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REAL DEALS

Europe

From our October issue: Deals for Orlando, Tuscany, Costa Rica, and 37 other fascinating destinations worldwide.
October 2008 issue |

Sign up for more savings Many travel companies let customers know about new destinations and fire sales on last-minute deals through their e-mail newsletters. Some offer subscriber discounts on all bookings. Check out their websites for more options; and tell them Budget Travel sent you!

How was your trip? Have you taken a 40 Best Deals vacation? E-mail us how it went at Letters@BudgetTravel.com.


It pays to book directly with an airline Shop for airfares on meta-search websites like Farecast, SideStep, and Kayak and then book directly with the airline—you'll have more clout in the event that your flight is canceled.

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.

Croatia & Montenegro from $1,730
Lufthansa or Austrian Airlines flights from New York to Dubrovnik, Croatia (via Frankfurt or Vienna); transfers; seven nights' lodging at the Hotel Kompas, a 10-minute bus ride to Old Town, or similar; and breakfast and dinner daily. The price includes a guided day trip to Sveti Stefan, Montenegro, with lunch. Add $450 for taxes and fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 1–31 ($2,030); Nov. 1–Dec. 10 ($1,730). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add from $40); Chicago (add from $50); Miami (add from $90); L.A., San Francisco (add from $140). SS: From $250. Information: Travel Time, 800/354-8728, traveltimeny.com.

Ireland B&Bs from $899
Air from New York to Dublin, a seven-day car rental, six nights of accommodations vouchers valid at more than 1,100 B&Bs around the country, and breakfast daily. Add $139 for fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 27–Dec. 11; Jan. 7–Mar. 19. Other Gateways: Philadelphia ($969); Boston ($989); Atlanta, Miami ($1,049); Chicago ($1,069); Dallas, L.A. ($1,079); San Francisco ($1,139). SS: From $70. Information: EuropeASAP, 415/750-5449, europeasap.com.

Paris & London from $1,049
Air France flights from Boston or New York to Paris (returning from London), an onward flight to London, six nights' hotel split between Paris and London, and breakfast daily. Spend three nights in Paris at the Comfort Hotel Davout Nation, in the 20th arrondissement, and three in London at the Queen's Park Hotel, near Kensington Gardens in Bayswater. Add from $152 for round-trip transfers. Fuel surcharges are included. When: Until Oct. 30 (from $1,229); Oct. 31–Dec. 11 (from $1,049); Dec. 12–21 (from $1,179); Dec. 22–Jan. 2 (from $1,199). Other Gateways: D.C. (add $80); Chicago, Philadelphia (add $130); Miami (add $210); Atlanta, Detroit (add $230); Houston (add $250); Dallas, San Francisco (add $480). SS: $140. Information: Air France Holidays, 800/237-2623, airfranceholidays.com.

Portugal River Cruise from $2,359
An 11-day tour through Portugal with four nights in Lisbon and a seven-night sailing from Vila Nova de Gaia to Porto on the Douro River aboard the Douro Cruiser, with all meals and shore excursions. The itinerary includes local transportation; visits to wineries near Pinhão and Peso da Régua, a castle in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo; and a day trip to Salamanca, Spain. Add $25 for transfers. Port charges are an extra $98. International airfare isn't included. Book before Nov. 30 to knock $100 off the price. When: Oct. 29 ($2,359); Apr. 23 ($2,549); May 21, 28 ($2,799); June 18, July 23, Aug. 20 ($2,809); Sept. 17, 24 ($2,899). SS: $1,646. Information: Globus, 866/313-2855, globusjourneys.com.

Prague & Budapest from $749
Czech Airlines flights from New York to Prague, transfers, an onward flight to Budapest, and six nights' lodging split between Prague and Budapest. Spend three nights at the Hotel Sibelius in Prague, a 10-minute metro ride from the city center, and three at the Hotel Sissi in Budapest, near the Ferenc körút metro stop. The price includes two half-day city tours and breakfasts. Fuel surcharges are an extra $420. When: Oct. 1–Nov. 1 ($1,059); Nov. 2¿Dec. 13 ($749). Other Gateways: D.C. (add $95); Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale (add $210). SS: From $199. Information: Tatra Travel, 800/321-2999, czechvacations.com.

Tuscany from $1,399
Alitalia flights from New York to Florence (via Rome), a seven-day car rental, five nights in the Tuscan town of Chiusi at the Villa il Patriarca hotel, one treatment at Terme Sensoriali spa, an Etruscan Museum pass, one dinner at the hotel's La Taverna del Patriarca restaurant, and breakfast daily. Fuel surcharges are included. When: Oct. 1–31 ($1,699); Nov. 1–4 ($1,599); Nov. 5–12 ($1,399); Nov. 13–Dec. 4 ($1,599); Dec. 5–31 ($1,699). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add $80); Chicago, Detroit (add $135); L.A., San Francisco, Seattle (add $166). SS: From $799. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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