Book by: ASAP
Travel by: Various through Feb. 19, 2007
The deal
It isn't often you get a long weekend off from work, so take advantage of the upcoming Presidents' Day holiday on February 19 and hit the road. With the variety of stellar specials we found, you have no excuse for sitting at home on the couch. Visit Europe on an air-land combo for as little as $599, enjoy a tropical getaway in Costa Rica for $639, take a cruise around the Caribbean for $15/night, or enjoy the great powder that's been dumped on the Rocky Mountains with a five-night ski vacation at Colorado's Snowmass from $288/night, lift ticket included.
Europe Flings from $599
If a fun-in-the-sun getaway to southern Spain is what you're longing for, Costa del Sol is where you need to go. Gate1Travel offers an 11-day trip on February 10 for $1299 that includes airfare from New York, a nine-night stay at the first-class Gran Hotel Costa del Sol on La Cala de Mijas resort beach, daily breakfast and dinner with wine, all transfers, and a guided day trip to Malaga – the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. If you'd prefer city-slicking on your European vacation, you're in luck – Gate1Travel also offers great-value trips to Amsterdam, Rome, and more this President's Day from $599, inclusive of a four-night hotel stay, daily breakfast and air.
Cost-Conscious Costa Rica Escape for $639
For a tropical escape this February, we recommend the four-night Costa Rica jaunt also on offer by Gate1Travel. Priced at just $639 for the February 16 departure, this package covers no-frills but adequate and centrally located lodging in the capital city of San Jose, daily breakfast, and roundtrip airfare from Miami. Want to upgrade your digs? Options range from three-star accommodation for $679 to a deluxe hotel stay for $789. Note that this is an independent trip without extras; optional activities range from an afternoon sightseeing tour of the city for $32 to a full-day trip on the rainforest aerial tram, with lunch, for $98.
Caribbean Sailings from only $15/nt
Cruising the Caribbean has never been cheaper – easyCruise is offering rates as low as $15/night on President's Day sailings aboard the newly refurbished easyCruiseOne. Three-night cruises departing on February 16 from Philipsburg, St. Maarten start at $30/night in a twin inside cabin. Outside units on the same sailing go for $38/night; balcony suites sell for $98. The ship calls at St Barths and Anguilla before returning to St Maarten on Monday. Seven-night voyages are also available at a discount, calling at St Kitts, Antigua and Nevis. These are priced from $105/week per person for inside lodging ($133 in an outside cabin). The quoted rates include no food or beverages.
Hit the Slopes for Less in Snowmass, Colo.
If you're idea of a vacation is hitting the slopes, this United Vacations offer for a fantastic five-night ski holiday in Colorado's Snowmass that starts at only $288/night is just the (lift) ticket. The price covers roundtrip airfare from San Francisco to Aspen, five nights at the Silvertree Hotel, and four days of skiing. Departures from other gateways are available at an additional cost. These rates are terrific considering it's the peak of Colorado's ski season, when even the most basic hotels charge a hefty premium and lift tickets break the bank.
The dollars
All package pricing is based on double occupancy and excludes air taxes and fees. See above for details on the cruise.
The catch
You'll have to contend with the usual long-weekend airport crowds.
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