WHAT'S THE DEAL?
What's the Deal?
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LAND
· TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach, Fla., about 30 minutes from Tampa on the Gulf Coast, has a Sun, Sand & Savings package through Sept. 30. The five-night deal, with lodging in a courtyard room at the TradeWinds Sandpiper, starts at $780 (plus 12 percent taxes); rate for five nights usually starts at $940 (plus taxes). The package includes a gourmet card good for 20 percent savings at any TradeWinds restaurant. Info: 866-587-8538, http:/
· Kids travel free on Canada's VIA Rail from June 1 to Sept. 15. Anyone age 18 or older buying an adult, senior or student fare Comfort Class ticket can receive a ticket for a child 11 or younger. Offer applies to all Comfort Class seat fares, including Supersaver rates. For example, buy one round-trip ticket from Toronto to Quebec at the Supersaver rate of $201 and your child rides free. One free child's ticket per adult; tickets must be purchased together, and individuals must travel together. Info: 888-842-7245, http:/
· Save $455 per person on a three-night stay June 15-19 at Lake Austin Spa Resort, about 30 minutes outside downtown Austin. Deal applies to premier rooms, which, after discount, start at $1,225 per person double for three nights (plus about $307 taxes and service fees). Package includes meals, unlimited fitness classes and such activities as cooking classes and boat cruises. Info: 800-847-5637, http:/
SEA
· Take a cruise through Burgundy, France, on the 12-passenger La Belle Epoque or along the Rhone River in Southern France on the 12-passenger L'Impressionniste and get $1,000 off per cabin. Go Barging has discounts on all July and August sailings; price for the six-night cruise starts at $3,150 per person double, including taxes. Price includes meals, wine, open bar, admission to daily excursions and transfers from central pickup locations. Info: 800-394-8630, http:/
· Make a Change Personal Discovery Journeys has discounted its June 2-9 Mediterranean cruise aboard the SeaDream II. Price starts at $4,270 per person double, a savings of $1,830; taxes and port charges are an extra $448 per person. The seven-night cruise, which begins in Monte Carlo, Monaco, travels to six ports in Italy and France. Included are seminars and speeches by several life coaches and writers, including Stewart Emery, an author of "Success Built to Last: Creating Life That Matters." Info: 800-971-7300, http:/
· Three sail for the price of one on any Windjammer Barefoot cruise during June. Price for three starts at $400 per person, including port charges, aboard any of the line's four ships. The six-night itineraries originate and operate throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Book by calling 800-327-2600. Cruise info: http:/
AIR
· Flyglobespan, a low-cost carrier based in Scotland, will begin nonstop service from New York to Ireland West Airport in Knock, Ireland, beginning May 27. Standard fare will begin at $259 each way (plus about $47 taxes), but fares fluctuate based on the number of seats remaining and time of year. For example, round-trip flights with early June travel dates were recently priced at $426 round trip (plus $93 taxes), while flights in late July were $560 round trip (plus $93 taxes). Reserved seats and meals incur extra charges. Fares on other airlines to other cities in Ireland (none fly to Knock) have come down to match Flyglobespan's offers. Book at http:/
· Fly from Los Angeles to Bali on Cathay Pacific for $735 round trip (plus about $62 taxes) and bring your surfboard for free. Add a round-trip fare from Washington to Los Angeles, currently about $316 round trip, and total price is about $1,113 round trip. Priced directly from Washington, fare would be about $1,398; excess baggage fees for a surfboard typically run $70 to $100. For departures by May 31 (45-day maximum stay), purchase by May 30. Or purchase by Nov. 29 for departures Aug. 15-Nov. 30. Buy at http:/
PACKAGES
· A seven-night Italy by Train package is $1,545 per person double (plus $265 taxes and fuel surcharges) for travel Sept. 7-Oct. 31. Tourcrafters has the tour, which includes round-trip air from Washington to Rome; seven nights' lodging in Rome, Florence and Venice; first-class high-speed train ticket between cities; half-day sightseeing tour in each city; entrance fees and guides; breakfasts; and a wine-and-cheese tasting in Rome. Priced separately, air, lodging and train tickets would cost about $2,058 per person, for a savings of about $496 per couple. Info: 800-482-5995, http:/
· Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering an additional $75-per-reservation discount on trips of four nights or longer to Las Vegas. To qualify, stay at any of nine premier properties, including the MGM Grand, Bellagio or Mandalay Bay. Deal is good for travel June 1-Aug. 31. For example, a package including round-trip air from BWI and four nights at the MGM Grand in late June is about $1,540 per couple; priced separately, it would cost about $147 more. Seven-day advance purchase required; book by June 7. Info: 800-423-5683, 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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