All prices are per person and, if lodging is a component of the package, based upon two people traveling together (unless otherwise noted). See "What's Included" and "What's Not" for details about associated taxes and fees and "Complete Details" for information about travel restrictions and, if available, trip add-ons like sightseeing tours and meal plans. Base-prices, taxes and fees can vary based on point of departure and time of travel.
Destination: St. Thomas
Provider: Cheap Caribbean (tel. 800/915-2322; www.cheapcaribbean.com)
Base Price: $429
Duration: Four nights
Additional Fees: $110
What's Included: Airfare, accommodations, airport transfers, hotel taxes, and fuel surcharges.
What's Not: Security fees and departure tax.
When: September 1 to October 31
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Why This is a Deal: You save up to $300 on regular fall rates and a 20% discount on food and beverages.
Complete Details: No passport required for this quick Virgin Islands getaway. Departing out of the New York area, this trip includes accommodations at the four-star Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa. The 33-plus room hotel is carved into a mountainside. A huge lobby, multiple tennis courts, and several pools offer privacy, people watching and sun-tanning all at once. There's also a spa retreat and bumper boats.
Destination: Thailand
Provider: Go Today (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com)
Base Price: $1,479
Duration: Nine nights
Additional Fees: $185
What's Included: Airfare, accommodations, daily breakfast, in-country transportation.
What's Not: Security fees and departure tax.
When: August 24 to October 20
Deadline: July 3
Why This is a Deal: Save $500 off the costs of a comparable self-built tour.
Complete Details: From Los Angeles or San Francisco, this independent Thailand tour starts off down south by the beach with three nights in Phuket. Afterward, travelers head to Bangkok for three nights before heading north into the hills for a stay in Chiang Mai. Sightseeing is on you own, allowing you time to sit on the beach, explore Bangkok and local seafood restaurants as well as the cool and relaxing nights in the mountains of northern Thailand.
Destination: Panama
Provider: Panamonte Inn and Spa (tel. 011(507) 720-1324; www.panamonte.com)
Base Price: $145 per person
Duration: Two nights, three days
Additional Fees: $23
What's Included: Accommodations, daily breakfast, bottle of wine, airport transfers, bottle of champagne, and spa treatment.
What's Not: Local taxes
When: Through October 15, 2008
Deadline: Book as soon as possible to ensure availability
Why This is a Deal: Save $130 off regular room price
Complete Details: Ecology travel is at the heart of this three-day, two-night land only trip to Boquete, a quaint town just a short flight from Panama City. Many activities such as bird watching, hiking, trekking through a rain forest, and a charming downtown area a quick walk from the hotel make this destination an easy-to-do long weekend trip. Additional nights are 50%off of regular nightly room rates.
Destination: New Zealand
Provider: STATRAVEL (tel. 800/781-4040; www.statravel.com)
Base Price: $875
Duration: Seven days
Additional Fees: $85
What's Included: Accommodations, sightseeing, and in-country transportation.
What's Not: Tips
When: Through December 31, 2009
Deadline: Book one month in advance to ensure availability.
Why This is a Deal: Save $400 dollars off similar trips
Complete Details: With the popular PBS show Roadtrip Nation heading to New Zealand for filming, STATRAVEL is capitalizing on the country's accessibility to road tripping college-age adults. Starting in Christchurch, this package deal takes you through Milford Sound, the West Coast of New Zealand, to Fox Glacier, and Fiordland and Queenstown. Stay in local hotels and hostels as you take in the scenery in your South Island motor coach tour.
Destination: Cambodia and Vietnam
Provider: Friendly Planet (tel. 800/555-5765; www.friendlyplanet.com)
Base Price: $2,679
Duration: 15 days
Additional Fees: $195
What's Included: Airfare, accommodations, sightseeing, most meals, professional tour guide, and all in-country air and land transportation.
What's Not: Security fees, departure tax and tour guide tipping.
When: September 21
Deadline: August 15
Why This is a Deal: Save $600 per traveling duo if booked by the above deadline.
Complete Details: Friendly Planet has been selling out trips extremely fast lately. This new round of package vacations must be booked by August 15, 2008, but we strongly suggest booking well before as customers have been racing to ensure they receive the early booking savings. Spaces are still available as this trip was just announced. It departs out of Los Angeles starting in Phnom Penh before traveling to Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Hue, Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. An extra $150 allows for departure out of the New York area.
