Europe

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Venetians in the Mist
Traveling to Venice during the winter means wetter weather, but also fewer crowds and lower prices. You might have to walk on temporary wooden-plank bridges over sodden bits of Piazza San Marco, but Gate 1 Travel's off-season prices more than make up for it.

Venice from $799
Air from New York, four nights' hotel, and breakfasts. When: Nov. 29, Dec. 6 ($799); Dec. 13 ($829); Dec. 20 ($959); Dec. 27 ($1,139). Other Gateways: Many. SS: From $90. Information: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Florence from $949
Alitalia flights from New York to Florence (via Rome); five nights at the Hotel Paris, a five-minute walk to the Duomo; and breakfast daily. Transfers are an extra $150. Includes fuel surcharges. When: Nov. 9–Dec. 11; Jan. 24–Mar. 26. Other Gateways: L.A. ($1,133), Chicago ($1,216), Denver ($1,222), San Francisco ($1,236). SS: From $477. Information: Pleasant Holidays, 800/448-3333, pleasantholidays.com.

Madeira from $1,169
Azores Express flights from Boston to Funchal (via the Azores or Lisbon); six nights at Hotel Alto Lido, about two miles from the city center; and breakfast daily. Add $230 for airport taxes and fuel surcharges. When: Tuesday and Friday departures Nov. 4–Dec. 9 ($1,169); Dec. 19–Jan. 6 ($1,859); Jan. 9–Mar. 31 ($1,259). Other Gateways: None. SS: $450. Information: Azores Express, 800/762-9995, sata.pt.

Madrid from $959
Air from New York to Madrid; six nights at the Hotel Principe Pío, near the Royal Palace; and breakfasts. Add $40 for transfers and $139 for taxes and fuel surcharges. When: Until Dec. 11; Jan. 7–Mar. 19. Other Gateways: Miami ($998), Boston ($1,049). SS: From $260. Information: EuropeASAP, 415/750-5449, europeasap.com.

Nice, France from $969
Air from Boston or New York to Nice; six nights at the Hotel St. Gothard, a 15-minute walk to the beach; and breakfast daily. Add $50 for transfers. Add $139 for airport taxes and fuel surcharges. When: Until Dec. 11; Jan. 7–Mar. 19. Other Gateways: Atlanta, Miami ($1,049); Chicago, Dallas ($1,079); L.A., San Francisco ($1,149). SS: From $290. Information: EuropeASAP, 415/750-5449, europeasap.com.

Prague, Vienna & Budapest from $1,379
Austrian Airlines flights from D.C. or New York to Prague (via Vienna, returning from Budapest); local transportation (train); nine nights' hotel split among Prague, Vienna, and Budapest; and breakfast daily. Spend three nights each in Prague at the Hotel Victoria, in Vienna at the Hotel Savoy Garni, and in Budapest at the Best Western Hotel Hungaria. Add $199 for all transfers. Includes fuel surcharges. When: Nov. 1–27; Dec. 1–4; Dec. 9–11; Jan. 4–Mar. 4; Mar. 11–19. Other Gateways: None. SS: $269. Information: Austrian Airlines Vacation Center, 800/790-4682, austrianair-vacations.com.

St. Petersburg & Moscow from $999
Finnair flights from New York to St. Petersburg (via Helsinki, returning from Moscow), transfers, three nights' hotel in St. Petersburg, an overnight train to Moscow, two nights' hotel in Moscow, and breakfast daily. The price includes admission to the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and a guided Kremlin tour in Moscow, as well as fuel surcharges. When: Thursday departures Nov. 6–Mar. 26. Other Gateways: D.C. (add from $150); Chicago, Miami (add from $275). SS: $495. Information: Eastern Tours, 800/339-6967, traveltorussia.com.