Riviera Maya ranks as a favorite for end-of-summer vacations

Prices are falling and interest rising in Riviera Maya from Cancun to Tulum as summer draws to a close, according to statistics compiled by Kayak.com, the airfare and travel comparison website.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, last-minute beach destination to end your summer vacation, Mexico’s Riviera Maya may be a winner.

Kayak’s techies analyzed more than 100 million inquiries a month that were conducted on the website from Memorial Day through July to find late-summer deals in August. It also identified where Americans are headed during the Labor Day weekend.

Cancun, acces point to Riviera Maya, scored third (after Atlanta and Denver), with a 9.2% decrease in average airfare for travel in August compared with earlier in the summer. The average August airfare is $507. Average airfare for Cancun for the holiday weekend is $495.

Among the late summer hotel deals available in the area is an offer from three Iberostar Riviera Maya resorts that include a kids-free promotion. When visiting with two or more adults who are paying full price, two children can stay free.

The offer is valid at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach, Paraiso del Mar and Cozumel resorts, all within the 90-mile stretch, from Cancun to Tulum, of southeastern Mexico known as the Riviera Maya.

“Each of these resorts provides a great variety of activities for children and adults,” said John Long, an Iberostar vice president, mentioning “our new splash parks, 18-hole championship golf courses and full-services spas.”

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is a family-owned hospitality group based in Spain, with 18 properties in Mexico and the Caribbean.

The kids-free promotion is available through Dec. 23, with prices starting at $198 per night for two adults.