10 Bargain Summer Destinations

BY ARTHUR FROMMER
King Features Syndicate

There's still time to select a summer vacation destination. And when you do, you might consider one of 10 bargain-priced destinations for which arrangements can still be made. (I'm indebted to my daughter, guidebook writer Pauline Frommer, for drawing my attention to some of these; she has also contributed in part to this column.)

1. Berkeley Springs, W.Va. It was America's first spa city (visited, among others, by George Washington), and it's regaining that reputation today by supporting six excellent -- but reasonably priced -- spas, as well as an army of massage therapists and other ''bodyworkers.'' At the historic Bath House in Berkeley Springs State Park, you can soak in 102-degree thermal waters and then undergo a half-hour Swedish massage for a total of $40. Accommodations are cheap (from $70 per room in Berkeley Springs itself, from $45 in nearby Martinsburg), and other activities include shopping, hiking, golf and horseback riding.

2. Rockland, Maine (on the rocky mid-coast of that state). This is the port city for famous Windjammers (sailing ships), with a blossoming arts scene centered on the superb Farnsworth Museum (Andrew Wyeth, Louise Nevelson) and several other galleries. There's fine dining at numerous venues and inexpensive accommodations (as little as $85 a room in high season) that make the town a good jumping-off point for visits to the pricier Kennebunkport, Bar Harbor and Camden.

3. Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota. A million acres of wilderness crisscrossed by 1,300 miles of canoeable waters for nature lovers and fishermen. Outfitters provide you with the canoe, a tent and enough food for your stay, for as little as $70 a day for two to four people.

4. Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. Waterpark capital of the world, with more than 20 (many indoors) -- a sure kid-pleaser -- plus acres of other family attractions, like riding stables, mini golf, rock-climbing and fishing. Day passes to the water parks are $30 to $35 per person. While room rates at the big resort hotels can be steep, less expensive motels abound, with rates starting at just $40 a night.

5. The Oregon Coast, including Yachats. In a rental car driving along the entire Pacific Coast of Oregon you'll pass one of the least developed shorelines in America. As you drive north, you have multiple state parks on your right; and stupendous vistas of the Pacific on your left. Though Cannon Beach is a favorite destination for restaurants and entertainment, I like the arty town of Yachats, with its excellent restaurants (serving Dungeness crabs), its sophisticated atmosphere at low cost.

6. The Dominican Republic. You know about this one. It is undoubtedly the cheapest Caribbean destination, and numerous tour operators will send you there for an all-inclusive weeklong stay (round-trip air from most U.S. cities, hotel for seven nights, three meals a day, all drinks and entertainment), in July and August for about $900 per adult, with children staying and eating for free.

7. The Mayan Riviera, south of Cancun, Mexico. Along this Caribbean coast of Mexico, so many new hotels have been completed recently that price competition is fierce, and rates resemble those of the Dominican Republic. You have white-sand beaches, Mayan ruins and a colorful Mexican setting.

8. Newfoundland, Canada. Undervisited by Americans, it's refreshingly priced and wonderfully underdeveloped. From its coast, you see icebergs, whales and puffins. In Gros Morne National Park, you have fine bird-watching, fishing and hiking.

At the many tiny B&Bs that dot the region, you often find rooms for as little as $50 a night.

9. Peru. It's much more than Cuzco and Machu Picchu. It's Puno and Lake Titicaca, the elegant town of Arequipa, the Colca Valley with its giant condors. Accommodations across Peru are largely budget-priced ($30 a night on average), thanks to the backpacker hordes.

10. Bulgaria. Black Sea beaches, ancient monasteries and perfectly preserved medieval villages. Lodgings can sometimes be had for $50 to $100, and seafood meals are just $7 and $8 in this cheapest country of Eastern Europe.