What type of vacation can your tax rebate buy?

updated 11:11 a.m. ET April 3, 2008

NEW YORK - A getaway to the Dominican Republic. A road trip with the kids. Even a weekend in Vegas — as long as you take it easy in the casino.

With most Americans expecting to receive a tax rebate of up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), there are plenty of ways to get the most vacation for your buck, say travel experts. Whether it’s a cruise, a tropical paradise, or family travel, these trips can all be done for under $600 a person.

Note: Deals are subject to change, travel may be limited to certain time periods, and taxes and other fees may apply.

Cruises: Appealing to first-time cruisers and time-pressed travelers, several cruise companies are offering shorter cruises on older ships for as little as $60 a night per person (based on double occupancy), says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com. For example, a Caribbean Princess three-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas in May starts at $259 (for a no-frills room).

“There is no other travel option (other than a cruise) that gives you so much for the base price,” said Brown. “You get all your meals, you get accommodations, you get entertainment, and you get to go to a variety of places without having to hop on planes, trains, buses.”

Travelers seeking a longer vacation aboard a more luxurious ship can catch deals in the offseason. A seven-day cruise on Holland America to the Western Caribbean (leaving from Tampa) in November starts at $514. (Transportation to the port, tips and extras like the spa, alcohol and shore excursions will add to your bill.)

Tropical getaway: Believe it or not, $600 can get you a beach in the Caribbean or Mexico.

Cheapflights.com has an air-hotel package from Phoenix to Cancun, with a three-night hotel stay at the four-star Barcelo Tucancun Beach Resort & Hotel Villas for $585 per person. The resort is all-inclusive.

Cancun is a popular destination for spring breakers searching for the 24-hour party, honeymooners on a romantic getaway, and anyone else craving sunshine and relaxation. But travelers who are seeking more than beaches and night clubs can arrange snorkeling, diving and fishing excursions; tour the ancient Mayan ruins at Tulum, about 80 miles away; or visit the nearby eco-parks Xcarat and Xel-Ha for wildlife-watching.

Travelzoo has an air-hotel package to the Dominican Republic for $499 per person, including roundtrip airfare from Miami and New York, five nights at the four-star Sunscape Casa del Mar (all-inclusive). Lie on the beach, visit the clubs, or go fishing, rafting, diving, or whale-watching.

If you want more than the beach, take the Islabon Jungle River Tour or a scenic drive on the Carretera Touristica Route, a road lined with vendors and scenic views. The Dominican Republic is also home to Columbus Aquaparque, one of the biggest water parks in the Caribbean.

Deal of the Day Newfoundland and Labrador Explore World Heritage sites, glimpse into the life of the Vikings, more, from $1,635.

Liberty Travel has several discounted air-hotel packages to St. Lucia. A sample air-hotel package leaving from New York, with three nights in the four-star Coco Kreole hotel starts at $575 per person. Too much sun? Rent an ATV and ride through the mountains, take a hike through the rainforest, or go whale- and turtle-watching. Visit the Diamond Botanical Gardens to see the mineral baths.

Maho Bay Resorts on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, bills itself as an “ecotourism destination.” The resort has 114 units connected by elevated walkways of stairs and boardwalks to alleviate soil erosion and damage to the beach, and a “Trash to Treasure” recycling program, in which trash is recycled into craft items and artwork.

Round-trip airfare from Miami to St. Thomas, with a ferry to St. John and four nights at the resort is $430 per person, according to Maho Bay Camps in conjunction with Travelocity.

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