And the winner is … Cozumel. In a U.S. News survey of 223 travel agents, the Mexican island off the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula topped the list of destinations that offer the best vacation value in North America and the Caribbean. Secluded St. Bart’s, on the other hand, is the place to go if your cash flow is endless. The Caribbean isle led the ranks of spots that give the least value for the dollar.
The survey reflects the nation’s travel mood. Travel agents once divided customers into two camps – bargain hunters and seekers of a vacation “experience.” That’s no longer the case, says Keith Waldon, a spokesman for Virtuoso, a luxury travel agency consortium based in Fort Worth. In a fragile economic recovery, Waldon thinks even affluent vacationers are keeping a tighter grip on their wallets. “Above all, people are looking for financial value,” he says.
That’s what they’ll find in Cozumel, a 30-mile-long island in the Caribbean. What makes it such a good deal? The U.S. dollar goes far in all of Mexico. But unlike some parts of the country, where the crime rate is worrisome, the agents noted that Cozumel is relatively safe. And they raved about the Mayan ruins, coral reefs, and varied dining options.
So do tourists. Mary Browning, a Superior, Colo., advertising consultant, is taking her fifth trip to the island this summer. This spring, she and her husband stayed in a $35-a-night bungalow, paid $30 for gourmet seafood meals for two, and spent the day diving for $65 per person. “We’re totally sold on it,” she says.
Mountain lows. Of course, you do have to be a beach person – preferably, a diver – to enjoy Cozumel. Fortunately, the best-value list has other options. Canada is well represented because its dollar is weak – so weak that Whistler, the Canadian mountain resort near Vancouver, will rent you a room with a cathedral ceiling for $87.50 in August. And in case you were wondering: You can ski in the middle of summer – on a nearby glacier.
New Orleans is the highest-rated destination in the continental United States. Even when heat and humidity peak in summer, travelers still come for music, food, and swamp tours. Getting to Crescent City is inexpensive; no-frills Southwest is the dominant carrier. And while tourists could drop a bundle at four-star hotels and fancy eateries, they can also take advantage of an array of midrange hotels that have opened in the past year, such as a new Quality Inn & Suites and a SpringHill Suites. Rates at Quality Inn, just two blocks from the French Quarter, start at about $99 a night.
The places that made the other list were expensive, and they know it. “If you come to St. Bart’s on holiday, you should be prepared to spend money,” cautions Elise Magras, the island’s director of tourism. “St. Bart’s is hard to get to and offers limited accommodations,” says Margery Leedy, an agent with Admiral Travel in Sarasota, Fla. Leedy compares the rates on everything from meals to hotels to those on another island: Manhattan.
Aspen, the runner-up, readily acknowledges that people think it’s overpriced. But the resort is trying to change its image by offering 20-percent-off packages and hosting ESPN’s X Games.
Rankings, by their very nature, are subjective, and you can tell the minute you look at our two lists. Bermuda and Vail each earned votes for best and worst value. The upscaliness is offset by cut-rate packages in winter and low rates in summer. “Even the expensive places can deliver bargains and the inexpensive ones can deliver a top-notch price,” says Tim Zagat, who publishes guidebooks that rate hotels, resorts, and spas. But the budget-minded travelers of 2002 may feel like poor country cousins when they stroll by pricey shops and restaurants in both destinations.
A good agent can steer you away from overpriced places, says Bob Cowen, who edits a Web site called InternetTravelTips.com – especially an agent who specializes in the area you’d like to visit. And how do you know your agent is on the right track? Just ask, “Where’s the best place for a value vacation?” If the answer is “St. Bart’s,” you might want to bargain hunt elsewhere.
And the winner is … Cozumel. In a U.S. News survey of 223 travel agents, the Mexican island off the eastern tip of the Yucat�n Peninsula topped the list of destinations that offer the best vacation value in North America and the Caribbean. Secluded St. Bart’s, on the other hand, is the place to go if your cash flow is endless. The Caribbean isle led the ranks of spots that give the least value for the dollar.
The survey reflects the nation’s travel mood. Travel agents once divided customers into two camps�bargain hunters and seekers of a vacation “experience.” That’s no longer the case, says Keith Waldon, a spokesman for Virtuoso, a luxury travel agency consortium based in Fort Worth. In a fragile economic recovery, Waldon thinks even affluent vacationers are keeping a tighter grip on their wallets. “Above all, people are looking for financial value,” he says.
That’s what they’ll find in Cozumel, a 30-mile-long island in the Caribbean. What makes it such a good deal? The U.S. dollar goes far in all of Mexico. But unlike some parts of the country, where the crime rate is worrisome, the agents noted that Cozumel is relatively safe. And they raved about the Mayan ruins, coral reefs, and varied dining options.
So do tourists. Mary Browning, a Superior, Colo., advertising consultant, is taking her fifth trip to the island this summer. This spring, she and her husband stayed in a $35-a-night bungalow, paid $30 for gourmet seafood meals for two, and spent the day diving for $65 per person. “We’re totally sold on it,” she says.
Mountain lows. Of course, you do have to be a beach person�preferably, a diver�to enjoy Cozumel. Fortunately, the best-value list has other options. Canada is well represented because its dollar is weak�so weak that Whistler, the Canadian mountain resort near Vancouver, will rent you a room with a cathedral ceiling for $87.50 in August. And in case you were wondering: You can ski in the middle of summer�on a nearby glacier.
New Orleans is the highest-rated destination in the continental United States. Even when heat and humidity peak in summer, travelers still come for music, food, and swamp tours. Getting to Crescent City is inexpensive; no-frills Southwest is the dominant carrier. And while tourists could drop a bundle at four-star hotels and fancy eateries, they can also take advantage of an array of midrange hotels that have opened in the past year, such as a new Quality Inn & Suites and a SpringHill Suites. Rates at Quality Inn, just two blocks from the French Quarter, start at about $99 a night.
The places that made the other list were expensive, and they know it. “If you come to St. Bart’s on holiday, you should be prepared to spend money,” cautions Elise Magras, the island’s director of tourism. “St. Bart’s is hard to get to and offers limited accommodations,” says Margery Leedy, an agent with Admiral Travel in Sarasota, Fla. Leedy compares the rates on everything from meals to hotels to those on another island: Manhattan.
Aspen, the runner-up, readily acknowledges that people think it’s overpriced. But the resort is trying to change its image by offering 20-percent-off packages and hosting ESPN’s X Games.
Rankings, by their very nature, are subjective, and you can tell the minute you look at our two lists. Bermuda and Vail each earned votes for best and worst value. The upscaliness is offset by cut-rate packages in winter and low rates in summer. “Even the expensive places can deliver bargains and the inexpensive ones can deliver a top-notch price,” says Tim Zagat, who publishes guidebooks that rate hotels, resorts, and spas. But the budget-minded travelers of 2002 may feel like poor country cousins when they stroll by pricey shops and restaurants in both destinations.
A good agent can steer you away from overpriced places, says Bob Cowen, who edits a Web site called InternetTravelTips.com�especially an agent who specializes in the area you’d like to visit. And how do you know your agent is on the right track? Just ask, “Where’s the best place for a value vacation?” If the answer is “St. Bart’s,” you might want to bargain hunt elsewhere.
Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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