Art Debuts in Manchester

The Real Deals: Fly round trip to Manchester from $696 per person.

When: The festival takes place June 28-July 15, 2007; the discounted airfares are available for travel June 25-July 15.

Gateways: New York City; add $142 for Las Vegas; $178 for Charlotte; $186 for Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando; $206 for Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego; additional cities available.

The Fine Print: Additional airport taxes and fuel surcharges are about $158 per person. A Saturday night stay or three days' minimum stay is required; a maximum stay is one month. Tickets are nonrefundable and there is a 14-day advance purchase requirement. For general guidelines on evaluating deals, click here.

Book By: Apr. 21, 2007.

Contact: BMI, 800/788-0555, flybmi.com.

Why It's a Deal: In comparison, the lowest round-trip fare we've found between New York City and Manchester in late June is $938 (Aer Lingus); flying BMI, the country's second largest airline, will save you almost $250.

Festival Highlights: The ambitious Manchester International Festival will premier 15 major commissions, such as The Ground Beneath Her Feet (a full-length concert inspired by Salman Rushdie's novel), and will showcase a wide array of artists, among them Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, singer P.J. Harvey, and photographer Steve McQueen, whose free project Queen and Country commemorates British soldiers who have been killed in the Iraq war. The Manchester Firsts series highlights local work, while a selection of debates and discussions examines topics like slavery and the future of journalism.

There are three major free events: Manchester Dines, a celebration of international eats, with samples prepared by chefs from the finest restaurants in the city  (June 30-July 1); The Great Indoors, a family-friendly lineup of shows and activities (July 7-8); and Unknown Pleasures at the Quays, with performances by top British bands (July 15).

Tickets are available through the British Ticketmaster site, with prices listed in pounds, and may also be booked over the phone at 011-44/0161-385-6705.

Accommodations: The city's official tourism website, visitmanchester.com, has a guide to 250 area hotels and accepts online bookings for select properties. The Premier Travel Inn, for instance, has multiple locations throughout the city, with rooms starting at $120. The Jurys Inn Manchester, right by the Concert Hall, starts at $180. The elegant Arora International Manchester, which faces the Manchester Art Gallery, starts at $240. Note that all of the above hotels are located near event sites; rates are per room per night, including taxes but excluding breakfast.

Before you go, be sure to check the local weather, exchange rate, and local time at BudgetTravelOnline.com.

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