The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on an Air France, Aer Lingus, or Delta carrier to Dublin, four nights' accommodations, full Irish breakfast daily, fuel surcharges, and hotel taxes, from $399 per person—plus estimated taxes and fees of $140.
When: Nov. 1, 2009–March 31, 2010; add $100 through Oct. 31, 2009.
Gateways: New York; add $30 for Boston; $60 for Chicago, D.C.; $230 for San Francisco; flights from other cities are available at a higher rate.
The fine print: Additional taxes and fees can range from $98 to $175 per person, depending on the airline, but the average cost is $140. Airport-hotel transfers are not included, so your best bet is to take a bus (about $4 per person each way) or cab (about $21 per person each way). Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $200. A $25 concierge fee will apply to all bookings made through the call center. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Sceptre Tours, 800/221-0924, sceptretours.com.
Why it's a deal: According to a recent search on Kayak, the lowest round-trip fare between New York and Dublin is $516 with taxes for travel in early November (Delta). For an additional $23, this Sceptre Tours package covers airfare as well as four nights' accommodations, breakfast daily, and all taxes.
Lodging: Four nights at the 280-room Regency Dublin Hotel, less than two miles from the city center and about a 10-minute walk from Croke Park Stadium. Guests can work up a sweat at the fully equipped gym, swim a few laps in the pool, or relax in the Jacuzzi.
At the end of a long day of sightseeing, grab a nightcap at the on-site Appian Lounge before retiring to your room for a good night's sleep. Upgrade your accommodations to four nights at the posh 304-room Maldron Hotel Cardiff Lane for an additional $50 per person.
More: No activities are included in the package rate. Optional activities available through Sceptre Tours include visits to the Jameson Distillery (about $15 per person), the Guinness Storehouse (about $20 per person), and Trinity College (about $10 per person). Need more time to explore Ireland? Additional nights at the Regency are $50 per person.
Before you go: The weather from November through March tends to be rainy and cool, with average temperatures of 45 to 50 degrees. Note that there are lots of sales held each November.