NOT A FAN OF MEX!!!! Try Puerto Rico. While the resort hotels in the downtown San Juan area will break your budget in a hurry, there are many small hotels in San Juan (and the rest of the island) that will not. PR has NEVER had a tempreture lower than 70 degrees since the temp has been taken. Usually in the high 80's.

There is hiking in El Yunque the rain forests, Surfing in Ricon, Beaches all over, food is terrific and cheap, the island has many micro climates (from rainforests to the desert like south western portion), Diving all over, Rio Camuy Cave system, Arricibo, winding mountain roads you can get lost on, all using the US dollar, no customs to go through, Spanish is primary language so it feels exoctic, yet english will get you around just fine.

Been many many times and it has been berry berry good to me.

the keys would be my second vote, w/a side trip to the Everglades. Was just down in the Everglades, it is the dry season so one can hike on the trails down there, they also have many 1/2 day canoe routes to take.

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 11-28-2001).]