May 19, 2004 -- Land-only packages are popular with several types of travelers: those cashing in on their frequent flyer miles, people who have the luxury of leisurely travel and aren't tied down to a specific return date, and those who have found a cheap roundtrip fare on their own, thus not needing that part of the standard package. Whatever your perspective, we've got some nifty deals for travelers once they're on the ground in Europe.
If you're into bicycling, the northern part of Germany is ideal for pumping your legs for dozens of kilometers, and two routes in particular stand out. One is a Baltic Coast Cycle Route taking place between Lubeck and Stralsun in the states of Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania. You pay just €635 (about $764) per person and you get eight nights in a double room, with breakfast. A second tour, "Baltic Romanticism" takes you around Fischland and Zingst, with six nights (and breakfast) in a double room, from €455 (about $547) per person. Both packages include cycle hire, luggage transfers and an information pack. For more details and booking, visit www.aufnachmv.de, then click on the British flag for information in English. You could also phone them at 011-49-180-5 00 0 23. More information on travel to and within Germany can be found on www.cometogermanynow.com, which is sporting some affordable air and land packages starting from only $549.
Brussels by Car
Fly & drive packages for Brussels are one specialty of Drive Europe, which has a "Quick Tour Brussels Number 2" package that includes two hotel nights and a car for seven rental days. Without air, the package starts at $269, with air (from New York as an example), from $468. The same firm's "Quick Tour Brussels Number One" includes four hotel nights in the cities of Brussels, Amsterdam and/or Dusseldorf as well as four car rental days. The package starts from $359 land-only, and with roundtrip flight from New York added on, for example, from just $558.
If you want to fly in the high season July and August period, add $100. Flights can be booked also from Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh from $245, they say. For more information, check out www.driveeurope.com.
Rome & Florence Hotels
Bettoja Hotels, a fine and venerable firm based in Rome, is offering what it says is a 25% to 30% savings on special three- to five-night summer packages in Rome and Florence this year. The chain, which has five excellent hotels within walking distance of many important sites in Rome, has an outstanding reputation for service and old-fashioned elegance, as well as good restaurants. With these deals, you get the hotel room (note that rates are per room, not per person), full breakfast each morning, one dinner for two, a museum pass and a one-way transfer from the airport. The cheapest package, at the Nord Hotel in Rome and the Relais Certosa in Florence, costs $1247 for five nights, averaging out to $249 per night. If you want to stay just the three nights in Rome, the cost is $508 (about $169 a night). The prices include tax and service. You can contact them via 800/783-6904; reservations@bettojahotels.com, or www.bettojahotels.it.