Travel: Caribbean Summer

Seems we've been hearing lots about "staycations" this year.

Simply put, a staycation is a vacation close to home, enjoying what your local communities have to offer. With gas prices so high, it's certainly not a bad idea to toddle off to one of Phoenix's luxury resorts for a few days, where prices can be less than half what they are during the winter.

Except it's still hot.

The Caribbean, on the other hand, has sparkling azure waters, uncrowded beaches (it's low season there now), and cooling ocean breezes that keep daytime temps in the high ‘70s and low ‘80s.

A random look at a few prices quickly reveals bargains galore. In Puerto Rico, seven nights at San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, a five-star resort in San Juan, arriving Aug. 3, starts at $833 per person based on double occupancy ($1,666 per room).

On the island of St. Kitts, you can spend seven nights at Ottley's Plantation Inn, a four-star resort in Basseterre, arriving July 19, with prices starting at $647 per person based on double occupancy ($1,294 per room).

Even closer to home, (with cheaper air fare) you can stay for seven nights at Plaza Resort & Spa, a three-star resort in Daytona Beach, Fla., arriving Aug. 9, starting at $564 per person based on double occupancy ($1,128 per room).

The above deals are available by logging on to www.vacationstogo.com.

All-inclusives

Another way to save is to seek out an all-inclusive resort, where your room, meals, activities, alcoholic (usually) and non-alcoholic beverages are all priced at a single rate, paid for up front. That way, you know exactly what your vacation will cost.

If the resort is your destination, this is a good family-friendly option. The only drawback is that if you go off-site for a meal, you're still paying for the meal served at your hotel.

Among most-popular all-inclusives is the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino in Oranjestad. When booking four nights you'll get a fifth night free, plus a $100 food and beverage credit in some categories.

In the Western Caribbean, Yucatan Mexico, seven nights at Viva Wyndham Maya, a three-star, all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, arriving Aug. 30, starts at $584 per person based on double occupancy ($1,168 per room.)

In St. Lucia, a charming island located in the eastern Caribbean island cluster, rooms at the all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach resort and Spa begin at $99 per person per night from Aug. 16 to Sept. 30, which is just half the price of regular rates.

The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has seen a surge in luxury resort development recently. The powdery sand beaches in Punta Cana on the island's easternmost tip, complete with swaying palms, are dotted with luxury resorts. The secluded, romantic Sivory Punta Cana regularly rents rooms for $490 a night, but drops them by $200 to $290 a night during the summer.

Getting there

No one even wants to think about what's happening with airlines; food was taken off the amenities list years ago, and now charges for soft drinks and checked bags can substantially add to the cost of a ticket.

But, off-season Caribbean packages that include air fare are in some cases actually less than peak travel fare. Spend some time on sites like www.cheaptickets.com to come up with the best deals.

Because the Caribbean is a warm-weather destination, packing can be kept to a minimum. Many airlines now charge $15 for the first bag, and $25 for the second bag. If kids can double up and use just one bag, it can be a $25 savings right there.

If it's possible to not fly on a Friday or Sunday, you might be able to snag lower fares. Many airlines have mid-week rates that are lower than those on weekends. Try using a site like www.orbitz.com or www.cheapflights.com to compare what you can get.

And you might as well resign yourself to a two- or three-hop trip, as getting from Phoenix to the Caribbean means a stop somewhere on the East Coast, or in Florida, and possibly another stop at an intermediate island if you're headed into the deep Caribbean.

Checking it out

One of the best sources for previewing a resort before you plunk down your vacation dollars is www.tripadvisor.com. It carries reviews by real travelers, who have no vested interest in giving a resort a good or bad review.

So, do your research, make some reservations, and prepare to cool off.

At the time of this writing, the temperature in Grand Cayman was 82 degrees with a 13-mph breeze, and it was partly cloudy with a chance of showers.

In Ahwatukee Foothills it was 113.

Judy Wade and Bill Baker pack and unpack in Ahwatukee Foothills.