40 Best bargain vacation

Nothing says winter more than short days, dreary cold, and the overwhelming urge to escape it all. This is the time of year when doing and wearing next to nothing on a beach sounds like perfect bliss. But which beach is right for you? We've assembled a list of 15 possibilities, all with airfare and lodging, and all priced under $1,000 (per person, double). So find your swimsuit, sunscreen, and some shades. It's time to leave winter behind.

Cancún

$342 be king of the beach for five nights with airfare

Five nights in Mexico's most popular resort area, with an ocean-view room at the Miramar Misión, costs $342 with air from Miami, $344 from Raleigh-Durham, $397 from Philadelphia, and $405 from New York or Boston, valid now to December 26. From December 27 through February, rates are $65 to $135 higher. Extra nights from $28; single supplement ...