What's the Deal?
What's the Deal?
The Week's Best Travel Bargains Around the Globe, by Land, Sea and Air
Sunday, December 11, 2005; Page P03
LAND
The "Midweek Madness" package at California's Mammoth Mountain starts at $99 per person per night double and includes lodging and a lift ticket for those staying two or more Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday nights Jan. 9-Feb. 1. For example, two nights at the Mammoth Mountain Inn with lift tickets is $394, plus $52 in taxes and fees. Two nights' lodging usually starts at $330, including taxes, and a two-day lift ticket is $113. Info: 800-MAMMOTH, http://www.mammothmountain.com/ .
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The Kitano New York, a four-diamond hotel in Manhattan's Murray Hill section, has a winter package Jan. 1-March 5 with rates starting at $250 a night double. The package includes breakfast and a cocktail for two. Taxes are $37 extra per night. Room alone usually starts at $280. Info: 800-548-2666, http://www.kitano.com/ .
Stay at the five-star Merrion Dublin Jan. 1-Feb. 28 for about $293 a night, depending on the exchange rate. The "Winter Escape" package for two includes lodging, welcome Irish coffee and breakfasts. Room rack rate is $459, breakfast is usually $64 for two and Irish coffees are $9 each. Info: 800-628-8929, http://www.merrionhotel.com/ .
SEA
Silversea has savings of up to 50 percent on select South America and Caribbean cruises. For example, a 12-night cruise round trip from Buenos Aires departing Jan. 17 is $3,797 per person double, plus $375 in port charges. Info: 800-722-9955, http://www.silversea.com/ .
A weeklong cruise aboard Windjammer's Polynesia round trip from St. Maarten is now $799 per person double for Jan. 1, 8, 15 and 29 departures. Port charges are $65 extra. Usual fare is $1,000. Info: 800-327-2601, http://www.windjammer.com/ .
This spring, Uniworld's "Grand Value Cruising" program offers free airfare and rates from $798 per person double on 16 of its river cruises in Holland and Germany. For example, a nine-day "Rhine & Moselle Classic" cruise on the River Ambassador departing April 1 starts at $798 per person double, plus $84 in port charges, including airfare from BWI or Dulles. Book by Jan. 31. Info: 800-733-7820, http://www.uniworld.com/ .
AIR
Fly from D.C. to destinations throughout the Caribbean on Spirit Air starting at $89 each way. For example, the round-trip fare from Reagan National to Montego Bay, Jamaica, is $278, including taxes. Fare sale is good for Tuesday and Wednesday travel Jan. 9-March 29. Other airlines are matching, but the fare usually starts at $373. Buy no later than today at http://www.spiritair.com/ .
Fly Aer Lingus from New York to Dublin or Shannon, Ireland, on Aer Lingus for the sale fare of $260 round trip (plus about $87 in taxes), and receive a certificate for a free cable sweater from Blarney Woolen Mills worth about $50. The deal is good for travel Jan. 17-Feb. 28 (blackout dates Feb. 15-21). Book at 800-IRISH-AIR by tomorrow.
PACKAGES
Spend Valentine's Day in Italy with a deal from Foreign Independent Tours. The seven-night package is $949 per person double, plus about $150 in taxes, and includes air from Dulles to Florence departing Feb. 8, with return from Rome; three nights at the four-star Roma Hotel in Florence; four nights in the four-star Diana Hotel in Rome; transfers; first-class train from Florence to Rome; buffet breakfasts; and three sightseeing tours. Priced separately, air and hotel would cost about $100 additional. Info: 800-853-6453, http://www.fittours.com/ .
An escorted tour of Russia in winter has been discounted by $400 per couple. Friendly Planet Travel is offering the "Very Affordable Russia" package starting at $799 per person double for Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 departures. The deal includes air from Dulles to Moscow, with return from St. Petersburg; one-way air from Moscow to St. Petersburg; three nights at the Cosmos Hotel in Moscow; three nights at Petro Palace Hotel in St. Petersburg; buffet breakfasts; two sightseeing tours; transfers; and guide. Taxes are $150 extra. Priced separately, air and hotel would cost about $1,126 per person. Info: 800-555-5765, http://www.friendlyplanet.com/ .
--Carol Sottili
Prices were verified and available on Thursday afternoon when the Travel section went to press. However, deals sell out quickly and are not guaranteed to be available. Restrictions such as day of travel, blackout dates and advance-purchase requirements sometimes apply.