Pinching Pesos on Winter Vacations

Fall is typically bargain time in Mexico, but many 1999 values are being extended into 2000 because Millennium Madness hasn’t sparked heavy year-end bookings. Thus penny-wise travelers in search of sun and salsa should do well south of the border--especially for a modestly priced New Year’s Eve. (The recent earthquake, centered around the southwest coast near Oaxaca, reportedly caused no damage to coastal resorts mentioned below.)

Tour operator Travel Impressions, tel. (800) 284-0044, has air-inclusive seven-night fall packages to Cancun starting at $639 per person double occupancy, and three-night packages at the deluxe Acapulco Princess for $545 per person double occupancy.

Club Med, telephone (800) 258-2633, for the first time has planned winter value packages rather than offering spotty last-minute bargains to areas that prove slow as winter wears on. Among deals it’s touting are three-night Special Weekend Getaways on select dates (three-night land-only rates start at $249 for Cancun). Seven-night all-inclusive Cancun vacations (air fare from LAX, lodging, meals, unlimited beer and wine with lunch and dinner, gratuities and most activities) start at $999 Nov. 27 to Dec. 11.

Over Thanksgiving (Nov. 20 departure), seven all-inclusive nights with air fare start at $1,499 from Los Angeles to Cancun. Other all-inclusive one-week Club Med Mexico holiday specials (departures Dec. 18 from Los Angeles) include Cancun, $2,549; Huatulco, $1,999; Ixtapa, $1,899; and newly renovated Playa Blanca, $1,599. Prices are per person, double occupancy, for a standard room. Adult prices apply to all guests 12 and over (at some villages, such as Cancun and Playa Blanca, guests must be age 18 or older). Additional costs include government taxes/fees; annual Club Med membership fee of $50 per adult, $20 per child; and one-time initiation fee of $30 per family.

Go Go Worldwide Vacations offers three- and six-night packages from Los Angeles to Cancun (from $435/$565) and Acapulco (from $479/$495) with midweek air fare and hotel, hotel taxes, transfers; most are available through Dec. 14, but effective dates vary. Call a travel agent to book.

Continental Airlines Vacations, tel. (800) 634-5555, is promoting “Fall Free Nights”--air-inclusive vacation packages to select hotels throughout the country. Packages offering a fourth night free are available to Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel and Los Cabos; most also have free-night offers that apply to longer stays. Four-night stays--including round-trip air from LAX, airport transfers, lodging, hotel taxes and service charges--start at $620 per person, double. Packages are subject to availability, restrictions and blackout dates.

Among hotel deals: In Cancun, fourth night free at Hyatt Regency Cancun, tel. (800) 233-1234; Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas, tel. (800) THE-OMNI; and Caesar Park Cancun Beach & Golf Resort, tel. (800) WESTIN-1. In Cozumel, fourth night free at Coral Princess Hotel & Resort, tel. (800) 253-2702; sixth night free at Fiesta Inn Cozumel, tel. (800) FIESTA-1. In Los Cabos, fourth night free at Melia Los Cabos, tel. (800) 33-MELIA; Presidente Inter-Continental Los Cabos, tel. (800) 327-0200; Fiesta Inn San Jose del Cabo, tel. (800) 504-5000; and Casa del Mar, tel. (800) 221-8808. In Acapulco, the Acapulco Princess offers the fourth or the sixth and seventh nights free, tel. (800) 223-1818; Westin Las Brisas a fourth night free, tel. (800) WESTIN-1. The eight other Westins of Mexico are offering various specials as well, with room rates starting at $152 daily through Dec. 21. Travel agents can supply more.