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

Sunday, December 28, 2008

LAND

· The newly renovated Copley Square Hotel in Boston's Back Bay will reopen Dec. 31 and is offering Sneak Peek rates starting at $143 a night double (plus $18 taxes) through January. Room typically starts at $179, plus taxes. Info: 800-225-7062, http://www.copleysquarehotel.com.

· The Resort at Squaw Creek, which offers direct access to skiing at Squaw Valley USA in Northern California, is offering discounts on stays Jan. 4-Feb. 12. Nightly rate starts at $287, including $42 taxes and fees; usual rate starts at $380. Request promo code STORMRSC; book by Jan. 6. Info: 800-401-9501, http://www.visitsquawcreek.com.

SEA

· Lindblad Expeditions, in conjunction with National Geographic, is reducing by 25 percent its seven-night Costa Rica and the Panama Canal cruise aboard the MV Sea Voyager. Discount applies to seven departures January-March; price after discount starts at $3,495 per person double, including taxes -- a savings of $1,165. Cruise includes visits to Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park, both in Costa Rica. Book by Dec. 31. Info: 800-397-3348, http://www.expeditions.com.

· Carnival is offering family rates on select cruises. For example, a five-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Destiny departing Miami on Jan. 31 starts at $349 each for the first two passengers and $199 each for the third, fourth and fifth passengers sharing the same cabin; total cost for a family of five starts at $1,554, including $259 taxes. By comparison, the brochure rate for five is $3,456. Info: 888-227-6482, http://www.carnival.com.

· Two sail for the price of one on Hurtigruten's Norwegian Coastal Voyages departing in January, February and September-December 2009. After discount, prices range from $665 to $2,014 per person double (including taxes), depending on length of voyage, sailing date and cabin category. For example, a 12-night cruise round trip from Bergen, Norway, in a category P outside cabin starts, after discount, at $1,514 per person double, plus $96 fuel surcharge; depart in January, February, November or December. Info: 800-323-7436, http://www.hurtigruten.us.

AIR

· Cathay Pacific is offering an All Asia Pass for 2009. The starting price of $1,499 includes round-trip air from New York to Hong Kong and round-trip flights from Hong Kong to any two of 24 cities, including Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo. Taxes are extra and vary by destination. Cheapest rate applies to Monday-Wednesday flights Feb. 8-May 17 and Aug. 17-Dec. 1. Purchase through travel agent only. Info: http://www.cathayusa.com/offers/allasiapass.

· AirTran is offering sale fares on flights to a new airport in Branson, Mo., scheduled to open May 11. Round-trip flight from any Washington region airport, connecting in Atlanta, is $308, including taxes, for travel through June 24. Book by Jan. 14 at http://www.airtran.com, or pay $15 more by calling 800-247-8726.

· United has extended its special domestic fares for active-duty members of the U.S. military through Jan. 31. For example, round-trip fare from Washington Dulles to Las Vegas is $318, plus $21 taxes. Sales are sometimes cheaper, but military fares require no advance purchase and are valid all days of the week. Call 800-241-6522, and request code MIL. Proper identification is required. Program details: http://www.united.com.

PACKAGES

· Travelscene is partnering with V Australia, the new South Pacific airline that is part of Virgin Group, to offer packages to Australia starting at $999, plus about $130 taxes. Deal includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Sydney or Brisbane, four nights in a three-star hotel, half-day city tour and airport transfers. Priced separately, using V Australia sale fares, the package would cost about $150 more per couple. Cheapest fares for travel May 1-June 8; book by Dec. 31. Info: 866-459-6145, http://www.travelscene.com.

· A 10-night China Yangtze Spring Special is $1,899 per person double (plus $100 taxes) for three departures in March. The Pacific Delight World Tours package includes round-trip airfare from New York to Beijing, with return from Shanghai; two flights within China; three nights' hotel in Beijing and three nights in Shanghai; four-night Victoria Cruises voyage; sightseeing; and taxes. Priced separately, the package without tours would cost about $2,400. Book by Dec. 31. Info: 800-221-7179, http://www.pacificdelighttours.com.

-- Carol Sottili

Prices were verified and available on Tuesday 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.