October 14, 2004 -- When Hungarians want to say something is a mess, they remark that "it's become a goulash," a mixture of meat and vegetables laced with paprika. You can enjoy that national dish in Budapest, or similar potages in places like Prague & Dubrovnik when you take in a tour of eastern Europe's major cities.
Gate1 Travel has an incredible "Super Saver" package for a six-day visit to Budapest this winter that starts from a low $399, including airfare from New York City, daily breakfast and four nights in the Ibis Budapest hotel. Departures are scattered throughout November and December in 2004, and again from mid January through mid-March of 2005. Departures from mid December through January 5 will cost $479, and one on March 23, 2005, the same. In Budapest, there are optional tours that cover the city's highlights, as well as an optional full day excursion to the Danube Bend. Contact the sponsors at www.gate1travel.com or phone 800/682-3333.
Tatra Travel has a nice package to Prague costing from $529, which puts you in the Sibelius hotel for five nights in a room with private bath. Also included in the package are the wide body air transport from New York or Newark to Prague and back, daily buffet breakfast, roundtrip transfers from the airport, and a half-day tour with an English-speaking guide. Validity of this deal is from November 1 through December 12, 2004 and January 2 through March 23, 2005. Contact them at www.tatratravel.com or phone 212/486-0533.
Grand Circle Travel, which specializes in trips for people aged 50 and above, has a 15-day trip taking in an area from the Adriatic to the Alps next year that looks like a barrel of fun. Included in the $1,295 baseprice, are roundtrip transatlantic airfare from Boston, New York or Philadelphia to Ljubliana, returning from Dubrovnik; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; lodging for 13 nights at first-class and unrated hotels in rooms with private bath; 21 meals; six sightseeing tours; and more. You travel by private motor coach and have a program director's services at all times. Baggage handling for one piece is included, as well as tips for same.
The 21 meals include 13 breakfasts, two lunches and six dinners. The lodging is four nights in Bled, four in Opatija, one in Split and four in Dubrovnik. The sightseeing tours are to Lake Bled and in Bohinj, Ljubljana, Postojna Caves, Opatij, Split and Dubrovnik. You also get a lecture on Today's Slovenia, a cooking class and a home-hosted dinner. Contact the sponsors at www.gct.com or phone 800/959-0405.
Finally, New Jersey-based Paul Laifer Tours (tel. 800/346-6314; www.laifertours.com) has a series of air and hotel combinations to eastern European destinations that are worth a gander. Eight days in Budapest staying at the Metropol Hotel starts from $659 for departures out of NYC for travel between November 1 and December 12; from January 2 through March 23 add just $20. Eight days in Prague starts from $699 from November 1 through March 23, or combine the two cities for the same eight days from only $799. Laifer Tours also has a series of packages featuring Croatian and Polish destinations as well.
