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Top travel deals this week

By Carol Sottili | The Washington Post

11:28 AM EDT, April 7, 2008

The iconic Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles.

Getting a glimpse of Hollywood doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Should you want to stroll down Sunset Boulevard, you can do so for a fairly reasonable price. Hey, you never know, it could be the start of a glamorous new career.

LOS ANGELES

Air Virgin America is offering deals on round-trip flights from JFK to Los Angeles' LAX. Airfare is $398. A 14-day advance purchase is required. For info: 877-359-8474 www.virginamerica.com
Hotel Howard Johnson at LAX Airport, at the very least, is reliable, and probably the best bet if you plan to spend less than $100 per night on room and board. It is conveniently 5 minutes from the airport, and not far from Universal Studios, Disneyland and Six Flags Magic Mountain. Prices start at $70 per night. Info: www.lastminutetravel.com

Hotel + entertainment Planning a family vacation in LA? Universal Studios Hollywood is offering a two days for the price of one deal for a limited time. The special is an online-only deal, and is valid for two visits within any 3-day period between now and December 31. Admission is $64.99 for adults, $54.99 for children. Info: www.universalstudios.com

ST THOMAS

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is offering special rates during Carnival (April 6 through April 26). Daily room rates are discounted by 20 percent, now starting at $240 (plus 15 percent tax and service charges, and $5 per-day energy surcharge). All-inclusive stays are discounted by 10 percent. Info: 800-524-4746, www.bolongobay.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

Myrtle Beach: A Family Spring Fling package at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is available through April 30. For $697, including $99 taxes, a family of four receives a two-bedroom suite for two nights, breakfast, four tickets to Brookgreen Gardens and four tickets to a choice of attractions, including NASCAR SpeedPark. Priced separately, the deal would cost about $870. Two-night minimum required. Info: 877-913-1333, marinainnatgrandedunes.

CRUISE

Celebrity Cruises is offering shipboard credits of $200 per cabin on all European cruise tours in 2008, and $300 per cabin on seven South America and 12 Australia/New Zealand cruise tours in 2008 and 2009. Prices vary by itinerary. For example, a 14-night Mediterranean tour, which includes three nights' hotel in Rome and Florence and an 11-night cruise round trip from Rome departing Nov. 21, starts at $6,134 per couple, including taxes and fuel surcharges. Book by April 30. Info: 800-647-2251, www.celebritycruises.com

FOREVER RESORTS

Rent a 59-foot deluxe houseboat (sleeps 10) for five days from Forever Resorts at a discounted rate of $1,195 (plus 7.75 percent sales tax and $500 refundable security deposit), a savings of $1,600 to $2,000. Deal is good through Dec. 31 at lake destinations in Arizona, Nevada, California and Missouri. Book by April 30. Info: 800-255-5561, www.foreverhouseboats.com

CRUISES

Cruise Holidays of Alexandria, Va., is offering $300 per-person discounts, plus $300 per-cabin shipboard credits, on the Jan. 7 Oceania Cruises' Nautica voyage from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand. After discount, the 15-night cruise starts at $4,299 per person double (plus $390 port charges and ship fuel surcharge, and $425 air taxes and air fuel surcharge) and includes round-trip airfare from JFK and Newark. Info: 866-368-7327, www.yourcruisesource.com Expedia

EXPEDIA

Expedia is holding a Tax Rebate Incentive sale, offering $200 savings on spring trips to U.S. cities and hotel discounts of up to 30 percent. Book by April 21, and travel by May 31. Log in at www.expedia.com and request code TAX200 to receive the discount; trip must cost at least $1,800 per booking, with a five-night minimum stay. Info: 800-551-2534

Deals subject to change