The Real Deal Round-trip airfare, five nights' accommodations, and transfers, from $1,199 per person—plus taxes of about $195 per person.

When Nov. 1-12, 2008; add $100 for Jan. 7-12, 2009; $200 for Nov. 13-30, 2008, Jan 13-31, Feb. 1-28, 2009; $300 for Dec. 1-26, 2008, Mar. 1-31, Apr. 1-6, 15-30, 2009; $400 for Dec. 27-31, 2008, Jan. 1-6, Apr. 7-14, 2009; $500 for Sept. 1-Oct. 31; and $800 for Aug. 1-31, 2008.

Marsamxett Harbour, Valletta, Malta (Nicholas Pitt/Getty) [enlarge photo]

Gateways Boston, New York City, and D.C.; add $50 for Chicago, L.A., Miami, and San Francisco; $65 for Orlando; $225 for Chicago, L.A., Miami and San Francisco departing on Dec. 15-24, 2008.

The Fine Print Breakfast daily, hotel taxes, fuel surcharges, and round-trip transfers are included. Airport taxes and fees are an additional $195 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $229. Note that this is package number 30. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By No deadline; based on availability.

Contact Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, foreign-independent-tours.com.

Why It's a Deal According to a recent search on Kayak, the lowest round-trip fares to Malta for departures in early November start at $1,024 from Boston (Alitalia), $1,034 from New York City (multiple carriers), and $1,135 from D.C. (multiple carriers). For an additional $360-$370 per person, FIT covers round-trip airfare, five nights' accommodations, fuel surcharges, transfers, and all airport and hotel taxes.

Trip Details The Malta Ala Carte package includes round-trip airfare on Virgin and Air Malta carriers. If Virgin is not available, other airline options include British Air, Lufthansa, and Northwest. Keep in mind that the cost of the package may change depending on which airline you're flying.

Upon arrival in Malta, you'll be transferred to the 120-room Victoria Hotel Sliema, your home for five nights. Mahogany furniture, cool blue tones, and the fireplace and chesterfield sofas in the lobby create an air of old-fashioned Victorian-style elegance. Yet the boutique hotel also has up-to-date amenities like satellite television, high-speed Internet connections, and air conditioning.

Guests can lounge by the terrace pool—sun beds and towels are complimentary—or grab a bite to eat at the pool snack bar. For dinner, you can check out the on-site dining options: The Copperfield Restaurant, serving food buffet-style or a la carte, and the Sir Walter Scott Terrace, popular for its al fresco dining accompanied by live music. If you just want to grab a drink, pop in at the Penny Black Lounge, where you can choose from a selection of cocktails or English teas.

Located on a quiet street in the heart of the town of Sliema on the northeast coast of Malta, the hotel is a five-minute walk to the seafront promenade and not too far from some of the island's most popular restaurants and nightspots.

The Maltese archipelago is made up of Malta and the nearby smaller islands of Comino and Gozo. The islands have been inhabited since Neolithic times, and the stone temples that still stand at places like Tarxien, Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, and Gozo are some of the world's oldest freestanding monuments.