Hot deals: Get in quick and you could be spending Christmas in Europe

Under $1900

A Christmas special to Europe - with a choice of destinations including London or Birmingham, Moscow or Rome - costs $1898 return. But you must fly out of New Zealand by December 31 and book by December 10.

The maximum stay away is six months.

Airport taxes are not included.

Contact: Destinations Unlimited (09) 4141680 or email eTravelNZ (link below)

Return flights to Milan, Italy - with a four-night stopover in Singapore or Bangkok - cost $1899 a person (twin-share). Available until December 15 and travel must be taken between February 1 and March 31. Accommodation in Milan, airport taxes, insurance and other surcharges are not included.

Contact: Flight Centre, 0800 354 448.

Under $110 - for two

A weekend in Waitangi in the Bay of Islands is good value at the seaside Copthorne Hotel where a room has been slashed from $224 to $109 a night.

The tariff for two includes a bottle of bubbly plus two tropical breakfasts.

Contact: Wotif call centre, freephone 0800 441 092 or book through the web link provided below.


Under $890

A four-night "short break" to Melbourne costs $889 a person, staying in an executive room at the Mercure Grand Hotel.

A shopping tour includes up to 12 different factory and warehouse shops plus lunch. The weekend package takes in a tour of the Macedon Ranges, the Hanging Rock Discovery Centre and the spa-town of Daylesford where you'll visit a French Provencal-style lavender farm, and soak in the pools at Hepburn Spa.

Another day is set aside for a tour in the wine-drenched Yarra Valley.

This package is available for travel before December 14, or next year between January 11 and March 31. Closeout dates will apply for special events. It must be bought before December 20.

A four-night package is also available that includes daily admission to the Melbourne Grand Prix early in March. This package costs from $1168 from Auckland or Christchurch to Melbourne on Emirates.

Accommodation is at the Mercure Hotel Welcome in a standard room. Taxes and other surcharges are not included.

Contact: House of Travel, freephone 0800 838 747.