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

Sunday, November 12, 2006

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LAND

* Book a stay in Jamaica with Couples Resorts and receive discounts of up to 45 percent . For example, five nights at Couples Negril Jan. 8-13 in a deluxe ocean room is priced at $2,075 per couple (rack rate is $3,265 and early booking rate is $2,565). Also, show your passport at check-in proving that Jamaica was your first international stop and receive $200 in spa credits per room (five-night minimum stay required). Book by Nov. 14 for travel Jan. 1-Feb. 9 and Feb. 27-April 1. Info: 800-268-7537, http://www.couples.com/ .

* Canaan Valley Resort , a West Virginia ski area, is celebrating its 35th anniversary Dec. 8-10 with $35-per-night hotel rooms , $35-per-day lift ticket/ski rental rates and 35-cent food items. Rooms usually start at $80 on weekdays and $86 on Fridays and Saturdays; lift ticket/ski rental would cost about $47. Room taxes are an extra 9 percent. Info: 800-622-4121, http://www.canaanresort.com/ .

* Pay for at least four nights at Florida's Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa, and Christmas night is free . Deal is good Dec. 21-Jan. 2; room rates start at $199 Dec. 21-25, and $339 Dec. 26-Jan. 1. Taxes are an extra 10 percent. Info: 800-438-4373, http://www.holidaysinmarcoisland.com/ .

SEA

* A cruise to the Chilean fiords and Cape Horn aboard the Clipper Adventurer departing Feb. 22 is now discounted by $1,000 per person. Price with discount starts at $5,895 per person double and includes 10-night cruise, three nights' lodging at Sheraton hotels in Buenos Aires and Santiago, shore excursions, and flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and from Punta Arenas to Santiago. Info: 800-456-8100, http://www.intrav.com/ .

* SureCruise.com is offering a free iPod Shuffle, worth about $79, on select Princess cruises. Book a cruise by Dec. 31 that sails no later than April 30 and costs at least $825 per person double before taxes to qualify; one Shuffle per booking. Cruise prices are competitive; for example, a mini-suite on a seven-night cruise aboard the Star Princess departing Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 24 is $2,162 per couple; price quoted by cruise line is $2,314. Details: 877-346-3433, http://www.surecruise.com/ .

* In honor of Veterans Day, Carnival is offering reduced rates for military personnel for cruises booked no later than Nov. 30 and taken between now and March 31. Military personnel can also book an additional two staterooms on the same cruise for family members and friends at the discounted pricing. For example, a four-night cruise on the Fascination departing Miami on Jan. 15 starts at $179 per person double, plus $42.54 fees and taxes, a discount of about 30 percent. Book at 800-227-6482. Cruise info: http://www.carnival.com/ .

AIR

* Southwest is offering a systemwide sale with one-way fares ranging from $49 to $159 with a 14-day advance purchase. Book by Nov. 16 for travel through March 9 (through Feb. 14 to Florida). Round-trip fare from BWI to Houston, for example, is $166 plus $31 taxes (other airlines are matching). Purchase at http://www.southwest.com/ .

* Fly from Washington Dulles to Johannesburg for $878 round trip including taxes with a "Thanksgiving sale" from South African Airways. You must depart by Nov. 30 and return no later than Dec. 31. Fare usually starts at about $1,336. Info: 800-521-4845, http://www.flysaa.com/ .

PACKAGES

* A tour to Tokyo, Beijing and Hong Kong has been discounted by Ritz Tours for departures Jan. 3-March 15 . Price starts at $1,799 per person double plus $350 taxes, including round-trip international air from Los Angeles, flights from Tokyo to Beijing and from Beijing to Hong Kong, nine nights' accommodations, most meals and tour guide. Priced separately, airfares and hotel alone would cost about $2,578 per person. Details: 800-900-2446, http://www.ritztours.com/ .

* Save up to $500 per couple on select trips to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and Las Vegas with Funjet Vacations. Sale applies to trips booked by Nov. 23 for travel Jan. 1-Feb. 15 . For example, a trip from Washington Dulles to Jamaica with nonstop air on United and seven nights at the all-inclusive Starfish Trelawney resort is about $962 per person double including taxes, a savings of about $205 per person. Book at http://www.funjet.com/ or through a travel agent.

-- 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.