Planning a family getaway to the Carribean or Mexico for a winter holiday, around Christmas time. Any suggestions on laid back, down to earth places (offering yoga or spa treatments) would be greatly appreciated. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

I would say Caribbean. From what I heard on the radio the other day, the most popular song in Mexico is pro Bin Laden. And Pres. Bush wanted to open the borders? God, I hope not -- not now, anyway.

I would tend to lean towards the Caribbean - I guess just psychologically they seem safer to me! <BR> <BR>La Source in Grenada, Grand Lido San Souci in Jamaica, Sandals Bahamas and Le Sport in St. Lucia are all known for thier spa services.

Check our the Na Balam hotel on Isla Mujeres Mexico. It is a small island 10 miles off CAncun. Check out the hotel on <BR>isla-mujeres.net. Believe it offers everything you require.

This stuff about Mexico & bin Laden is making me very nervous. We are scheduled to be in PV over Christmas. Should we cancel & go elsewhere? Is Mexico really a friend of bin Laden? <BR>

I hope I didn't start a panic with the Mexico / pro Bin Laden thing. Afterall, it is something I heard by a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, so you are getting third party information. I don't know how widespread this support is in Mexico. Maybe a good travel agent or someone at Fodors would have some information on this. There are Bin Laden supporters over most of the world, but only a very small minority of the overall population support him. I hope this is the case in Mexico as well.

I have friends in PV as I write. The talk show hosts live on sensationalism. You can buy Bin Ladin pinatas in the market place to beat out your frustrations on. Stay out of Mexico City, be aware of your surroundings and have a great time.

Don't stay out of Mexico City: Unless you are afraid of cities in general, it is like all big cities accross the world. It has beautiful, wealthy sections and poor ones.<BR><BR>

Oh please....we just got back from PV & surrounding areas and the waiters or shopkeepers we talked to were all so horrified at what had happened & seemed sincere is wishing the best for us & our country. Besides it is much harder to get into Mexico than the Caribbean, they are stricter at the airports so I consider it safer than the US right now! I would go back to Mexico but for now we choose not to go to the Caribbean .

I frequently travel in Mexico on business. If you use good judgement (as I would advise in Chicago, Philly or elseware - enjoy the people and the country. There far more pro US than some of the previous messages indicated

Do not go to Isle Mujeres, Mexico! I know someone here recommended it, but it was super dirty with mongrel dogs and dirty children running about!

Heather, Do not leave your hometown then! A lot of towns have dogs wandering around & kids playing in the streets. Most streets are unpaved so the kids get dirty. So what! The little towns I have been to like that are charming & the people gracious. I am not talking filth & poverty, I am talking a lesser standard of living than the US & by most accounts the people seem to be better off. We take gifts of books & clothes & toys for the kids. They are so appreciative. You need to look past your first impression. No, better yet, don't go.

Joanne's right! If poverty and filth are going to bother you; there won't be many places in Mexico or the Caribbean that you can get totally away from it! I'm saddened by the negative remarks about Mexico as well! In general, the Mexicans are some of the most friendly, hospitable people I have met in my travels and I've been to a lot of Latin American and the Caribbean. You'll find that true of most of the Hispanic cultures (Costa Ricans are my very favorites!) If you want the cleanest, most modern, go with the Dutch islands. The French islands are the least friendly and most dirty.

I've been looking at both locations as well. From a strictly economical standpoint, it seems that for some reason this year the caribbean is much less expensive than Mexico! It's usually the opposite, so it looks like we'll be going to the caribbean.

Where in the Caribbean is cheaper than Mexico? We also love Mexico. Returned from a small village north of PV, Sayulita, last month. Dirt roads, children & dogs in the streets! Friendly, good people, safe place, good food, great casita with outstanding views of the beach. Where you see real life in Mexico & interact with the people. Took yoyos for the kids & had a great time. Have yet to see or feel that in the caribbean. I have enoyed vacations there but felt mush more "the tourist". Mostly someone was trying to sell me something. To each his own!

All the all-inclusives in the DR are cheaper than those in Playa del Carmen, and right not the USVI's are having a promo that are making them very inexpensive as well. I agree, I would prefer Mexico, put I can't seem to find any low prices for March yet. Typically I've been quoted about $ 2000 more a week than the DR for our family!

I do not know what heathers problem is but I can tell you this--I wish that I , my children, and my grandchildren could have grown up on Isla Mujeres. We would not have been rich in money but have been enriched by our suroundings. Heather is an example of why I am some times so infuriated at trying to be a good USA citizen in a world that judges us at a bunch of rich Aholes.I am so upset by her remarks that tears welm in my eyes as I write this. The children are adored . The young girls dress in frilly dresses to go to Mass. The total innocense and happiness of the island and its people is beyond reproach. Forgive the spelling-- but I am just to upset. Heather--do not travel outside the USA and embarress us all.

Dear "d motl": Well, you can wipe away those liberal tears from your eyes because I agree 100% with Heather!! Not everybody "appreciates" that type of environment that you so obviously adore -- PERIOD!!!

Filth and poverty most places in the Carib and in Mexico? I'm not sure the places that you have visited or even stopped to measure the standard of living, but I have found multitudes of wonderfully charming places at both destinations! Please stay home in your ticky takey surburban home with the sidewalks and Anderson windows or head to the vanillized locations where a Miami-beach experience can be recreated but don't try to mix where the people and lifestyle just aren't quite the same as at home. Don't try Europe, Asia or anyother place in the world because maybe, just maybe, you won't be able to leave that ugly American persona home!

Nina: You can find similar prices in DR and in Playa del Carmen, you just have to look for them. While Playa is slightly more expensive, it’s usually nothing drastic. They have always been comparable. The Apple Vacations website is offering the following for an all inclusive, one-week stay. Not that I’m an Apple Vacations fan, just trying to show you the prices.<BR><BR>The Bavaro in Punta Cana - 4 apple rating: $900<BR>The Iberostar in Punta Cana – Golden 5 apple rating: $900<BR>The Riu Place in Punta Cana – 6 apple rating: $1,000<BR><BR>The Riu in Playa del Carmen – Golden 5 apple rating: $950<BR>The Iberostar Tucan in Playa del Carmen – Golden 5 apple rating: $1,060<BR>The Allegro Resort Playacar – 4 apple rating: $970<BR>