BudgetTravel

The Real Deal: Roundtrip airfare and two nights' accommodations at your choice of hotels in New York City starting at $302

When: Jul. 28-Aug. 6, 2005 (returning no later than Aug. 9, 2005)

Gateways: Cleveland from $302; Washington, D.C. from $312; Fort Lauderdale from $316; Boston from $348; Chicago from $385; Las Vegas from $419; Los Angeles from $491 (many other cities available)

Details: Prices are per person based on double occupancy and they depend on the date of departure. (Departing on Sat., Aug. 6 and returning on Mon., Aug. 8 seems to be the overall lowest-priced option from any of the participating gateways.) Taxes and fees are included.

Book By: Aug. 6, 2005

Contact: eLeisureLink, eLeisureLink.com

The package includes two nights in a superior room with a king-size bed at the three-star European-style Swisshotel Drake on Park Avenue and 56th Street, blocks away from Central Park and shopping on Madison Avenue. Upgrades to deluxe rooms are available for an additional $13 and $27 for an executive room. Upgrades to other three- and four-star hotels are offered for an additional $22 and up. Click here for a sample of available hotel options.

To offer some perspective on the value of the deal, roundtrip airfare to New York starts from $242 (American) from Cleveland, $214 (United) from Chicago and $275 (ATA) from Los Angeles at the beginning of August.

For more on New York City, download our Snap Guide: a mini-guide to New York City hotels, restaurants, and shopping.