REAL DEALS
Southern France River Cruise, From $1,399
A seven-night river cruise along the picturesque Rhone packs in guided tours of Lyon, Vienne, Arles, Avignon, and wine-producing towns like Beaune.
$239
Three nights at The Inn on Fifth in Naples; one dinner, lunch, and breakfast; tickets to the Naples Zoo; 25 percent off at the spa; and more. When: Until Oct. 30. SS: $146. The Inn on Fifth, 888/403-8778, innonfifth.com.
$593
Three nights at the TradeWinds Sandpiper in St. Petersburg, aquarium tickets, a dolphin-watching or sunset cruise, and more. Price per couple; mention BT. When: Aug. 1-Nov. 30. SS: None. TradeWinds Island Resorts, 866/587-8538, justletgo.com.
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$385
Three nights at the Captiva Beach Resort on Siesta Key, one dinner, two breakfasts, an hour-long in-room massage, and more. When: Until Dec. 17. SS: $205. Captiva Beach Resort, 800/349-4131, captivabeachresort.com.
Cruising to a Finish
When we featured Hapag-Lloyd's Great Lakes cruises last summer, we had no idea that their sailing days were numbered: After seven years of falling water levels, the lakes are becoming too shallow for the company's Columbus. The ship's draft is now too big to enter ports such as Sault Ste. Marie. This fall will be the last foreseeable chance to sail on the Columbus through all five lakes on one of its three itineraries departing from Chicago or Toronto (depending on date).
$2,315
Includes 10 or 11 nights (varies by date), all meals and lectures on board, and port taxes. When: Sept. 17 (from $2,315); Sept. 27 (from $2,520); Oct. 8 (from $2,420). SS: From $745. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, 877/445-7447, hl-cruises.com.
UNITED STATES
Hawaii for $784
Northwest Airlines flights from San Francisco to Kailua-Kona and seven nights at the Royal Kona Resort on Kailua Bay. Add $178 for a weeklong car rental. When: Tuesday departures July 3-Aug. 14 ($923); Aug. 21-Sept. 25 ($784). Other Gateways: Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis (from $1,026). SS: $427. NWA WorldVacations, 800/800-1504, nwaworldvacations.com.
Las Vegas for $209
Southwest Airlines flights from L.A. or Reno and two nights at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, a Sheraton property on the Strip. The hotel was formerly the Aladdin Casino & Resort. When: July 2-Sept. 25 (from $209). Other Gateways: Denver, El Paso (from $259); Detroit, New Orleans (from $334); Orlando, Pittsburgh (from $344). SS: $120. Southwest Airlines Vacations, 800/423-5683, southwestvacations.com.
CANADA
Vancouver for $521
Alaska Airlines flights from San Francisco and three nights at the Quality Inn at False Creek, next to the Granville Street Bridge. When: June 1-Sept. 30. Other Gateways: L.A. (from $550); New York, Orlando, (from $694). SS: From $236. Alaska Airlines Vacations, 800/468-2248, alaskaair.com.
MEXICO
Copper Canyon Tour for $1,499
A nine-day, round-trip tour from Phoenix with all transfers and local transportation (bus, train on the Chihuahua al Pacífico Railroad along the edge of Copper Canyon); eight nights' lodging; most excursions, tours, and meals; and an English-speaking guide throughout. Spend one night each in San Carlos, Los Alamos, El Fuerte, and Casas Grandes; and two each in Phoenix and Posada Barrancas in Copper Canyon. When: Friday departures Sept. 7, Dec. 7, 14 ($1,499); Sept. 21-Nov. 30 ($1,599). SS: $300. Trafalgar, 866/544-4434, trafalgar.com.
Playa del Carmen for $450
Spirit Airlines flights from Fort Lauderdale to Cancún, transfers, and three nights at the all-inclusive beachfront Reef Playacar resort in Playa del Carmen (a 40-minute drive south of Cancún). When: July 1-Sept. 2 ($496); Sept. 3-Oct. 29 ($450). Other Gateways: Orlando, Tampa (from $499); Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, D.C., Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York (from $550). SS: $225. Spirit Vacations, 800/617-3325, spiritvacations.com.
CARIBBEAN
Caribbean Cruise for $399
A seven-day sailing round trip from Miami aboard the Carnival Triumph with three days at sea. The route alternates by week between the western Caribbean (Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica) and the eastern Caribbean (Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos). Prices cover port taxes but not airfare. When: Saturday departures July 7-Sept. 29 ($399 inside cabin/$529 ocean-view cabin). SS: From $130. American Discount Cruises, 866/214-7447, americandiscountcruises.com.
Dominican Republic for $410
Spirit Airlines flights from Fort Lauderdale to Punta Cana, transfers, and three nights at the all-inclusive Catalonia Bávaro Beach, Golf & Casino Resort on Bávaro Beach. Up to two children under the age of seven can stay free with two paying adults. When: July 1-Sept. 2 ($448); Sept. 3-Oct. 29 ($410). Other Gateways: Orlando, Tampa (from $485); Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, D.C., Detroit, Myrtle Beach, New York (from $560). SS: $150. Spirit Vacations, 800/617-3325, spiritvacations.com.