You Can Get There From Here, Nonstop

Why stop when you don't have to? At press time, nonstop flights to seven tropical island destinations, plus Mexico's Cancun, were available from Washington's three area airports; packages through such companies as Apple Vacations (800-517-2000, http://www.applevacations.com) and Liberty Travel (888-271-1584, http://www.libertytravel.com) also offer nonstop chartered air to these locales. We compiled the carriers' flight schedules, en route times and contact information, as well as the lowest round-trip fares we could find online for early- to mid-April travel. (Fares include taxes and fees; all information is subject to change.) -- Christina Talcott

* Aruba. United Airlines (800-241-6522, http://www.united.com) offers flights Friday through Wednesday from Dulles to Reina Beatrix International Airport; fares from $351. Flight time is 4 1/2 hours one way.

* Bahamas. US Airways (800-428-4322, http://www.usairways.com) offers daily flights from Reagan National to Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau; from $218. Flight time is 2 1/2 hours.

* Bermuda. USA3000 Airlines (877-872-3000, http://www.usa3000.com), a budget carrier, flies from BWI to Bermuda International Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from May 13 through Sept. 2; from $281. US Airways offers flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Reagan National; from $333. Flight time from both airports is two hours.

* Cancun. USA3000 flies from BWI to Cancun on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; from $455. From Dulles, United offers daily service (from $432), and Delta (800-221-1212, http://www.delta.com) departs on Saturdays (from $702). Flight time from both airports is about 3 1/2 hours.

* Dominican Republic. USA3000 flies from BWI to Punta Cana International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; from $585. United flies from Dulles to Punta Cana on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 30, then switches to Saturdays only until April 23; from $726; flights resume in December. Flight time from both airports is about four hours.

* Jamaica. Air Jamaica (800-523-5585, http://www.airjamaica.com) flies daily from BWI to Sir Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay; from $506. United flies from Dulles to Montego Bay on Saturdays; from $780. Flight time is 3 1/2 hours from both airports.

* Puerto Rico. United and American Airlines (800-433-7300, http://www.aa.com) offer daily flights from Dulles to San Juan Luis Mu¿oz Marin International Airport; both from $243. Flight time is about four hours.

* St. Martin/St. Maarten. United flies on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Dulles to Princess Juliana International Airport on St. Maarten; from $344. Flight time is 4 1/2 hours.