Eastern Europe Tours

The Real Deal: Buy roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane for $999 and fly to three other Australian cities for free. When: July 19 - Aug. 26, 2005 Gateways: Los Angeles and Honolulu; other gateways and dates available for a surcharge. Details: Minimum stay of 7 days and maximum of 21 days from your first transpacific flight. Book By: Aug. 31, 2005 Contact: Qantas, qantasusa.com The concept behind the new travel pass from Qantas is a simple rip-off of Cathay Pacific's much more extensive "" and it even carries the same price-tag: $999. Here's how it works: for $999, you--the intrepid traveler-- will get to fly from Los Angeles or Honolulu to Oz and then hop to three cities on this massive continent, without paying a cent extra. Considering that airfares from LA to Sydney often top the $999 mark, and fares from say, Brisbane to Sydney can cost $150 each way, this is a superb opportunity for anyone who's ever wanted to really get around Down Under. Travelers have 30 days tops to use their pass and can only fly to one city apiece in three different sectors during that time. But still, these are the cities you'll want to visit: Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast Queensland, Perth, Ayers Rock, Darwin, Cairns and others. To extend your trip for another 30 days costs an additional $100. The $999 price-tag is good until Dec. 9, 2004 and again after Apr. 26, 2005. In the months in between the rate will rise by about $300. Add-ons from other cities, including those on the East Coast and Midwest, are certainly available.

The Real Deal: Roundtrip air to Sydney from Los Angeles for $998 or from New York for $1,298 for travel between July 1 and September 30. Both departures include free stopovers in Tahiti and New Zealand's Auckland. When: Through Sept. 30, 2005 Gateways: Los Angeles ($998) and New York ($1,298) Details: Minimum required stay is seven days Book By: June 10, 2005 Contact: Air Tahiti, tahiti-newzealand-australia.com We also came across a deal for those aspiring travelers who can't decide between going to Australia or New Zealand. If we may say so, you no longer have to choose. You can go to both and, while you're at it, why not hang out in Tahiti for a bit. And no, you don't have to be a Rockefeller to do it. Air Tahiti Nui is offering to take you to all three countries this summer for the price of one roundtrip ticket! You can fly to Sydney from Los Angeles for $998 or from New York for $1,298 for travel between July 1 and September 30. Both departures include free stopovers in Tahiti and New Zealand's Auckland. Seeing that in July roundtrip tickets to Sydney alone start from $1,170 from Los Angeles and from $1,451 from New York, this seems like a good deal if you're interested in traveling Down Under. The last day to book your flight is June 10 and the minimum required stay is seven days. For more information visit Air Tahiti online to book.

The Real Deal: Guided nature tours plus accommodations, airfare (from Miami) and in-country transportation for $599 plus tax When: Various dates through Nov. 10, 2005 Gateways: Miami; other gateways available for a surcharge Details:Package includes all breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners Book By: Nov. 10, 2005 Contact: Traveland, traveland.com It's no secret that Costa Rica is one of the most ecologically diverse countries on earth, with volcanoes, rainforests and pristine beaches all lovingly maintained by a fairly "green" government (it's created vast areas of protected national parks across the country). The problem for most travelers has been how to see the many national wonders in a short amount of time, a problem compounded by the poor state of Costa Rica's roads and highways. That conundrum has been solved by Traveland, one of the top names in Latin American travel. Traveland has put together a whirlwind five-night tour which meshes nature tours with accommodations, airfare (from Miami) and in-country transportation for the remarkable price of just $599 plus tax. Among the many inclusions are:   A guided tour of Paos volcano   A day of white water rafting   An aerial rainforest tram tour   A birdwatching hike   Evening lectures on local butterflies and insects   All breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners   Five nights' accommodations in two lodges: the Don Fadrique Hotel and the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

The Real Deal: Roundtrip air from Miami, Dallas or Houston and a four-night stay split between Guatemala City and Antigua for $699. When: Through June 17, 2005 Gateways: Miami, Dallas or Houston. $25 surcharge: Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, or New York. $50 surcharge: Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. $75 surcharge: San Francisco. $125 surcharge: Denver, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City. $290 surcharge: Portland, Seattle Details: Transfers to and from the airport and between the two cities are part of the offer, along with daily breakfast and hotel taxes and service charges. Other hotel options in both cities come with a bit higher price tag (up to $899 for a double). Book By: June 17, 2005 Contact: Fly South Vacations, flysouthvacations.com If there is a place that represents the best of Central America--mesmerizing Mayan ruins, a lively indigenous culture, high, active volcanoes and some of the planet's most exotic wildlife--it would probably be Guatemala. This microcosm of Central America is a perfect destination for those who would like to see as much as possible in this part of the world but only have limited time at their disposal. And now to the money-saving part. Fly South Vacations has a Guatemala two-city package on sale, including roundtrip air from Miami, Dallas or Houston and a four-night stay split between the capital, Guatemala City, and the well-preserved colonial city and former capital, Antigua for $699. If only the walls could talk in Antigua's Hotel Palacio Chico, built by the famous Spanish architect, Luis Diaz de Navarro, in 1754 to be used as lodging for members of royalty delegations--it's also where you'll be staying. You'll also spend two nights in Guatemala City at the Best Western Hotel Stoffela, steps away from shopping and the nightlife scene. Transfers to and from the airport and between the two cities are part of the offer, along with daily breakfast and hotel taxes and service charges. Other hotel options in both cities come with a bit higher price tag (up to $899 for a double). And although there is no deadline to book, you might want to rush if you're interested in the trip because the offer is only good now through June 17. Standard roundtrip airfare to Guatemala City in June starts from $408 (TACA) from Miami and from $470 (TACA) from New York. Although Guatemala is overall very safe, avoid intercity travel after sunset and follow some common sense precautions by staying away from protests and similar activist gatherings. And try not to photograph children without permission from their parents to avoid being mistaken for a foreign kidnapper. Oh yeah, and be sure to have a great time.