BudgetTravel

Europe

A Cultural Journey to Romania for $830
Think of Romania and vampires inevitably come to mind, but the southeastern European nation is more than macabre mythology. Intrepid Travel, created in 1989 to herald the world's lesser-known destinations and promote responsible tourism, sells a seven-night tour of this longtime Ottoman possession, former Soviet satellite, and soon-to-be EU member. The trip loops from Bucharest to the cities of Sighisoara, Brasov, and Sinaia, taking in the Bucegi Mountains; Brasov's "Black Church" (named for its fire-blackened walls); Bran Castle, former home of Queen Maria; and Casa Dracula, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. In line with Intrepid's cultural mission, the itinerary includes a visit to the medieval village of Viscri, where locals knit and export wool handicrafts for a nonprofit community-development program called the Sock Project. Intrepid's package covers transportation (bus, train), lodging at family-owned hotels, and an English-speaking guide. When: July 16; Aug. 13, 20; Sept. 3, 24; Oct. 1. Details: The price doesn't include airfare. Add about $150 for meals. No extra nights. There's no single supplement; solo travelers are paired with other singles of the same sex. Contact: Intrepid Travel, 866/847-8192, intrepidtravel.com.

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Amsterdam for $809
Air from New York, four nights at the Acro Hotel (within five minutes' walk of the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein square, and Vondelpark), and breakfast daily. When: Until Aug. 31 ($1,139); Sept. 1--31 ($809). Other Gateways: Boston ($1,179/$829); Philadelphia ($1,179/$919); D.C. ($1,209/$869); Miami ($1,259/$919); Chicago ($1,259/$939); Atlanta, Dallas ($1,289/$979); L.A., San Francisco ($1,349/$1,039). Details: Extra nights from $70. Single supplement $160. Contact: EuropeASAP, 415/750-5449, europeasap.com.

Greece for $1,409
Air from New York to Athens, transfers, three nights at the Kanigos 21 Hotel (less than a mile from the Plaka and Lycabettus Hill), round-trip hydrofoil ferry to the island of Mykonos, three nights at the Mykonos Palace Hotel (with a pool, dive center, three bars, and a restaurant) on Platis Yialos beach, and breakfast daily. When: Until July 4 ($1,759); July 5--Sept. 6 ($1,879); Sept. 7--Oct. 25 ($1,409). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C., Philadelphia (add from $30); Chicago, Miami (add from $90); Detroit (add from $110); L.A., Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle (add from $190). Details: Extra nights from $76. Single supplement from $360. Contact: go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

London, Paris & Italy for $1,619 
Air from New York to London (the return flight is from Rome), train transportation between cities (second class), 13 nights' hotel accommodation (three each in London and Paris; two each in Venice, Florence, and Rome; and one overnight train from Paris to Venice), and breakfast daily. When: July 14--Aug. 17 ($1,969); Aug. 18--Sept. 6 ($2,079); Sept. 7--Oct. 31 ($1,619). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add from $30); Miami, Houston (add from $150); Chicago (add from $160); L.A., San Francisco (add from $220); Denver (add from $280). Details: Prices include hotel taxes, service charges, and fuel surcharges, but not airport taxes and fees. Call for the extra-night price. Single supplement from $430. Contact: Virgin Vacations, 888/937-8474, virgin-vacations.com.

Mediterranean Cruise for $849
An eight-day, seven-night round-trip sail from Barcelona aboard the Oceanic, with one full day at sea and stops in Villefranche (near Monte Carlo), Livorno (Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, and Tunis. The Oceanic has a restaurant and bar, two swimming pools and three Jacuzzis, and its own jogging trail and movie theater. When: Monday departures July 3--24 ($949 inside cabin/$1,299 ocean-view cabin); July 31--Aug. 21 ($1,039/$1,389); Aug. 28--Sept. 18 ($959/$1,309); Sept. 25--Oct. 9 ($849/$1,139). Details: Prices do not include airfare or port taxes of $200. The single supplement starts at $425. Contact: Picasso Cruises, 800/995-7997, picassotours.com.

Russia for $1,499
Finnair flights from New York to St. Petersburg (via Helsinki), transfers, three nights in St. Petersburg either at the Okhtinskaya-Victoria Hotel (on the banks of the Neva River, 15 minutes from the city center), or at the Hotel Neptun Best Western (also 15 minutes away, in the historic section of town), an overnight train to Moscow, two nights at the Hotel Alpha (near the crafts market in Izmailovsky Park), breakfast daily, tours of each city with an English-speaking guide, and tickets to one evening performance in each city (ballet, folkloric show, circus, etc.). When: July 1--Aug. 15 ($2,199); Aug. 16--Sept. 11 ($1,799); Sept. 12--30 ($1,499). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C., Philadelphia ($2,449/$2,049/$1,649); Chicago, Miami ($2,589/$2,189/$1,789); L.A., San Francisco ($2,689/$2,289/$1,889); Orlando, Raleigh ($2,789/$2,389/$1,989). Details: Extra nights from $175. Single supplement $275. Contact: Eastern Tours, 800/339-6967, traveltorussia.com.

Sicily for $1,799 
Eurofly flights from New York to Palermo, an eight-day car rental with unlimited miles, and seven nights' lodging. Spend two nights on the western tip of the island in the medieval town of Erice (at the Hotel Moderno), three nights on the south coast in Agrigento (at the Dioscuri Bay Palace), and two just outside Palermo in Monreale (at the Baglio Conca D'Oro). When: Tuesday and Saturday departures July 1--Aug. 31 ($2,199); Sept. 1--14 ($1,899); Sept. 15--30 ($1,799). Other Gateways: None. Details: Fuel surcharges are included in the price. Extra nights from $139. Single supplement from $699. Contact: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Switzerland for $864
Air from Boston to Zurich (on a Star Alliance carrier such as Swiss International Air Lines or United), four nights in Interlaken at the three-star Hotel Merkur near the city's west train station, and breakfast daily. When: Monday--Thursday departures until Sept. 3 ($1,205); Sept. 4--Oct. 29 ($864). Other Gateways: New York ($1,205/$880); Philadelphia ($1,231/$886); D.C. ($1,267/$898); Houston ($1,287/$958); Miami ($1,287/$977); Chicago ($1,298/$943); Minneapolis ($1,298/$958); Atlanta ($1,330/$977); L.A. ($1,397/$1,035); Portland, Seattle ($1,411/$1,035). Details: Add $25 each way for weekend departures. Prices do not include departure taxes or fuel surcharges. Extra nights from $68. Single supplement $99. Round-trip train transfers (second class) to Interlaken cost $124 more. Contact: Sophisticated Traveler, 800/801-1055, s-traveler.com.

Turkey Tour for $1,995
Air from New York to Ankara (via Istanbul), transfers and local transportation (by private bus), 12 nights' lodging in first-class hotels, breakfast daily and most dinners, all entrance fees and service charges, and English-speaking guides throughout. Spend one night each in Ankara, Konya, Hierapolis, and Troy; two nights each in Cappadocia, Antalya, Kusadasi, and Istanbul. The 14-day itinerary includes visits to a carpet factory, mineral spas, and the Temple of Artemis. When: July 6, 20, Aug. 3 ($2,268); Aug. 31, Sept. 14, 28 ($1,995). Other Gateways: D.C. (add $160), Atlanta (add $180), Miami (add $200), Houston (add $260), L.A. (add $350). Details: Extra nights in Istanbul $70. Single supplement $355. Contact: Flo USA, 888/435-6872, flo-usa.com.

Africa & Middle East

Jerusalem for $1,299
Swiss International Air Lines flights from New York to Tel Aviv (via Zurich), transfers, five nights at Jerusalem's Dan Panorama Hotel (with a rooftop pool and bar, and a gym) and breakfast daily. The hotel is within walking distance of the walled Old City and its famous market. When: July 15, 21 and Aug. 12, 18 ($1,599); Sept. 16, 22 ($1,299). Other Gateways: Boston ($1,699/$1,399); Chicago, Miami ($1,799/$1,499); L.A. ($1,919/$1,619). Details: Departures from Chicago and Miami include a one-night stopover in Zürich on the way to Tel Aviv. Extra nights from $80. Single supplement $299. Three-night extensions to Eilat (a resort town on the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba) are available for $399 more. Contact: Friendly Planet Travel, 800/555-5765, friendlyplanet.com.