The Real Deal Round-trip international airfare, a local flight, 15 nights' accommodations, and no single supplement, from $1,795 per person—plus taxes of $90-$150, depending on departure city.

When May 10, 11, 18, 20, 25, 27, 31, 2009; add $100 for Apr. 6, 8, 13, 20, 22; $300 for Mar. 6, 9, 11, 13, 18, 30; $400 for Feb. 3, 4, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28; $500 for Jan. 8, 12, 23, 25, 28.

Napamaytanidol Chedi, a monument at Doi Inthanon National Park (Gavriel Jecan/Photodisc) [enlarge photo]

Gateways L.A., San Francisco, Seattle; add $100 for Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, San Diego, and Tucson; additional gateways are available.

The Fine Print Included are hotel taxes, 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 10 dinners, a local flight, 16 tours and activities, the services of an English-speaking OAT trip leader, and baggage handling and tips for one piece of luggage per person. You'll also receive a 5 percent credit toward your next OAT trip. Airport taxes and charges are an additional $90-$150, depending on departure city. Based on double occupancy; no single supplement. To enter Thailand for this package, a U.S. citizen must have a passport but does not need a visa. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By Dec. 5, 2008; rates will be slightly higher after that date.

Contact Overseas Adventure Travel, 800/873-5628, oattravel.com.

Why It's a Deal According to a recent Kayak search, the lowest round-trip airfare between L.A. and Bangkok is $1,077 for a flight departing May 13 (Asiana). For an additional $808, the OAT package covers round-trip international airfare, a local flight, accommodations, most meals, some activities, the services of an English-speaking tour guide, and taxes. OAT estimates that the starting rate offers savings of about $500 per person compared to the company's standard rates for this trip.

Trip Details The Discover Thailand package includes round-trip airfare on Northwest or United, a local flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on Nok Air, and 15 nights' accommodations split between Bangkok and five other destinations along the tour. Groups are small—typically no larger than 16 people.

Upon your arrival in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, you'll be met by your group leader and transferred to your hotel, which will likely be the Grand China Princess, the Tawana Bangkok, or a similar hotel.

Stay three nights in Bangkok. Take the included trip to the floral market Pak Khlong Talat, followed by a motorboat ride along twisting waterways and concluding with a visit to the Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun), a cooking demonstration at a Thai home, and an afternoon visit to the Royal Barges Museum, which houses ceremonial riverboats.

An optional tour covers Bangkok's major attractions, such as Wat Traimit (the temple housing the world's largest golden Buddha), a traditional market in Chinatown, and Wat Po (Bangkok's oldest temple)—plus lunch and other stops—for an additional $70 per person.

After leaving Bangkok, you'll visit the famous floating market, Damnern Saduak, which will inspire you to snap some photographs. Then you'll head to the World War II railway infamously built by Allied prisoners of war and Asian conscripts. You'll explore the lush countryside, cross the bridge over the River Kwai, and make a stop at Kanchanaburi's war cemetery and museum to learn more about the region's World War II history.