BudgetTravel

Cape Town & Botswana Safari for $2,699
South African Airways flights from Atlanta or New York to Cape Town via Johannesburg (the return is from Polokwane, via Johannesburg), four nights in Cape Town at the City Lodge V&A Waterfront, an onward flight to Polokwane, three nights over the border in Botswana's Tuli Block at the Mashatu Tented Camp. The 10-day, 7-night package includes all transfers, a half-day tour of Cape Town, breakfast daily in Cape Town, and all meals and game drives in Botswana. When: Saturday departures Jan. 7--28. Other Gateways: Boston, Miami, Philadelphia (add $180); L.A. (add $260). Details: This is a discounted rate for BT readers (the regular price is $2,811). Single supplement $617. Contact: South African Airways Holidays, 888/777-1138, saaholidays.net.

South Africa Safari & Mozambique for $2,999
South African Airways flights from Atlanta, D.C., or Toronto to Johannesburg, all local flights and transfers, one night at the Rosebank Hotel in Johannesburg, three nights at the Bongani Mountain Lodge in Mthethomusha Game Reserve, and three nights in Mozambique at the beachfront Indigo Bay Island Resort Hotel. The nine-day, seven-night deal includes breakfast in Johannesburg, all meals and game drives at the Bongani Mountain Lodge, and breakfast and dinner daily at Indigo Bay. When: Jan. 1--Mar. 31. Other Gateways: Hartford, New York (add $140); Boston, Chicago (add $180); Denver, L.A., Seattle (add $260). Details: Extra nights from $190. Single supplement from $750. Contact: Lion World Tours, 800/387-2706, lionworldtravel.com.

Morant's Curve in Banff National Park RELATED ARTICLES • 40 Best: What You Need to   Know to Use This Section MORE REAL DEALS • A taste of India from $1,795 • Las Vegas weekend, $84 • Maui air-hotel, $475 • Denmark weekend, $524 • Hong Kong week, $999

Asia

China Tour for $1,399
Air China flights from L.A. to Beijing, all local transportation, 10 nights in four- and five-star hotels (three in Beijing, two in Xi'an, one in Hangzhou, two in Suzhou, and two in Shanghai), all meals, and an English-speaking guide throughout. Itinerary includes visits to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Terra Cotta Warriors, as well as an acrobatic show and a cruise on the Grand Canal. When: Dec. 14, Jan. 11 and 25, Feb. 8 and 22 ($1,399); Dec. 21 and 28 ($1,779). Other Gateways: New York (add $100; nonstop flight). Details: Extra nights from $110. Single supplement from $435. Contact: Champion Holidays, 800/868-7658, china-discovery.com.

Malaysia for $845
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Kuala Lumpur (via Singapore), transfers, five nights at the Radius International Hotel, breakfast daily, and a half-day city tour. When: Dec. 1--4 ($845), Dec. 5--Jan. 4 ($1,179), Jan. 5--27 ($845), Jan. 28--Feb. 4 ($899), Feb. 5--Mar. 31 ($845). Other Gateways: New York (add $150); Denver, Portland, Seattle (add $175); Boston, Chicago, D.C., Philadelphia (add $250); Dallas, Miami (add $300). Details: Extra nights from $25. Single supplement from $150. Free stopovers are available in Singapore. Contact: Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

Thailand Tour for $899
A 12-day, 10-night package with air from L.A. to Bangkok, transfers and all local transportation by private bus (also includes a round-trip flight to Chiang Mai), 10 nights' accommodations (four nights in Bangkok, two each in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and one each in Phitsanulok and Lampang), breakfast daily, one group dinner, and an English-speaking guide throughout. Itinerary includes visits to Bangkok's temples, the old capital of Ayuthaya, the Emerald Buddha in Ko Kah, and an elephant camp in Chiang Mai. When: Jan. 15 and 29, Feb. 12, Mar. 19 ($999); Mar. 5 and 26 ($899). Other Gateways: New York (add $282). Details: These are cash-discount prices. Extra nights from $60. Single supplement from $271. Contact: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Tokyo for $849
Air from L.A. and five nights at the Hotel Gimmond Tokyo in the Nihonbashi neighborhood, near Tokyo Central train station. When: Dec. 24--31 ($999), Jan. 1-- Mar. 31 ($849). Other Gateways: San Francisco ($999/$949); New York, Seattle ($1,029/$999); Chicago ($1,159/$1,139). Details: Extra nights from $78. Single supplement from $250. Contact: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

South Pacific

Bora-Bora for $1,450
Air Tahiti Nui flights from L.A. to Papeete, all transfers and inter-island flights, welcome and farewell leis, one night in a lagoon-view room at the Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort in Papeete, and five nights in a garden-view room at the Novotel Bora-Bora Beach Resort. When: Monday and Thursday departures until Dec. 12 ($1,450), Jan. 12-- Mar. 30 ($1,545). Other Gateways: New York ($1,645/$1,740). Details: Extra nights from $65. Single supplement from $385. Contact: Tahiti Legends, 800/200-1213, tahitilegends.com.

Moorea for $1,649
Air Tahiti Nui flights from L.A. to Papeete, transfers and inter-island flights, and six nights in a garden room at the Moorea Pearl Resort, on the north shore of the island, just east of Cook's Bay. When: Until Mar. 31. Other Gateways: None. Details: Add $45 each way for weekend travel. Call for extra nights. Single supplement from $689. Contact: Newmans South Pacific Vacations, 800/421-3326, newmansvacations.com.

Australia

Lay of the Land Down Under for $2,015  
Planning a trip to the country-that-is-its-own-continent can be overwhelming for any first-time visitor. But a 10-day package from ATS Tours takes care of the logistics and leaves you time to explore the best of Australia--including stops in Sydney, its largest city; Ayers Rock/Uluru in the Outback; and Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. One price covers airfare from L.A., all flights within Australia, transfers, and eight nights' hotel (three nights in Sydney at the Mercure Hotel downtown near Darling Harbour, two nights in Ayers Rock at the Outback Pioneer, and three nights in Cairns at the 11-acre Colonial Club Resort). When: Jan. 17--Mar. 31. Other Gateways: San Francisco (add $50); Seattle (add $150); Dallas (add $220); Chicago (add $260); Boston, New York (add $300). Details: Call for extra nights. Single supplement from $644. Contact: ATS Tours, 800/423-2880, atstours.com.

Sydney Combo for $1,779
Qantas flights from L.A. to Sydney, flights within Australia, and eight nights split between Sydney (at the Hotel Ibis Darling Harbour downtown near the convention center) and either Brisbane (at the Ibis, near the shops on Queen Street) or Melbourne (at the Mercure Welcome Hotel, in the shopping and theater district). When: Until Dec. 4 ($1,779), Dec. 5--9 ($2,039). Other Gateways: New York (add $375). Details: Call for the extra-night price. Single supplement from $390. Choose a Sydney/Great Barrier Reef combo for $100 more. Contact: Qantas Airways/Tourism Australia, 800/369-6863, australia.com.

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, overlooking Avon River. When: Dec. 1--11 ($2,205), Dec. 12--28 ($2,270), Jan. 2--Feb. 22 ($2,205), Feb. 23--Mar. 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.