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A pizza-making class outside Sorrento on the Roma and La Costa Bella tour (courtesy the Walt Disney Company) 40 BEST DEALS • U.S. and Canada • Caribbean and Latin America • Europe • Asia, Africa and Middle East • Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific RELATED ARTICLE • Keep This in Mind as You Read These Listings...

Beyond hotels Looking for an affordable place to stay during the holidays? Consider renting an apartment or even a house. Check out websites like rentalo.com, interhome.us, villasintl.com, vrbo.com, and craigslist.org.

DEAL OF THE MONTH
If You Liked Epcot...
In 2005, Disney launched escorted family-oriented tours under the name Adventures by Disney and has raced to keep up with demand ever since: It's added seven new itineraries (in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia) for 2008. The trips, while far from cheap, are comprehensive, incorporating visits to major attractions and exclusive kid-friendly activities that emphasize the destination rather than Disney. The six-night Roma and La Costa Bella tour, for example, stops by Rome's Trevi Fountain and the ruins of Pompeii but also includes a pizza-making class in a farmhouse and tastings--gelato for kids and limoncello for adults--as well as a private daylong boat trip to Capri.

• From $2,699
  A seven-day escorted tour from Rome to Naples, transfers and local transportation, six nights' hotel accommodations (two in Rome and four in Sorrento), guided sightseeing, and most meals. Note: Airfare is not included. These prices are per person, based on double, triple, or quad occupancy. When: Apr. 26-June 28, Aug. 16-30 ($2,999 adult/$2,699 child); July 5-31 ($3,199/$2,879); Sept. 11-27 ($2,699/$2,429). SS: From $680. Information: Adventures by Disney, 877/728-7282, adventuresbydisney.com.

DEAL OF THE MONTH!
Believe It!
As the religious-travel trend grows, so do your itinerary options.

• Protestant England from $1,889
  An eight-night tour of Protestant cathedrals and colleges in London, Cambridge, Oxford, Canterbury, and more. The price covers local transportation, lodging, guided sightseeing, and most meals, but not airfare. When: May 24, July 26, Oct. 4 ($1,889); Sept. 6 ($1,919). SS: $451. Information: Globus Religious Vacations, 866/313-2855, globusfaith.com.
• Lourdes, France from $1,899
  Air from New York, transfers and local transportation (bus, plane), and a four-night escorted tour of Lourdes. When: Apr. 24, May 8, Oct. 23 ($1,899); May 15, 29, June 5, 12, 19 ($2,149). Other Gateways: Boston, Philadelphia (add $50); Atlanta, Chicago, Miami (add $200). SS: $399. Information: Classic Pilgrimages, 800/682-3377, classic-pilgrimages.com.
• China's Buddhist Caves from $1,980
  A seven-day escorted tour round trip from Beijing to the Buddhist cave retreats in the Wutai Mountains with transportation (plane, bus, train), lodging, meals, and more. International airfare isn't included. When: Aug. 14. SS: None. Information: Sacred Journeys, 718/268-3153, sacredjourneys.org.
• Christian Holy Land Tour from $2,155
  Air from New York and a 10-day escorted tour through Israel with eight nights' lodging, guides, and most meals. When: Apr. 8, May 6 ($2,155); May 20, 27, June 18 ($2,259); July 29 ($2,299). Other Gateways: None. SS: $415. Information: Pilgrim Tours, 800/322-0788, pilgrimtours.com.

THIS MONTH'S READER REPORT
An Ireland Romance
"I've booked several of your 40 Best Deals," writes Kevin McRae, of Enka, N.C. "My favorite was our honeymoon to Ireland last October from Sceptre Tours. My wife, Danika, and I flew into Shannon, drove around Ireland, and stayed at some very romantic B&Bs. The highlight was the night we upgraded to the Ashford Castle. I was able to treat my new bride like a princess!" Information: The six-night Ashford Castle package with air starts at $1,151 (800/221-0924, sceptretours.com).

EUROPE
Croatia & Venice from $2,490
Austrian Airlines flights from New York, 11 nights' lodging (four in Dubrovnik, three on Hvar, and two each in Opatija and Venice), ferry to Hvar, overnight ferry to Opatija, and breakfasts. Most transfers not covered. Add $280 for private car or $70 for public transportation for travel from Opatija to Venice. When: Apr. 1-May 15 ($2,490); May 16-June 30 ($2,790). Other Gateways: D.C. (add $80); Chicago, Miami (add from $100); L.A., San Francisco (add from $200). SS: From $680. Information: Travel Time, 800/354-8728, traveltimeny.com.

Ireland Tour from $1,535
Aer Lingus flights from New York to Dublin (returning from Shannon) and an eight-day escorted tour with bus transportation; two nights each in Dublin, Killarney, and Ennis; breakfasts; entrance fees; and visits to the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, the Ring of Kerry, and more. When: Apr. 1-30 ($1,535); May 1-31 ($1,798); June 1-30 ($1,926). Other Gateways: Boston (add from $40), Chicago (add from $84). SS: $389. Information: Brian Moore International Tours, 800/982-2299, bmit.com.

Italy by Train from $1,999
Alitalia flights from New York to Venice (returning from Rome), transfers and intercity trains, nine nights' lodging (two each in Venice and Rome, one in Ferrara, four in Florence), and more. When: Friday departures Apr. 11, 18 ($1,999); Apr. 25-May 9 ($2,499); May 16-30 ($3,199); June 6-27 ($3,299). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add $140); L.A., San Francisco (add $280). SS: $599. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Kraków from $999
Austrian Airlines flights from Chicago, D.C., or New York; three nights at Hotel Rokk, about a mile from the city center; and breakfast daily. When: Until May 15 ($999); May 16-Sept. 7 ($1,249). Other Gateways: None. SS: $75. Information: Austrian Airlines Vacation Center, 800/790-4682, austrianair-vacations.com.

Provence Apartment from $2,479
Air from New York, a two-week car rental, and 14 nights in an apartment near Avignon, in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. When: Wednesday departures Apr. 9-May 7 ($2,479); May 21-June 18 ($2,699). Other Gateways: Chicago (add from $119), Atlanta (add from $150), L.A. (add from $290). SS: Not available. Information: Untours, 888/868-6871, untours.com.

Switzerland Train Tour from $2,925
Air from New York to Zürich and a nine-day escorted tour of Switzerland with transfers and intercity train transportation; one night each in Zürich, St.-Moritz, and Geneva; two nights each in Zermatt and Lucerne; and some meals. When: Saturday departures Apr. 26-May 10 ($2,925); May 17-June 14 ($3,425). Other Gateways: Connecting flights from many gateways are available upon request. SS: $260. Information: Trafalgar Tours, 866/544-4434, trafalgar.com.