The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, six nights' accommodations, airport-hotel transfers, and breakfast daily, from $863 per person — plus taxes of about $160.
When: Return by December 9, 2007.
Book by: Up to three days prior to departure, rolling deadline.
The fine print: The package price includes round-trip airfare, intercity air transportation, daily breakfast, and airport/hotel transfers. Additional airport taxes are $160 per person. Based on double occupancy; the single supplement is $378. U.S. citizens must obtain a visa prior to arrival; the fee is a $100. Contact your nearest Brazilian consulate. For general guidelines on evaluating deals, click here.
Gateways: Miami, New York City. Add $210 for Boston; $220 for Atlanta, Philadelphia; $300 for Dallas; $360 for Denver, L.A.; additional cities available.
Contact: TAM vacations, 305/455-4200, tamvacations.net
Why it's a deal: A recent search on Kayak yielded a lowest round-trip fare between New York City and Rio de Janeiro of $847 (Copa Panama Airlines) in late November. For only $16 more, this package includes six nights' hotel accommodations with airfare, airport-hotel transfers, daily breakfast, and round-trip flights between Rio and Salvador.
Trip details: This package includes round-trip economy class airfare on TAM airlines, air-hotel transfers, daily breakfast, and six nights' accommodations. After landing in Rio de Janeiro, unpack your bags at the 69-room Lancaster Othon Hotel. It's located on world-famous Copacabana beach, where you can join the bronzed masses and peek at the teeny-tiny bikinis. For tips on finding the perfect Brazilian bikini, read our article, How to Buy a Bikini in Rio.
In addition to building up a base tan, you may want to take an optional one-day sightseeing tour of the towering Christ the Reedemer statue on Corcovado Mountain or a scenic cable-car ride up to the Sugar Loaf, a granite rock formation that offers a sweeping panorama of the city and nearby Guanabara Bay. TAM offers a one-day tour of both spots, including lunch, for an additional $82 per person.
On day three, you'll hop on a two-and-a-half-hour flight on TAM airlines to Salvador da Bahia. Check into the Golden Park Hotel and explore the historic colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brazil's third-largest city has an unmistakable African element, visible in the rhythmic Brazilian martial arts dance called the capoeira. An optional city tour is also offered for $161.
After three nights in Salvador, you'll catch a transfer to the airport and head back to the United States on TAM airlines.
You can extend your trip for $49 per person per night in Rio de Janeiro and for $35 per person per night in Salvador. You can upgrade to a four-star hotel for an additional $220.
Before you go, check the weather forecast, the exchange rate, and the local time at BudgetTravel.com.