June 15, 2004 -- As we keep on saying, it's never too early to plan ahead for great savings on travel, and when it comes to peak times like holidays, the farther ahead you prepare, the better. So, it should come as no shock to readers that we are thinking of Thanksgiving trips now, five months from gobbler gobbling. Here are some early samples we like, from operators who plan ahead as far as we do:
Gate 1 Travel has good value trips year round, of course, but they don't wait until the last minute to announce their future plans. There are four great deals that the company offers for four-, six- and seven-day packages.
Least expensive is a four-day Thanksgiving in Montreal deal that includes roundtrip flights from New York City, three nights in a three-star hotel (at this price, the Quality Inn), and daily breakfast. The cost is $319 from New York and departure date is November 25. There are optional tours, one to fabulous Quebec City for just $54, for instance.
Costing from $499 is a six-day/four-night journey to the Costa del Sol, departing on November 24, 2004, and including your roundtrip airfare from New York City to Malaga, four nights in the first-class Hotel Alay in Benalmadena, and daily breakfast. There are some optional excursions, including one to always exciting Granada, costing from $91 and including lunch.
A more ambitious itinerary would be a seven-day/five-night trip to Buenos Aires, departing New York on November 23, 2004. Costs start at $599, and include the roundtrip air, five nights at the three-star Waldorf Hotel, daily breakfast, and arrival transfer. Several optional tours are available, including a Thanksgiving night dinner (with tango show) costing $49.
The most far-out destination might be Bangkok, where Gate 1 has a seven-day/five-night program starting from just $599 out of Los Angeles. The deal includes roundtrip flights, five nights at the City Inn, arrival transfer, and daily breakfast. If you want to upgrade and stay at the Landmark Hotel, the cost is $799. Optional tours include half-day programs starting from just $18, and full-day with lunch from $55.
Not included in any of the trip costs are airport taxes and security fees. You can depart from other gateways cities at additional and varying costs. Contact them at www.gate1travel.com or by phoning 800/682-3333.
The ever-popular Go-Today (425/487-9632; www.gotoday.com) has also been announcing some fall (and even winter) early booking savings.
With this company, there's always Paris (and it's almost always cheap). Consider its three-night air and hotel package to the City of Light that starts from just $399 for departures out of New York's JFK on November 24. At this bargain-basement rate, you'll be staying in the Comfort Hotel Lamarck in outlying Montmarte, charming burb north of Paris proper. It's only a short metro ride into the city center, but if you want to save a little more time (with the little time you actually have there), we suggest you upgrade to the Mercure Ronceray in the 9th Arrondisement starting from $499; or pick the Serotel Lutece in the 5th from $529 to be in the heart of it. Prices are per person based on double-occupancy; additional gateways are available at moderate bumps in ticket costs. You can see full details at www.gotoday.com/FR_FGAF.asp.
Another doozy of deal let's you pick from three Italian cities -- Florence, Rome or Venice -- and includes your roundtrip airfare out of Newark or New York and three nights' hotel stay from just $399. Upgrades to swankier digs are available at additional costs for each destinations as well. You can see the full details on this offer at www.gotoday.com/IT_FGAT.asp.