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Hot holiday deals you can't afford to miss

Spend Thanksgiving in D.C., Christmas in London or New Year's in Miami -- and still have money left over for gifts. Sound impossible? Not with these holiday deals!
The landmark Space Needle on Oct. 20, just north of downtown Seattle.
The landmark Space Needle on Oct. 20, just north of downtown Seattle.Elaine Thompson / AP file
/ Source: Independent Traveler

Spend Christmas in London or New Year's in Miami -- and still have money left over for gifts. Sound impossible? Not with these holiday deals! Even though airfares and hotel rates are on the rise, you can still get a great bargain on holiday travel this year. Get free lift tickets for a holiday ski trip to Telluride, or get your holiday shopping done in Seattle from just $149 a night. Keep reading to see these deals and more -- and then give yourself the gift of travel this year!

Don't see what you're looking for? Check our Bargain Box for more holiday deals.

Ski this Christmas: Stay 3 Nts., Get 2 Lift Tickets
Calling all skiers and snowboarders! The Mountain Lodge at Telluride is offering two free lift tickets per reservation, per day to travelers who stay between December 1 and December 26. Guests will also receive a complimentary welcome beverage voucher (kid-friendly concoctions available) per person valid at the property's Tavern Bar. Just stay at least three nights at rates as low as $189 per night (for a studio condominium) and use the promotion code SKIFREE.

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9-Nt. W. Caribbean Holiday Cruise from $699
Skip the ice and snow this holiday season and treat yourself to a sunny Caribbean cruise! Celebrity's Century will sail roundtrip from Miami on December 21, calling at Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, Mexico; and Cococay, the cruise line's exclusive private island. Rates for this nine-night cruise start at just $699 per person.

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Seattle Holiday Shopper's Pkg. from $149/Nt.

The elegant Mayflower Park Hotel welcomes holiday shoppers to Seattle with a special package that includes luxurious overnight accommodations, discount coupons to downtown stores and a special holiday ornament, all from $149 a night. Come on a weekend and you'll also enjoy hot chocolate on the mezzanine. This package is available through January 7, 2007.

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4-Nt. Russian New Year's or Christmas Pkg. from $1,789
St. Petersburg is one of the world's most magical cities, and it's at its loveliest during the snowy holiday season. Continental Journeys is offering a special package that will allow you to experience the city during New Year's, the Russian Orthodox Christmas, or Maslenitsa (a Russian festival celebrating the end of winter).

The package includes roundtrip airfare from New York (other gateways available), four nights' accommodations, airport transfers, dinner each evening, sightseeing and more, starting at just $1,789 per person. Departure dates are December 28, January 4 or February 8.

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Thanksgiving Special: Washington, D.C. from $159/Nt.

Whether you're visiting friends and family in the D.C. area or celebrating Thanksgiving with a sightseeing trip to the nation's capital, the Jefferson Hotel is offering rates too low to refuse. You can stay at this luxury boutique hotel from just $159 a night between November 21 and November 27. You'll enjoy friendly service, a comfortable guestroom furnished with antiques, and a location just four blocks from the White House.

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2-Nt. Five-Star Christmas in London Pkg. from $1,070
Give yourself the gift of luxury this Christmas with a two-night stay at the five-star 41 Hotel in London. This intimate boutique property overlooking Buckingham Palace is offering an "It's a Wonderful Life at Christmas" package that includes stylish accommodations, full English breakfast, tea for two with Christmas cake, lunch or dinner for two with mince pies, a welcome gift, "It's a Wonderful Life" on DVD, and two bottles of wine. And if you're staying the night of Christmas Eve, you'll wake up the next morning to a stocking filled with seasonal goodies. This two-night package starts at $1,070 and is good for travel through January 7, 2007.

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New Year's in Miami from $219/Nt.

Add sizzle to your New Year's celebration this year with a stay at the Hyatt Regency Miami. Located minutes from the nightlife of Miami Beach, the hotel is offering a New Year's package that includes accommodations, a bottle of Champagne on New Year's Eve, daily breakfast, turndown service and a late check-out time of 2 p.m. on New Year's Day -- so you can sleep off the partying you did the night before. The package starts at $219 a night and is available from December 28 through January 1.

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3-Nt. Christmas/New Year's Zambia Pkg. from $1,095

If you're sick of the same old holiday parties, why not celebrate in truly exotic fashion --on the other side of the globe? Tongabezi Lodge, a luxurious Zambian hideaway located beside the thundering waters of Victoria Falls, is offering a three-night package that will give guests a glimpse into African holiday traditions. Drumming ceremonies, cultural dances and spit roasts will all be part of your all-inclusive stay. The holiday package starts at $1,095 per person for three nights, which includes lodging, meals, bar drinks, all entertainment, a spa treatment and much more.

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