Book by: ASAP
Travel by: Various through March 2008
The deal
Temperatures may be way below zero in Scandinavia during the winter months but the prices reflect that. In fact, if you pack well and head to this scenic Northern European region through March, you can save serious dollars on trips we found: Choose between an air and hotel-inclusive package to Copenhagen and Helsinki for $949, or a Sweden fly & drive for just $689. If you can’t bear the freezing weather, we also found a great-value summer package with a unique itinerary along the ancient King’s Road through Finland and Sweden, for $2,449.
Copenhagen & Helsinki for $949
To see Denmark’s stylish capital of Copenhagen as well as Helsinki, Finland’s charming capital, in one fell swoop, we recommend the Virgin Vacations special we found. This two-country package costs $949 for a six-night stay, with all airfare and lodging. Three nights’ accommodation is included in each city, at three-star properties with convenient locations and daily continental breakfast. The air covered is for both the transatlantic portion and the flight between the two destinations. This low price is good for travel through March 20. After this date, it starts to climb and reaches $1,949 for summer dates.
Sweden fly & drive deal for $689
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to hit the open roads of Sweden this winter, Virgin Vacations has just the right deal for you. For a mere $689, you can book your transatlantic flight and a seven-day Hertz car rental with unlimited mileage. Accommodation is not included in this price but the deal is still unbeatable, if you take into account the hefty prices of airfare to Stockholm and pricey car rental once you get there. This low cost is valid for departures through March 20 and increases as time goes by. Later trips run up to $1,049 — a noticeable price difference of $360!
Travel the King’s Road for $2,449
If you’d rather wait for warmer weather, we have an ideal Scandinavia summer package. With this tour, you’ll follow the ancient route of the King’s Road through Finland and Sweden, used by kings and their messengers since the 13th century. Valid for June–September departures, this special is priced at $2,449. What may seem like a premium at first gets you: airfare to Helsinki and back from Stockholm (in itself priced at least $1,200 in summer months), seven night’s lodging with breakfast, and a variety of tours, including an overnight cruise from Turku, Finland’s oldest town, to Stockholm.
The dollars
The rates above are listed per person, based on double occupancy. The first two packages — the Copenhagen and Helsinki combination and the Sweden fly & drive — are flat-out cheap, due to their low-season departure dates. The prices listed can hardly cover the off-peak airfare to these cities, let alone lodging and/or car rental. The summer package outlined above is great-value due to its variety of inclusions and the fact it’s good for travel at the height of the tourist season.
The catch
Get braced for freezing temperatures — or sit still until June!
is a guide to top travel deals and destinations. Sign up for Sherman's Top 25 e-newsletter which features the best editor-screened deals from hundreds of travel providers and is delivered to over 4 million subscribers, free, each week. ShermansTravel also publishes trip ideas and travel features to inspire, guide, and go.