What's the Deal?

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

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LAND

* Escape to New Brunswick, N.J., with a package from the Heldrich hotel that includes lodging, a pair of best-seat-available tickets to a show at the nearby State Theatre and a $100 dinner certificate. The Living Large on Livingston deal ($300 per couple per night) applies to seven dates in May and June. Performances include "Jesus Christ Superstar" on May 5 and Chaka Khan on May 8. Dining certificate is good at Christopher's Restaurant in the hotel. Priced separately, package components on May 8, for example, would cost at least $459. Info: 866-609-4700, http://www.theheldrich.com/.

* Classic Travel at Tackett's Mill, in conjunction with Yankee Holidays, has a $300 d iscount on an escorted motorcoach tour of Canadian cities in Quebec and Ontario for bookings made by April 30. The Sept. 5-13 tour, which starts in Montreal, visits Quebec City, La Malbaie, Mont Tremblant and Ottawa. The early-booking price of $1,999 per person double (with taxes) includes eight nights at five Fairmont hotels, sightseeing tours, breakfasts and several other meals. Info: 703-494-2882, http://www.classtvl.com/.

* Today is the last day of Club Med's 50 percent off every second person promotion good for seven-night stays at the all-inclusive resorts in Cancun, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; La Caravelle, Guadeloupe; and Sandpiper, Fla. Offer is valid between now and Dec. 21. For travel in May and June, you also receive a $100-per-package resort credit that can be used for shopping, spa treatments, golf, etc. Value of discount varies. For example, seven nights in Punta Cana starts at $1,085 for the first person and $543 for the second, plus membership fees of $60 per adult. Book by 6 tonight (EDT) at 800-258-2633, http://www.clubmed.com/.

SEA

* French Country Waterways has discounted its Oct. 21 and 28 cruises in several regions of France, including Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy, Champagne and the Upper Loire Valley. The cruises aboard five barges -- which each sleep from eight to 18 passengers -- are discounted by $1,400 per person, with prices ranging from $3,495 to $4,595 per person double (including taxes). Rates include wine at lunch and dinner, open bar and shore excursions. Info: 800-222-1236, http://www.fcwl.com/.

* Royal Caribbean has discounted its four-night Bahamas cruise aboard the Majesty of the Seas departing Miami on Sept. 10. Rate is now $285 per person double (including $46 taxes) for an interior cabin, a savings of about $130. Info: 866-562-7625, http://www.royalcaribbean.com/.

* Majestic America Line, which operates ships from the former American West Steamboat Co. and the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., has two-for-one savings on select cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio and Columbia rivers. For example, a four-night cruise on the Mississippi aboard the Delta Queen round trip from New Orleans departing June 20 starts at $690 per person double. A four-night Ohio River cruise from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati aboard the American Queen departing Aug. 29 starts at $525 per person. Port charges are about $149 per person. Info: 800-434-1232, http://www.majesticamerica.com/.

AIR

* Air France has an early-bird sale for flights from the United States to cities in Europe, India, Africa and the Middle East. Sale fares apply to departures Oct. 29-Dec. 13 and Dec. 25-March 13, with a Saturday-night minimum and a one-month maximum stay. Book by May 2. For example, the round-trip fare from Washington Dulles to Barcelona is $592 (including $101 taxes); fare on other airlines starts at about $622. Info: 800-237-2747, http://www.airfrance.us/.

* AirTran (800-247-8726, http://www.airtran.com/) and Midwest Airlines (800-452-2022, http://www.midwestairlines.com/), who are engaged in a tough takeover battle, are going head-to-head on sale fares. For example, from BWI, both airlines have $98 round-trip ($117 with taxes) tickets to Milwaukee; $108 round-trip ($129) fares to Dayton, Ohio; and $178 round-trip flights ($217 with taxes) to Dallas. Buy tickets by May 8 and complete travel by Nov. 7. Fly Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays for cheapest fares; 14-day advance purchase required. Tickets are $5 more when purchased by phone.

PACKAGES

* United Vacations has discounted prices and a free five-day car rental on its Hawaii vacations. Travel to any island in 2007 and get an Alamo economy car, or pay a discounted rate of about $148 to upgrade to a convertible or a Jeep Wrangler; car rental taxes of about $28 for five days must be paid by traveler. Also, travel through Aug. 15 and spend at least $2,500 on your package and receive an additional $200 discount (request promo code SUMMER200); buy by April 30. Prices vary depending on hotel and dates of travel. For example, a five-night package in late June to Oahu with round-trip flights from Washington Dulles, lodging at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and economy car rental costs about $1,185 per person double (including taxes); priced separately, the package would cost about $175 more per person. Info: 888-328-6877, http://www.unitedvacations.com/.

* A seven-day package to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is $969 per person double (plus about $48 taxes). Fare Deals Ltd. is offering the trip, which includes round-trip air from Washington Dulles to St. Thomas, seven nights at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and transfers. Deal is good for select departures May through August. Priced separately, airfare in June is about $457 round trip and the hotel $304 a night, for a savings of about $1,008 per couple. Book by May 3. Info: 800-347-7006, http://www.faredeals.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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