TOURS & CRUISES

VENTURA

Shop along the coast

Enjoy the Ventura coastline and discounted room rates while whittling down your holiday shopping list with the Crowne Plaza’s “Shop and Stay” package.

Dates: Through Jan. 31.

Price: From $169 per night, double occupancy, including Wi-Fi, use of 24-hour business and fitness centers, a $50 Camarillo Premium Outlets gift card (one per booking) and a Camarillo Premium Outlets coupon book (one per booking). Taxes and parking fees ($10) are not included.

Info: Crowne Plaza; (877) 227-6963, www.crowneplaza.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Bird-watching tour

Fly to the Dream Inn for its bird-watching package, which provides virtually everything necessary to see some of the world’s freest creatures.

Dates: Through April 30.

Price: Doubles from $418, including two nights’ lodging, a Carson lens cleaner, breakfast-to-go box, the Santa Cruz County Birding and Wildlife Guide and maps. Price excludes tax.

Contact: Dream Inn, Santa Cruz; (866) 774-7735, www.dreaminnsantacruz.com.

AFRICA

South African safari

Pack your camera to shoot world-class game and natural wonders on GAP Adventures’ “Botswana and Vic Falls Safari.” The 11-day sojourn provides a comprehensive Southern Africa experience from land to water.

Itinerary: Johannesburg to Francistown, Nata, Victoria Falls, Kasane, Gweta, the Okavango Delta, Maun and the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.

Dates: Trips offered monthly from April 2009 until April 2010.

Price: $2,004 per person, including Okavango Delta entrance; Khama Rhino Sanctuary entrance; use of an air-conditioned touring vehicle; the services of a tour leader/driver, cook and local guides; lodging and camping fees; 10 breakfasts, nine lunches and seven dinners. Price is land only.

Info: GAP Adventures, Toronto; (800) 708-7761, www.gapadventures.com.

CHINA

Solar eclipse experience

Witness the longest solar eclipse between now and 2032 with the guidance of renowned eclipse expert Jay Pasachoff. Then follow the Silk Road to Tibet.

Itinerary: Hangzhou to Urumqi, Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuang, Xian, Chengdu, Lhasa and Beijing.

Dates: July 19 to Aug. 6.

Price: $3,999, double occupancy (single supplement $1,648), including the services of an eclipse expert, tour manager and English-speaking guide; transportation and transfers; entrance fees; hotel accommodations; 15 breakfasts, nine lunches, seven dinners and special events and local entertainment. Price excludes international airfare, entry visa and gratuities.

Info: A Classic Tours Collection, Redondo Beach; (888) 605-8687, www.aclassictour.com.

ITALY AND GREECE

Greek and Roman history

Cover the beginnings of Western civilization with a trip to Italy and Greece. Go Ahead Tours’ 10-day plan gets you to all the Greek and Roman highlights.

Itinerary: Naples to Sorrento, Capri, Anacapri, Pompeii, Rome, Vatican City, and Athens and Delphi in Greece.

Dates: Trips offered monthly April through December.

Price: From $2,719 per person, double occupancy (single supplement $475), including round-trip airfare from New York, airport transfers, services of a bilingual tour director, a local city guide in select cities, personal audio devices on select tours, entrance fees, hotel stays (including hotel taxes and fees), nine buffet breakfasts, three dinners (including wine or beer), a travel bag and airline fuel surcharges. Price excludes most taxes.

Info: Go Ahead Tours, Cambridge, Mass; (800) 590-1170, www.goaheadtours.com.

-- Avital Binshtock

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