Summertime - getaway time - affordable vacations

THE weather is warming up and so are the signs of a much-needed summer getaway. Cabin fever is setting in, housework is becoming more tedious, and just about everyone is managing to pluck your last nerve.

You need a break. But the perception that it takes big backs to have a good vacation holds you back and dashes your dreams of an exciting getaway.

Before throwing in the towel, take comfort in the fact that the summer travel season offers many choices of affordable vacation packages, discounted fares and reasonable hotel rates.

For many destinations, the summer is a time of cheaper rates. Caribbean cruises and trips to all-inclusive resorts are good getaway bargains.

Many states and localities, ranging from big cities like Chicago and New York to smaller communities like Selma, Ala., and Sedalia, Mo., provide exciting and informative attractions--cultural festivals, historic sites and museums--which are either free to the public or charge low admission rates.

Of course, the smart shopper usually snags the best deal. A check with travel agents, tour operators, Greyhound Bus Lines, hotel chains and car rental firms often leads to valuable information about reasonable rates.

American, Delta and United, among other airlines, have discounted fares on routes within the continental United States and abroad. Travelers should check for any restrictions and fare changes. They should also make reservations and buy their tickets well in advance of their departure date to obtain the lowest rates.

Hotels have also gotten into the act of enticing travelers with reasonable rates. The Hilton hotel chain, for example, offers a "Bounce Back Weekend," a Thursday-through-Sunday room-rate package beginning at $69 per night.

The Caribbean is one exotic tourist destination that is available to people with an eye for bargains.

Jamaica is a tropical destination that offers exotic entertainment at an affordable price. The Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, held in June, and the Reggae Sunsplash in August are two of the island's biggest cultural events.

Visitors to the island can find modestly priced accommodations among the more than 70 Jamaica Tourist Board-certified inns and small hotels. Double occupancy rates begin at $46 per night.

Bermuda, a popular semitropical getaway destination, offers some reasonable hotel rates for honeymooners and couples in love. Some offer five-day four-night packages starting at $437 per-person double occupancy.

Travelers planning on a trip to the Bahamas should consider the "Best of Both Worlds," a vacation package offered through Delta Airlines and Paradise Island Vacations that allows participants to spend time in Orlando and in the Bahamas. The seven-day, six-night program includes round-trip airfare, hotel and other amenities. Prices start at $569 per person.

Visiting the U. S. Virgin Islands is less expensive during the summer season when most hotels cut their rates by more than 15 percent. Travelers staying on St. Croix for seven days or more can take advantage of the island's "Discover St. Croix" promotion which offers guests free car rentals, free admissions to island attractions and discounts at restaurants, bars and boutiques.

Travelers don't have to cross the water to find exotic and exciting vacations. There are many affordable vacation packages closer to home.

To help interstate travelers, Greyhound Bus Lines offers a "Go Easy Fares," which provide customers with discounts up to 50 percent off regular fares for advance purchases made before June 4th. Other discount packages include the "See America Fare," which cuts fares for trips of 1,000 miles or more.

Florida is another destination with a mix of amenities--sandy beaches, great cuisine and plenty of entertainment--that are sure to please the most discriminating tourist.

Miami hosts a Jamaican Awareness Reggae Festival in August. Besides the festival, the city boasts warm sunny beaches, art galleries, restaurants, shopping and nightclubs.

In central Florida, Walt Disney World remains a popular attraction that has entertainment for both young and old. Children can enjoy the new Aladdin's Royal Caravan, a parade held daily in the Disney-MGM Studio Theme Park. Adults can unwind after a d with the kids in the park's Pleasure Island Jazz Co. that will open in June.

Visitors to the park can find some discounts in hotel accommodations and admission prices if they are members of the American Automobile Association or if their employers are members of the park's Magic Kingdom Club.

In the midwest, Chicago, Detroit and other cities offer free music concerts and major cultural events.

Missouri is another middle America destination with fun and affordable festivals and cultural attractions. Summer festivals make St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., appealing stops. The Kansas City Jazz Festival in July and the St. Louis Blues Festival in September are the summer's two major African-American cultural events.

Visitors interested in African-American influence on music can enjoy the annual Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival held in June in Sedalia, Mo., a rural community that is a 90-minute drive from Kansas City.