The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on Air Tahiti Nui, seven nights' accommodations, and airport transfers, from $1,605 per person — plus about $79 in airport taxes and fees.
When: Wednesday departures through May 27, 2009.
Gateways: Los Angeles
The fine print: Does not include taxes and fees of about $79 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $295. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Pleasant Holidays, 800/742-9244, pleasantholidays.com.
Why it's a deal: It's certainly possible to book this package independently for less money, especially with airfare rates going down all the time (a recent Kayak search found a $677 round-trip flight between L.A. and Auckland in mid-April on Air New Zealand). But a perk of this package is that you'll be flying on Air Tahiti Nui, which offers personal video systems with movies and games, Polynesian- and French-influenced meals, and a popular 2-4-2 cabin seating design to accommodate families and couples. We found a round-trip fare on Air Tahiti Nui for $1,425 per person in April — way more than the Air New Zealand flights we saw on Kayak.
The hotel will cost about $275 per person for the seven-night stay. So booking independently, you could expect to pay about $1,700. This package, with all taxes included, is $1,684 and includes round-trip airport transfers.
Lodging: Your base for the seven-night stay will be the Mercure Auckland Windsor. The 79-room hotel is located in central Auckland, near the shops and restaurants along Queen Street. Most rooms have a kitchenette (be sure to ask when booking) and there's 24-hour room service, a fitness room, a spa, a sauna, and a restaurant and bar. The Auckland Town Hall, a concert venue, is a short walk away, and the Auckland Zoo, where you can see more than 770 animals, is a short drive away.
More: Add nights from $43 per person.
Before you go: U.S. citizens will need a valid passport for travel; a visa is not required. For more ideas on what to do, visit Auckland's official tourism site.
