From the old-school glamour of Acapulco to the fishing village of Puerto Vallarta to the chi-chi, celeb-loving Cabo San Lucas and more, the west coast of Mexico offers an array of resort options and is easily accessible to those living in the Southwest and Western United States. Like the rest of resort-driven Mexico, there are almost too many deals, many of them all-inclusive.
Book It (tel. 888/782-9722; www.bookit.com) has a special that looks like it's too good to be true. The five-star resort Pueblo Bonito in Cabo San Lucas is priced from an astonishingly low $79 a night, with the fourth night free. The deal is good for travel through October 31. The property overlooks the ocean and features a 50-acre garden. There are blackout dates around Labor Day weekend, September 1-4.
Cheap Caribbean (tel. 800/915-2322; www.cheapcaribbean.com) has a deal going for $300 off fall travel for what it terms "Los Cabos Super Surprise Special," which basically means you will stay at one of a handful of places the company has vetted. It is a seven-night, eight-day package priced from $679 per person from Los Angeles based on double occupancy in a standard room for travel now through December. Make sure you use the promo code Getaway0607; the price posted does not reflect the discount. Taxes, service charges, meals and beverages are not included.
If for some reason you decide at the last minute that you want to go on vacation to Mexico this weekend, ELeisurelink (tel. 800/801-8808; www.eleisurelink.com) has a package for travel to Puerto Vallarta from New York priced from a low $608 per person for flight, two nights of accommodations, taxes and fees. It's a last minute deal that's priced for a Saturday, August 26 departure. However, if you're flying that far it's hardly worth staying just two nights and cheaper in the long run to add a few days; for example, if you return Wednesday instead of Monday, it's only $672. Described as "Masterpieces by the Sea" the deal allows you to select from more than two dozen hotels: keep in mind that your choice may bump up the price.
Expedia (tel. 800/397-3342; www.expedia.com) is running a fare sale to Mexico cities, starting from $395 round-trip from Los Angeles to Mexico City, for example. Los Angeles-Puerto Vallarta starts from $397; L.A. to Los Cabos, $406, San Francisco-Los Cabos, $502. There are no posted travel date restrictions or expiration dates, which is a fairly good indicator that you should act quickly. Better yet, there's some transparency here. If you click on the price, it shows you a calendar with the date of travel for that price. So for example, clicking on $406 shows you a September 11 departure. Expedia has also introduced its Best Price Guarantee (www.expedia.com/daily/highlights/best-rate-guarantee/default.asp), which means that if you find a better priced deal within 24 hours of booking with Expedia, the company will refund the difference and give you a $50 travel coupon.
Pleasant Holidays (tel. 800/742-9244; www.pleasantholidays.com) has some great deals to the west coast of Mexico, especially if you're traveling from Los Angeles. Priced from $349 per person, plus taxes and fees (approximately an additional $100 or so), you get the fourth night free and kids 14 and younger stay and eat for free, but you must depart on a Wednesday or Thursday and travel on select dates through October 26. The price is for the El Cid Granada Country Club in Mazatlan. The resort is a three-story building that is connected to its sister beach resort by a pedestrian sky bridge. Or if you are inclined to travel to Puerto Vallarta, you can travel from $395 to the Playa Los Arcos Beach Resort, where kids 15 and younger stay free. It's a four-night deal and the hotel is a beachfront, hacienda-style property within walking distance of downtown Puerto Vallarta.
There are a handful of upscale Quinta Real properties in Mexico (tel. 800/728-9098; www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com) and a couple of them are running specials. Quinta Real Acapulco, located on the Punta Diamante, is also just ten minutes from the airport and fifteen from the city's golden zone. For its current promotion, you can spend one night in a master suite, with a welcome cocktail and American breakfast for two for $190 during weekdays and $259 for weekends. The suite boasts panoramic sea views, Hermes bath accessories and original artwork. The promotion is valid until December 21, based on double occupancy and availability. As the southernmost resort on the Pacific Coast, Quinta Real Huatulco is located in the state of Oaxaca on Tangolunda Bay. Its executive package is a two-night, three-day stay in a master suite, daily breakfast for two adults, use of tennis courts and a 20 percent discount at the Tangolunda golf course. Master suites here all have a private balcony with partial ocean views and a marble bathroom with a Jacuzzi. Additionally, you can also bring two children under 12 years old for free. The weekday rate for this package is $4,450 and it does not include 18 percent tax and gratuities. Blackout periods include Easter Week, Holy week and national holidays, valid through December 19. Note: You must book through the URL we've listed here and not the hotel's web page (www.quintareal.com).
Orbitz (tel. 877/672-4893; www.orbitz.com) has an offer for $200 off select vacation packages to Occidental Hotel properties scattered throughout resort areas in Mexico. Allegro Nuevo Vallarta in Nuevo Vallarta (a village about 25 minutes from Puerto Vallarta) is priced from $785 for a flight from Phoenix and the minimum, five-night stay, for travel September 1-December 15, but you must book by August 27. You must input the code FALL200 for Occidental Properties (Allegro is one). There are also other, select resorts offering a $100 discount for five-plus nights in the fall using the code FALL100. Searching Orbitz, though, can often be a trying experience -- links seem to disappear without warning. If you get frustrated or foiled, try going from this link, which searches all current deals in other destinations in Mexico. In Acapulco, one of the most established Mexican resort areas, the four-star Las Brisas is available from an average $130 per night or $831 for flight from Los Angeles and four nights. The resort is nestled into a hillside and it overlooks Acapulco Bay. Or opt for something less expensive, such as the three-star Avalon Excalibur Acapulco, available from an average $51 per night or $641 for round-trip airfare and four nights. Both prices reflect mid-September travel dates.
Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.travelocity.com), in conjunction with Aero Mexico, is offering first-class fares at a low rate, starting from $447 round-trip. It's good for travel through December 10 as long as you book by December 2. A three-day advance purchase is required and there is no minimum or maximum stay. The lowest rate is for San Diego-Los Cabos; other destinations, such as Mexico City, are also included.
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