Hot deals: Luxury break, budget price

By VICTORIA BARTLE


UNDER $190

Two big-city accommodation deals with major price reductions give you the choice of Auckland or Christchurch and a night in luxury. In Auckland, a couple can stay in the 4-star Hilton apartments, over the harbour on Princes Wharf, for $135 a night.

These self-contained studio apartments usually cost $595 a night, and include a full kitchen, laundry facilities and full use of the hotel's gymnasium and swimming pool. A de luxe room at the Heritage Hotel on Christchurch's Cathedral Square costs $135 a night instead of $315. Use of the "Healthclub" is included, and late check-out.

Contact: Wotif, freephone 0800 441 092. Booking on line and booking by calling the service centre will cost you the same price.

On the web: The Christchurch deal or the Auckland deal.

UNDER $2155

Make a trip to California more than just the cliché stay in LA. Three nights in San Diego - and the coach travel to get there and back - is part of a California travel and accommodation package on offer this month, and there's still plenty of time to play at Disneyland in Los Angeles. Return airfares from Auckland, return airport transfers in Los Angeles, five nights' accommodation at Anaheim and return coach travel to San Diego with three nights' accommodation there, is priced from $2154 a person, twin-share. Those travelling from Wellington pay an extra $185 a person, or from Christchurch, $235. Airport taxes, insurances and other surcharges are not included. The package is available for travel this month only. (November 2004)

Contact: Flight Centre, freephone 0800 354 448.

UNDER $1050

Four night packages in Kuala Lumpur, flying direct with Malaysia airlines, are on sale - for Thursday departures only - from $1049 a person, twin-share. If you just can't make Thursday, departures on any other day will cost an extra $120 a person.

Travel must be completed by March 31 next year, and this package must be booked and paid for by Friday next week. (November 12, 2004). The bonus is, the various airline surcharges, fuel levies and taxes, including your departure tax from Auckland Airport, are all included. There are a variety of hotels from which to choose, but availability for this package is slim, as bookings are filling fast. Payment must be by cash, Eftpos or cheque, not credit card.

Contact: Itchyfeet Travel, (09) 353 2626.

UNDER $6230
(For the whole family)

For the first time, P&O Cruises is introducing school holiday cruise departures from Auckland.

The Pacific Sky, which has three different kids' clubs, will be based in New Zealand this coming winter, with two sailings heading out during the July school holidays. There will also be a cruise package with return airfares to Brisbane, transfers, a seven-night cruise and five nights' pre-cruise accommodation on either the Gold or Sunshine Coasts.

From April 23 next year, children under three will be able to travel free when sharing a cabin with two adults on Pacific Sky or Pacific Sun.

The school holiday packages on Pacific Sky are priced from $6225 for a family of four to take a 10-night, four-port South Pacific cruise to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Contact: P&O Cruises, freephone 0800 951 200.

On the web: PO Cruises