June issue, Budget Travel magazine - Summer's here and the floodgates have opened, with tourism officials predicting the best summer for travel since 2001. Bookings are up to almost all parts of the globe, and in some cases prices have risen too. But not in all cases. We've managed to unearth what we think are 40 terrific travel opportunities for frugal travelers. USA & Canada Sierra Club for$395
Whether you want to pitch in with trail maintenance or you prefer a quiet canoe trip, Sierra Club Outings has adventures for all ages and abilities. Some upcoming examples: service projects in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (June 13–19 and 20–26, $395); canoeing the Pine River, Mich. (June 20–25, $675); and a mother/daughter trip to the Sierras, Calif. (August 1–6, $715 adult, $615 child). All meals, accommodations, and equipment are usually included. Sierra Club Outings, 415/977-5522, www.sierraclub.org/outings/national. Napa or Sonoma for $525
Driving among sun-dappled vineyards, picnicking with a bottle of wine you just bought from the source—a week in California Wine Country has rarely been this affordable. Through August, spend six nights at the Best Western Inn at the Vines in Napa for $525 with Monday or Tuesday departures from Las Vegas ($557 Phoenix, $643 Boston, $655 Dallas, $663 New York). Or choose six nights at the Lodge at Sonoma for $705 with Monday or Tuesday departures from Las Vegas ($737 Phoenix, $823 Boston, $835 Dallas, $843 New York). Add a rental car for the week for about $150. Extra nights start at $70 in Napa, $92 in Sonoma; single supplement $423 Napa, $603 Sonoma. America West Vacations, 800/235-9298, www.americawestvacations.com. Maui for $669
It’s no wonder Maui is the perennial favorite for those seeking Hawaiian paradise: the idyllic beaches of the west shore, hiking near Haleakala Crater, the drive to Hana. With a kidney-shaped swimming pool and lighted tennis courts, the 360-room Ohana Maui Islander is just a block off Front Street, the main drag in Lahaina. Until September 25, get five nights and a rental car for $669 with air from L.A., $844 Denver, $915 New York, or $926 Chicago. Extra nights $83; single supplement $296. Pleasant Holidays, 800/448-3333, www.pleasantholidays.com. Montreal for $339
From cobblestone streets to cosmopolitan boutiques, Montreal is a charming mix of the Old World and the New. See it all with a two-night stay at the Hôtel Gouverneur Place Dupuis, a two-star property in the charming Latin Quarter, where you’ll find trendy bars and bistros that’ll make you feel as if you were in Paris. Valid for Friday departures through August, the rate is $339 from New York, $347 Boston, $407 Miami, $500 Los Angeles. Extra nights $55; single supplement $111. Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, www.gate1travel.com.  | Elaine Thompson / AP Following an afternoon shower, a rainbow forms behind Seattle's landmark Space Needle
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Seattle for $609
Besides landmarks like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, Seattle offers tons of outdoor summer fun at its many parks and on Puget Sound. Until August 25, six nights at the Holiday Inn SeaTac Airport are $609 with flights from Chicago Midway; $659 from Des Moines, Toledo, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Madison, or Springfield. ATA Vacations, 800/442-8952, www.atavacations.com. Six-night stays at the Holiday Inn are $761 with Wednesday flights from New York; $761 Washington, D.C.; $826 Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Charlotte. Valid until September 22. US Airways Vacations, 800/352-8747, www.usairwaysvacations.com. For both packages, add about $300 to stay at the Crowne Plaza. Extra nights from $55; single supplement from $330.
Orlando &Cocoa Beach for $449
Get theme parks and beach with this Florida combo. Spend four nights in Orlando at the Howard Johnson Maingate and three nights in Cocoa Beach at the oceanfront Holiday Inn or Best Western. With a weeklong rental car and air from New York or Chicago, the seven-night rate is $449 through August. (A five-night stay in Orlando alone runs just $343.) Upgrade to a one-bedroom condo with kitchen for an additional $85 per person. Extra nights from $18 Orlando, $29 Cocoa Beach; single supplement $127. Leisure Link International, 888/801-8808, www.eleisurelink.com. Los Angeles for $105
Heading to L.A. this summer? The annual West Hollywood Sights & Sounds Tour runs until September 1 and offers visitors special rates at a dozen hotels such as the Ramada Plaza (from $105 per night), the Grafton on Sunset ($139), and the Argyle ($189). Also included: TheLAcard, good for discounts at museums, restaurants, and attractions. West Hollywood CVB, 800/368-6020, www.visitwesthollywood.com. If you’d rather have a room with a view, try a Sun & Surf package at the oceanfront Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. This art deco masterpiece is offering a room for two, a private two-hour surfing lesson (includes wet suit and surfboard rental), and a beach bag full of goodies starting at $359 per night through the end of September. That’s a savings of about $250 per couple. The Georgian Hotel, 800/538-8147, www.georgianhotel.com. Atlantic Canada for $1,419
This driving tour of the Maritime Provinces takes you from the wild tides in Fundy National Park (New Brunswick) to the home of Anne of Green Gables (Prince Edward Island) to the famous lighthouse called Peggy’s Cove (Nova Scotia). Your accommodations—in hotels, country inns, and B&Bs—are arranged ahead of time, but the path you take to reach them is up to you. For 10 nights’ lodging, a 10-day car rental, a tour of Halifax, and a lobster dinner on Prince Edward Island, you’ll pay $1,419 from Boston, $1,429 Chicago, $1,519 New York, $1,539 Atlanta, or $1,599 Los Angeles. These prices are valid until October 31. Ferry crossings cost an additional $130. Add four nights for $360; single supplement from $849. Maxxim Vacations, 800/567-6666, www.maxximvacations.com. Lake Tahoe for $264
High in the Sierra Nevada, straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is one of the deepest and bluest bodies of water in North America. With mild air temperatures even in the height of summer, it’s a favorite hiking, biking, and climbing destination. And for less adventurous types, the Nevada side of the lake has a half-dozen casinos offering round-the-clock indoor entertainment. Valid for midweek departures until the end of August, a two-night stay at Harvey’s Resort & Casino starts at $264 from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego; $344 Seattle; $384 Denver; $444 Chicago; $464 Boston. Don’t want to stay in a casino? Choose the Inn by the Lake—overlooking the water in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—for $20 more per night. Extra nights $155; single supplement $150. United Vacations, 888/328-6877, www.unitedvacations.com. Caribbean & Mexico Jamaica for $499
| Ocho Rios is known for soft beaches and spectacular waterfalls—millions of people have posed for souvenir photos on the famous rock terraces of Dunn’s River Falls.
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On the north shore of Jamaica, Ocho Rios is known for soft beaches and spectacular waterfalls—millions of people have posed for souvenir photos on the famous rock terraces of Dunn’s River Falls. Through the end of August, get seven nights in a one-bedroom condo at Fisherman’s Point, an oceanfront resort complex just steps from the sand. Each condo has a full kitchen and a private terrace or balcony. The rate is $499 with air from Miami; $541 New York or Philadelphia; $563 Atlanta or Baltimore; $666 Los Angeles; $668 Chicago; $718 Denver. Extra nights $38; single supplement $228. Atlas Vacations, 800/634-1057, www.atlasvacations.net.Mexico for $809
Spend seven nights in colorful Oaxaca at the Fiesta Inn for $809 with air from San Diego, $859 Chicago, $879 New York. Extra nights $30; single supplement $74. Or choose seven nights in colonial San Miguel de Allende at the Hotel Misión for $929 from L.A., $979 Chicago, $999 New York. Extra nights $64; single supplement $14. If you’d prefer the beach, seven nights in Huatulco at the Hotel Castillo are $1,044 from Miami. Prices are valid through August. Extra nights $34; single supplement $69. Aeroméxico Vacations, 800/245-8585, www.aeromexicovacations.com. Antigua for $824
The normally pricey island of Antigua gets more affordable this summer, with special round-trip airfares of $199 from the East Coast when you stay at an Elite Island Resort; add $100 from the Midwest, $200 from the West Coast. Five all-inclusive nights at the Royal Antiguan—on a private cove with two beaches, pool, tennis courts, several bars and restaurants—run $824 from most East Coast cities, such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Washington, D.C. There are seven all-inclusives to choose from, including two others on Antigua, two on St. Lucia, and one each on Palm Island (the Grenadines) and Tortola (special airfare applies to all; hotel rates vary). Valid until October 31; book by August 30. Extra nights start at $125; single supplement from $325. Elite Island Resorts, 877/675-5054, www.eliteislandresorts.com. Grenada for $705
One of the most picturesque and relatively undeveloped islands in the Caribbean, Grenada is a good choice for those who want resort service without resort hype. Aside from the beautiful beaches and the smell of nutmeg—Grenada is known as the Spice Isle, after all—a stroll down the narrow streets of colorful St. George’s will convince you that you’re somewhere special. A six-night stay at the beachfront Rex Grenadian (with several restaurants and bars, a pool, and tennis courts) costs $705 with air from New York or Philadelphia; $708 Washington, D.C.; $794 Charlotte; $803 Pittsburgh. Valid until September 22. Upgrade to the Allamanda Beach Resort on Grand Anse Beach starting at $63 more. Extra nights $38; single supplement $227. US Airways Vacations, 800/352-8747, www.usairwaysvacations.com. Dominican Republic for $558
Spend five nights at the all-inclusive four-star LTI Beach Resort in Punta Cana (all meals, drinks, entertainment, nonmotorized water sports, and transfers are covered). Until August 31, the rate is $558 with air from Miami, $636 New York or Philadelphia, or $698 Baltimore. Extra nights $51; single supplement from $109. Vacation Travel Mart, 800/288-1435, www.vacmart.com. Cancún for $399
Artificially created in the 1970s by clever developers and tourism planners, Cancún has exceeded all expectations and now plays host to millions of beach lovers every year. Through the end of August, spend seven nights at the three-star Barceló Club Las Perlas for $399 with air from New Orleans; $429 Orlando; $499 Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, Memphis, or Nashville; $579 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Extra nights start at $32; single supplement $200. Vacation Express, 877/784-3786, www.vacationexpress.com. Or get seven nights at the Radisson Hacienda for $445 with air from Detroit; $475 Denver; $515 Minneapolis; $555 St. Louis. Valid through August; Wednesday or Saturday departures, depending on gateway. No extra nights; single supplement $210. Worry-Free Vacations, 888/225-5658, www.worryfreevacations.com. Puerto Vallarta for $399
While Cancún was built essentially from the ground up, Puerto Vallarta existed as a quiet fishing village long before Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Love Boat came to town. But nowadays most people visit for the wide stretches of sand and the hopping nightlife. With air from Los Angeles, five nights at the Villa El Palmar—beachfront, with three pools, tennis courts, and a fitness center—are $399 through the end of August (other gateways are available, including Houston, Dallas, or Denver for $429; New York $548; Miami $578). Extra nights $27; single supplement $110. Beach Destinations, 877/433-4378, www.beachdestinations.com. Grand Cayman for $357
Treasure Island Resort on Grand Cayman is the perfect place to take the kids this summer: children-eat-free deals, half-price discounts on water sports and diving packages, and the Cayman Islands Sea School with SpongeBob SquarePants. Just outside the capital of George Town on Seven Mile Beach, the hotel has several pools, two restaurants, a bar, and a dive shop. Valid until September 6, the $357 per person price (based on two adults and two children under 12 traveling together) includes five nights in a standard room, airport transfers, and midweek flights from Miami or Fort Lauderdale. From Tampa, add $60 per adult and $30 per child; Houston $170/$85. Also available from Orlando and Chicago but only for seven nights. Call for extra nights; no price for singles. Caradonna Caribbean Tours, 800/328-2288, www.caradonna.com. Central & South America Rio de Janeiro for $755
 | Sergio Moraes / REUTERS A Brazilian woman relaxes on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro
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It’s winter in Rio, but expect the weather to be dry and warm (temperatures top off in the mid 80s)—ideal for sipping caipirinhas on Ipanema Beach. For $755 from Miami, stay five nights at the Savoy Othon Hotel in Copacabana. The price is valid through August and includes hotel, transfers, breakfast daily, and a full-day tour to the nearby resort area of Búzios. (Add $100 New York, $130 Los Angeles, $150 Atlanta.) Extra nights $27; single supplement $45. Analie Tours, 800/811-6027, www.analietours.com.Buenos Aires for $569
Spend five nights in the sophisticated capital of Buenos Aires, birthplace of the tango, for $569 with midweek air from Miami. You’ll stay at the Regis Hotel—on a pedestrian-only street near Galerías Pacífico—and the price (valid until December 15) includes breakfast daily, a half-day city tour, and transfers. Add $130 New York, $210 Los Angeles. Extra nights $25; single supplement $120. Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, www.escapesltd.com. Belize for $599
Sun worshippers and scuba divers praise the pristine beaches and marine habitats of Belize’s cays; adventurers love the jungles, mountains, and wildlife on the mainland. Stay five nights at the Belizean Shores on Ambergris Cay for $599 with air from Miami; add $64 Dallas; $111 New York; $205 Chicago; $266 L.A. or San Francisco; $298 Seattle. The price is valid through June 30; add $55 in July and August. Or try three nights at the Black Rock River Lodge in the rain forest and four nights at the Corona del Mar on Ambergris for $699 from Miami (other gateways available). Extra nights from $55; single supplement from $207. Capricorn Leisure, 800/426-6544, www.capricorn.net. For hotel deals, check www.summerinbelize.com. Summer Skiing for $1,363
Many die-hard skiers travel to the Southern Hemisphere after the last pockets of powder melt in the Northern one; the Andean season is roughly mid-June to mid-October. With an elevation of 11,250 feet and over 250 inches of snowfall per year, Las Leñas is the crown jewel of the Argentine ski scene. It offers 40 miles of marked trails as well as more than a million acres of off-piste skiing. Lodging is all ski-in, ski-out and nightlife includes discos and a casino. Flights from Miami or New York, local air transfers, seven nights’ hotel, and a six-day lift ticket start at $1,363 until August 31 ($813 without flights to Argentina). Packages are also available to Bariloche, Argentina (starting at $1,032, $332 land only); Valle Nevado, Chile (from $1,160, $600 land only); and Portillo, Chile (from $1,570, $1,000 land only). Call for the single supplement. Borello Travel, 800/405-3072, www.borellotravel.com. Panama for $799
Spend six nights at the all-inclusive Royal Decamerón Playa Blanca, a 360-room beachfront resort on Panama’s Pacific coast, 90 minutes from the airport. With midweek flights from Miami, the $799 price covers all meals, drinks, daily activities, and nonmotorized water sports. Valid in June and August; add $99 July. (Add $40 Dallas, Houston, New Orleans; $60 Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa; $80 Raleigh-Durham, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Hartford; $170 Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit; $220 Denver; $270 L.A., San Francisco.) Extra nights $60; single supplement from $198. Tara Tours, 800/327-0080, www.taratours.com. Peru for $895
Explore the wonders of Peru with a six-night, three-city tour for $895. Begin with a direct flight from Miami to Cuzco, the oldest inhabited city in South America, where you’ll stay three nights at the El Puma Hotel and visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Pisac Indian Market, and ancient Ollantaytambo Fortress. Next you’ll head to Machu Picchu for a full-day tour and a one-night stay at the Machu Picchu Inn. From Cuzco you’ll fly to Lima, the capital, for a two-night stay at La Faraona Hotel. The price is valid through August and includes breakfast daily. (Other gateways cost $150 to $200 more.) Extra nights from $25; single supplement from $48. Analie Tours, 800/811-6027, www.analietours.com. Costa Rica for $579
Overlooking the Pacific, the Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort on Playa Hermosa has two restaurants, a swim-up bar, and a dive shop (but you’ll have to take a short shuttle ride to get to the beach). At $579 with flights from Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Orlando, this eight-day Central American holiday costs less than $85 per night. The price is valid through August. (Add $140 Charlotte or Nashville; $150 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.) No extra nights; single supplement $260. Vacation Express, 877/784-3786, www.vacationexpress.com. Transatlantic Istanbul for $758
Beautiful and exotic, Istanbul is a city that every major Western civilization in history has fought to control. The influences are everywhere, from the Hippodrome, where Romans held chariot races, to Ayasofya, the great symbol of Byzantium, to the Blue Mosque (pictured), one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture. Summer is the perfect time to visit, with temperatures in the 70s and beaches on the Black Sea nearby. A six-night stay including midweek air from New York starts at $758 until June 15 and $973 from June 16 to August 31 (other gateways $25 to $225 more). Add a half-day Bosporus cruise for $30. Extra nights $15; single supplement $43. Octopus Travel, 877/330-7765, www.octopuspackages.com. French Riviera for $629
You missed the film festival (it’s in May), but that’s no reason not to strut your stuff on the Croisette this summer. With its crowded beaches, excellent restaurants, and world-class shopping, Cannes offers the quintessential Côte d’Azur holiday. Nearby Nice is larger and has more to offer culture hounds; both cities are within day trips of Provence and Monaco. Until June 13, spend five nights at the Kyriad Cannes or the Kyriad Nice Port with daily breakfast starting at $629 from New York; $1,151 July 1 to August 31. Other gateways: Philadelphia from $669/$1,071; Chicago $709/$1,290; Detroit $759/$1,309; Boston $779/$1,179; Houston $829/$1,199; San Francisco $839/$1,239; Seattle $849/$1,209; Miami $859/$1,199; Minneapolis $859/$1,319. Add about $50 from June 14 to 30 (peak rate for hotel). Extra nights from $68; single supplement from $280. France Vacations, 800/332-5332, www.francevacations.net. Italy for $639
Explore the Italian countryside at your own speed. Get air from New York or Boston to Rome and a seven-day car rental for $639 until June 15, and $939 from June 16 to August 31 (add $90 Miami or L.A.; other gateways also available). Lodging can be arranged at an additional cost; single supplement $171. Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, www.gate1travel.com. Or stay put with six nights at the Galeno Hotel in Rome and airfare from New York for $898 until June 15 and $1,042 from June 16 to August 31. Other gateways $25 to $175 more. Extra nights from $75; single supplement $174. Octopus Travel, 877/330-7765, www.octopuspackages.com. Croatia for $1,390
On the Adriatic about 100 miles east of Venice, Opatija was one of the most glamorous vacation spots in the world during the late 19th century—a playground for kings and queens, actors and artists. The 20th century was less kind, but Opatija is undergoing a renaissance. Spend seven nights at the Admiral Hotel in Opatija or at the Drazice Hotel on the island of Krk. Either way you’ll pay $1,390 with air from New York or Boston until the end of August; other gateways cost $50 to $250 more. The price includes breakfast and dinner daily. Extra nights from $70; single supplement $290. Travel Time, 800/354-8728, www.traveltimeny.com. Prague, Vienna, & Budapest for $999
Take in three eastern capitals with two nights each in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. With flights from New York, six nights’ hotel, train transfers between cities, and breakfast daily, the rate starts at $999 for departures Monday to Wednesday from New York. Other gateways are available, including Miami $1,119; Chicago $1,149; Dallas $1,209; and San Francisco $1,215. These prices are valid until June 15; add about $200 thereafter. Extra nights from $55; single supplement $250. Eurovacations.com, 888/653-8242, www.eurovacations.com. Ireland for $809
Six nights in your choice of Irish B&Bs; full breakfast daily; a car rental; and flights from New York, Boston, or Baltimore cost $809 from June 1 to 20; $939 June 21 to July 10; $979 July 11 to August 31. Call for other gateways. Four nights in B&Bs and two nights at Kinnity Castle cost $90 to $150 more, depending on the date. Extra nights with car from $64 in B&Bs, $101 castle; single supplement from $258. Celtic Tours, 888/833-4373, www.celtictours.com. A similar B&B package is available from Ireland.com, 800/896-4600, www.ireland.com/travel. | One of the best-kept secrets in the Mediterranean (for American travelers, anyway), Malta has a dramatic coastline studded with beaches, excellent diving and snorkeling, medieval cobblestone streets, and beautiful baroque architecture.
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Malta for $949
One of the best-kept secrets in the Mediterranean (for American travelers, anyway), Malta has a dramatic coastline studded with beaches, excellent diving and snorkeling, medieval cobblestone streets, and beautiful baroque architecture. With six nights at the four-star Kennedy Nova Hotel in Sliema, buffet breakfast daily, transfers, local host services, and Lufthansa flights from New York Monday to Wednesday, the rate is $949 until June 14, $1,199 June 15 to July 31, and $1,299 in August. Or choose a Virgin Atlantic/Air Malta combination through London from New York, Boston, or Washington, D.C., for $999/$1,269/$1,369. Other departure cities are also available. A three-night extension to Gozo Island starts at $266. Extra nights from $38; single supplement $132. Amelia International, 800/742-4591, www.ameliainternational.com.
London for $504
Spend six nights in London with daily breakfast for $504 from New York, valid until June 15. The price rises to $684 from June 16 to August 31. Other gateways: Add $20 Boston; $50 Washington, D.C.; $115 Philadelphia; $125 Miami; $165 Atlanta or Cincinnati; $225 Orlando; $250 Los Angeles or San Francisco; $265 Chicago, Phoenix, or Seattle; $285 Dallas, Denver, or Houston; $310 Las Vegas. Extra nights from $46; single supplement from $105. Octopus Travel, 877/330-7765, www.octopuspackages.com. Moscow & St. Petersburg for $1,299
From the canals and palaces of St. Petersburg to Red Square and St. Basil’s in Moscow, this introduction to Russia includes five nights in three-star hotels (three nights in St. Petersburg, two nights in Moscow) as well as an overnight train between cities, daily breakfast, guided sightseeing, tours, and performances. The $1,299 rate is valid until June 10; it’s $1,399 June 11 to September 15. Six nights in St. Petersburg alone is the same price. Extra nights start at $125; single supplement from $225. Eastern Tours, 800/339-6967, www.traveltorussia.com. Spain for $1,389
There are a few self-drive programs on offer to Spain. All include flights to Madrid, lodging at paradores (many are converted castles and palaces) and hotels, daily breakfast, and a rental car. Among the choices: “Don Quixote and Gaudí” costs $1,389 until June 13 and $1,609 from June 14 to August 31 (six nights; one night each in Madrid, Almagro, Turuel, Cuenca, Alcañiz, and Barcelona); and “Exotic Andalusia” for $1,479/$1,515 (seven nights; two nights Almagro and Seville, one night Madrid, Granada, and Arcos de la Frontera). Prices include air from New York; other gateways available. Extra-night costs vary; call for the single supplement. Petrabax, 800/ 265-4842, www.petrabaxusa.com. Transpacific Hong Kong for $749
 | Vincent Yu / AP A gold statue of Chinese deity Wong Tai Sin is displayed at a gold exhibition in Hong Kong
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Climb Victoria Peak, take a cruise in the harbor, or watch the sunset from your hotel’s rooftop pool. For $749 with flights from San Francisco or L.A., stay five nights at the Newton Hotel on Hong Kong Island. The price is valid through June 30 and includes transfers and a half-day city tour; add $50 from July 1 to September 30. (Add $50 Seattle; from $250 New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.) Extra nights from $39; single supplement from $150. Go-today.com, 425/487-9632, www.go-today.com.Moorea for $1,239
Experience French Polynesia for about $120 per night! Fly direct from L.A. to Tahiti, then take a high-speed ferry to Moorea for 10 nights in a bay-view room at the Club Bali Hai. The $1,239 price—valid for Wednesday and Saturday departures until September 19—includes transfers, lei greetings, and a snorkeling excursion. Extra nights $50; single supplement $470. Tahiti Legends, 800/200-1213, www.tahitilegends.com. Tokyo for $999
Japan’s modern capital stuns visitors with bright lights, but a stroll in the Imperial Palace Garden offers a glimpse of Japan’s quieter Zen traditions. It’s the rainy season, but don’t let that stop you at these great prices. With midweek air from any U.S. East Coast Continental gateway, spend four nights at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel New Tower. The $999 price includes transfers and a half-day city tour. Valid for June departures; add $150 in July and August. Extra nights $87; single supplement $284. NTA America, 800/682-7872, www.japanvacation.net. Australia for $1,045
With so many itineraries to choose from, you’ll want to start planning for this seven-day drive now. If booked before July 2, $1,045 is the cash-discount price for flights to Sydney from L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Seattle, or Portland; one night at a hotel near the airport; and a seven-day camper-van rental (unlimited miles and 24-hour roadside assistance; equipped with cooking utensils and linens). Valid for travel June 1 to 17; add $252 June 18 to July 18; add $154 July 19 to August 26; add $35 credit cards. Packages booked after July 2 are more expensive—call for prices. Extra nights with camper from $40, hotel $85; single supplement from $183. Sunspots International, 800/334-5623, www.sunspotsintl.com. Cook Islands for $999
Head to the sunny South Pacific with this five-nighter in the Cook Islands. You’ll stay at the Club Raro Resort for $999 with flights from L.A. It’s a good time for whale-watchers to visit—humpbacks are around the Cooks from July to October. The price is valid until August 31, cash only; credit-card users add $35. Extra nights $76; single supplement $213. Sunspots International, 800/334-5623, www.sunspotsintl.com. New Zealand for $1,449
Hit the road with an eight-day self-guided drive across New Zealand. For $1,449 with midweek flights from L.A. to Auckland, you’ll be given a compact car and a seven-night “Go Kiwi” silver-category hotel pass for hundreds of three-star hotels. You’ll even get a Lord of the Rings location guidebook so you can follow in Frodo’s footsteps. The price is valid through August. Call for additional gateways. Extra nights with car $95; single supplement $450. Newmans South Pacific Vacations, 888/592-6224, www.newmansvacations.com. Copyright © 2004 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc. |  | Airlines: The perks of getting bumped |
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