The snowstorm that buried cities up and down the Eastern Seaboard this week served as a blunt reminder that winter has yet to exhale its last breath. For those suffering from sunshine deficiency, now may be the time to squeeze in a trip to someplace warm, and Condé Nast Traveler has come up with a host of affordable destinations.

The March issue of the magazine features a guide to 28 hotels and resorts in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean that offer idyllic settings at reasonable rates. Most of them can be reached by direct flight and don't require a rental car.

Here's a sampling of the correspondents' choices: Tres Sirenas Inn (pictured above; doubles, $175), an intimate beachfront B&B in Rincón, a surfing town on the west coast of Puerto Rico; hammock-equipped Ranguana Lodge (cabins, $80–$88) in "the sleepy Creole fishing village" of Placiencia, Belize; and, in the hip town of Tulum, Mexico, two hours south of Cancún, a "boho-chic" collection of thatched huts and stone villas called Amansala (doubles, $175–$225).

Another new resort is planned for Belize, an area that has been experiencing a major development boom over the past few years. The Palmetto Bay Resort at Maya Beach will be located on Belize's Placencia Peninsula in an area situated on 16 miles of white sand beaches and backed by the scenery of the Maya Mountains. Palmetto Bay will offer beachfront real estate and four star amenities and will be the first development in the Caribbean designed 'green' from inception.

The first phase of the gated resort, which is currently under construction, will be comprised of 36 whole ownership, luxury beachfront condominiums ranging from approximately 1,100 to 4,500 square feet, each with open views of the Caribbean. Prices will start in the high $200,000s. The turnkey one- two- and three-bedroom residences are spread through two low-rise buildings. Designer Julieanne Dobson who also worked on Francis Ford Coppola's Turtle Inn in Belize will create the interiors using warm woods and natural stone, vibrant contemporary textiles, and niche lit Mayan and African inspired art.

Ownership at Palmetto Bay Resort will include access to fitness facilities, conference rooms with wireless internet; 24-hour reception and security; fully equipped luxury kitchens with gourmet utensils and stainless steel appliances; balcony barbecues; and lush, mature landscaping with use of indigenous fruit trees and plants. The property will feature a 300-foot oceanfront infinity pool, a 400' private beach, beach boardwalk, and private dock.

Green factors include geothermal, solar, and water filtration technologies, which alone is estimated to conserve 1,000 gallons of water per day at full occupancy. Sales have begun on the property.

Leonardo Dicaprio's green leanings are well known. Now it is being rumored that he will be working with the Four Seasons Hotel group to create a green hotel on land he owns in Belize. He is reported to want to start building at the beginning of 2008. The green features haven't been announced. Belize has been in the news recently for a huge new development. DiCaprio wouldn't be the first celeb to open a resort in Belize, director Francis Ford Coppola owns a resort there.

The latest Belize resort is the massive Ara Macao Resort and Marina project. The project is a 582-acre planned community on the Placencia coastline. It will include a golf course, hotel, condominiums, villa, a large marina, restaurants and a casino. The resort has opened a Charter Member program that offers the next 50 purchasers a five-day trip to Belize. Prices for condo units start in the low $400,000s.

There has been some concern over the project's grand scale but an interview with developer Paul Goguen says that Ara Macao is only a quarter of the new development planned for the area. He also says that the project will bring much-needed infrastructure to the area and is turning swamp land into a producing asset for the Belize government through taxes and jobs.

A new boutique hotel has had a soft open in the Cayo district of Belize. The Ka'ana Boutique Resort & Spa has an official grand opening on September 22. There are 15 cottages with quiet verandas each with a sitting area, private bath, air conditioning, ceiling fan, LCD TV, mini-bar and internet facilities. The resort also includes a small spa which offers massages, scrubs, and other therapies. There is also a restaurant and the resort offers tours of the local area that includes many Mayan ruins and nature-based activities such as kayaking, canoeing and hiking. Rates start at $175 per night and the resort is currently offering a special that includes four nights with the fourth night free, bottle of wine, fruit basket and 60-minute massage for two.

Kanantik is a resort in Belize that offers eco-friendly adventures for the romance-minded. Accommodations are located on a private and secluded beach surrounded by a rainforest. The “Romantic Honeymoon” package at Kanantik includes a six night all-inclusive stay in an air-conditioned beachfront cabana, three guided adventure tours and daily meals with gourmet dinners that can be served by candlelight on the private veranda of your cabana or on the beach. Guests of Kanantik can also hit the water in sea kayaks and Hobie Cats and scuba gear and a 42-foot Newton dive boat are at the ready. Kanantik also has its own private airstrip, serviced by local airline Tropic Air. The package costs $1,885 per person.