Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices.
One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Most major airlines offer air/land packages, including American Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/321-2121; www.aavacations.com), Delta Vacations (tel. 800/654-6559; www.deltavacations.com), Continental Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/301-3800; www.covacations.com), and United Vacations (tel. 888/854-3899; www.unitedvacations.com). Several big online travel agencies -- Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Site59, and Lastminute.com -- also do a brisk business in packages.
Travel packages are also listed in the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper. Or check ads in the national travel magazines such as Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Recommended Packagers
AeroMéxico Vacations (tel. 800/245-8585; www.aeromexico.com) offers year-round packages to almost every destination it serves, including Acapulco, Canc?n, Cozumel, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. AeroM?xico has a large selection (more than 100) of resorts in these destinations and more, in a variety of price ranges. The best deals are from Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, in that order. Alaska Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/468-2248; www.alaskaair.com) sells packages to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Loreto, Los Cabos, Manzanillo/Costa Alegre, Mazatl?n, and Puerto Vallarta. Alaska flies direct from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. The website offers unpublished discounts that are not available through the phone operators. American Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/321-2121; www.aavacations.com) has year-round deals to Acapulco, Canc?n, the Riviera Maya, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta. You don't have to fly with American if you can get a better deal on another airline; land-only packages include hotel, hotel tax, and airport transfers. American's hubs to Mexico are Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, and Miami. The website offers unpublished discounts that are not available through the operators. US Airways Vacations (tel. 800/235-9298; www.usairwaysvacations.com) has deals to Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa, Los Cabos, Manzanillo, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta. Many packages to Los Cabos include car rentals. The website offers discounted featured specials that are not available through the operators. You can also book hotels without air by calling the toll-free number. Apple Vacations (tel. 800/365-2775; www.applevacations.com) offers inclusive packages to all the beach resorts, and has the largest choice of hotels in Acapulco, Canc?n, Cozumel, Huatulco, Ixtapa, Loreto, Los Cabos, Manzanillo, Mazatl?n, Puerto Vallarta, and the Riviera Maya. Scheduled carriers for the air portion include American, United, Mexicana, Delta, US Airways, Reno Air, Alaska Airlines, and AeroM?xico. Apple perks include baggage handling and the services of a company representative at major hotels. Classic Vacations (tel. 800/635-1333; www.classicvacations.com) specializes in package vacations to Mexico's finest luxury resorts. It combines discounted first-class and economy airfare on American, Continental, Mexicana, Alaska, America West, and Delta with stays at the most exclusive hotels in Canc?n, the Riviera Maya, M?rida, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatl?n, Costa Alegre, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Huatulco, and Los Cabos. The prices are not for bargain hunters but for those who seek luxury, nicely packaged. Continental Vacations (tel. 800/301-3800; www.covacations.com) has year-round packages to Acapulco, Canc?n, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Huatulco, Ixtapa, Los Cabos, Mazatl?n, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta. The best deals are from Houston; Newark, N.J.; and Cleveland. You must fly Continental. The Internet deals offer savings not available elsewhere. Delta Vacations (tel. 800/654-6559; www.deltavacations.com) has year-round packages to Acapulco, Canc?n, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatl?n, M?rida, and Puerto Vallarta. Atlanta is the hub, so expect the best prices from there. Funjet Vacations (tel. 800/888/558-6654; www.funjet.com) is one of the largest vacation packagers in the United States. Funjet has packages to Acapulco, Canc?n, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Mazatl?n, Ixtapa, and Puerto Vallarta. You can choose a charter or fly on American, Continental, Delta, AeroM?xico, US Airways, Alaska Air, or United. GOGO Worldwide Vacations (tel. 888/636-3942; www.gogowwv.com) has trips to all the major beach destinations, including Acapulco, Canc?n, Mazatl?n, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos. It offers several exclusive deals from higher-end hotels. Book through any travel agent. Mexicana Vacations, or MexSeaSun Vacations (tel. 800/531-7921; www.mexicana.com) offers getaways to all the resorts. Mexicana operates daily direct flights from Los Angeles to Los Cabos, Mazatl?n, Canc?n, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Mexico Travel Net (tel. 800/511-4848 or 619/474-0100; www.mexicotravelnet.com) offers most of the well-known travel packages to Mexico beach resorts, plus offers last minute specials. Pleasant Holidays (tel. 800/742-9244; www.pleasantholidays.com) is one of the largest vacation packagers in the United States, with hotels in Acapulco, Canc?n, Cozumel, Huatulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatl?n, M?rida, Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Puerto Vallarta. Regional Packagers
From the East Coast: Liberty Travel (tel. 888/271-1584; www.libertytravel.com), one of the biggest packagers in the Northeast, often runs a full-page ad in the Sunday papers, with frequent Mexico specials. You won't get much in the way of service, but you will get a good deal.
From the West: SunTrips (tel. 800/248-7471 for departures within 14 days; www.suntrips.com) is one of the largest West Coast packagers for Mexico, with departures from San Francisco and Denver; regular charters to Canc?n, Cozumel, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta; and a large selection of hotels.
From the Southwest: Town and Country (book through travel agents) packages regular deals to Los Cabos, Mazatl?n, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Manzanillo, Canc?n, Cozumel, and Acapulco with America West from the airline's Phoenix and Las Vegas gateways.
Out-of-the-Ordinary Places to Stay
Mexico lends itself beautifully to the concept of small, private hotels in idyllic settings. They vary in style from grandiose estate to palm-thatched bungalow. Mexico Boutique Hotels (www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com) specializes in smaller places to stay with a high level of personal attention and service. Most options have less than 50 rooms, and the accommodations consist of entire villas, casitas, bungalows, or a combination. The Yucatán is especially noted for the luxury haciendas throughout the peninsula.
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