Relax, indulge, and experience a beach vacation in a private cabana or an all inclusive resort. The sand of Mexico is waiting for you and we can help plan your affordable Mexico vacations.

Golf, spend a day at a spa, snorkle, scuba dive, shop, hike or explore the multitudes of Ecoparks and ancient ruins when you aren't relaxing at the beach or pool.

Let us help you find exactly what you are looking for in your vacation and the best rates possible.

Once you've decided that you want to go to Mexico, one of the first steps is getting your passport if you don't have one.

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave the United States. Only the United States Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify U. S. passports.

The State Department has a site that tells exactly how to go about getting a passport for the first time. This includes a link to a site for downloading a passport application. You can get almost everything done before your appointment with an authorized passport acceptance agent.

If you've never had a passport before, you must apply in person. But you can go to your nearest acceptance facility with two passport photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver's license. Please note that your photos must fit the passport criteria and can be taken at your local Kinkos Printing among other places.

Acceptance facilities include many federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices.

Deciding upon the destination for Affordable Mexico vacations is just the start of planning your vacation.

The next step is to decide upon the environment that you will be able to relax in and have the most fun.

Choosing between an all inclusive vacation or a vacation in which you pay for everything as you go is an individual choice.

There is no right or wrong way if you are able to find the Mexico vacation best suited to you.

Booking an affordable all-inclusive hotel in Mexico in Mexico can be all-consuming. Unlike a standard hotel, there are myriad variables to consider: Do you want a full bar in your room or will bottled water suffice, full or limited access to the pools and restaurants and bars, freedom to choose your activities and excursions?

To help you simplify the process, we suggest these steps to finding and reserving the best deal for a Mexico all-inclusive hotel or resort.

1. Choose a Destination. Consider the culture, potential language barriers and off-campus activities. For example, Cancun has nonstop action with party bars like Senor Frogs, shopping, booze cruises, etc., whereas Playa del Carmen can be a bit more mellow with more atmosphere of the Mayan culture.

Safety is also an issue, as some resorts discourage guests from straying beyond the gates. For example, in Cancun you can often safely walk to attractions off the resort grounds or take a bus, but in Jamaica, touring solo is not recommended. Brief yourself on safety concerns on the U.S. State Department's Web site.

Another factor is flight time. Some of the smaller islands, such as Turks and Caicos, require a connecting flight and often lengthy layovers. If your vacation time is short, you may want to focus on destinations with nonstop flights from your closest international airport.

Air fares vary wildly depending on the destination so you may want to take this into consideration. For the most part, you can fly much more cheaply to regions with more mass appeal, such as Puerto Vallarta rather than San Miguel de Allende. Frequent-flier miles may present a more affordable Mexico vacation.

2. Select a Travel Time. Pay attention to weather patterns, such as hurricane season (June 1-Nov. 30), as well as holidays, including summer, winter and spring school vacations. Prices go up when kids are on break and drop when tropical storms threaten. During shoulder season (April 15-May 30 and Sept. 1-Dec. 14), costs are moderate and crowds are not crushing.

For weather updates and average temps on the islands, go to the Weather Channel or consult the National Weather Service.

3. Settle on a type of resort. Knowing your style of resort is crucial. If you are not discerning, your family could end up surrounded by smooching couples, or your romantic getaway could be ruined by screaming children.

If you want a kid-free vacation, for example, go for an adults-only resort in Mexico, such as the Aventuras Spa Palace. If you want your children to be occupied from dawn to dusk, find an all-inclusive with a generous kiddie program, such as the Moon Palace Resort.

Size also matters: A place with one elegant infinity pool will be more intimate than a theme-park like resort with three Olympic-size pools, a lazy river, hot tubs and water slides.

4. Research the best deal for Mexico hotels and resorts from travel retailers, wholesalers and timeshare owners. (hint) Timeshare owners very often have the best deal that you will find. Resort timeshare owners have purchased the membership that affords them special benefits that you will be entitled to as their guest.

Find the right timeshare owner with not just the best price but offers you service and a history of happy guests. You want to make sure that your vacation is flawless and that all of the arrangements have been made properly.

5. Before booking, visit the resort's Web site. Check the property and its amenities. Pay special attention to what's included: Do you have admission to all parts of the resort or are there restrictions with your package? Is food offered 24-7? Any additional perks thrown in, such as golf lessons? Also double-check the quality of the resort on a guest-review.