New Zealand & Australia Combined

The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare and eight nights' accommodations from $1,439 per person.

When: May 10-June 8 and July 24-Sept. 27, 2007.

Gateways: Los Angeles; add about $125 for San Francisco; $390 for Dallas/Fort Worth; $430 for Chicago; $455 for New York City; additional cities available.

Details: Hotel taxes and fuel surcharges are included. Additional airport taxes and fees are about $122 per person. Add $25 each way for Thurs.-Sun. travel. Lowest rates are based on online purchase. For general guidelines on evaluating deals, click here.

Book By: Jan. 4, 2007.

Contact: Air New Zealand, 800/262-1234, airnewzealand.com.

The package includes round-trip international airfare as well as the three-and-a-half hour flights between Auckland and Sydney on Air New Zealand. You'll spend the first four nights are in Auckland at the 189-room modern Mercure Hotel right by the shop- and restaurant-packed Viaduct Harbour area. The remaining four nights are at its larger sister property, the Mercure Hotel in Sydney's Central Business District.

Keep in mind that the seasons in New Zealand and Australia are the opposite of ours, which partially explains the package's low rate. From May through September, average temperatures are in the low to mid 50s for Auckland and the mid to upper 50s in Sydney. For more information, visit the official tourism sites: newzealand.com and australia.com.

What Makes This a Deal? In comparison, the lowest round-trip fare we've found between Los Angeles and Auckland in mid-May is $1,028 (Air New Zealand). For only $400 more, this package covers the international flights as well as travel between Sydney and Auckland and the eight-night stay.

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