What's the Deal?
The Week's Best Travel Bargains Around the Globe, by Land, Sea and Air.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

LAND

Buy the 17th edition of "Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns" and receive a buy-one-night-get-one-free-night certificate good at any of 1,550 inns across the United States and Canada. The certificate, good until Dec. 31, 2006, is worth $50 to $650 depending on the property. Ask for a $5 discount off the book's $22 retail price; shipping is $4 more. Call 800-397-INNS, or enter coupon code 23mzpkmm7 at http://www.iloveinns.com/ .

Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France, has a Cannes Shopping Festival package Jan. 5-15. Book three nights at the special rate of about $215 a night double and receive one free night, breakfasts and passes for red-carpet entrance to the Palais des Festivals fashion shows. Usual rate starts at about $251, and breakfast starts at about $32 per person. Info: 011-33-4-92-98-74-10, http://www.hotel-martinez.com/ .

Flatotel in midtown Manhattan has a "Snowflakes in the City" package for Friday and Saturday nights through Feb. 28, except Dec. 31. Rate starts at $229 nightly (usually $335) and includes a 15 percent discount at the hotel's Moda restaurant. Details: 800-352-8683, http://www.flatotel.com/ .

SEA

Delta Queen Steamboat Company has discounts on the Mississippi Queen's " Quilting on the River" cruise April 23-30. The cruise, round trip from Memphis, will dock for two days in Paducah, Ky., for the American Quilter's Society Show and will offer presentations from expert quiltmakers. Fares booked by Dec. 31 start at $1,628 per person double for an inside stateroom, a savings of $512. Info: 800-543-1949, http://www.deltaqueen.com/ .

Save more than 50 percent on the Crystal Serenity round trip from London with stops in five cities, including Amsterdam and Edinburgh. The 10-day "Northern Treasures" cruise, departing May 15, starts at $3,177 per person double (plus about $345 port charges and fuel surcharges); brochure fare starts at $7,060. Sale price goes up 10 percent after Jan. 15. Info: 866-446-6625, http://www.crystalcruises.com/ .

Holland America's "View and Verandah" sale allows those who book by Feb. 28 to upgrade accommodations by as much as seven categories. Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside cabin, or a cabin with verandah for the price of an oceanview stateroom. For example, book an inside cabin for $1,031 per person double on the Oosterdam for an Alaskan cruise departing Vancouver May 27, and you'll get an outside cabin that's normally $1,281 per person. Info: 877-SAIL-HAL, http://www.hollandamerica.com/ .

AIR

Cathay Pacific's "Deal of the Month" is a $782 round-trip fare from New York to Bangkok (taxes are an extra $53). Book the fare at http://www.cathay-usa.com/dotm by Dec. 31 for travel Feb. 1-May 15. Other airlines are charging at least $1,077 round trip from New York, and $1,200 from D.C.

Independence Air has holiday sale fares from Washington Dulles starting at $39 each way. For example, fly nonstop to Chicago for $98 round trip including taxes; fare on other airlines around holidays starts at $302. Deal is good for travel through Jan. 3; no blackout dates, but fares may be sold out on some flights. Buy by Jan. 3 at http://www.flyi.%20com/ , or pay $5 more at 800-FLY-FLYI.

PACKAGE

An escorted 16-night "Treasures of the Far East" package to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand starts at $3,299 per person double for the trip's March 28 departure. The deal includes international air from D.C. to Hong Kong, with return from Bangkok; lodging at seven superior-first-class and first-class hotels; 24 tours; 30 meals; guide; and internal transport. Priced separately, international air and hotels alone would cost $3,559 per person. Book by Dec. 23. Request code EM729. Info: 800-322-6677, http://www.vantagetravel.com/sea06 .

Trafalgar Tours has a $300 per couple discount on its 2006 European tours booked by Dec. 29. For example, the "European Highlights" trip to England, Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland departing May 4 -- with round-trip air to London from D.C., eight nights' lodging, some meals and sightseeing -- starts at $2,395 per person double (taxes are $215 extra). Winter Escapes tours are not eligible for the discount. Details: 866-544-4434, http://www.trafalgar.com/ .

Bargain of the Week

Midwest Airlines is offering holiday sale fares. For example, fly round trip from Reagan National to Omaha for $198 (plus about $16 taxes); fare is $430 on other airlines during holiday period. Purchase by tomorrow at www.midwestairlines.com. Travel outbound by Dec. 31 and return by Jan. 8; no blackout dates, but the sale fares may be sold out on some flights.

--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.

--

--