40 Best Deals

Rio de Janeiro from $849
Air from Miami or New York; transfers; five nights at the Savoy Othon Travel Hotel, two blocks from Copacabana Beach; and more. When: Mar. 1-June 26. Other Gateways: None. SS: $260. Information: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

EUROPE
Continental Drifting
Cruising is a great way to see a lot of Europe without having to pack and unpack your bags over and over.

Blue Lagoon, Reykjavík, Iceland (Jon Arnold/JAI/Corbis) [enlarge photo] RELATED ARTICLE • Keep This in Mind as You Read These Listings...

Black Sea from $2,699
A 12-night sailing on the Taras Shevchenko from Istanbul to Kiev, Ukraine; meals; port charges; and two nights in Istanbul. No airfare. When: May 6, 20, 30; June 13; July 7; Aug. 24 (from $2,699). SS: From $1,200. Information: General Tours, 800/221-2216, generaltours.com.

Mediterranean from $799
Seven-night sailing on the Norwegian Gem round trip from Barcelona, with port charges but not airfare. When: May 4, 11, 18, 25 (from $799 inside cabin/from $899 ocean-view). SS: From $799. Information: American Discount Cruises, 866/214-7447, americandiscountcruises.com.

Rhine River from $2,049
Nine-day sailing on the Grand River Ambassador from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam; transfers; meals; more. The airfare is not covered. When: Saturdays May 3 ($2,049); May 10-June 28 ($2,199). SS: From $1,549. Information: Uniworld, 800/360-9550, uniworld.com.

Baltic Capitals from $1,499
Finnair flights from New York to Vilnius, Lithuania (return flight from Tallinn, Estonia); transfers; intercity bus transportation; three half-day city tours; and six nights' lodging split between Vilnius; Riga, Latvia; and Tallinn. When: Mar. 1-31 ($1,499); Apr. 1-30 ($1,599); May 1-20 ($1,699). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add $250); Chicago, Miami (add $350); Dallas, Denver (add $450); L.A., San Francisco (add $525). SS: $595. Information: Eastern Tours, 800/339-6967, traveltorussia.com.

Budapest from $729
Delta Airlines flights from New York; transfers; six nights at the Hotel Sissi, near the Ferenc körút metro stop; a half-day city tour; and breakfasts. When: Until Mar. 13 ($729); Mar. 14-May 15 ($929). Other Gateways: None. SS: $369. Information: Tatra Travel, 800/321-2999, tatratravel.com.

Paris from $599
Air from New York; six nights at the Comfort Hotel Davout Nation, in the 20th arrondissement; and breakfast daily. When: Mar. 1-14 (from $599); Mar. 15-24 (from $669); Mar. 25-May 31 (from $699). Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add $100); Chicago (add $130); Detroit (add $140); Atlanta, Dallas, Denver (add $150); Miami (add $180). SS: $160. Information: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

Turkey Tour from $1,549
Air from New York, transfers and local transportation, and a 12-night tour with guided sightseeing, most meals, and entrance fees. Spend four nights in Istanbul; two each in Izmir, Antalya, and Cappadocia; and one each in Çanakkale and Ankara. When: Apr. 10 ($1,549), Apr. 24 ($1,589), May 8 ($1,579), May 22 ($1,649). Other Gateways: Boston (add $19), Philadelphia (add $43). SS: $255. Information: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Tuscany from $1,599
Alitalia flights from D.C. or New York to Florence (via Milan or Rome), a seven-day car rental, six nights in the town of Chiusi at the Villa il Patriarca hotel, breakfasts, two dinners, two wine tours, and a wine tasting. When: Mar. 1-14 ($1,599); Mar. 15-31, June 1-30 ($2,299); Apr. 1-May 31 ($1,899). Other Gateways: None. SS: From $899. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Egypt from $2,399
EgyptAir flights from New York to Cairo; local transportation (bus, car, plane); five nights at the Sofitel Le Sphinx Hotel with breakfasts; a four-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor on the King of Thebes with meals and excursions; four nights in Hurghada, on the Red Sea coast, at the all-inclusive Al Nabila Grand Makadi Hotel; and more. When: Thursday departures Mar. 6, 13 ($2,619); Mar. 20 ($3,119); Mar. 27 ($2,399); Apr. 3-24 ($2,679). Other Gateways: Baltimore, Boston, D.C. (add from $35); Chicago (add from $170); L.A., Seattle (add from $270). SS: From $519. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Israel & Palestine Tour from $1,900
Reality Tours, the educational-travel branch of Global Exchange, a U.S.-based international human rights organization, is leading two 10-day Prospects for Peace tours to Jerusalem and the West Bank that focus on the social and political impact of the occupation of Palestinian territories. The price covers local transportation, nine nights' lodging, breakfast and dinner daily, program activities (including meeting with Israeli settlers and a homestay with a Palestinian family), and a guide and translator throughout. Note: International airfare isn't included. When: Apr. 5, Dec. 6. SS: $350. Information: Global Exchange Reality Tours, 800/497-1994, globalexchange.org.

South Africa from $2,399
South African Airways flights from D.C. or New York to Cape Town (via Johannesburg), four nights at the Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel off Kloof Street, an onward flight to Jo'burg, and two nights inside the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve at Lion Sands River Lodge. The price covers four game drives and all meals while on safari. When: Mar. 1-31 ($2,999); Apr. 1-30 ($3,299); May 1-31 ($2,399). Other Gateways: Atlanta (add $50), Houston (add $100), L.A. (add $150). SS: From $575. Information: Visit Southern Africa Vacations, 888/722-4872, vsavacations.com.

Tanzania Safari from $2,695
Virgin Atlantic flights from Boston, D.C., or New York to Nairobi (via London); an onward flight to Kilimanjaro airport, Tanzania; and a five-night safari at Serena Safari Lodges with meals and game drives. Spend two nights each at the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, and one night at Lake Manyara National Park. When: Mar. 1-19 ($2,995); Mar. 20-27 ($3,475); Mar. 28-May 31 ($2,695); June 1-Sept. 15 ($3,735). Other Gateways: Miami, Orlando (add $170); L.A., San Francisco (add $190); Chicago (add $210). SS: From $100. Information: Masai Travel, 800/587-1644, masaitravel.com.

ASIA
Taipei and Beyond
With the recent boom in travel to China, more and more people are discovering the neighboring island of Taiwan, drawn by its hot springs, forests, mountains, and bustling capital.

$1,199
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A., transportation, three nights in Taipei, a three-night island tour with most meals, and more. When: Until June 5. Other Gateways: Portland (add $175); Austin (add $275); Boston, Chicago, D.C., New York (add $335). SS: $350. Information: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Bali from $899
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco (via Singapore), transfers, three nights in Sanur Beach at the Parigata Resort N Spa, three nights in Ubud at the Sahadewa Resort, a full-day tour with lunch, and breakfast daily. When: Until June 4. Other Gateways: Denver, New York, Seattle (add $175); Boston, Chicago, D.C., Philadelphia (add $250); Dallas, Miami (add $300). SS: From $250. Information: Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

China Tour & Yangtze Cruise from $2,549
Air China flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Beijing, local transportation (bus, plane), guided sightseeing, three nights in Beijing, two nights each in Xi'an and Shanghai, a three-night cruise on the Victoria Star along the Yangtze River with all meals, and more. When: Friday departures Mar. 7, 14 ($2,549); Mar. 21-Apr. 25 ($2,649); May 2 ($2,759); May 9-30 ($2,849). Other Gateways: New York (from $2,699). SS: From $700. Information: Ritz Tours, 800/900-2446, ritztours.com.

Hong Kong from $1,470
Asiana Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco, transfers, five nights at the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel in the Tsimshatsui district, a half-day island tour with visits to the Wan Chai waterfront and Victoria Peak, an evening boat cruise around Victoria Harbour, and breakfast daily. When: Until Aug. 31. Other Gateways: Chicago, New York (add from $250). SS: $600. Information: SITA World Tours, 800/421-5643, sitatours.com.

Japan Tour from $2,399
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. to Tokyo, local transportation (Shinkansen bullet train, bus), three nights in Tokyo at the Grand Prince New Takanawa hotel, two nights in Kyoto at the Rihga Royal hotel, breakfasts, sightseeing in Tokyo and Kyoto, and a full-day tour to Mount Fuji, Hakone National Park, and Lake Ashi. When: Mar. 24, Apr. 14, May 12, June 16. Other Gateways: Phoenix, Seattle (add $175); Chicago (add $375). SS: From $453. Information: Globotours, 800/988-4833, globotours.net.

SOUTH PACIFIC
Fiji from $1,799
Air Pacific flights from L.A., transfers, three nights in a bure at Barefoot Lodge with four full-day trips through the southern Yasawa Islands on the 108-foot schooner Spirit of the Pacific, and four nights at Crusoe's Retreat on Viti Levu's Coral Coast. When: Until Mar. 31, 2009. Other Gateways: None. SS: $350. Information: Air Pacific, 800/704-7094, airpacificusa.com.

Tahiti from $1,499
Air Tahiti Nui flights from L.A., transfers, and six nights at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort on Point Tataa. When: Until Mar. 31 ($1,499); Apr. 1-May 31 ($1,799). Other Gateways: None. SS: $700. Information: Islands in the Sun, 800/828-6877, islandsinthesun.com.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand from $2,559
Air New Zealand flights from L.A. to Auckland, transfers and all flights within New Zealand, three nights in Queenstown, two nights in Christchurch, and two nights in Rotorua. When: Until Apr. 30 ($2,699); May 1-31 ($2,559). Other Gateways: None. SS: $999. Information: ATS Tours, 888/423-9181, atstours.com.

Queensland Outback Tour from $1,190
An eight-day escorted tour from Brisbane to Cairns, to explore the sandstone cliffs, forests, dunes, and savannas of Queensland's Outback. The itinerary includes local transportation, seven nights' lodging (hotel, cabin, and farm), guided walks through Carnarvon Gorge and Porcupine Gorge, a sunset cruise on the Thomson River, and more. A $200 local payment is due upon arrival (only Australian dollars are accepted). Add $130 for meals. Land-only package; airfare isn't covered. When: Mar. 14, Apr. 11, May 23, June 20, July 18. SS: Not available. Information: G.A.P Adventures, 800/465-5600, gapadventures.com.