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

Sunday, April 8, 2007

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LAND

* Devil's Thumb Ranch, a 5,000-acre resort about 65 miles west of Denver in Tabernash, Colo., is offering spring savings. Through April 24, a one-bedroom loft cabin starts at $150 a night, including continental breakfast. From May 1-26, rates start at $200 a night, and the ranch is offering $5 to $25 discounts on massages, facials, fly-fishing lessons and trail rides. Taxes are an extra 6.7 percent. Rooms typically start at $285. Info: 800-933-4339, http://www.devilsthumbranch.com/.

* Stay at any of three hotels at Universal Orlando for four, five or six nights and receive free theme park tickets. Deal is good at the Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel and Royal Pacific Resort. The four-night package entitles guests to two Universal Orlando tickets, valid for up to seven days of unlimited admission at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk ($86 per person value); and Universal Express access, which lets visitors skip the regular lines at most attractions. Deal is good through Dec. 26. The five-night deal additionally gives guests two one-day tickets to Wet n' Wild Orlando ($37 per person value). Stay for six nights and receive two seven-day Orlando Flex Tickets, which include admission to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Wet n' Wild and SeaWorld Orlando (value of $196 per person). The five- and six-night packages are good through June 6. Hotel starting rates range from $209 to $299 a night, plus 13.5 percent tax. Info: 888-273-1311, http://www.universalorlando.com/.

* The new Ka'ana Boutique Resort & Spa in Belize's Maya Mountains has introductory rates starting at $157 nightly, including 9 percent taxes and 10 percent resort fee -- a savings of about $43. King villas are discounted by $60 per night, with rates starting at $214 per night, including taxes and fees. Discounted rates apply to travel through Dec. 19 but must be booked by May 1. Book by calling 011-501-824-3350. Resort info: http://www.kaanabelize.com/.

SEA

* Value World Tours has discounted river cruises in Russia and Ukraine. The Aug. 8 departure of the 10-night Russian Waterways cruise, which sails between Moscow and St. Petersburg, has been reduced by $500 per person; price for a Category B outside cabin is now $1,598 per person double (plus $145 for port charges and fuel surcharges). Three 11-night cruises between Kiev and Odessa on Ukraine's Dnieper River, which normally start at $1,599 per person double, also have been discounted. Prices for the Sept. 5-16 sailing now start at $1,299, the Sept. 26-Oct. 7 cruise starts at $1,199 and the Aug. 3-14 sailing is $1,099 (port charges and fuel surcharge are $155 more). Info: 800-795-1633, http://www.valuecruises.net/.

* Expedition Trips is offering 10 percent discounts on Cruise West's Wilderness Inside Passage cruise round trip from Juneau, Alaska. The eight-night package, which includes one hotel night in Juneau, now starts at $3,862 per person double, including $380 taxes and port charges. Depart in May or September for cheapest rates. Book by April 14 and receive an additional $200 per-person discount; sail by June 15 and get a $50 per-cabin shipboard credit. Info: 877-412-8527, http://www.expeditiontrips.com/.

* Book a cruise from Portugal to Spain on the Douro River with Uniworld Grand River Cruises and receive $300 per-couple discounts on all June and July departures, plus the best available stateroom at the time of booking (worth up to $900 per couple). With the discount, the package starts at $2,148 per person double (plus $84 taxes) and includes two nights at the Le Meridien Park Atlantic hotel in Lisbon, the seven-night cruise and eight shore excursions. Book by April 30. Info: 800-733-7820, http://www.uniworld.com/.

AIR

* Northwest has sale fares for last-minute travel from Washington to London. Round-trip fare, good for travel Monday-Thursday through May 7, is $484, including $132 taxes. Fare on other airlines starts at $522. Purchase by April 9 at http://www.nwa.com/ or pay $10 more at 800-225-2525.

* Fly nonstop from Washington Dulles to Copenhagen on Scandinavian Airlines for $688, including $77 taxes. Depart by May 17 and return within 30 days; 14-day advance purchase required. Fare on other airlines starts at $746. Book at http://www.flysas.com/us, or pay $10 more by calling 800-221-2350.

PACKAGES

* SmarTours and Air Tahiti Nui are offering an eight-night Sydney & Tahiti Express package for $1,499 per person double, plus $195 taxes. The deal includes round-trip nonstop air from New York to Papeete, Tahiti; three nights and breakfasts at the Sofitel Tahiti Resort; air from Papeete to Sydney; five nights with breakfasts at the Menzies Hotel in Sydney; a Sydney orientation tour, return air from Sydney and transfers. Cheapest price applies to departures on Sept. 5 and on May 7, 2008; October-April departures are $100 more. Priced separately, air costs about $1,672 and the hotels about $1,969. Info: 800-337-7773, http://www.smartours.com/.

* A trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest is now priced at $1,499 per person double for travel through May 17, or Sept. 10-Oct. 31; for travel May 18-Sept. 9, pay $1,699. Taxes are $130 extra. The Austrian Airlines' Imperial City Steal package includes round-trip air from Washington to Prague, with return from Budapest; rail transport from Prague to Vienna, and from Vienna to Budapest; three nights at the Hotel Victoria in Prague; three nights at the Hotel Atlantis in Vienna; and three nights at the Grand Hungaria hotel in Budapest. Priced separately, air for summer travel costs about $1,414 and the hotels about $1,302. Info: 800-790-4682, http://www.austrianair-vacations.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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