WHAT'S THE DEAL?
What's the Deal?
The week's best travel bargains around the globe, by land, sea and air.
Sunday, December 3, 2006; Page P03
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LAND
? Turks & Caicos Club, a 21-suite hotel on Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales, is offering two specials. Between now and Dec. 22, pay for four nights and receive the fifth free, or pay for five and get the next two nights free; nightly rates start at $395. Or stay between Jan. 3 and Feb. 11 for at least seven nights and get summer rates; for example, a one-bedroom poolside unit starts at $315 per night (winter rate is usually $395) and a two-bedroom oceanfront suite starts at $695 (winter rate is usually $1,095). Book by Dec. 15; taxes and resort fees of 20 percent are extra. Info: 888-482-2582, http:/
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? Get to Hawaii by Dec. 22 and receive an "Aloha Plus Breakfast" special at the oceanfront Hyatt Regency Maui Resort. Rates start at $311 a night and include room upgrade and breakfast, a savings of about $93 a night. Taxes are an extra 11.4 percent and resort fee is $15 a night per room. Info: 800-233-1234, http:/
? Platinum Hotel & Spa, a new condo-hotel property just off the Strip in Las Vegas, has introductory rates through Dec. 28. A 900-square-foot, one-bedroom suite with kitchen and 42-inch plasma TV starts at $119 through Dec. 21 ($129 Dec. 22-28); rack rates will start at $169 effective Jan. 1. Taxes are an extra 9 percent. Info: 877-211-9211, http:/
SEA
? World Wide Cruises is offering several deals on Holland America holiday cruises. For example, a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Holland America's Zuiderdam departing Fort Lauderdale Dec. 23 starts at $899 per person double plus $59 taxes for an inside cabin, a savings of about $624. The "flash fare" promotions must be purchased by calling 800-882-9000. Cruise info: http:/
? Save $500 per person on a six-night cruise along England's Upper Thames River aboard the historic 11-passenger Actief. Go Barging has the discount on sailings throughout 2007 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the restored barge. Price, which includes open bar and shore excursions, starts at $2,290 per person double on select sailings in April and July-October. Deposit required by Dec. 31. Info: 800-394-8630, http:/
? Book a featured cruise through the new site Lastminutecruises.com and receive a free hotel night. Each day through the end of the year, the Web site will highlight several cruises from different port cities; the promotion will be posted for four hours at various times between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Cruise prices are competitive; for example, a seven-night Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Galaxy departing Dec. 15 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, recently was priced at $539 per person double including taxes, the same price being quoted by the cruise line. Hotels vary by availability and booking amount; in San Juan, for example, properties include the Hotel Miramar, with rates starting at $129 a night. Info: 800-442-0568, http:/
AIR
? AirTran is holding a systemwide sale. For example, fly between BWI and Charlotte for $39 each way ($97 round trip including taxes); fare on other airlines starts at about $157. Lowest fares for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights; sale fares not available for Sunday travel. Book by Dec. 14 and travel through March 1. Ten-day advance purchase is required. Blackout dates are Dec. 20-Jan. 3 and Feb. 15-20. Purchase at http:/
? American has sale fares to the Caribbean and Mexico. Fly from Washington Dulles to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, for example, for $188 round trip (plus $109 taxes); other airlines are matching, but the fare is usually about $420 round trip. Purchase by Dec. 6. Travel outbound Jan. 10-Feb. 27 and return by March 1. Some blackout dates apply. Buy at http:/
PACKAGES
? A five-night package to Venice in winter is priced starting at $697 per person double plus about $105 taxes. The deal from Vacation Europe includes round-trip airfare from Washington, lodging at the Hotel Arlecchino and daily breakfast. Travel by Dec. 14 or Jan. 4-March 25; book by Dec. 15. Priced separately, air would cost about $688 and the hotel about $290 a night. Info: 800-780-2202, http:/
? Azores Express has a package deal to the Azores, a group of islands in the mid-Atlantic about 970 miles off the coast of Portugal. Starting at $589 per person double (plus $120 taxes), the deal includes round-trip nonstop air from Boston, six nights' lodging at Hotel Vila Nova on the island of Sao Miguel and breakfasts. Lowest prices apply to Tuesday departures through April 1. Priced separately, air would cost about $561 and the hotel $114 a night, for a savings of about $206 per person. Info: 800-762-9995, http:/
-- 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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