Deals

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday August 16, 2008

David Adams

La dolce villa

Spend a week in an Italian villa for 25 per cent less than the standard cost. Italian Villa Vacations is discounting stays at La Novellina (pictured) in the heart of the Chianti region for the rest of 2008. Discounted weekly prices begin at $3860 in the five-bedroom property, which sleeps up to nine. Phone Jane Black on 0402 552 607 or see italianvillavacations.com.au.

See the Alice

All Seasons Oasis Hotel in Alice Springs has Town Like Alice packages, which include two nights' accommodation with continental breakfast and a half-day West MacDonnell Ranges tour and a hop-on, hop-off tour of the town. Priced at $318 a couple. Valid until September 30. Phone (08) 8952 1444 or see allseasons.com.au or accorhotels.com.au.

Canberra offer

Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort in Canberra is offering almost 60 per cent off its bed-and-breakfast deal. Priced at $129 a night (was $295), the package includes a night's accommodation for two adults and a full buffet breakfast at Cafe Munch. For travel until October 12. See totaltravel.com.

Cook Islands packages

Coral Seas Travel has a $500 saving when taking a friend on an escape to the Cook Islands. Packages include return air fares and seven nights' accommodation. Prices start at $3449 for the first adult and $2949 for the second ex Melbourne and $3399-$2899 ex Sydney if booked by August 29. For travel between November 1 and December 14 or January 11 and March 31. Phone 1800 641 803 or see www.coralseas.com.au.

Winter in NZ

Take in the powder snow at Queenstown, New Zealand, with a deal from STA Travel. It has packages including return flights to Christchurch with Air New Zealand, seven nights at the Mercure Resort, seven days' car rental, an eight-day lift pass as well as extras such as on-mountain coffee. Priced from $1359 a person ex Melbourne or $1379 a person ex Sydney. For sale until September 30. Phone 134 782 or see statravel.com.au.

Safari selection

Acacia is taking 15 per cent off selected 2008 African safaris (pictured). Booked through Adventure World, the discounted overland safaris include an 18-night South West Safari - taking in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana - priced at a discounted $931 (plus local payment of $US250). Must be booked and deposit paid by September 30. Phone 1300 651 583 or see www.adventureworld .com.au.

Canadian snow tour

Enjoy a week in the snow in British Columbia, Canada. Value Tours has packages including seven nights at Whitefoot Lodge, Big White, and a six-day dual-mountain lift pass. Priced from $599 a person, twin share. International air fares not included. For travel between January 3 and February 5. Phone 1300 361 322 or see valuetours.com.au.

Mali desert festival

Experience Mali's Festival of the Desert. Student Flights has packages including 13 nights' accommodation and the chance to experience the three-day festival and other West African highlights such as Timbuktu, Djenne, Dogon and the Tellem cave dwellings. Priced from $2275 a person, twin share, plus a EUR500 ($845) local payment and EUR200 festival permit. Does not include international air fares. Phone 1300 554 175 or see studentflights.com.au.

Tasmania gourmet travel

APT is offering savings of between $175 and $200 a person on its gourmet adventurer tours of Tasmania. The discounts apply to all 2008 and 2009 departures of the eight-, nine- or 10-day package for bookings made before October 31. Discounted prices are from $3595 a person, twin share, for the 10-day package, from $3380 for nine days, and from $3120 for eight days. Phone 1300 656 985 or see aptouring.com.au.

Explore Africa

Save a third on south and east African safaris leaving in August and September. Tucan Travel has a 30 per cent discount on tours, including the 49-day Nairobi to Cape Town African explorer. Priced at a discounted $1596 a person plus contribution to a local fund of $US710 ($800). Deposit must be paid by August 31. Phone 1300 769 249 or see www.tucantravel.com.

Croajingolong ecotours

Book before August 20 and save 15 per cent on a seven-day ecotour of Victoria's Croajingolong National Park. Gippsland High Country Tours has discounts on tours leaving on September 29 and October 13. Usually priced at $1970 ex Melbourne or $1880 ex Bairnsdale, the tour takes in beaches and coastal heaths and includes six nights' accommodation, with three in cottages at the Point Hicks Lighthouse. Phone (03) 5157 5556 or email jennyghct @netspace.net.au.

14-day tour of Egypt

Book and pay a deposit before the end of August and save $50 on a tour of Egypt. The 14-day tour from Ocean Grove Travel includes three nights in Cairo, a night at Aswan and another at Luxor, two nights on a Nile cruise and a one-night safari to Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery. Normally priced from $999 a person, twin share, ex Cairo. Phone (03) 5255 4422.

Falls Creek break

Hit the ski slopes with a four-day deal at Falls Creek. The package includes four nights' apartment-style accommodation in a three-bedroom (eight share) apartment plus a four-day lift pass and four days' ski or board rental. Priced from $830 an adult or $609 a child (six to 14 years). Valid between August 24-30. Phone the Falls Creek Reservation Centre on 1800 453 525.

'Free' air fare

Fly free to New Zealand (and back) when booking an 18-day tour of New Zealand's railways. Evergreen Tours is offering the deal for bookings of its NZ Grand Rail Discovery tour made before August 23. The tour includes six rail journeys as well as visits to Milford Sound and the Bay of Islands. Priced from $4095 a person (includes free return flights plus taxes). For travel until May 31, 2009. Phone 1300 364 414 or see www.ever greentours.com.

Spiritual Japanese journey

Join writer Stephanie Dowrick on a 10-day spiritual retreat to the Japanese town of Koya-San. The University of Sydney is offering the land-only tour from October 24 to November 2 during which participants will stay in an historic temple and experience a range of workshops and excursions. Priced at $4650 a person, based on shared accommodation (single supplement applies). Phone Mark Lalor on 9036 4765 or email m.lalor@usyd.edu.au.

Send deals to travellerdeals@fairfax.com.au.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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