Europe: Escape to London and Paris with hotel and air package

London will be rocking this summer, and Paris is always abuzz, but in the spring or fall? You get to see a city as a truer version of itself. This deal from Gate 1 gives you both cities at a good price.

The deal: Gate1 Travel has an Eight Day London & Paris by Rail package priced from $1,479 (based on double occupancy and New York departures) that includes roundtrip coach air (including taxes and fuel surcharges); six nights’ accommodations in a mid-range property; breakfast daily;
train transportation from London to Paris through the Chunnel. Tours and upgrades can be added at extra cost.

When: Departures April 1-Oct. 22.

Caveat: This deal requires Instant Purchase Air that is non-refundable and there is a minimum $200 penalty for any airfare changes (plus any extra cost for new flights). At time of booking, airfare must be paid in full along with a $100 non-refundable deposit per person on the land package. Note: Gate 1 says airfare fluctuates daily, so prices vary. Full payment is due 45 days before departure (so any spring bookings would need to be immediately paid in full and are non-refundable).

Tested: I tested the deal online and by phone; phone was easier for me. The lowest package prices are in April, September and October. When I tested the package for an April 23 departure from Los Angeles, the package cost $1,489 per person (from New York) plus a $91 air supplement from LAX (with connecting service on US Airways) for a total of $3,160 for two people. When I checked online, nonstop service from LAX to Heathrow on American with a return flight on Iberia (connecting through Madrid) only slightly increased the airfare price, so you may want to ask about nonstop flight options.

Info: Gate1 Travel, (800) 682-3333.