The Riviera Maya is a 130km stretch of the Caribbean coastline that's situated between resort-heavy Cancun (north) and the Mayan ruins of the walled city Tulum (south), and includes Mexico's largest island, Cozumel. For the basics, try the Loco Gringo (www.locogringo.com), a good first stop to browse information about accommodations, resorts and rentals, and activities, how to get around, and other useful information. With the exception of the more heavily tourist-friendly destinations in Cancun, there are still sandy unspoiled beaches in this area, and plenty of opportunities to golf, scuba dive, or explore Mayan archeological sites.
ATA Vacations (tel. 800/442-8952; www.atavacations.com) is offering a special to Cancun called "Book early and save up to $250 per couple." For the Gran Caribe Real Resort and Spa, they're offering a special is valid for travel that includes a Thursday departure between January 19 and February 16, 2006. Prices start from $674 for three nights, air-inclusive, based on a Chicago to Cancun flight. The resort is a three-star property right on the beach in the hotel zone. From Chicago-Midway there's also a trip to Riviera Maya's Club El Mandarin for seven nights from $1169. The all-inclusive offer is only valid for Monday departures January 7-21 and February 8, 2006. The final ATA offer is for Riviera Maya from New York City. The three-night, air inclusive trip starts at $889 for Wednesday departures on January 4, 25, or February 8. The destination is the relatively new Barcel¿ Maya Beach Resort, located near a park and the rooms are bright and modern looking. The booking deadline is October 31 and good for travel between January 1, 2006 and March 9, 2006 and make sure you enter the code WIN06CUN when you book.
Pleasant Holidays (tel. 800/742-9244; www.pleasantholidays.com) is offering a special at the Avalon Baccara Cancun, a budget-priced but attractive hotel on the beach from $420, plus taxes and fees, for departures from Miami. The rate is good for four nights and five days, for travel through December 15, 2005 on Thursdays on American Airlines. The rate goes up slightly for New York-JFK departures (from $549) to Cancun for the same deal; Chicago-O'Hare airport departures are $571.
Aero Mexico Vacations (tel. 888/377-4788; www.aeromexicovacations.com) has a special for the fifth night free at the Fiesta family of hotels, good for travel between now and December 15, 2005. There are tons of Cancun specials at the moment, some for immediate, fall travel and others for winter, after the holidays. Choose from their Grand Coral Beach, Grand Aqua, Condesa and Explorean Kohunlich properties. Other Cancun offers include an "early booking bonus" and reduced rate for Beach Palace for travel between January 1 and April 30, 2006, and reduced rate, early booking bonus for the golf special at Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort if you book by November 15 for travel between December 21, 2005 and January 2, 2005. Unfortunately, the site does not list the price specifics for each offer, so it's not easy to comparison shop, but if you have your heart set on a specific hotel or resort (say the Westin Resort and Spa or the Ritz Carlton), or, this is an easy way to see who's offering what, when.
For Riviera Maya, Aero Mexico Vacations has a whole section that allows you to search resorts by location and luxury level, from moderately priced hotels to luxury and deluxe destinations.
Vacation Travel Mart (tel. 800/288-1435; www.vacmart.com) also has a Miami-Cancun route from the astoundingly low $339 for three nights stay and round-trip air. The drawback is that it's only good for travel through November 30, 2005, so it's best for last-minute excursions. Presidente Inter-Continental Cancun is a AAA four-diamond resort set on the beach, naturally. Other departure cities -- Boston $549, Chicago $479 -- are available. If three nights is not enough, the Miami-based price for five nights cost $439; seven nights are priced from $539. You must book by November 11, some blackout dates apply; round-trip transfers and taxes are not included.