Frommer's Smart Deal of the Week: Seven Days in Athens from $999

This week's smart deal takes us to Greece via an offer from Friendly Planet (tel. 800/555-5765; www.friendlyplanet.com) for seven days from $999 -- a price that includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, meals tours, and more. The price is only valid if you reserve by November 28; it reflects a savings of up to $600 per couple but does not include additional taxes and fees, which will add approximately $135 more.

More specifically, the trip includes round-trip airfare from New York (other gateways are available for additional fee), five nights at the Hotel Titania, a buffet breakfast every morning, transfers, and professional, English-speaking tour host. The hotel in Athens is well situated among cultural and historical attractions: it's located between Omonia and Syntagma, two of the city's major squares and has views of the Acropolis. You can travel January 12, 19 or 26 from $999; February 2, 9 and 16 departures are priced at $1,049. Currently, all of these departure dates show availability.

You can add on other elements to enhance your experience, such as the company's Classic Greece Extension, a three-night jaunt that includes stops in Olympia, Mycenae, and Delphi, along with first-class hotel stays, full buffet breakfast and dinner daily, guided tours and entrance fees to various attractions. The extension is priced at $599 based on double occupancy. If that's not of interest, there are several optional Athens tours at your disposal. Spend a half-day touring the most important sites of Athens, or check out the city by night with dinner and a tour. Another option takes you out of the city altogether on a cruise through the Saronic Greek Islands including Hydra, Poros, and Aegina.