People always say "I can't afford to travel internationally" and I always say "have you actually looked?" Because some of the cheapest vacation deals on earth are across the border. I once stayed at an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic for $139 a night, which means four nights cost me $556. Take out the flight I got for $189 round-trip on a Tuesday booking, and my total trip cost was less than a weekend in New York City. International travel is cheaper than domestic if you know the tricks. Here are 20 international vacation deals where the total package comes in under $500. Browse all destinations for every option we track.
1. Grand Royal Lagoon, Cancun — $149/Night AI for 3 Nights = $447 Total
Three nights all-inclusive in Cancun for $447. That covers your room, all meals, all drinks, and most activities. Add a $189 flight from a hub city and your total trip is under $650 with literally everything included. The lagoon views are stunning and the beach club shuttle runs constantly. This is the gateway drug of international travel deals.
2. Occidental Caribe, Punta Cana — $139/Night AI for 3 Nights = $417 Total
The Dominican Republic is the budget king of international all-inclusive vacations. Occidental Caribe sits on Bavaro Beach with seven restaurants and unlimited drinks. At $417 for three nights of everything-included, you'd spend more eating out for a week at home. The beach is consistantly ranked among the world's best.
3. Mayan Palace Mazatlan, Mexico — $119/Night AI for 3 Nights = $357 Total
Under $400 for three nights all-inclusive in Mexico. Mazatlan is vastly underrated — the beaches are gorgeous, the old town is charming, and the food is incredible. This Mayan Palace property has a golf course, pools, and restaurants that would be expensive anywhere else but are included in your rate. The malecon boardwalk is one of the longest in Mexico.
4. Grand Mayan Acapulco, Mexico — $129/Night for 3 Nights = $387 Total
Acapulco's Diamante zone is nothing like the old Acapulco tourist strip. The Grand Mayan property here is modern, safe, and absolutely beautiful. Suites are spacious, pools are gorgeous, and the beach is right there. At $387 for three nights, you're paying less than a single night at many NYC hotels.
5. Breezes Resort Nassau, Bahamas — $159/Night AI for 3 Nights = $477 Total
Adults-only all-inclusive in Nassau for under $500. Cable Beach is beautiful, the drinks are unlimited, and flights from Miami to Nassau are often under $150 round-trip. Your total trip could be under $630 with everything included. The Bahamas are closer than most people realize — it's a 45-minute flight from South Florida.
6. Holiday Inn Resort Aruba — $149/Night for 3 Nights = $447 Total
Palm Beach in Aruba with a casino, pool, and the Caribbean's most reliable weather. Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt so you can book with confidence year-round. The presentation is only 75 minutes — one of the shortest in the industry. At $447, you've got room in the $500 budget for a few nice dinners out.
7. Velas Vallarta, Mexico — $129/Night AI for 3 Nights = $387 Total
Puerto Vallarta's all-inclusive scene is just as good as Cancun's but less crowded and more authentically Mexican. Velas Vallarta sits on the marina with ocean views, multiple pools, and a culinary program that puts most resort food to shame. The romantic zone in downtown PV is a short taxi ride for nightlife and dining.
8. BlueBay Grand Esmeralda, Riviera Maya — $159/Night AI for 3 Nights = $477 Total
Right on the beach between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. All-inclusive with multiple restaurants, a spa, and some of the best snorkeling in the Riviera Maya right off the beach. The cenotes nearby are magical — underground swimming holes with crystal-clear water that look like something from a fantasy movie.
9. Sunscape Curacao — $159/Night AI for 3 Nights = $477 Total
Curacao is the Caribbean's best-kept secret. Dutch colonial architecture, incredible diving, and none of the crowds. This Sunscape property is all-inclusive on a private beach. Willemstad's colorful waterfront is a UNESCO World Heritage site and absolutley worth the short drive from the resort.
10. Grand Oasis Cancun — $139/Night AI for 3 Nights = $417 Total
A massive all-inclusive complex right in the Hotel Zone. Grand Oasis is known for its party atmosphere — live music, themed nights, and a pool scene that doesn't quit. If you want a social, energetic vacation, this is your spot. The beach is excellent and the drinks keep coming. Not for the quiet vacation crowd.
11. Iberostar Selection Bavaro, Dominican Republic — $165/Night AI for 3 Nights = $495 Total
Just squeaking under the $500 mark, but worth every penny. Iberostar's Bavaro property is premium all-inclusive with a la carte restaurants that rival standalone restaurants. The beach is perfection, the pool complex is massive, and the nighttime entertainment is genuinely good. Not cheesy-resort-good. Actually good.
12. Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay, Mazatlan — $149/Night AI for 3 Nights = $447 Total
A secluded cove resort that feels like a private island. All-inclusive covers premium restaurants, spa access, and water activities. Mazatlan flights from Phoenix, LA, and Dallas are cheap and frequent. This is the "I need to disappear for a few days" resort. Your phone might not get signal. That's a feature, not a bug.
13. Ocean Maya Royale, Riviera Maya — $139/Night AI for 3 Nights = $417 Total
Adults-only all-inclusive between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Ocean Maya Royale has a gorgeous beach, swim-up bar, and restaurants that go beyond the typical buffet situation. The rooms have recently been renovated and the resort has a intimate, boutique feel despite being all-inclusive. Perfect for couples.
14. Divi Flamingo Beach, Bonaire — $159/Night for 3 Nights = $477 Total
Bonaire is the dive capital of the Caribbean. You can literally walk off the beach and snorkel over some of the healthiest reefs in the hemisphere. Divi Flamingo is beachfront with a dive shop on-site. If you're not a diver, the flamingo sanctuary is reason enough to visit. Pink birds on a turquoise lake. Instagram perfection.
15. Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta — $139/Night AI for 3 Nights = $417 Total
Nuevo Vallarta is the resort zone north of Puerto Vallarta proper, and this Mayan Palace property is massive. Multiple pools, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, and all-inclusive dining that includes sushi, Mexican, Italian, and a killer breakfast buffet. The beach is calmer than in downtown PV, perfect for families.
16. Wyndham Reef Resort, Grand Cayman — $165/Night for 3 Nights = $495 Total
Barely under $500, but Grand Cayman for under $500 is a miracle worth celebrating. Beachfront on the East End with great snorkeling. Stingray City is a boat ride away, and Seven Mile Beach is on the other side of the island. The kitchens in every suite save you money on the notoriously expnsive Cayman dining scene.
17. Grand Bahia Principe Turquesa, Dominican Republic — $135/Night AI for 3 Nights = $405 Total
Another DR all-inclusive beast. Bahia Principe properties are enormous complexes with multiple resort sections, water parks, and enough restaurants that you could eat at a different one for every meal of your trip. The Turquesa section is the newest and nicest. At $405, this might be the best value-per-dollar on the entire list.
18. Krystal Cancun, Mexico — $149/Night AI for 3 Nights = $447 Total
Right on the beach in the Hotel Zone with a distinctive pyramid-shaped building you can spot from a mile away. Krystal Cancun is all-inclusive with multiple restaurants and a pool that's always lively. The location is central to everything — shopping, nightlife, and the public bus that runs the entire Hotel Zone for 12 pesos.
19. Hotel Xcaret Arte, Mexico — $199/Night AI for 2 Nights = $398 Total
The premium pick. Xcaret Arte is adults-only, all-inclusive, and includes unlimited access to all Xcaret parks (which normally cost $100+ per person per day). Two nights here gets you resort luxury PLUS theme park access that would cost $200+ separately. The math works out to an incredible deal even at the higher nightly rate.
20. Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic — $165/Night for 3 Nights = $495 Total
One of the most famous resorts in the Caribbean, Casa de Campo has a Pete Dye golf course (Teeth of the Dog), a private beach at Minitas, and the recreated Mediterranean village of Altos de Chavon. At $495 for three nights, you're accessing a property that charges $400+/night at retail. The presentation is worth it for this one.
| Resort | Location | Total Cost | Nights | All-Inclusive? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayan Palace | Mazatlan | $357 | 3 | Yes |
| Grand Mayan | Acapulco | $387 | 3 | No |
| Bahia Principe | Dominican Republic | $405 | 3 | Yes |
| Occidental Caribe | Punta Cana | $417 | 3 | Yes |
| Grand Royal Lagoon | Cancun | $447 | 3 | Yes |
| Breezes Nassau | Bahamas | $477 | 3 | Yes |
| Reef Resort | Grand Cayman | $495 | 3 | No |
International travel doesn't require international money. These 20 deals prove that the world is more accessible than most people think. Start with a Cancun deal or go straight to the Caribbean — either way, your passport is about to get some new stamps. Browse all vacation deals to find your next adventure.