room), FastDeal #R10456

Top 10 Luxury Resort Deals

1) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at Azul Sensatori Hotel, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving December 19, starting at $638 per person based on double occupancy ($1,276 per room), FastDeal #R10446

2) Pacific Mexico, 7 nights at Samba Vallarta by Pueblo Bonito, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, arriving December 19, starting at $727 per person based on double occupancy ($1,454 per room), FastDeal #R10413

3) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Cozumel, arriving December 31, starting at $907 per person based on double occupancy ($1,814 per room), FastDeal #R10152

4) Puerto Rico, 7 nights at Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort, a 5.5-star resort in Rio Grande, arriving December 20, starting at $1,055 per person based on double occupancy ($2,110 per room), FastDeal #R10023

5) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving December 22, starting at $910 per person based on double occupancy ($1,820 per room), FastDeal #R10437

6) Tobago, 7 nights at VHL Tobago Golf & Spa Resort, a 5-star resort in Scarborough, arriving December 24, starting at $1,120 per person based on double occupancy ($2,240 per room), FastDeal #R10471

7) Jamaica, 4 nights at Beaches Sandy Bay, an All-Inclusive resort in Negril, arriving December 31, starting at $1,157 per person based on double occupancy ($2,314 per room), FastDeal #R10144

8) Bahamas, 4 nights at Atlantis Paradise Island, a 5-star resort on Paradise Island, arriving December 23, starting at $1,272 per person based on double occupancy ($2,544 per room), FastDeal #R10100

9) Antigua, 7 nights at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, an All-Inclusive resort in St. John's, arriving December 20, starting at $1,358 per person based on double occupancy ($2,716 per room), FastDeal #R10148

10) St. Lucia, 7 nights at Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa in St. Lucia, an All-Inclusive resort in Castries, arriving December 21, starting at $1,399 per person based on double occupancy ($2,798 per room), FastDeal #R10079

For a list of charter air and resort specials from selected gateways, click here.

If you see a resort that interests you, call us toll free at 800-998-6925 (US and Canada), and a travel counselor will answer your questions or make a reservation, with or without connecting air from any US or Canadian airport.

Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0800 279 8084. All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at 001-713-974-2121.

For escorted tours worldwide, or air/hotel packages to Europe, click here. For the world's best selection of deeply discounted cruises, click here.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@resortvacationstogo.com and I will respond the same day.

To send one sample copy of this newsletter to a friend, click here.

Sincerely,

R. Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go