Asia, Africa and Middle East

If there's one section that we consistently hear is your favorite, it's 40 Best Deals. But while we wanted to do something special with the section for this issue, we couldn't really ask you to find the deals. So instead, the companies that we've featured over the years are offering packages with exclusive perks and discounts. (Just look for the ">" within each deal.) And if you end up taking a trip you discovered in 40 Best Deals, please drop us a line and let us know how it went!

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!

"My husband and I found Karell Holidays' Kenya safari in 40 Best Deals," says Judy Woods, of Greenville, Tex. (Courtesy Judy Woods) [enlarge photo] 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 • Before You Read These Listings...

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

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.

ASIA

Bali from $999
> MASSAGE, COOKING CLASS & BOOK
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco, transfers, five nights in Ubud at the Bali Spirit Hotel and Spa with breakfast, a half-day batik class, a half-day tour, a one-hour body massage, a cooking class at Casa Luna Restaurant, and a cookbook. When: June 1–Aug. 31 ($1,299); Sept. 1–Dec. 5 ($999). Other Gateways: Boise, Portland, Seattle (add $180); New York (add $200); Albany, D.C., Houston, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia (add $280). SS: $260. Information: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Borneo from $1,199
> FREE TOUR & BATIK SARONG
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Kuching, Malaysia (via Singapore); all transfers; two nights each at the Hilton Kuching and the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort and one night in Singapore; a full-day boat ride to the Iban hill tribes; a batik sarong; some meals; and either a Bidayuh hill tribe tour or Sarawak river cruise. When: June 1–4, Aug. 21–Sept. 30 ($1,199); June 5–Aug. 20 ($1,549). Other Gateways: Denver, Houston, New York, Portland, Seattle (add $175); Boston, Chicago, D.C., Philadelphia (add $250); Dallas, Miami (add $300). SS: From $310. Information: Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

China Tour from $1,499
> $100 DISCOUNT
Air from L.A. and a 12-day tour with transfers and local transportation; 10 nights' hotel accommodations in Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai; guided tours and entrance fees; and all meals. Among the highlights are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the terra-cotta warriors and horses, a Grand Canal cruise, and more. You must book by June 30 and use code BT063008 to get the $100 discount. When: Monday departures Sept. 1–Oct. 27, Dec. 15, 22 ($1,899); Dec. 1, 29 ($1,499). Other Gateways: New York (add $60). SS: $475. Information: Champion Holidays, 800/868-7658, china-discovery.com.

China Tour & Yangtze Cruise from $1,840
> $50 DISCOUNT & EXTRA NIGHT
A 14-day escorted tour with transfers and local transportation (bus, airplane), eight nights' hotel (three each in Shanghai and Beijing, two in Xi'an), a four-night Yangtze River cruise, guided sightseeing and entrance fees, and all meals while on the tour and cruise. Highlights include a Chinese acrobat show in Shanghai and visits to the Great Wall, the terra-cotta warriors and horses, and the Forbidden City. International airfare isn't included. When: June 4, 25; July 9; Sept. 10, 17, 24; Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. SS: From $760. Information: SITA World Tours, 800/421-5643, sitatours.com.

Kerala, India from $2,099
> FREE TOUR & COOKING CLASSES
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Kochi, transfers and local transportation, three nights at the Old Harbour Hotel with breakfasts, a half-day tour and harbor cruise, a boat tour through the canals of Kerala, and two nights in a private waterfront villa at Philipkutty's Farm with all meals, round-trip ferry transfers, and two days of cooking classes. When: June 5–Aug. 31 ($2,349); Sept. 1–Dec. 5 ($2,099). Other Gateways: Denver, Portland, Seattle (add from $180); New York (add from $200); Boston, Buffalo, D.C., Houston, Pittsburgh (add from $280); Chicago, Cleveland, St. Louis (add from $340). SS: $950. Information: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

Neck and the Woods
"My husband and I found Karell Holidays' Kenya safari in 40 Best Deals," says Judy Woods, of Greenville, Tex. "We stayed in extremely good lodges, and the food and service were top-notch. And we even spotted black rhinos!" Seven-night safari with air starts at $3,518 (800/327-0373, karellholidays.com).

Cape Town & the Garden Route from $2,699
> TWO GAME DRIVES & ALL MEALS
South African Airways flights from Baltimore, D.C., or New York to Cape Town (via Johannesburg); an 11-day car rental with insurance and unlimited mileage; and three nights in Cape Town, two nights in the Winelands, three nights along the Garden Route, and three nights on safari at the Amakhala Game Reserve, with six game drives and all meals. When: June 1–Aug. 19 ($3,399); Aug. 20–31 ($2,699). Other Gateways: Atlanta, Boston, Hartford (add $50); Detroit, Miami (add $100); L.A., San Francisco, Seattle (add $275). SS: $999. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Cape Town & Kruger Safari from $2,999
> DINNER & ROBBEN ISLAND TOUR
South African Airways flights from D.C. or New York to Johannesburg, transfers and flights within South Africa, one night at the Safari Club S.A. hotel, two nights in Kruger National Park at Jock Safari Lodge with meals and two game drives, three nights in or near Cape Town at any of six hotels (Constantia, Long Beach, Franschhoek, Bishops' Court, St. James, or Table Bay), dinner at the Africa Café (with transfers), and a tour of Robben Island. Mention Budget Travel when booking. When: Aug. 20–Sept. 30. Other Gateways: 150 U.S. cities (add $225). SS: $990. Information: 2Afrika, 866/462-2374, 2afrika.com.

Cape Town & Victoria Falls from $2,599
> FREE CHAUFFERED TOUR
South African Airways flights from D.C. or New York to Cape Town (via Johannesburg); all transfers; six nights at the Protea Hotel Sea Point; a half-day tour of Cape Town and Table Mountain; a private eight-hour chauffeured city tour with entrance fees; an onward flight to Victoria Falls, Zambia; two nights at the Zambezi Sun hotel; a cruise on the Zambezi River; a visit to a Mukuni village; and breakfast daily. You must mention Budget Travel when booking. When: Aug. 20–Nov. 30. Other Gateways: 150 U.S. cities (add $225). SS: From $300. Information: 2Afrika, 866/462-2374, 2afrika.com.

Dubai from $2,199
> FIFTH NIGHT & BONUS ACTIVITY
Emirates flights from New York to Dubai, five nights at the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa on Jumeirah Beach, breakfasts, a full-day tour, and a ticket to Ski Dubai or admission to a water park. When: June 1–Sept. 30. Other Gateways: Boston, D.C. (add $149); Miami (add $199); Atlanta, Chicago (add $249); L.A. (add $349). SS: $499. Information: Leisure Link International, 888/801-8808, eleisurelink.com.

Tanzania from $3,999
> ADD-ON AIRFARE FROM SIX CITIES
2Afrika's 14-night Tanzania safari is $3,999 from New York; for this issue, the company is covering the airfare between New York and six other cities (Boston, Chicago, D.C., L.A., Miami, or San Francisco). The itinerary includes flights on Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways to Arusha (via London and Nairobi); transfers; visits to Lake Manyara and Seren­geti national parks, Ngorongoro Crater, and Olduvai Gorge; six game drives; meetings with the Datooga and Hadza tribes; 29 meals; and more. When: Sept. 16–Oct. 31 ($4,099); Nov. 1–30 ($3,999). Other Gateways: None. SS: From $395. Information: 2Afrika, 866/462-2374, 2afrika.com.