Sunday, November 26, 2006

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· Surprise a Europe-bound pal with the Euro Gift Pack, which saves money and lets travelers keep in touch while abroad. The $59 pack includes a Motorola international cellphone and charger, $20 of prepaid minutes, a $10 iTunes card, a Eurotrip rail map and a 12-language phrase book. Typically, the phone and charger alone would cost $50. Purchase by Dec. 31 at http://www.railpass.com/ or http://www.railconnection.com/.

· Unwind before the holidays with a discounted package at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va. For example, spend $99 per room and receive one night of accommodations and a pair of ski lift tickets to the Homestead's ski resort (valid Dec. 17-21 only; usually $39 each). Stay Dec. 3-7, 10-14 and 17-21. Or, for $135 per person double, get a room and breakfast and bring your kids; ages 18 and younger stay free when sharing their parents' room. Valid Dec. 8-9, 15-16. Taxes extra. Typically, December rates start at $159. Info: 800-838-1766, http://www.thehomestead.com/.

· The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau lets guests sleep and eat for less than $100. With the SaverFest promotion, good until March 1, guests staying at any of the 10 participating hotels and B&Bs receive a free meal for two at a Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant (worth about $20 per diner) or a $20 dinner voucher at one of two fine-dining spots. For example, at the Comfort Inn New Holland, get one night of lodging and dinner for two for $97 double. For more moderate or high-end resorts, expect to pay between $100 and $200. Taxes are additional and vary per property. Info: 888-818-0037, http://www.padutchcountry.com/.

· Be the first to sail aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's new Norwegian Pearl and pay about $500 less than the usual rate. The $229-per-person-double offer, through CruiseDeals.com, applies to the ship's inaugural sailing, a five-night cruise departing Miami on Dec. 18. Ports of call include Key West and Cozumel. About $59 in taxes additional. Info: 800-668-6414, http://www.cruisedeals.com/.

· Save more than a grand on CruiseOne's transatlantic trip from Miami to Southampton, England. Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas repositioning cruise departs April 14 and spends 12 nights at sea, with stops in Bermuda, France and Ireland. Cost for an inside cabin starts at $599 per person double. About $110 in taxes are additional. Typically, the cruise goes for $1,500. Info: 877-600-4646, http://www.cruiseone.com/jgarroway.

· Cruise around Mexico and Belize for less than $50 a day with a deal from the Cruise Hound. For $299 per person double, spend a week aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dream, which goes round trip from Houston. Depart Dec. 2 or 9. For an ocean view, spend only $30 more. About $60 in taxes additional. Info: 800-834-4338, http://www.thecruisehound.com/.

· United has discounted flights across Canada, including Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver. Air from Washington to Toronto, for example, costs $247 round trip. By comparison, flights to Toronto on other carriers go for about $45 more. Fourteen-day advance purchase required; complete travel by Dec. 12. Info: http://www.united.com/.

· Malaysia Airlines is treating first-class friends to $99 fares. Buy a full-fare first-class ticket on any of the carrier's routes and your companion pays only $99 plus taxes. For example, a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Bangkok costs $10,100, including taxes, for the first passenger and $99 plus $300 in taxes for the second flier. Purchase by Dec. 31. Flights must originate in Los Angeles, and passengers must travel together. Info: 888-627-8477, http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/.

· Southwest's fall sale on destinations nationwide ends Nov. 27. For example, flights from Dulles to Chicago Midway start at $117 round trip (usual fare is about $150); from BWI to Manchester, N.H., fares are from $102 round trip (down from the typical $130). Travel by Dec. 31. Book at http://www.southwest.com/.

· Bring a buddy to Bermuda and get $300 off the package price. Bermuda Tourism's "Compliments of Bermuda" promotion takes $300 off two-person packages on stays of three nights or longer. The lowest package starts at $419 per person double (with the discount), including air from Reagan National and three nights at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort. Add about $98 in taxes. Nine properties are participating. Book by March 31; travel by April 9. Info: 800-237-6832, http://www.bermudatourism.com/.

· Indulge in a wine and spa tour of Tuscany-- but spend only $30 more than the cost of air, hotel and car alone. The Foreign Independent Tours trip includes air from Dulles to Rome, eight nights' lodging, car rental, two dinners, wine tasting, a spa voucher and more. Cost is $1,650 per person double for Jan. 7-31 departures. Taxes of about $126 are extra. Individually, air goes for $680, lodging for $100 a night and the car for $156. Info: 800-248-3487, http://www.fittours.com/tuscanywine.

-- Andrea Sachs

Prices were verified and available on Wednesday 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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