Last minute deals: Slip down to Queenstown

By VICTORIA BARTLE

UNDER $530

Fly from Christchurch to Queenstown, stay for three nights at the Aspen, have four days' car hire and a free lift pass (one to each vehicle) each day to a choice of five ski fields, and you'll pay from $525 a person.

A discount booklet is all part of the package. This package and more expensive versions of it are available for sale and travel until October 15.

Contact: Great Holiday Escape freephone 0800 446 543.

UNDER $1000

Take two nights in Sydney and an evening of cruising jazz from Tony Bennett and kd lang while you sit in the premium concert seats.

The two nights' accommodation at the Barclay, a concert ticket and return airfare with Qantas cost $949 a person. The concert is on October 5.

A small number of concert and travel packages are available.

Contact: Harvey World Travel freephone 0800 427 839.

UNDER $2100

London or Paris - take your pick. For $1799 a person you get return airfares with Qantas (airport taxes not included) to London or Paris, and for an additional $269, two nights' accommodation, a one-way airport transfer and a sightseeing tour.

Valid for travel between September 29 and November 13, this package must be booked and paid for by September 12.

Contact: Destinations Unlimited (09) 4141 680.

UNDER $5000

Return airfares from Auckland for a 20-day adventure in the Indian subcontinent are on sale until September 12 from $4999. Highlights of the India and Nepal tour include the Taj Mahal, Delhi, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jaipur and Varanasi and Kathmandu, Nepal.

Contact: Melissa at Lion World Travel (09) 308 8096,

Email: * melissa.holmwood@lionworld.co.nz