Hot deals: Cheapest 2007 fares to Europe on sale

Under $2300

Some of the best airfares, tours and accommodation deals for travel to Britain and Europe are available, but you have only until the end of this month to book flights for next year.

A six-week sale begins each year around mid-October and includes return earlybird airfares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to Rome, from $2165 each; to Paris from $2215; or to London from $2245.

Flights are with Singapore Airlines and come with a free return flight to Australia or the South Pacific with the airline's Krisflyer member air points, a two-night Singapore stopover and two nights in London, Rome or Paris.

Contact: Flight Centre, freephone 0800 747 474.

Under $250

Stake your claim on a bed in Blenheim if you plan to attend the Wine Marlborough Festival.

Two nights' accommodation at the Vintner's Retreat, nestled in a vineyard in the heart of Blenheim's wine country, is $235 each twin-share, and you'll also receive a ticket to the festival, held over the weekend of February 10-12.

Travel to Blenheim or Nelson can be arranged separately.

Contact: House of Travel, freephone 0800 838 747.

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$150 for two

It's half-price during the week for accommodation at Surfair Apartments on the Sunshine Coast, and 40 per cent comes off the usual rates during the weekends.

You must book for at least two nights to get the discount and the deal is valid until December 15.

The four-star Surfair is right on the beach at Marcoola and has a 60m lagoon pool.

Travellers can book online and order the latest free travel guide from Jasons Travel.

Contact: Jasons Travel media, (09) 912 8400 for the free travel guide or order it at www.jasons.com/orders.

The accommodation at Surfair can be booked online at

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Under $1200

Relax in the exclusive Evason Hua Hin Resort and Six Senses Spa in Thailand for seven nights and pay from $1159 a person, twin-share.

This accommodation deal includes return airfares from Bangkok to Hua Hin.

It also includes transfers to the resort and back, daily breakfast, luxurious bath robes and a candlelit dinner in the resort's restaurant.

Airfares from New Zealand are not part of this package but can easily be arranged with Thai Airways, Emirates or Singapore Airlines.

The resort deal is available for travel until December 20 this year, or between January 9 and March 31 next year.

Contact: Thailand Holidays, (09) 969 9560 or email info@thailandholidays.co.nz

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Five gold coins for five days

One thousand families leapt at the chance to help return stranded motor homes from Christchurch to Auckland.

Lured by a special deal of five days for $1 a day, travellers hit the road north, giving themselves a leisurely self-drive holiday.

Now, another 500 mobile holiday homes are up for grabs - again for five gold coins.

The company that offered the deal, Standby Cars, is now offering the same package for another 500 motor homes, and it includes free Cook Strait ferry passes for the driver and the vehicle.

Contact: email info@standbycars.com Victoria Bartle