Faithful readers of this feature may have noticed an attempt at increased transparency lately in terms of how we report the price. Often, companies will post a price as part of a deal but it won't accurately reflect its cost -- it doesn't cover taxes and fees, or, more commonly, it does not include the fuel surcharge. This deal to Paris, however, from Go-Today (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com) carries a sticker price that legitimately reflects its cost. Priced from $799, it covers just about everything for fall and winter travel period: airfare, fuel surcharges, hotel taxes and service fees, six nights of accommodations, and even your daily breakfast. Otherwise, it's a standard issue offering from Go-Today, in that it is independent and the lowest advertised price is usually for a budget or tourist class hotel that's not in the middle of the city but close enough that you can get there with public transit of some manner. The booking deadline is September 24; it is nonrefundable and non-changeable and requires a 21-day advance purchase.
That $799 price reflects roundtrip airfare departing from New York-JFK on British Airways January 8-23 2009 -- for a standard room, double occupancy, at the Comfort Hotel Davout Nation, located about five minutes from the Porte de Montreuil-Metro. If you want to stay somewhere a little closer to the city center, the 1917 Le royal Montparnasse Hotel was recently renovated. It's situated not far from the train, and is located close to two metro stops, along with Odeon, Pantheon, Luxembourg Gardens, the Latin Quarter, La Sorbonne, and lots of cafes and brasseries. For the same travel period, it's priced from $999.
Other relatively inexpensive (read: under $1,000) travel periods include September 23-October 22 ($949); October 23 through roughly December 15, $849. The price climbs up slightly between Christmas and New Year's. Other departure cities are possible for additional fees: $40 for Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C., $90 for Atlanta, Dallas or Denver; $200 for Los Angeles, Houston, or Cleveland.
