BudgetTravel

Bonaire for $679
Air from Atlanta, transfers, and seven nights in a garden-view suite at Caribbean Club Bonaire, on the island's west coast. Add $399 for an Eco-Adventure package that includes a weeklong truck rental, mangrove kayak tour, cave snorkel trip, bike and snorkel gear rentals, and breakfast daily. When: Apr. 14-Dec. 14. Other Gateways: Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia (add $63); Chicago (add $88); Miami (add $117). Contact: Caradonna Dive Adventures, 800/328-2288, caradonna.com.

Dominican Republic for $420
Spirit Airlines flights from Fort Lauderdale, transfers, and three nights at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Naiboa in Punta Cana. The resort has a pool, a bar, an 18-hole golf course, three restaurants, and a beach within walking distance. When: Apr. 9-June 25. Other Gateways: Orlando, Tampa ($495); Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, New York ($570). Contact: Spirit Vacations, 800/617-3325, spiritvacations.com.

Puerto Rico for $620
US Airways flights from Charlotte or Philadelphia, transfers, and three nights at the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel, on the waterfront in the city's historic district. When: Apr. 1-June 30. Other Gateways: Chicago, D.C. ($634). Contact: US Airways Vacations, 800/455-0123, usairwaysvacations.com.

St. Lucia for $685
Air Jamaica flights from Atlanta, transfers, and three nights at the Bay Gardens Hotel, on the south side of the Rodney Bay Marina. It has a restaurant, two bars, two pools, and a hot tub. One child under 12 can stay for no extra charge with two paying adults. When: Until June 30. Blacked out May 4-13. Book by Apr. 30. Other Gateways: Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia (add $60). Contact: Air Jamaica Vacations, 800/568-3247, airjamaicavacations.com.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Another Way to See Venezuela for $1,785
In the wake of the media blitz about Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's reelection, Reality Tours is leading guided trips to the country for people who'd like to take a look at what's happening on the ground. As the travel branch of Global Exchange, an international human rights organization based in San Francisco, Reality Tours creates itineraries to the country around different themes (e.g., oil and the environment, women's rights, labor and land reform) that vary by departure date. All trips, however, introduce visitors to members of grassroots organizations, agricultural cooperatives, government-controlled industries, and independent media associations. "Groups meet the people who live there to hear their perspectives, including the pros and cons, so they can walk away with a more nuanced understanding of the changes in the country," says Carlos Martinez, the tour company's Venezuela program coordinator. Reality Tours' 16-day Language School program includes all local transportation (plane and bus), 14 nights' accommodations (2 in a Caracas hotel and 12 in a homestay in Mérida), Spanish lessons four hours per day on weekdays, two meals daily, and English-speaking guides throughout. The itinerary also features discussions with the founder of an independent news website, a student opposition leader, and local coffee farmers, as well as visits to social programs in barrios. Note: The price doesn't cover international airfare. When: June 1, Aug. 4. Contact: Global Exchange Reality Tours, 800/497-1994, globalexchange.org.

Costa Rica & Nicaragua for $695
A 15-day escorted adventure tour through Costa Rica and Nicaragua, departing from San José. The itinerary includes all local transportation (bus, van, ferry, and boat), admission to the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, a Masaya Volcano tour, and 14 nights' accommodations in simple hotels. Spend two nights each in San José, Liberia, San Juan del Sur, Ometepe Island on Lake Nicaragua, Granada, Solentiname, and La Fortuna. A local payment of $200 is due upon arrival. Add about $300 for meals. The price doesn't include international airfare. When: Apr. 21, May 19. Contact: G.A.P Adventures, 800/465-5600, gapadventures.com.

Honduras for $1,019
Delta Airlines flights from New York to Roatán (via Atlanta), transfers, and seven nights at the Lost Paradise Inn on the Bay Islands. When: Apr. 1-30 ($1,059); May 1-June 30 ($1,019). Other Gateways: Atlanta (from $1,029); Dallas, L.A., San Francisco (from $1,039); Miami (from $1,059); Chicago (from $1,089). Contact: Capricorn Leisure Corp., 800/426-6544, capricorn.net.

Panama for $880
American Airlines flights from Miami, transfers, and six nights at the all-inclusive Royal Decameron Beach Resort, Golf & Casino (four pools, eight restaurants, seven bars, and one disco) on Playa Blanca. When: Wednesday and Thursday departures until Apr. 15 ($1,096); Apr. 16-June 15, Aug. 17-Dec. 8 ($880); June 16-Aug 16 ($980). Other Gateways: Dallas, Houston (add $160); Atlanta, D.C. (add $180); Chicago (add $260); L.A., San Francisco (add $300). Contact: Tara Tours, 800/327-0080, taratours.com.

SOUTH AMERICA
Buenos Aires & Santiago for $849
Lan Airlines flights from Miami to Buenos Aires, all transfers, three nights at the downtown Regis Orho Hotel, a half-day city tour, an onward flight to Santiago, two nights at the Hotel Principado in Plaza Italia, and breakfast daily. When: Until June 17. Other Gateways: New York (add $150); L.A., San Francisco (add $160); Baltimore, Boston, D.C. (add $180); Atlanta, Chicago, Houston (add $235). Contact: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Northern Peru for $950
A 13-day escorted tour around northern Peru, departing from Lima. The price covers all local transportation (public bus, van, and flights within Peru), 12 nights' accommodations (10 nights in simple hotels and two nights camping), some meals, and a guide throughout. Highlights include the Karajia burial grounds, the recently discovered Gocta waterfall, and a three-day hiking trek to the Kuélap fortress archaeological site, which is nearly the size of Machu Picchu. A local payment of $250 is due upon arrival. Add about $200 for meals. The price doesn't include international airfare. When: Apr. 22; May 13; June 3, 24; July 15. Contact: G.A.P Adventures, 800/465-5600, gapadventures.com.

EUROPE
Icelandair Flies to New Cities for $1,138
Next month, Icelandair will add two more Scandinavian destinations to its summer schedule--Bergen, Norway, and Göteborg, Sweden, the second-largest cities in both countries--and double its flights from Boston and New York. You can already book introductory rates, like $626 round trip to Bergen from the East Coast, and new packages to the region. Three nights in Bergen, for example, start at $1,138 and include airfare from Baltimore, Boston, or New York; hotel accommodations; and breakfasts. When: May 17-June 14, Aug. 21-31 ($1,138); June 17-Aug. 19 ($1,474). Other Gateways: Minneapolis, Orlando (add from $50). Contact: Icelandair Holidays, 800/779-2899, icelandairholidays.com.

Explore Istanbul and Ephesus for $1,349
Ephesus, an ancient Greek city in western Turkey, was once one of the most important ports on the Aegean Sea, and it still has plenty to show for it. Tourists and scholars flock to the archaeological site to explore its excavated civic library, theaters, temples, fountains, and baths--some of which date back to 600 b.c., and others to the early years of Christianity. When the pope visited Turkey in November, he held Mass just outside Ephesus, on the doorstep of a hillside structure believed to have been the Virgin Mary's last home. A guided tour of that building, as well as of excavated ruins in Ephesus, is part of Troy Tours' six-night package to Turkey. The trip also includes nonstop Turkish Airlines flights to Istanbul from New York, all transfers and local transportation, four nights at the Hotel Romance, an onward flight to Izmir, two nights in Ku¸sadasi (an Aegean Coast town 25 minutes from Ephesus) at the Pine Marina Hotel, the three-hour guided ruins tour described above, and breakfast daily. When: Apr. 1-May 15 ($1,349); May 16-June 30 ($1,699). Other Gateways: Chicago (add $100), Atlanta (add $180), L.A. (add $290). Contact: Troy Tours, 800/748-6878, troytours.com.