Have you decided you've about had it with winter and want to be somewhere sunny and warm? Cheap Caribbean (tel. 800/915-2322; www.cheapcaribbean.com) is offering four nights in the Dominican Republic from $499 per person.
Enjoy an all-inclusive stay (meals, beverages, along with house wines and Dominican beers are covered) at the three-star Coral Costa Caribe Resort, about 45 minutes away from Santo Domingo in Juan Dolio.
Choose from three pools, a white-sand beach with the use of non-motorized sports equipment, an on-site recreation center, and a casino. The property also has a disco, sports bar, and snack bar. Rooms come with a patio or balcony.
One of the helpful things about Cheap Caribbean is that when you select a departure date, the website offers a range of dates that are close to the listed price point (these things tend to fluctuate). Keep in mind that when you click through to book, certain dates may actually drop to $451 per person -- which is less than the advertised price for this promotion. Some dates may also have higher rates, so it's best to be flexible on your departure dates.
Why is this a deal? If you booked airfare on your own, a mid-week late January flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Santo Domingo starts at $343 per person. If you booked four nights at the all-inclusive hotel, expect to pay $957.60 for two people, or $478.80 per person. Booking airfare and hotel independently would cost you at least $821.80 per person.
When you add $100 per person to the package price to cover the taxes, it comes to $599 per person. Therefore, booking the Cheap Caribbean package saves you about $223 per person.
Trip Type: Air-inclusive; independent
What the Quoted Price Gets You: Round-trip airfare from Ft. Lauderdale to Santo Domingo; four nights in a standard hotel/studio room with garden views at Coral Costa Caribe Resort; all meals and most beverages; hotel taxes and gratuities; airline fuel surcharges; a complimentary 10-minute massage per adult at the on-site Sense Spa; and a 20% discount on spa services.
What Else You'll Have to Pay: Government taxes and fees from $100 per person
Book By: Jan. 26, 2012
When: Through Jan. 31 and April 8-June 30 (from $499); Feb. 1-March 31 (from $549)
Single Supplement: $100
Other Gateways: Boston (from $549); Dallas (from $589); San Francisco (from $749)
Other Details: Use promo code "100DR" to receive the $100 instant savings that will bring the trip's starting rate to the sale price of $499.
All prices are per person and, if lodging is a component of the package, based upon two people traveling together (unless otherwise noted). The prices listed are general starting rates; see "What Else You'll Have to Pay" for details about associated taxes and fees. Base-prices, taxes, and fees can vary based on point of departure and time of travel. Blackout dates may apply. Trip add-ons like sightseeing tours and meal plans may also increase the price. Check with the tour operator for additional gateways. The single supplement is the extra cost that a solo traveler would pay to book the deal.
