The real deal: Round-trip airfare on British Airways to Mauritius via London, five nights at the luxurious beachfront Le Canonnier Hotel, breakfast and dinner daily, round-trip airport-hotel transfers, a half-day tour of the island, a document wallet and bag tags from United Travel Group, and hotel taxes, from $2,195 per person—plus estimated departure taxes and fuel surcharges of $769.
When: Nov. 1–Dec. 10, 2009, Jan. 11–March 28, 2010; add $200 for May 1–22, Sept. 4–30; $400 for March 29–April 30, Oct. 1–30; $500 for May 23–Sept. 3; $800 for Dec. 11, 2009–Jan. 10, 2010.
Gateways: New York City; add $115 for Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Miami; $225 for Denver, L.A., Seattle; additional gateways available.
The fine print: Departure taxes and fees are about $190 per person; fuel surcharges are an additional $579. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $800. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: United Travel Group, 800/223-6486, unitedtravelgroup.com.
Why it's a deal: According to a recent search on Kayak, the lowest round-trip fare between New York City and Mauritius is $1,879 with taxes for travel in mid-November (Emirates). Rates at Le Canonnier start at about $200 per person per night, which would come to $1,000 for a five-night stay. For an extra $85 per person, by booking the United Travel Group's Romance in Mauritius package, you get airfare and accommodations, plus breakfast and dinner daily, airport-hotel transfers, a sightseeing tour, all taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges, and a wallet and bag tags.
More: Additional nights in Mauritius are approximately $215 per person per night. Add $300 per person to upgrade to the Sands Resort & Spa Mauritius or $1,100 per person to upgrade to the Shandrani Resort & Spa Mauritius.