The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on LAN, four nights' accommodations, transfers, breakfast daily, a sightseeing tour, and hotel taxes and service charges, from $669 per person — plus about $35 in taxes and fees.
When: Through May 31, 2009; add $40 for June 1–June 10, Aug. 10–Nov. 30; add $200 for June 15–Aug. 5, Dec. 5–Dec. 12.
Gateways: Miami; add $100 for New York City.
The fine print: Does not include about $35 per person in airport taxes and fees. Based on double occupancy; single supplement starts at $120. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: Feb. 12, 2009.
Contact: LAN Vacations, 800/435-3593, lanvacations.com.
Why it's a deal: In a recent Kayak search, we found a $418 round-trip fare for Miami to Quito in mid-February (LAN). The hotel would cost about $156 per person for a four-night stay. So, you could expect to pay about $574 per person when booking independently. For $130 more, LAN Vacations books these elements for you in one step, plus covers private airport-hotel transfers, a sightseeing tour of Quito, and all airport and hotel taxes.
Lodging: Your base for the four-night stay will be the Hostal de La Rábida. All 11 rooms at this bed-and-breakfast have private bathrooms, complimentary bottled water, flowers, and chocolates. There's also a small library and a garden.
Included: Tour Highlights On the Quito and the Middle of the World sightseeing tour, you'll see the Parliament building, temples and churches, the cathedral, and Independence Plaza in downtown. You'll also stop at the Equatorial Monument, which marks the latitude of 0 degrees (or the middle of the world).
More: There are hotel upgrades available: Add $50 per person for the Grand Hotel Mercure Quito; $70 for the Dann Carlton Quito; $110 for Mansion del Àngel, Hotel Patio Andaluz, or the Hilton Colon Quito; $280 for the JW Marriott Hotel Quito; or $350 for the Swissotel Quito.
Before you go: U.S. citizens will need a valid passport for travel; a visa is not required. High temperatures in Quito are in the mid-60s Fahrenheit year-round (with lows in the upper 40s). There are usually short showers in the afternoon. Read more about Quito on the U.S. state department's travel fact sheet or on Quito's official tourism site.
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