What's the Deal?
The week's best travel bargains around the globe, by land, sea and air.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

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LAND

· Pink Sands, a luxury resort on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, is offering $200-a-night discounts on its rates for stays through Oct. 2. The "Hurricane Breeze" special starts at $400 a night per couple for one-bedroom garden accommodations; breakfasts and dinners are included. A minimum three-night stay is required. Service charges and taxes of 18 percent are extra. Book at 800-OUTPOST. Resort info: http://www.islandoutpost.com/ .

· The Wolcott Hotel in Manhattan is offering rates from $160 a night for Sunday-Wednesday stays through Dec. 28 (usual rate starts at $180); Thursday-Saturday stays start at $200. Book the "Centennial Savings" promotion by Aug. 31. Taxes are 13.63 percent extra. Reserve at 212-268-2900 and request Code 2274. Hotel info: http://www.wolcott.com/ .

· Stay at the Mateya Safari Lodge in northern South Africa for at least three nights and get free round-trip airfare from Johannesburg to the lodge ($330 value). Rates start at $2,318 per person double for three nights and include meals, game drives and bush walks. Deal is good through Dec. 10. Info: 800-524-7979, http://www.mateyasafari.com/ .

SEA

· Book and pay for Cruise West's "Costa Rica & Panama Experience " or "Mexico's Sea of Cortes " cruise by Sept. 29 and receive a $300 discount . For example, the seven-night "Whales & Wildlife" cruise in the Sea of Cortes departing Jan. 6, which sails along Baja California Sur, starts at $1,999 per person double (including $194 taxes and port charges) after the discount; other departures are available December through March and December 2007. Info: 888-362-2883, http://www.cruisewest.com/ .

· Save 50 percent on Seabourn's " Bermuda & Colonial America " cruise departing Gloucester, Mass., on Oct. 29. The 12-night cruise, featuring a "Great American Food & Wine Festival" theme ,with cooking demonstrations and special dinners by chef Paulette Mitchell, now starts at $4,883 per person double (plus $45 taxes). Info: 800-929-9391, http://www.seabourn.com/ .

· French Country Waterways is offering $400 off its cruises in France's Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy and Upper Loire Valley from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4. For example, a cruise on the 18-passenger Esprit through Burgundy's Cote d'Or region is $3,495 per person double after the discount. Info: 800-222-1236, http://www.fcwl.com/ .

AIR

· Icelandair has extended its sale on flights to Europe . Fly round trip from BWI to Stockholm , for example, for $562 (plus $76 taxes). Book by Aug. 31 for September and October travel. Fares on other airlines start at $682. Info: 800-223-5500, http://www.icelandair.com/ .

· Midwest Airlines has sale fares from Reagan National and BWI to several cities, including Milwaukee, Kansas City and Omaha . Fly nonstop to Milwaukee, for example, for $188 round trip (plus $19 taxes). Other airlines are matching sale prices for connecting service, but nonstop flights are at least $299. Purchase by Aug. 28 and travel by Dec. 20 . Seven-day advance purchase and Friday or Saturday night stay required. Slightly higher fares on Sunday. Thanksgiving blackouts apply. Info: 800-452-2022, http://www.midwestairlines.com/ .

PACKAGES

· Fare Deals Ltd. has a seven-night package to Costa Rica for $829 per person double, including taxes. The deal includes round-trip air from BWI to Liberia, accommodations at the all-inclusive Vista Sol All and transfers. Departure dates are available in September and October; book by Sept. 2. Priced separately per person, the hotel would cost $672 and the airfare $626, for a savings of $469. Info: 800-347-7006, http://www.faredeals.com/ .

· Ritz Tours' "Vietnam Discovery" package now starts at $2,099 per person double (plus $210 taxes). The escorted vacation includes round-trip air from Washington, two internal flights, eight nights at five-star hotels in three cities, tours via motorcoach and most meals. Six departures in September through November. Priced separately, air and hotel alone would cost $2,439. Info: 800-900-2446, http://www.ritztours.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.

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