The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare and three nights' accommodations in Stockholm from $559—plus taxes and fees of about $270.
When: Oct. 29-Dec. 13, 2007; Dec. 26-Mar. 20, 2008.
Gateways: New York City (Newark); add $20 for Boston; $70 for Chicago and Miami; $160 for Los Angeles; $180 for Seattle; additional cities are available.
The fine print: Daily breakfast and hotel taxes and service charges are included. Air taxes and fuel surcharges are an additional $270 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $160. The lowest prices include weekend hotel stays. Add about $60 per person per night Monday through Thursday. Hotel upgrades are about $35 per person per night. Hotels are subject to change without notice. Expect to pay an additional $30 by train or $45 by taxi per person for round-trip airport-hotel transfers. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: Dec. 14, 2007.
Contact: Nordic Saga Tours, 800-848-6449, nordicsaga.com.
Why it's a deal: Winter travel to Stockholm is only a fraction of the price for air and hotel accommodations during the summer. Case in point: The rate for this Nordic Saga package is reduced by 75 percent compared to the high-season summer rate. According to a recent Sidestep search, the lowest round-trip fare between New York City and Stockholm in November was $510 (Iceland Air). For only $49 more—plus airport taxes and fuel surcharges—the Nordic Saga package includes a three-night stay.
Trip details: The Stockholm Winter Escape package includes round-trip airfare on a Scandinavian Airlines carrier to Stockholm and three nights at the 128-room Best Western Kom Hotel in downtown. Many attractions, including the Old Town, City Hall, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Palace, and the Galleria Shopping Mall, are about a mile away; it's about a 10-minute walk to the nearest metro station.
Thanks to its many parks and waterways, the exceptionally clean city is considered one of the most beautiful capitals in world. Built on 14 islands around a well-preserved medieval city center, Stockholm dates back to the 13th century.
Within the past decade, the city of 1.6 million has become an international metropolis, on par with the likes of New York and Paris. It's chock-full of lively cafés, restaurants, and bars (at Icebar, the ceiling, walls, floor and tables are made of blocks of ice). And if you're traveling before Christmas, be sure to check out the holiday markets.
Noteworthy historic sites include the Vasa Museum, home to the 17th-century royal warship of the same name; Hallwylska Museet, where Dutch and Flemish paintings are on display; and Skansen, on Djurgarden island, the largest and oldest outdoor folk museum in the world.
Need more time? You can extend your stay for about $80 per person per night.
For more on tips on what to see and do, visit the websites of the Stockholm Visitors Board and Sweden's tourism office.
The nights are long and temperatures chilly, with average temperatures of 36 degrees Fahrenheit in December. Before you go, check the , the exchange rate, and the local time at BudgetTravel.com.
This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.