With winter's end approaching, give a thought to visiting Eastern Europe before prices starting climbing in spring. In earlier articles, our sampler of winter specials has included the big tourist targets (such as France, Britain, Ireland and Italy), and less-traveled regions such as Scandinavia and Iceland. But eastward lie the lands of some mystery to most Westerners, nations behind the former Iron Curtain.
Paul Laifer Tours has been the subject of articles on this site many times, and once again, we can't let a good bargain like this go unnoticed. From just $729, his company will fly you on Czech Airlines to Prague and Vienna, where you spend three nights in each city, with a buffet breakfast daily. Also included in the price is a half-day tour of each city with an English-speaking guide, roundtrip transfers between airport and hotel and vice versa, and transportation between Prague and Vienna by air. You can extend your stay if you like, and upgrade hotels, of course. The $729 rate is for the period from now through March 31, 2003, then again from next November 1 through December 10, per person sharing a twin room. In Prague, your hotel is the Ibis City, in Vienna, the Albatros. Contact Paul Laifer Tours at 800/346-6314 or at www.laifertours.com.
The Tatra Travel Bureau has a week-long package for Prague only, starting from $539 for six nights in your hotel, roundtrip wide-body air transport from New York, buffet breakfast daily, transfers between airport and hotel in Prague, and a half-day tour with an English-speaking guide. Prices are per person based on double room occupancy. Their Prague and Vienna package starts at $719, Prague and Budapest from $689. Valid through March 14, 2003. Tatra can be reached at 212/486-0533 or at www.centraleuropevacations.com.
The Tradesco Tours people have a fine Budapest & Prague Special, lasting through March 25, 2003, that gives you three nights in each city at a total cost starting from $663, per person sharing a twin-bedded room. This includes roundtrip air from New York, hotel taxes and service charges, and three nights in Budapest at the Stadion Hotel with daily buffet breakfast, and three nights in Prague at the Mira Hotel, with daily buffet breakfast. Airport taxes are not included. Weekend departure surcharge $30 each way. Other gateways also available, naturally. In Prague, you can take in classical opera and ballet at the State Opera House, with tickets ranging from $35 to $44. At the National Theater, more opera from $35, and at the Estates Theater, classical music and opera from $48, with tickets delivered to the hotel in all cases. In Budapest, typical cultural programs include classical opera and ballet at the State Opera House from $40, classical music concerts at the Academy of Music from $40 and the jollities of the Hungarian State Folklore Ensemble from $28, again with tickets delivered to your hotel. You can contact them at 800/448-4321 or online at www.tradescotours.com.
Heading further east, you can enter the heart of the former Soviet Union from a selection of packages to Russia. Nordique Tours has a nine-day/seven-night tour to Moscow and St. Petersburg starting from $1,199. The base-price is per person based on departures out of New York for two people traveling together (single supplements are $599) and includes airfare, tourist hotel accommodations, your berth in an overnight sleep car for train transit between the two cities and some meals and tours. Nordique's other option is to split the trip in half. You can visit either St. Petersburg or Moscow for a five-day/three night air/hotel combo that starts from $599. All of these rates are good through March 31. Additional costs include $115 for your entry Visa to Russia and around $90 in taxes and airport security fees. Visit Nordique Tours online at www.nordiquetours.com or call 800/955-7997.
Eastern Tours Consolidators also have a couple of wintertime Russian excursions. The "Land of the Tzars" is an eight day/six night air/hotel combo to Moscow and St. Petersburg truly budget-priced starting from only $599 per person. Finnair flights depart NYC on Thursday through March 20 for Helsinki, where you transfer to a second flight on to St. Petersburg for three days. After that you'll take an overnight train to Moscow for another three days before your departure back to NYC. Your second option is the "Hermitage Express" tour, which combines St. Petersburg and Helsinki for a six-day tour. This also starts from an incredibly low $599. Expect to pay an additional $115 for your entry visa and up to $129 in taxes and fees. For more information call 800-339-6967 or go online to www.traveltorussia.com.
