40 Best Vacations

Africa & Middle East

Egypt for $899
EgyptAir flights from New York, arrival transfer, six nights at the deluxe Sheraton Royal Gardens Hotel in Giza, and breakfast daily. When: Nov. 10, Dec. 8, and Jan. 26. Other Gateways: None. Details: Single supplement $150. Add a three-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor for $500 (includes flights, transfers, meals, and shore excursions). Contact: Misr Travel, 800/223-4978, misrtravel.org.

Jerusalem or Tel Aviv for $799
Air from New York and six nights with breakfast daily in Jerusalem (at the Jerusalem Tower Hotel) or Tel Aviv (at the Center Hotel). When: Tuesday departures. Jerusalem: Nov. 8-Dec. 13 and Jan. 10-March 28 ($799). Tel Aviv: Nov. 8 ($829); Nov. 15-Dec. 13, Dec. 27, Jan. 3-Feb. 21 ($799). Other Gateways: D.C. (add $99), Chicago (add $220), Pittsburgh (add $221), L.A. (add $283), San Francisco (add $306). Details: Extra nights from $60. Single supplement from $161. A fully guided six-night tour starts at $899. Contact: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Kenya for $1,799
British Airways flights from New York to Nairobi (via London), minibus transfers with an English-speaking driver/guide, one night in Nairobi at the Stanley Hotel, five nights on safari (two at the Sarova Shaba Lodge in the Shaba Game Reserve, one at the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge on Lake Nakuru, and two at the Sarova Mara Tented Camp in the Masai Mara Game Reserve), breakfast daily, all meals and game drives while on safari, and all park entrance fees. When: Until Nov. 30. Other Gateways: Boston, Philadelphia (add $50); Baltimore, D.C. (add $100); Atlanta, Miami (add $150); Chicago, Dallas (add $200); Denver, L.A., Seattle (add $250). Details: Single supplement $350. A free stopover in London is allowed in either direction. Contact: Lion World Tours, 800/387-2706, lionworldtravel.com.

Asia

Get in Touch With the New Seoul for $849
It used to be that airfare alone to South Korea would set you back $800 or more. But with Seoul fast becoming one of the most dynamic cities in Asia--a center for cutting-edge film, architecture, and design--tourism is booming and the airlines and tour operators have taken notice. Go-today.com, for example, debuted its Seoul packages this summer at over $1,000. Now, for the winter low season, its prices have dropped. Deals include flights from L.A., New York, San Francisco, or Seattle and five nights at the Best Western Vision, in the Sungdong-gu area near Han Yang University. When: Until Dec. 8 and Dec. 24-Feb. 21. Other Gateways: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, D.C., Detroit, Houston, Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego (add $130). Details: Extra nights from $48. Single supplement from $150. Contact: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

Bali, Lombok & Singapore for $1,099
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Singapore, all transfers and local flights, two nights in Singapore at the Peninsula Excelsior Hotel, four nights on Bali (stay in Kuta, Sanur Beach, or Ubud, or a combination of the three; includes breakfast daily and a half-day temple tour), and two nights on Lombok at the Hotel Jayakarta with breakfast daily. When: Until Dec. 5. Other Gateways: New York (add $120); Denver, Salt Lake City (add $175); Boston, Philadelphia (add $220); Houston, Dallas (add $275). Details: Extra nights from $20. Single supplement $180. Contact: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Hong Kong for $699
Air from L.A. to Hong Kong, five nights at the BP International House in Kowloon, and breakfast daily. When: Until Nov. 14 ($789), Nov. 15-18 ($729), Nov. 19-Dec. 8 ($829), Dec. 9-Jan. 3 ($889), Jan. 4-16 ($729), Jan. 17-26 ($829), Jan. 27-March 18 ($699). Other Gateways: San Francisco (add $52); New York (add $188); Chicago, Dallas (add $306). Details: Extra nights from $86. Single supplement from $171. Contact: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Vietnam Tour for $1,925
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. to Hanoi (via Singapore), transfers, all local transportation (bus, train, plane), 13 nights' hotel and two overnights on trains, and English-speaking guide throughout. The 18-day tour includes stops in Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City. When: Nov. 3, Jan. 12 ($1,925); Dec. 15 ($2,175). Other Gateways: New York (add $50), Chicago (add $215), Miami (add $245). Details: Maximum group size is 20. Add $225 a week for meals and expenses. Single supplement $275. Stopover in Singapore for $150 more. A similar 23-day tour including four nights in Cambodia starts at $2,345. Contact: Djoser, 877/356-7376, djoserusa.com.

South Pacific

Cook Islands for 1,069
Air New Zealand flights from L.A., transfers, and five nights at the Aroko Bungalows on Rarotonga's Muri Lagoon. Muri Beach is a short walk away. When: Until Dec. 12, Jan. 4-March 31 ($1,069); Dec. 13-Jan. 3 ($1,191). Other Gateways: None. Details: Cash-discount prices; add $35 for credit card payments. Extra nights $69. Single supplement $196. Contact: Sunspots International, 800/334-5623, sunspotsintl.com.

Moorea for $1,176
Air Tahiti Nui flights from L.A. to Papeete, Tahiti, inter-island flights to Moorea, six nights in a mountain-view room at the Club Bali Hai (a family-run beachfront resort on Cook's Bay), and a lei greeting. When: Thursday departures until Dec. 12. Other Gateways: None. Details: Extra nights $108. Single supplement $270. Contact: Pleasant Holidays, 800/448-3333, pleasantholidays.com.

Tahiti for $939
Nonstop Air Tahiti Nui flights from L.A. to Papeete, transfers, and three nights in an ocean-view room at the Radisson Plaza Resort on Lafayette Beach. When: Thursday departures until Dec. 12 and Jan. 10-March 31. Other Gateways: New York ($999, nonstop). Details: Single supplement from $298. Add three nights for $366 more; add three nights on Moorea for $433 (includes accommodations, flights, and transfers). Contact: Swain Tours, 800/227-9246, swaintours.com/tahiti.

New Zealand

New Zealand for $1,970
Qantas flights from L.A. to Auckland, transfers, three nights at the Airedale Hotel downtown, an onward flight to Christchurch, and three nights at the Rydges Hotel in the city's shopping district, overlooking Avon River. When: Dec. 1-11 ($2,205), Dec. 12-28 ($2, 270), Jan. 2-Feb. 22 ($2,205), Feb. 23-March 31 ($1,970). Other Gateways: San Francisco (add $135); New York (add $400); Chicago, Miami (add $460). Details: Extra nights from $115. Single supplement $380. Contact: Pacific Delight World Tours, 800/221-7179, pacificdelighttours.com.