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REAL DEALS

Two Views of Poland

Air/hotel package for the cultural capital, Krakow--one of the few Polish cities unscathed by World War II--and the official one, Warsaw, which straddles the Vistula River.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 |

The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, six nights' accommodations, and train travel from $853 per person.

When: Nov. 27-Dec. 14, 2006 and Dec. 25, 2006-Feb. 22, 2007; add $18 for Feb. 23-Mar. 26, 2007; $94 for Apr. 1-11, Oct. 14-28, and Dec. 14-24, 2007; $143 for Dec. 15-24, 2006; $386 for June 25-Sept. 9, 2007; $436 for May 18-June 24, 2007.

Gateways: New York City; add $10 for Boston; $20 for Philadelphia; $31 for Washington, D.C.; $51 for Atlanta; $82 for Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis; $98 for Dallas, Houston, Miami; $170 for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle.

The Fine Print: Airport/hotel transfers, full breakfast daily, and hotel taxes are included. Additional airport taxes and fuel surcharges are $195-$350 per person, depending on the departure city and travel dates. Single supplement $185.

Book By: No deadline; based on availability.

Contact: Sophisticated Traveler, 408/229-1950, s-traveler.com.

Why It's a Deal: The lowest round-trip, multicity fare we've found for travel in early December is $653 per person (Czech Airlines). For only $200 more, Sophisticated Traveler covers the international airfare, six nights' accommodations, and the one-way train ticket.

Trip Details: The package includes round-trip airfare (U.S. to Krakow and Warsaw to U.S.) on a Star Alliance carrier, such as Lufthansa or United, and a six-night stay. The first three nights are in Krakow at the cozy Hotel Matejko in the medieval city center--a short walk from shop-lined Florianska Street and the Main Market Square.

Then you'll hop aboard a first-class car for the train ride to Warsaw, about two hours and 45 minutes away. Spend the three remaining nights at one of the following hotels: the 144-room Hotel Kyriad Prestige, the Orbis Hotel Grand, with a lounge and casino, or the elegant Hotel Sobieski.

Add extra nights in Krakow from $38 per person per night and in Warsaw from $41 per person per night, based on double occupancy. Hotel upgrades are available from $8 per person per night in Krakow and from $15 per person per night in Warsaw.

Be prepared to embrace winter! Poland will be beautiful, snow-covered, and very cold from December through March (when the package is least expensive). Think average temperatures in the high 20s Fahrenheit. For more information on what to expect, check the website of Poland's official tourism board, polandtour.org.

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Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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