40 Best Vacations

Nicaragua Tour for $875
A 15-day escorted tour with visits to the colonial cities of Granada and León, Big Corn Island, the beach town of San Juan del Sur, and the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. Includes local transportation (boat, bus, flights) and 14 nights' hotel. When: Departs from Managua on Nov. 5, Dec. 10, and Jan. 14. Details: Doesn't include international airfare. A local payment of $200 is due upon arrival. Extra nights from $20. Single travelers are paired with other singles of the same sex. Contact: G.A.P Adventures, 800/918-9930, gapadventures.com.

South America

Amazon River Cruise for $1,895
Air from Miami; all local transportation; three nights at the El Condado Hotel in Lima; six nights on a privately chartered, 24-passenger riverboat; most meals; cultural activities like home visits and cooking demonstrations; English-speaking tour guide throughout; and Amazon entrance fees. When: Dec. 15, 16 ($2,195); Jan. 6, 27 ($1,895). Other Gateways: Boston, L.A., New York, Seattle (add $250-$350). Details: Geared toward people over the age of 50. Single supplement $445. Add four nights in La Paz and Lake Titicaca from $685 or five nights in Cuzco, including a trip to Machu Picchu, from $895. Contact: Grand Circle Travel, 800/248-3737, gct.com.

Argentina for $699
Copa Airlines flights from Miami, transfers, four nights at the Regis Hotel in Buenos Aires, a half-day city tour, two nights at the Hotel Guerrero in the beach town of Mar del Plata, and breakfast daily. When: Until Nov. 30 ($699), Dec. 1-Jan. 6 (from $799), Jan. 7-May 31 ($699). Other Gateways: New York (add $40), L.A. (add $230). Details: Extra nights from $24. Single supplement $190. Contact: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Peru for $959
Air from Miami to Cuzco (via Lima), transfers, three nights in Cuzco at the Terra Andina Hotel with breakfast daily, a full-day excursion to Machu Picchu (by backpacker train, includes group guide and lunch at Sanctuary Lodge), an onward flight to Lima, transfers, and two nights at the Hotel Mariel with breakfast daily. When: Until Dec. 9 ($959), Jan. 4-March 31 (from $999). Other Gateways: Atlanta (add $125); Dallas, San Diego (add $175); L.A. (add $200); Boston, D.C., New York, Seattle (add $225); Chicago (add $300). Details: Extra nights from $21. Single supplement $140. Contact: LanVacations, 800/435-3593, lanvacations.com.

Europe

A Long Weekend in Cool Helsinki for $499
Anyone who's ever been to Helsinki will tell you that it can be a little quirky--and never more so than during the cold, dark winter. The Finnish Tourist Board has embraced that reputation with a series of Nordic Oddities brochures, great for finding out about all the indoor fun, from heavy-metal karaoke joints to a "saunabar" to the tunnels that connect downtown stores. A winter weekend package covers Finnair flights from New York and three nights at the Sokos Hotel Presidentti with breakfast daily. When: Nov. 1-Dec. 15 and Jan. 11-March 31. A Sunday night stay is required. Travel must be completed by March 31. Other Gateways: Chicago, D.C. (add $75); Seattle (add $125); Dallas, Miami, (add $200); L.A., San Francisco (add $275). Details: Extra nights $47. Single supplement from $139. Contact: Continental Journeys, 800/601-4343, continentaljourneys.com.

Barcelona for $599
Air from Boston or New York and six nights at the NH Numancia Hotel (a 15-minute metro ride from downtown) with breakfast daily. When: Nov. 1-Dec. 15 and Jan. 6-March 25. Other Gateways: D.C. (add $30), Chicago (add $50), Atlanta (add $80), Miami (add $100), Houston (add $110), L.A. (add $170), Seattle (add $180). Details: Extra nights from $53. Single supplement from $200. Contact: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

Florence or Rome for $499
Alitalia flights from New York and four nights with breakfast daily in either Florence (at the Palazzo Ruspoli near the Duomo) or Rome (Hotel Brasile, near the train station). When: Florence: until Dec. 15 and Jan. 2-March 18. Rome: until Dec. 15 and Jan. 4-March 15. Other Gateways: Boston (add $50); Chicago, D.C., Miami (add $80). Details: Extra nights from $55. Single supplement from $160. Contact: TourCrafters, 800/482-5995, tourcrafters.com.

Interlaken, Switzerland for $779
Lufthansa flights from New York to Zürich, transfers by train, and six nights at the Hotel Chalet Oberland with breakfast daily. The hotel is in the heart of Interlaken, near the train station. The nearest skiing is in the Jungfrau region, an hour away by train. When: Jan. 12-19 and Jan. 26-Feb. 2. Other Gateways: Chicago, D.C. (add $40); Miami (add $90); L.A., San Francisco (add $190). Details: Extra nights not available. Single supplement $295. Contact: SkiEurope, 800/333-5533, ski-europe.com.

Kraków & Warsaw for $799
Air from New York to Kraków or Warsaw, arrival transfer, six nights split between Kraków (Hotel Grand) and Warsaw (Hotel Regent), and one-way train between the two. When: Monday or Thursday departures until Dec. 12 and Dec. 25-March 25. Other Gateways: Boston (add $20); Chicago (add $30); D.C. (add $50); Atlanta (add $86), Detroit, Houston (add $96); Miami (add $106); L.A., Seattle (add $116); Portland (add $166). Details: Warsaw stay must be Friday to Monday. Extra nights in Kraków $34. Single supplement $199. Contact: Sophisticated Traveler, 800/801-1055, s-traveler.com.

Paris for $469
Air France flights from New York or Philadelphia, four nights at the Hotel Kyriad République in the 11th Arrondissement, and breakfast daily. When: Until Dec. 15 ($469), Jan. 3-March 15 ($492). Other Gateways: Boston (add $15); D.C. (add $25); Chicago (add $65); Miami (add $72); Atlanta (add $95); Dallas (add $100); L.A., San Francisco (add $200) Details: Extra nights $45. Single supplement $165. Contact: TourCrafters, 800/482-5995, tourcrafters.com.