Just like the spring blooms that slowly begin to emerge at this time each year, so goes it with a new crop of package deals to Europe. Today we look at a decent collection of air and hotel combinations to Paris, which allow you to keep the cost down up front to help ease the sticker shock on the ground. (To get a sense of that, read our new Price Index.)
The first offer comes from reliable Tour Crafters (tel. 800-482-5995; www.tourcrafters.com), which is selling a five-day/four-night "Paris Special" starting from $649 for Wednesday and Thursday departures out of New York City or Boston from April 1 through May 26. The package includes roundtrip airfare, breakfasts and your stay at the Hotel Kyriad Republique located in the 11th Arrondissement near the Marais and Place de la Republique. The hotel was renovated in 2004, and while it's still a basic tourist hotel, it does feature a small bar and a sauna. Pricing is per person based on double occupancy and does not include additional fees and taxes. Departures from other cities and on different days of the week are available at additional cost.
For a little more, you can opt to stay in one of several available apartments during this same time period with Tour Crafter's "Paris in an Apartment" package. Base price is $767 for a five-night stay and the deal includes, again, your roundtrip airfare from the same two cities leaving on either Wednesdays or Thursdays from April 1 through May 26. To see complete details on this offer and several others that include the City of Light, visit www.tourcrafters.com/sales/paris_649.htm.
Another trustworthy competitor, Gate 1 Travel (tel. 800/682-3333; www.gate1travel.com), just announced several new springtime offers including a six-day/four-night retreat for departures on April 18 & 19 and May 20 & 21 starting from $399 before taxes. Flights are out of NYC, and your accommodations are in the Kyriad la Villette, out of the city center near the Gare du Nord. Slightly closer to attractions is the same package at the Kyriad Bercy Village for departures on April 13 & 14 only. Other properties are available at gradually escalating rates, but you also will find you have a wider window for choosing your travel dates. The charming Hotel Astor Saint Honore, near the shopping mecca found along Rue de Faubourg Ste. Honore, starts from $649 for stays through April 26, then jumps to $1,049 for stays through mid-May.
Next up is a decent package splitting time between Paris and Nice from Air France Holidays (tel. 800/237-2623; www.airfranceholidays.com) that gives you roundtrip air from either JFK, Newark International or Philadelphia; six-nights' hotel stay, interior air transfers between Paris and Nice, morning meals, a cruise along the Seine and a city map all starting from just $699. None too shabby. Departures from Boston or D.C. start from $749, from Chicago or Miami $799, from Atlanta or Houston $849, or from LA or San Francisco $879. Prices do not include air taxes, security fees or document shipping and are based on double occupancy. The single supplement is an additional $150. You must purchase by March 17 for travel from April 1 through April 22. Additional gateways are available, as usual, at varying costs.
Even better for us Left Coasters is a six-day/five-night air and hotel package from France Vacations (tel. 800/332-5332; www.francevacations.net) that starts from $699 for flights out of LA. You get roundtrip airfare, your hotel stay (including city taxes), morning meals and a 10% discount on purchases made at Galeries Lafayette. Even better, travel is valid for a longer period when other packagers start raising their prices - buy by April 30 for travel good from April 1 through June 15! Other prices are available for other gateways.
Finally, we can't forget about our old standby, Go-Today (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com), who as usual beats all the rest in terms of sheer savings. Continuing their pattern of bulk seat purchases on Air India flights, the company can offer a six-night air and hotel (the Tim Hotel Nation) mix starting from only $449 for departures out of NYC or Newark. You must purchase this package no later than March 29 for travel from April 1 through May 31. Other gateways start from various prices (and don't fly Air India).
Talk about the City of Light or these travel companies on our France Message Boards today.
