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EUROPE

DEAL OF THE MONTH!

Be a Fjord Explorer
Summer is an ideal season to visit Norway: Not only is the weather at its finest, but the daylight hours extend far into the evening, so you can see more of the dramatic country, especially the famous fjords. Gate 1 Travel's eight-day tour starts in Oslo and visits the city of Bergen, the former Olympic town of Lillehammer, and the village of Borgund (to view the country's best-preserved stave church). Of course, there's abundant natural beauty, as well: One day of the tour takes advantage of all that daylight with a scenic ride on the Flåm Railway (from which you can admire Aurland Fjord and snowcapped mountains in the distance) and a three-hour cruise along Sogne Fjord.

Norway Tour from $2,029
Air from New York and an eight-day tour round trip from Oslo with transportation, six nights' lodging (two each in Oslo and Bergen, one each in Laerdal and Lillehammer), breakfasts, and more. When: May 3 ($2,029); May 17 ($2,089); May 31 ($2,429); June 28, July 12, July 26, Aug. 23 (from $2,379). Other Gateways: Chicago (add $69), Boston (add $97), Houston (add $151), D.C. (add $158), Denver (add $195). SS: $340. Information: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Family Planning
Would your family rather explore or play at the beach? Either way, these companies have already done the planning for you.

Britain & Ireland Escorted Tour from $2,175
An 11-day tour round trip from London with local transportation; nine nights' lodging; stops including York, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bath, Belfast, Waterford, Dublin; and more. Kids 5–17 get 10 percent off. Airfare isn't covered. When: Thursday and Friday departures May 1–Oct. 24. SS: $525. Information: Trafalgar Tours, 866/544-4434, trafalgar.com.

Germany from $1,999
British Airways flights from New York to Munich, a two-week car rental, and 14 nights in an apartment within a 14th-century castle in the state of Bavaria. You must mention Budget Travel when booking. When: May 7, 21 ($1,999); June 4, 18, July 16, 30 ($2,329). Other Gateways: Chicago (add $127), L.A. (add $270). SS: From $1,290. Information: Untours, 888/868-6871, untours.com.

Greenland Tour from $2,559
An eight-day escorted tour to Sisimiut, Ilulissat, and Kangerlussuaq. The price covers flights within Greenland, seven nights' lodging with breakfasts, a guided cultural tour of Inuit communities on Tele Island, an iceberg boat tour, and a day trip to see musk oxen. International airfare is not included. When: June 26–Aug. 21. SS: $650. Information: Great Canadian Travel Company, 866/949-0131, greatcanadiantravel.com.

Iceland Road Trip from $1,339
An eight-day car rental with unlimited mileage, one-way airport transfer, one night in Reykjavík, seven nights' lodging along the Ring Road around the island, and breakfasts. (Until mid-June, stay in rooms with private bathrooms; in the summer high season, stay in private rooms with shared bathrooms.) The airfare is not covered. You must mention Budget Travel when booking. When: Until June 15 ($1,339); June 16–Aug. 19 ($1,439). SS: From $766. Information: Great Canadian Travel Company, 866/949-0131, greatcanadiantravel.com.

Ireland Tour from $1,149
A seven-day escorted tour round trip from Dublin with two nights' hotel accommodations each in Dublin and Ennis and one each in Killarney and Waterford, local transportation (bus), and some meals. Itinerary includes guided tours of Trinity College, a hand-weaving mill in Avoca, the Waterford Crystal factory, and a Connemara marble factory; afternoon tea at Rathbaun Farm; a drive along the Ring of Kerry; and more. International airfare isn't covered. Book before May 31 and knock off $100 per person. When: Wednesday and Saturday departures May 3–Oct. 25. SS: $222. Information: Globus, 866/313-2855, globusjourneys.com.

Lisbon from$1,149
SATA flights from Boston to Lisbon (via the Azores); six nights at either the Hotel Mundial, near Rossio plaza, or Hotel Açores Lisboa, near Palhava park; and breakfast daily. An additional three-night stopover with hotel accommodations in São Miguel, Azores, costs from $150 more. When Tuesday departures until June 10; Sept. 9-Oct. 28. Other Gateways None. SS $240. Information: Azores Express, 800/762-9995, azores-express.com.

London & Paris from $1,049
Air from New York, three nights in London at My Place Hotel in Earl's Court, an onward flight to Paris, three nights in the Comfort Hotel Gare de L'Est in the 10th arrondissement, and breakfasts. When: May 1–15 ($1,049); May 16–July 6 ($1,399); July 7–Aug. 25 ($1,349). Other Gateways Boston (add $30); Philadelphia (add $70); Baltimore, D.C. (add $120); L.A. (add $160); Chicago (add $170); San Francisco (add $190). SS: $270. Information: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

Rome & Chianti from $1,699
Alitalia flights from New York to Florence (returning from Rome), a three-day car rental, three nights in Chianti at the Castellare de'Noveschi with a hydro massage, two nights in Rome at the River Palace Hotel, and breakfasts. When: May 1–9 ($1,699); May 10–15 ($1,799); May 16–31 ($2,099); June 1–15 ($2,299); June 16–July 14 ($2,499); July 15–31 ($2,399). Other Gateways: None. SS: $999. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Turkey Tour from $899
A 10-day escorted tour round trip from Istanbul with nine nights' hotel accommodations, transfers and local transportation (bus), entrance fees and guides, breakfasts, and six dinners. Itinerary stops include Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Ephesus, and Çanakkale. Airfare isn't included. When: Friday departures May 9–June 20; July 4, 18; Aug. 1, 15; Aug. 29–Oct. 24; Nov. 7, 14. SS: $350. Information: TourCrafters, 800/482-5995, tourcrafters.com.

THIS MONTH'S READER REPORT

Rome Is for Romance
"Actually, I'm not positive that our exact trip was included in 40 Best Deals," says Kim McMunn, of Dayton, Ind. "But the company has been." Kim and her husband, Tom Vandenberg, used Gate 1 Travel for their honeymoon in Italy. "The whole trip was fantastic!" she says. "We were on our own, but since we'd booked a number of tours through Gate 1, we kept bumping into other couples who had done the same thing. It was as if we knew people everywhere we went!" Gate 1's eight-day Italy tour with airfare starts at $1,859 (800/682-3333, gate1travel.com).