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Eastern Europe's Winter Wonderland of Deals

September 22, 2004 -- Sure it's all one big continent, but one important difference separates the Eastern European nations from their brethren to the west -- money. Prices in Eastern Europe still haven't risen to the stratospheric levels so often encountered in Western Europe. Not yet convinced? Check out these bargain packages.

New Year's Travel

Gate 1 Travel (800/682-3333; www.gate1travel.com), has 35 different specially priced vacations packages and tours for the New Year available. They reflect a savings of up to more than 35% (or $410) per person, when compared with similar offerings for July 2004. There are 16 different packages and tours, all including roundtrip air from New York, four to six nights in a hotel, and daily breakfast. The deal for Budapest, departing on December 29, 2004, runs just $499 per person, double occupancy, for four nights. For the same price, you could take an eight-day (six-night) to Costa del Sol trip departing December 25, 2004; an eight-day (six-night) trip to London departing on the same date; or a six-day (four-night) journey to Paris, departing on December 29, 2004.

In addition, Gate 1 has five New Year trips to the Mediterranean, five to the Americas, and ten to Asia.

Thanksgiving Trips

Budapest is also the destination of choice for Off Peak Traveler (www.offpeaktraveler.com), which offers three nights there at the Stadion Hotel with private bath and daily continental breakfast, as well as roundtrip air from New York, for $529, double occupancy. You could stop over in London for an extra $200 per person, double occupancy, at the Tria Hotel for three nights Rates include daily continental breakfast, hotel service charges, and taxes. Add-ons for the Budapest journey range from $50 out of Boston or Philadelphia through $250 from Denver, Phoenix or Seattle. Departures are for the Thanksgiving period, from November 22 through 26, 2004, only.

All Winter Long

From November 2004 through March 2005, Off Peak Traveler has a Best Buy Prague & London package costing $599 per person (double occupancy). The package features midweek flights roundtrip from New York to London and roundtrip flights from London to Prague, both on British Airways, as well as three nights of lodging with private bath in each city, continental breakfast daily, and hotel taxes and service charges. If you want to travel in September or October, add $180 to the price, and for Christmas holiday departures, add $250. Add-ons range from $50 in Atlanta or Boston to $200 out of Denver, Seattle or Phoenix.

The same firm has a Best Buy Budapest & London deal, good also from November 2004 through March 2005, costing $649, double occupancy. Included are roundtrip midweek flights from New York to London, then roundtrip flights from London to Budapest, both on British Airways, three nights in each city with continental breakfast daily, and hotel taxes and service charges. Higher prices in September and October, as well as for Christmas holiday departures. Add-ons are the same as for the Prague and London deal mentioned earlier.

NOTE that in none of the above air-inclusive packages are airport taxes and security fees included.


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