WHAT'S THE DEAL?
What's the Deal?
The week's best travel bargains around the globe, by land, sea and air.
Sunday, April 1, 2007; Page P03
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LAND
* Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., which got dumped with nearly two feet of snow last week, is offering a two-for-one spring ski deal. Pay for one night of lodging and one pair of lift tickets for two, and receive two nights' accommodations and two days of lift tickets. Pricing varies depending on lodging. For example, the package for two adults in mid-April at the Best Western Station House Inn is about $244, including $8 taxes. Complete travel by April 23; deal is not available Friday or Saturday nights. Info: 800-432-8365, http:/
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* BikeToursDirect has discounted by 20 percent four guided European bicycle tours. The seven-night trips depart in July. Pricing varies depending on tour. For example, the July 7 Danube Bike Path tour from Passau, Germany, to Vienna is now priced at about $920 (including taxes) per person double; the tour, averaging about 36 miles of easy cycling each day, includes lodging, dinners, guide, luggage transfers and train fare from Vienna to Passau. Other reduced-fare tours include Salzburg Lakes (departing July 15; $938), Tuscany (July 1; $987) and Bolzano to Venice (July 21; $1,031). Info: 877-462-2423, http:/
* The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., is offering discounted Easter rates April 6-8. Rate starts at $249 per night for a family of four, plus 15 percent resort fee and 7 percent taxes -- a savings of about $29 a night. Free weekend activities include an egg hunt with more than 4,000 eggs filled with toys and candy, and egg dyeing for kids and adults. Book at 800-838-1766. Resort info: http:/
SEA
* Lindblad Expeditions is offering $1,000 discounts on select departures of its Where the Desert Meets the Sea cruise in Baja California's Sea of Cortez. These seven-night cruises start at $2,490 per person double (including taxes) for departures in April, May and June. The 60-passenger ship, the Sea Voyager, is equipped with Zodiacs, kayaks and a swimming platform. The deal also includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Loreto, Mexico, worth about $349. Info: 800-397-3348, http:/
* Crystal Cruises has 10 percent savings on select 12-night Mediterranean voyages aboard the 1,080-passenger Crystal Serenity. The discounts apply to deluxe staterooms (categories C-AA). Prices now start at $4,662 per person double for the Classic Mediterranean Odyssey cruise departing Aug. 31; the cruise travels from Monte Carlo to Venice, stopping at ports in Italy, Greece and Croatia. Rates on the Aug. 19 Canals to Casinos cruise between Venice and Monte Carlo start at $4,945 per person double. Port charges and taxes for either cruise are $365 per person. Book by April 30. Info: 888-799-4625, http:/
AIR
* United is offering an across-the-globe spring sale. Fare from Washington to New York or Boston, for example, is $99 round trip (including taxes); to Miami, $153; and to London, $490. For domestic destinations, travel on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday by June 7; 14-day advance purchase required. International restrictions, including advance-purchase and day-of-travel requirements, vary based on destination. Purchase by April 9, or April 6 for Latin American destinations. Other airlines are matching in select markets. Info: 800-864-8331, http:/
* Alitalia has sale fares from New York to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India. Best deals are for Italy. For example, the fare of about $608 round trip (including $99 taxes) is good for travel to 13 cities, including Venice, Naples, Florence and Pisa. Fare on other airlines to Florence in April, for example, starts at about $764. Depart by May 31 (some dates are sold out); no advance purchase required. Buy tickets at http:/
PACKAGES
* A nine-night Affordable Croatia & Slovenia tour from Gate 1 Travel is now $1,372 per person double, including $99 taxes, for the Nov. 29 departure. Price includes round-trip flight from Washington to Venice on Iberia Airlines, seven nights' lodging in Croatia (Opatija, Split, Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes), two nights' lodging in Slovenia (Bled), 11 meals, sightseeing tours, transport by motorcoach and airport transfers. Book by June 22. Priced separately, air and hotels would cost just $200 less than the total package. Info: 800-682-3333, 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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