A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Caribbean Getaway" is from the January 2007 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

This time of year, sunshine, sea, and sand beckon. So why not grab your passport and answer the call?

Playa del Carmen, Mexico, about an hour south of Cancún, offers everything you'd want in the sunshine, sea, and sand department--minus the wild reputation. Easily reachable by way of direct flights to Cancún from Atlanta, Houston, and other Southern hubs, this area promises a fun vacation with a Spanish accent and temperatures in the low 80s. Take note: This isn't Disney. Leave the little ones at home.