MEXICO 

Get Cooking in Puebla for $600
Spend a week learning traditional Mexican cooking in the colonial city of Puebla. After a guided tour of the markets, return to your hotel and enjoy hands-on lessons. Class menus include mole poblano, Mexico's national dish, which was first consumed in Puebla. The deal covers six nights at one of the Mesones Sacristía boutique hotels (two former colonial villas, on the same property), breakfast daily, dinner each night at your choice of several area restaurants, 15 hours of cooking lessons (taught in English by hotel chef Alonso Hernandez), admission to Museo Amparo and Biblioteca Palafoxiana, and a city tour with English-speaking guides. When Until Dec. 31. Details The price does not include airfare. Extra nights from $160. No single supplement is available. Contact Mexico Boutique Hotels, 800/728-9098, mexicoboutiquehotels.com.

Mexico City for $689
Aeroméxico flights from Houston to Mexico City, transfers, and three nights at the Galería Plaza Hotel, with a full gym and heated rooftop pool. The hotel is one block from the city's main avenue, Paseo de la Reforma, and a short walk from shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries of the Zona Rosa, the most popular tourist area. When Friday departures June 1-30 ($749), July 1-Aug. 31 ($689). Other Gateways Las Vegas, Phoenix ($809/$745); Atlanta, Chicago, L.A. ($869/$799). Details Extra nights from $72. Single supplement $216. Guests age 60 and older will get a dinner for two at one of the hotel's three restaurants. Contact Aeroméxico Vacations, 800/245-8585, aeromexicovacations.com.

Riviera Maya for $469
Air from Fort Lauderdale to Cancún and three nights at the all-inclusive Allegro Playacar Resort, 40 minutes south of Cancún near Playa del Carmen. The beachfront hotel has three restaurants, two swimming pools, tennis, kayaking, snorkeling, and windsurfing, as well as supervised activities for children. When June 1-Aug. 31. Other Gateways Atlanta, Detroit, Orlando, Tampa ($499); D.C. ($529); Atlantic City, Chicago, New York ($549); Dallas, Providence ($589). Details Extra nights from $92. Single supplement from $131. Add $34 for round-trip transfers. Children under 12 stay free when sharing a room with two adults (airfare is additional). Contact Leisure Link International, 888/801-8808, eleisurelink.com.

CARIBBEAN 

Barbados for $668
Air from Miami and six nights at the Rostrevor Apartment Hotel, on the southern coast of Barbados. Fifteen minutes from the airport and Bridgetown, the beachfront resort has a pool, restaurant, bar, and an on-site grocery store. Lots of restaurants, shops, and nightclubs are within easy walking distance. When Monday through Thursday departures June 1-Aug. 31. Other Gateways New York, Philadelphia ($698); Baltimore ($704); Charlotte ($803); L.A. ($843); Chicago ($898). Details Extra nights from $51. Single supplement from $306. Add $50 for round-trip transfers. Contact Atlas Vacations, 800/634-1057, atlasvacations.net.

Dominican Republic for $577
American Airlines flights from Miami to Punta Cana, transfers, and four all-inclusive nights at either the Barceló Bávaro Beach or the Barceló Bávaro Caribe, two of five hotels in a resort complex along one-and-a-half miles of private beach. Guests have access to Barceló's three other properties, which include 14 restaurants, 16 bars, 5 pools, a 24-hour casino, a health club, water sports, and horseback riding. When June 1-Aug. 31. Other Gateways Chicago ($727), New York ($758), Dallas ($782). Details Extra nights from $86. Rates for single travelers start at $574. Contact AmericanAirlines Vacations, 800/321-2121, aavacations.com.

Jamaica for $460
Air from Fort Lauderdale and six nights at the Beachcomber Club & Spa, on seven-mile-long Negril Beach. The hotel has a swimming pool, ocean-view restaurant, games room (pool, table tennis), windsurfing, and kayaking. When Monday through Thursday departures June 1-Aug. 31. Other Gateways Miami ($499), Charlotte ($560), Boston ($580), New York ($598), L.A. ($710). Details Extra nights from $47. Single supplement from $282. Add $50 for round-trip transfers. Contact Atlas Vacations, 800/634-1057, atlasvacations.net.

CENTRAL AMERICA 

Belize for $999
American Airlines flights from Miami to Belize City, onward flights to Ambergris Cay, and seven nights at the beachfront Aqua Marina Suites, in an air-conditioned room with a kitchen and private oceanfront balcony. The hotel has a pool, hot tub, restaurant, bar, full-service tour desk, and dive shop, and is within easy walking distance of shops in nearby San Pedro. When Tuesday through Thursday departures June 1-30. From July 1 to Aug. 31 add $60. Other Gateways Dallas ($1,045/$1,105); New York ($1,099/$1,159); Chicago ($1,199/$1,259); L.A., San Francisco ($1,262/$1,322); Portland, Seattle ($1,304/$1,364). Details Add $25 each way for departures on other days of the week. Extra nights from $70. Single supplement from $343. Contact Capricorn Leisure, 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.

Costa Rica Tour for $1,495
Air from Miami to San José, all transfers and local transportation, 12 nights' lodging (two in San José, two in Sarapiquis, two in Guanacaste, two in Chachagua, two near the Arenal volcano, and two in Tarcoles), most meals, excursions and tours, and an English-speaking guide throughout. The itinerary includes a coffee-estate tour, river rafting, sea kayaking, a cooking class, a boat trip on the Rio Frio, a visit to thermal mud baths, and volcano viewing. When June 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 16, 20, 26, 27; July 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 21, 25, 29; Aug. 2, 8, 15, 20, 30. Sept. 6, 15, 25 ($1,595). Other Gateways Dallas, New York ($1,695/$1,795); Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia ($1,745/$1,845); L.A., San Francisco ($1,795/$1,895); Denver, Seattle ($1,845/$1,945). Details Trips are geared toward people over the age of 50. Single supplement $295. Contact Overseas Adventure Travel, 800/248-3737, oattravel.com.

Nicaragua for $919
American Airlines flights from Miami to Managua, all transfers, and seven nights' acommodations. Spend two nights in Granada near Lake Nicaragua at the four-star Hotel Colonial (with a pool, two bars, a restaurant, and full-service tour desk), and five nights at the all-inclusive Barceló Montelimar Beach, a 500-acre oceanfront resort with seven restaurants, two swimming pools, a casino, water sports, minigolf, horseback riding, and a zoo. When Tuesday through Thursday departures June 1-30. From July 1 to Aug. 31 add $160. Other Gateways Dallas ($957); New York ($1,089); L.A., San Francisco ($1,143); Chicago ($1,155); Portland, Seattle ($1,284). Details Add $25 each way to depart on other days of the week. Extra nights from $38. Single supplement from $190. Contact Capricorn Leisure, 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.