|
|
Bargain in Bali, $1,299
Air/hotel package for a dozen nights on this tropical island in the Pacific Ocean, with its distinctive Hindu temples, monkey sanctuaries, and white shores.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007;
The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, twelve nights' accommodations, sightseeing tours, and transfers from $1,299.
When: Sept. 1 to Dec. 9, 2007; add $400 for June 26-Aug. 15, Dec. 10-Dec. 23; additional dates available in 2008. (Dates with higher prices are subject to change.)
Gateways: Los Angeles, San Francisco; add $100 for Phoenix; $175 for Denver; $330 for Chicago, Houson, Miami; $500 for New York City.
The Fine Print: The package price does not include airport taxes, which are roughly $200-$250 per person. But it does include hotel taxes and charges of 21 percent of the nightly rate. Hotels may also add high-season surcharges--starting at $160 per person--for stays during some dates in July, August, December, and January. Breakfast daily is included. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $300, and this supplement rises if you choose to upgrade your hotel or if you stay during high season. Here are our guidelines on evaluating deals.
Book By: Mar. 30, 2008; based on availability.
Contact: IslandsEscapes, 800/387-8850, islandsescapes.com.
Why It's a Deal: The lowest round-trip fare we found during a recent search on kayak.com was a whopping $1,827 for travel between Los Angeles and Denpasar, Bali, via Hong Kong in early September (China Airways). In comparison, for about $300 less (after accounting for taxes), IslandEscapes offers the airfare as well as a twelve-night stay, several guided tours, and a stopover in Hong Kong.
Trip Details: This package includes flights on Cathay Pacific. Stay at the Inna Sindhu Beach Hotel and Resort, a 61-room property. Every room has a bathtub and shower, a private balcony, air-conditioning, and satellite TV.
Upgrade your hotel stay to the Kuta Paradiso or the Aston Bali by adding $130 per person, to Grand Mirage by adding $170 per person, or to the Melia Bali by adding $380 per person.
Included are optional sightseeing tours that take you to Hindu temples and other local highlights.
Add on hotel stays in Hong Kong with package upgrades that start at $215 per person for a two-night stay.
For more information on what to see in Bali, visit the country's tourism website.
Note that there was a major terrorist bombing in 2002 in one of Bali's tourist hubs, Kuta; for the latest travel warnings and advisories, consult the State Department's report on Indonesia at travel.state.gov.
Local temperatures are mild year-round, with an average of 79 degrees Fahrenheit from September through December. October and November tend to be rainy months. Before you go, check out the current forecast. Find the exchange rate for the rupiah and the local time at BudgetTravelOnline.com.
More on the Southeast Asia and the South Pacific: