The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on Singapore Airlines, four nights' accommodations at the Novotel Moscow Centre Hotel, breakfast daily, transfers, a half-day city tour, fuel surcharges, and hotel taxes and fees, from $1,199 per person—plus about $80 in airport taxes.
When: July 14–Aug. 12, 2009. Add $400 for Aug. 12–Nov. 30.
Gateways: Houston.
The fine print: Does not include about $80 in airport taxes per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $324. Use promo code MOWEXP-SPCP10. Note that the tour operator offers visa assistance for a $50 fee. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Globotours, 800/988-4833, globotours.net.
Why it's a deal: In a recent Kayak search, we found a $978 round-trip flight for travel between Houston and Moscow in mid-July (Singapore Airlines). The hotel would cost about $513 per person for a four-night stay.
So if you booked independently, you could expect to spend about $1,491. Instead, this package costs $1,279 with all taxes—a savings of $212—plus you get a half-day city tour (a nice way to get acclimated) and transfers included.
More: Add nights from $192 per room. There are optional tours available, such as a State Tretyakov Gallery tour for $207 per person and a Kremlin tour for $211 per person.