Sunny resorts that include everything

The number of Caribbean and Mexican resorts operating as “all-inclusives” -- that is, supplying a room, three meals daily, unlimited beverages, sports and entertainment for one fixed price -- continues to grow. As these properties spread, competition among them increases.

Throughout January and sometimes even further into winter, the price for a week at some tropical all-inclusives, including round-trip air fare, has fallen to about $1,000 or less. In the examples below, $859 to $1,125 will buy you air fare, accommodations, meals and drinks for a week, and almost everything else for which you would usually pay extra at a noninclusive resort.

Cancun from $859: A seven-night vacation in Mexico’s most popular location at the seaside Barcelo Club las Perlas, an economy resort minutes from the shopping district, costs as little as $859 for departures from Oakland on Jan. 12, 19 and 26, or $929 for Feb. 2, 6, 20 and 27. The charter flights are operated by SunTrips, (800) 786-8747, www.suntrips.com. Single-room surcharge: $150 to $200. Prices vary according to dates.

Playa del Carmen from $969: This winter, E-Vacations.com, (888) 653-8242, www.e-vacations.com, is offering seven-night stays in Playa del Carmen, a booming Mexican resort town 40 miles south of Cancun. Its “Mucha Playa” package is for stays at the 130-room Club Bananas, where all rooms have a terrace or balcony. The rate is as low as $969 from Los Angeles for midweek departures during high season, Jan. 7 to March 24. Additional nights cost $76, and the supplement for singles is $98. Price varies by date.

Honduras from $1,020: Often overshadowed by neighboring Belize, Honduras is friendly and inexpensive, with superb diving and a vibrant culture. Capricorn Leisure, (800) 426-6544, www.capricorn.net, lures travelers for seven nights at the 118-room Barcelo Palma Real Beach Resort (with casino, two restaurants, pool, disco, sports and children’s activities) in Playa Roma off the Caribbean coast for $1,020 from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Panama from $1,125: Also from Capricorn Leisure: You can experience the Central American isthmus from two perspectives, with seven-night vacations including air fare and ground transfers. Spend one night on the Costa del Sol in Panama City, then pass six nights at the Barcelo las Olas, a Pacific oceanfront property in Chiriqui, west of a national turtle sanctuary. It has two restaurants and two pools. Based on midweek travel Jan. 2 to March 31, prices are $1,125 from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additional nights: $87 each.

Any drawbacks to an all-inclusive resort? First, meals tend to be buffet style, and some travelers tire of that weeklong sameness. More important, because you have already paid for all meals, you may be discouraged from trying the local cuisine or experiencing the restaurants outside the resort. You and your fellow guests rarely stray from the hotel’s grounds.

Some Americans don’t like the idea of an all-inclusive resort; others find the price advantages irresistible. Either way, all-inclusives provide one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a tropical vacation.