Six super sun spots

Cuba

A vacation bargain, Cuba offers gorgeous beach resorts like Varadero, Holguin, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, and others, where talcum-white sand fringes warm, turquoise waters. Cubans may not be wealthy, but their love of life shows in their renowned friendliness and vibrant music. And they love us. They even hold annual Terry Fox Marathons (usually in March) across the island to mark our famous native son, with almost two million people participating. If you go, try to visit Old Havana and the interior town of Trinidad, both UNESCO Heritage sites. And if you're a diver, check out Cayo Piedra Underwater Park in Varadero's northeast, with its shipwrecks attracting a rainbow of tropical fish and crustaceans.

Caribbean Cruise

Island-hop the Caribbean on a ship. Routes vary, and there's sure to be one to suit you. A seven-day itinerary through the Eastern Caribbean would probably call at The Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. John (US Virgin Islands), Puerto Rico, and perhaps St. Maarten/St. Martin. This route usually offers more time for shopping, sightseeing, and water sports, because islands are closer than on other routes, and the choice of activities is usually greater. Some western itineraries include calls at Cozumel or Playa del Carmen in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Key West, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Belize or Costa Rica. There's more sailing involved, appealing to those who love "days at sea." Ports offer the chance to explore ancient Mayan ruins, hike in rain forests, or dive and snorkel in memorable locations.

Dominican Republic

The D-R is HOT, and we don't mean just the temperature. Choose your shoreline: the Atlantic's Amber Coast is named for the precious stuff once mined there, and precious now are the beautiful beaches and large tracts of unspoiled coastline. D-R's southeast finger points to the Caribbean's luxury resorts. Choose your reasons: a wedding and/or honeymoon? A family vacation? Discover the capital, Santo Domingo, on a tour through the charmingly restored old quarter. Also worth a visit is Los Tres Ojos de Agua (The Three Eyes of Water), a cave complex named for its three turquoise lagoons surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. Casa de Campo Resort in La Romano, designed by Oscar de la Renta, offers golf, family programs, and the Altos de Chavón, a replica medieval Mediterranean village.