Caribbean, Mexican Resort Tariffs at Their Lowest Ebb of the Year

Though they might have defects from a cultural standpoint, vacations at all-inclusive resorts have no rival in providing a comfortable, relaxing, stress-free interlude. You leave all thoughts of money, all fears of expense and unanticipated costs behind. From the moment your flight takes off until it touches down at your hometown airport a week later, you can avoid spending a penny over and above the fairly modest sum you paid to your travel agent, or the hotel itself, before departure. Everything is taken care of: plane ticket, lodging in a comfortable room and all your meals, drinks and activities as you relax in the sun-soaked paradise of your choosing.

There are few better times to go than the period from now until just before Christmas, and then just after Jan. 2 for two more weeks, when the “all inclusives” are priced at some of their lowest levels of the year. Travel to the tropics is sluggish during those dates (and even more so this year), so the resorts--virtually without exception--cut rates to entice you to their beaches. The following four suppliers will put you up for seven nights with all meals, drinks and sports--and throw in round-trip air fare as well--for as little as $968 per person. The only extras are airport departure taxes and fuel surcharges, which will add about $80 to $110 a head.

Sun Village Beach Resort, Dominican Republic: On the north shore of the budget-friendly Dominican Republic, in the heart of the Caribbean, this four-star hotel offers three pools, a la carte dining (instead of the basic buffet-only system offered by some budget properties) and a location convenient to Puerto Plata and the airport. What’s more, it was just renovated to the tune of $3 million. The resort usually sells for twice the amount offered throughout January by Inter Island Tours, (800) 245-3434, https://www.interislandtours.com. For seven nights including a flight from LAX, the price is $1,129 per person based on midweek departures; fluctuating air fares could raise or lower this price slightly.

Allegro Resort Papagayo, Costa Rica: Your Travel Service, (888) 877-9131, https://www.yourtravelservice.com, a reliable dealer in Costa Rica vacations, has announced a seven-night package at this property, which has been open one year. From their rooms in a horseshoe-shaped structure along the Papagayo Gulf, vacationers can catch a glorious sunset, but at discount rates. For travel until Dec. 20, the price is $968 from Los Angeles. Again, that includes the works: air fare, meals and so on. Prices in January are about $50 more.

Riu Tequila Golf and Beach Resort, Playa del Carmen, Mexico: For those who like the more established, familiar flavor of the well-developed beaches outside Cancun and the exotic, historic attractions of Mexico’s Yucatan and Mayan culture, this resort serves up the best of both worlds, since it’s about 40 miles from Cancun and within easy reach of the region’s ruins. Its reasonable distance from town allowed builders to create a spread-out, airy design. Mexico Travel Net, (800) 511-4848, https://www .mexicotravelnet.com, has unusually low rates for seven-night all-inclusive vacations (round-trip air fare, room, three meals daily, unlimited drinks and sports) on the order of $978 midweek from Los Angeles or San Francisco, for travel through January (but excluding the holidays).

Reef Club Cozumel, Mexico: This popular economy-class resort comes with all the frills expected of the all-inclusive vacation genre, such as multiple pools, swim-up bars and a beach location. Cozumel is known for its snorkeling (in spots like Chankanab Lagoon) and offshore diving, so the property features a dive shop too. Caradonna Caribbean Tours, (800) 328-2288, https://www.caradonna.com, does a great deal of business with the resort, and that enables it to offer markdowns on seven-night vacations. For round-trip air fare, room, meals, drinks and sports, it charges $1,016 from Los Angeles through Dec. 23. Departures Jan. 3 to 31 are $1,275.