What's the Deal?

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

LAND

* The Wild Dunes Resort, a 1,600-acre beachfront resort on the Isle of Palms, S.C., is offering discounted rates for spring and summer vacations booked by March 31. Stay for two nights, save 20 percent; stay for three, save 25 percent; stay for four, save 30 percent. Rates vary by day, property and date. Four weekday nights at the resort's Boardwalk Inn in late May, for example, start at $688 for a family of four after 30 percent discount; taxes and resort fee are 15.5 percent extra. Info: 888-778-1876 (request code VCELWD), http://www.wilddunes.com.

* Improve your horseback riding skills in Ireland with a deal from Cross Country International Equestrian Vacations. The Hunt Seat Training in Ireland package for March departures is $1,750 per adult and $1,450 per child younger than 18; usual adult price is $1,950. Package includes seven nights of accommodations, six days of riding instruction, all meals and taxes. Info: 800-828-8768, http://www.equestrianvacations.com.

* The Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino has discounted its 2008 advance-purchase rates for reservations made by March 15. Rates vary by date. For example, the Aruba Now discounted rate for early April starts at $374 a night, down from $479. Rates for stays from mid-April through mid-December start at $239 a night (usual rate is $275). Info: 800-333-3333, http://www.radisson.com/aruba. Request promo code AUANOW.

SEA

* Costa Cruise Lines is offering fares from $549 per person double (plus $224 taxes and fuel surcharge) on November departures of its seven-night Mediterranean cruise aboard the Costa Concordia. The cruise travels round trip from Civitavecchia, Italy, and stops in Spain, Tunisia and Malta. Brochure rate is $1,779. Info: 877-882-6782, http://www.costacruise.com.

* A five-night Bermuda cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas departing April 6 from the Cape Liberty cruise port in Bayonne, N.J., starts at $499 per person double, a savings of $150. Taxes are $89 extra, and the fuel surcharge is $5 per person per day. Info: 866-562-7625, http://www.royalcaribbean.com.

AIR

* United has discounted fares to the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten, Aruba and Jamaica. For example, nonstop flights from Washington Dulles to Aruba start at $311 round trip, including $87 taxes. Book by Feb. 28; complete travel by May 30. Some dates are sold out. Twelve-day advance purchase and three-night minimum stay required. Other airlines are matching in select markets. Book at http://www.united.com, or pay $15 more by calling 800-864-8331.

* Fly from New York to Bangkok for $946 round trip, including $85 taxes, with Cathay Pacific's Deal of the Month. Purchase at http://www.cathayusa.com/dotm by Feb. 29; depart April 1-30. Maximum stay is 30 days. Fare on other airlines starts at $1,171 round trip.

PACKAGES

* A 10-night tour to Egypt departing May 7 starts at $2,284 per person double, including $185 taxes. The Leisurely Deluxe Egypt CruiseTour from Foreign Independent Tours includes round-trip airfare from BWI to Cairo; round-trip air between Cairo and Luxor; three nights at the Ramses Hilton in Cairo; seven-night Nile River cruise; 25 meals; transfers; guide; and sightseeing tour in Cairo. Priced separately, the package would cost $2,512 per person. Other departures are available at slightly higher prices. Info: 800-248-3487, http://www.fittours.com.

* Ritz Tours is offering a new Hong Kong and Thailand tour, starting at $1,898 per person double, including $119 taxes. Lowest price available on select departures in March, May and December. Package includes airfare from New York to Hong Kong to Bangkok, with return from Bangkok; three nights at the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong; three nights at the Amari Watergate Hotel & Spa in Bangkok; some meals; three half-day tours; and transfers. Priced separately, air and hotel would cost $2,359. Info: 800-900-2446, http://www.ritztours.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.