With its mellow climate, friendly people and authentic ecological assets, Belize makes for a pretty nice escape from the snow and ice most Northerners will see this winter. Only a 2-hour flight from the continental US, it's easily accessible from major travel hubs (though airfares are not cheap). However, a few hotels have designed exclusive packages to make a dream Belize vacation a more affordable reality.

Located along the shores of Hopkins Village, a culturally rich region the lush Maya Mountains and the Caribbean Sea, the Hamanasi Dive & Adventure Resort is offering a 7N, all-inclusive Reef & Rainforest package.

At the well-situated Hamanasi, families can experience the surrounding jungle and the culture of the local Garifuna Indians in between snorkel and scuba trips. The deluxe beachfront hotel's package offers a variety of daytrips to explore Belize's marine and mainland, including a two-tank barrier reef dive, a mainland cave and jungle excursion, Mayan history tour, tropical birding outing or a visit to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Jaguar Preserve.

In addition to the offered activities, the package also includes accommodations, meals and RT transfers from the Belize International airport to the resort. Families traveling with older kids and teens who are interested in scuba will find no TVs or phones in the rooms; no electronic distractions here. Instead, there are spacious beachfront rooms -- 17 feet x 28 feet according to the website -- plus an 8-foot porch. In these suites, there is a room with a mahogany king-size bed and another one with two twin beds; both have their own entrance to the shared bathroom. Two of the treehouse rooms, cabins perched 12 feet above the grounds that afford lots of privacy, also sleep families as they have 2 queen beds and a futon to accommodate your brood.

The Reef & Rainforest package is available for $1,899 per person, based on double occupancy, in a beachfront accommodation starting December 20, 2008 through December 18, 2009. For more information, call 877/552-3483 or visit www.hamanasi.com

For more information on the country of Belize, visit www.travelbelize.org or call their agents at 800/624-0686.