Squeezed between the mountains of Spain and France like a tempting pastry filling, micronation Andorra’s 85,000 residents enjoy posh shops, tax-free living and a glitter-frosted ski scene framed by the picture-perfect Pyrenees. Winning independence in 1993, the cozy principality is heavily Catalan, with French and Spanish widely spoken—which means cultural immersion (and great grub) for fleece-clad visitors.

But before lapping escudella soup in a chat-warmed streetside café, you’ll need to plan your passage without eclipsing your wine budget. Lacking its own airport, there are seven in France and Spain within 250 km of Andorra, most with good bus connections. From Toronto, Barcelona’s El Prat provides the best value access with one-stop early December flights on American Airlines starting at $970 return (taxes included) on www.kayak.com. Similar Air Canada services start at $1,200. The airline’s Twitter feed (@ACwebsaver) offers additional sales and discounts, but prices rise sharply after mid-December.

From El Prat, popular Novatel minibuses to capital Andorra la Vella take three hours (www.andorrabybus.com; $70 return). Renting a car instead may seem tempting, but driving—especially parking—in the town is as much fun as a poke in the eye with a sharp ski. Alternatively, stay in Barcelona for most of your vacation and take a long weekend jaunt to the slopes—Direct Bus services from the city centre to Andorra la Vella cost $60 return.

Andorra’s mountain-framed, small-town capital is best navigated on foot: walking from one end to the other takes less than an hour. Aim for a sleepover in the quaint old southern section near the 11th-century Església de Sant Esteve and you’ll soon be wandering antique streets, snapping photos and nipping into enticing stores. Sans sales tax, shopping is a popular pastime, with jewellery a major lure for bling-loving visitors.

Shop around for your accommodation. Rates, usually including breakfast, are attractive during early December’s ski season opening. There are budget-hugging deals at well-located mid-rangers Hotel Acta Florida (doubles from $70), Husa Centric ($100) and the old-school Hotel Pyrenees ($80). For added class—plus sterling mountain views—pony up for the Andorra Park Hotel ($200), where the sauna is an addition that makes ski bruises worthwhile.

Each hotel offers easy slope access via shuttles or proximity to local snowbus stops. Among Andorra’s three ski areas, the largest is 67-lift Grandvalira, six km from town. One-day adult ski passes start at $51, but why not have a lie-in with a cheaper half-day pass (access from 1 p.m.) for $39? Travelling families should hit Naturlandia snow park: along with scenic cross-country terrain, its snowshoeing, ice rinks and rides—including a toboggan-style roller coaster—effortlessly pry kids from their digital devices.

All this activity is a licence to gorge back in town. Budget-wise, fuel up on good-value tapas at rustic-look Papanico or dine higher up the pecking order at Plat’in, a side street find with reasonably priced prix-fixe menus. For dinner, La Borda Pairal 1630 is a centuries-old beam-ceilinged farmhouse that treats carnivores like kings—wash down your suckling pig with a bottle from the superb wine cellar.

But the culinary star is charming El Crostó. Book ahead for a sought-after table at this romantic little nook where the welcoming owner is the menu: he’ll tell you what’s being prepared and brings out the dishes when ready. After spending the evening in his warming embrace, skiing may seem like a secondary Andorran attraction.

Sample budgets for two

7 days on $4,000

Return airfare (Toronto-Barcelona): $1,940, American Airlines

Double-occupancy room for 6 nights, breakfast included: $536, Hotel Pyrenees

Food and drink: $1,300

Transport & Activities: $242 (includes $140 for two return Novatel bus tickets to Andorra la Vella, and $102 for two Grandvalira ski lift passes)

7 days on $5,500

Return airfare (Toronto-Barcelona): $2,400, Air Canada

Double-occupancy hotel room for 6 nights, breakfast included: $1,200, Andorra Park Hotel

Food and drink: $1,550

Transport & Activities: $416 (includes $140 for two return Novatel bus tickets to Andorra la Vella, and $276 for two three-day Grandvalira ski lift passes)

Top value Sleepovers

Andorra Park Hotel

www.andorraparkhotel.com

Hotel Acta Florida

www.hotel-floridaandorra.com

Husa Centric

www.hotelhusacentric.com

Hotel Pyrenees

www.hotelpyrenees.com

Top value dining

Papanico

www.papanico.es

Plat’in

www.plat-in.net

LA Borda Pairal 1630

www.labordapairal1630.com

Follow British-born Vancouver travel writer John Lee on Twitter: @johnleewriter

But before topping up your tan on the Mediterranean’s largest island—where seasonal temperatures average 20°C—you’ll need to find flights without a Ferrari price tag. Mid-November’s Alitalia services from Toronto to Palermo (via Rome) start at $1,020 return (taxes included) on www.kayak.com. Alternatively, fly Air Canada to Rome ($1,218) for your main destination and take a weekend side jaunt to Palermo (70-minute EasyJet flights start from $58 return).

Train buffs may prefer a longer jaunt: from Rome’s Termini station, the unique 11-hour boat-train to Palermo Centrale trundles right on to the ferry before winding east though the island’s farm-studded olive groves (seat from $48 return; sleeper cabin from $123 return; www.trenitalia.com).

The Sicilian capital, Palermo is a portside cornucopia of antique architecture and Baroque palazzi wrapped in a bustling, traffic-crazed city. If you’re flying, avoid the rip-off $60 taxi fare from the airport to downtown and take a 40-minute Prestia e Comandè shuttle bus instead ($8 each way; www.prestiaecomande.it).

Aim for an old-town sleepover near the Quattro Canti intersection and you’ll soon be nosing around labyrinthine cobbled side streets. Budget-wise, unpack at charming Bed and Breakfast Novocento (doubles from $63) or the more contemporary B&B Serpotta ($75). Good mid-rangers include San Francesco B&B ($113) and Hotel Palazzo Sitano ($109).

Once settled in Palermo, stroll to must-see freebies like the gigantic Fontana Pretoria fountain and the jaw-dropping Arab-influenced medieval cathedral. And if you only have time for one market, hit the renowned Mercato di Ballarò. But don’t hire a car—Palermitans treat driving as a contact sport and hotels charge up to $25 for overnight parking. Just go local on the city’s vast transit system.

A $4.50 day pass (purchased from tobacconist shops) offers a surfeit of budget-friendly excursions: hop on bus 327 for the macabre Catacombe dei Cappuccini; bus 806 for medieval seaside town Mondello; or bus 157 for a scenic 90-minute trundle to Corleone. Sicily is the mafia’s historic home and while this spot gave its name to the The Godfather family, a visit to the town’s Museo Anti-Mafia is a sobering reminder of “the family’s” bloodthirsty existence.

Cheer yourself up by returning downtown. November’s Festival di Morgana is a three-week-long celebration of entrancing marionette performances (tickets from $19; www.museomarionettepalermo.it). While artists of a different kind—no strings attached—perform for the city’s Serie A soccer team. Avoid scalpers and dodgy websites by buying direct from Stadio Renzo Barbera’s box office a few days before the game (tickets from $25).
After all that action, join bacchanalian locals for a penny-wise street food crawl—don’t miss the near-legendary chickpea patties and deep-fried fish snacks at the sprawling Vucciria area market. Then, loosen your belt and check out the vendors at Piazza Caracciolo for grilled sausages and toasted nougat.

If you’re still hungry, it’s trattoria time. The best joints—where olive-oil-drizzled pasta and fresh seafood dishes are typically under $10—include the good-value Trattoria ai Cascinari and Trattoria Basile. For a perfect pizza alternative, belly up to art-lined Frida Pizzeria. But for a romantic candlelit affair, aim for a long table perch and a lingering late-night dinner at the brick-ceilinged Gagini Restaurant.

End the evening with a glass of sweet Marsala wine—and be sure to toast your shivering, fleece-wrapped friends back home.

SICILY FOR LESS

Two sample budgets for two

7 days for $5,000

Return Air Canada airfare (TORONTO-ROME): $2,256; return night train cabin (Rome-Palermo): $246

Double room, 6 nights: $750 (Astro Suite Hotel)

Food & drink: $1,500

Attractions & Transport: $158 (includes airport transfers, eight one-day transit passes, two Festival di Morgana shows and two soccer tickets)

7 days for $3,500

Return Alitalia airfare (Toronto-Rome-Palermo): $2,040

double room, 6 nights: $378 (Bed and Breakfast Novocento)

Food & drink: $1,000

Transport: $70 (includes airport transfers and eight one-day transit passes)

Top value dining

Trattoria ai Cascinari

(Via D’Ossuna 43-45)

Trattoria Basile

(Via Bara all’Olivella 76)

Frida Pizzeria

(www.fridapizzeria.it)

Top value sleepovers

Bed and Breakfast Novocento

(www.bed-breakfast-palermo.com)

San Francesco B&B

(www.sanfrancescopalermo.it)

B&B Serpotta

(www.bb10serpotta.com)

Hotel Palazzo Sitano

(www.hotelpalazzositano.it)

First, though, you’ll need to arrange to get there and back again without blowing too much Elven gold. At time of writing, mid-September Air New Zealand flights from Toronto, typically via Los Angeles and Auckland, were as low as $2,000 return, taxes included—but their e-newsletter at www.airnewzealand.ca promised late-breaking deals. Routing through Vancouver and Sydney, Air Canada services were $2,700 (join its @ACwebSaver Twitter feed for discount codes). Longer routings on Qantas offered a minor savings of $100.

Expect a minimum 23-hour flight before arriving at wind-whipped Wellington Airport. It’s only eight kilometres from the city, but swap the $30 cab fare for a door-to-door Super Shuttle (one-way for two people $20; www.supershuttle.co.nz). Aim to stay near central Lambton Quay and you’ll be within strolling distance of hot spot sites and eateries: Welly—as locals call it—is compact and, despite its hills, mostly walkable.

Compare deals at www.hotels.co.nz with budget favourites like the giant YHA Wellington City (doubles from $69) and spartan Ibis Hotel ($97). Recommended mid-rangers include Gourmet Stay ($101) and harbour-view Copthorne Oriental Bay Hotel ($156). Alternatively, swank it up at the heritage Wellesley Boutique Hotel ($179). For self-caterers, the charming City Cottages off Cuba Street ($138), with kitchens and laundry facilities, are ideal.

Start exploring with a free Welly Walks app from the Apple Store, making sure to include the downtown’s iconic Te Papa national museum. Keep those plastic NZ dollars in your pocket because admission is free here (and also at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea). But shell out $2.85 to take the red-painted cable car up to hilltop Kelburn: the panoramas are worth it. Then, stroll back down via the gratis Cable Car Museum and verdant Botanic Garden (Begonia House recommended).

Tours are also free at the historic Parliament Buildings—including its quirky 1970s beehive-shaped extension. But if you’d rather bike around town, rentals start at $24 per half-day at On Yer Bike (www.onyerbikeavantiplus.co.nz), a Wellington favourite. For company-cravers, they run free Tuesday evening group rides for all skill levels, from late September.

New Zealand’s cultural capital is also a hub of artsy shenanigans. Peruse the Capital Times for listings—including live music at the Bodega (or “the Bodge” as locals it)—then dip into the city’s thriving theatre scene: the tourist information centre at the corner of Victoria and Wakefield Street is your best bet for half-price show tickets.

And if those movies remain precious to you, hit the Weta Cave in edge-of-town Miramar (via bus number 2) for a taste of “Wellywood”—a cheeky nod to the area’s booming movie business. The special effects studio’s admission-free museum illuminates its work on Jackson’s flicks and other films. Continue your wizardly wander with a four-hour Wellington Movie Tour ($36; www.movietours.co.nz), exploring set locations across the region.

If you’re now as hungry as a Hobbit, fuel up at the steaming stalls lining Friday’s Wellington Night Market, near Cuba Street—where you’re also never far from a fortifying flat white coffee. Tipping is not expected in New Zealand, but keep dining costs down even further at well-priced cafés like Simply Paris and Fidel’s Cafe (breakfast recommended).

For seafood, try the Ortega Fish Shack and Bar or add a house-made Hop Rocker pilsner to your fish and chips at Mac’s Brewbar. But when it’s time to splurge, take in the $32 two-course prix fixe at romantic Boulcott Street Bistro—it’s better than anything Gandalf could conjure up.

Vancouverite John Lee will be back in New Zealand this fall. Follow him further at www.johnleewriter.com.

Wellington for less: Two sample budgets for two

7 days on $6,000

Return airfare (Toronto-Los Angeles-Auckland-Wellington): $4,000 (Air New Zealand)

Double-occupancy hotel room for 6 nights: $580 (Ibis Hotel)

Food & drink: $1,300

Transport: $40 (for return SuperShuttle airport transfers)

7 days on $8,000

Return airfare (Toronto-VANCOUVER- SYDNEY-Wellington): $5,400 (Air Canada)

Double-occupancy hotel room for 6 nights: $936 (Copthorne Oriental Bay Hotel)

Food & drink: $1,500

Transport & Attractions: $112 (includes $40 airport transfers and $72 for two Wellington Movie Tours)

Top value dining

Simply Paris

(www.simplyparis.co.nz)

Fidel’s Cafe

(www.fidelscafe.com)

Boulcott Street Bistro

(www.boulcottstreetbistro. co.nz)

Top value sleepovers

Gourmet Stay

(www.gourmetstay.co.nz)

Copthorne Oriental Bay Hotel

(www.millenniumhotels. co.nz)

City Cottages

(www.citybedandbreak fast.co.nz)

But before launching your kimchi-flavoured odyssey, you’ll need a flight to the city of skyscrapers and terracotta-topped palaces. Summertime Air Canada and Korean Air departures from Toronto average an eye-watering $2,100 return (taxes included), but shopping around via cheapflights.ca and itravel2000.com uncovered one-stop Finnair flights for $1,700.

On arrival, swap the $60 cab ride from shiny Incheon International for the slick, faster AREX train—one-way $12—to arrive at bustling Seoul Station in 43 minutes. From here, snag a taxi to your welcoming bed—preferably north of the Han River in the historic hanok-lined Insadong or Bukchon neighbourhoods. Alternatively, the Itaewon district is studded with Western-style restaurants and hotels.

Budget-wise, friendly Beewon Guesthouse (doubles from $43) and charming Tea Guesthouse (from $87) are justifiably popular, while you can also book a culturally immersive homestay through the Korean Tourism Organization’s website (www.visitkorea.or.kr) starting from $90. Further up the budget chain, Metro Hotel (from $98) and Ibis Seoul Myeong-dong (from $125) are recommended, while Itaewon’s swish IP Boutique Hotel (from $140) offers mod rooms and a contemporary art aesthetic. Check hotels.ca for deals.

Once unpacked, take one of the free guided tours offered by the city (reserve ahead via www.visitseoul.net), then hit Seoul’s cheap, efficient and English-signposted subway system with a T-money transit card. Available at vending machines and convenience stores for $2.20 plus as much as you want to load onto it—subway trips cost around 90 cents each. (Unused portions are refunded at the end of your trip.) For shorter hops, Seoul taxis are also well-priced.

Your first subway jaunt (Line 3 to Anguk station) should be to the flare-roofed Changdeokgung Palace Complex. English tours are offered (excluding Mondays) for $2.60 and the tranquil gardens are a highlight. Close by is the equally impressive Gyeongbokgung Palace with its thrice-daily free English tours and hourly changing of the guard ceremonies. Gratis cultural attractions abound throughout the city, including the superb National Folk Museum and the huge National Museum of Korea.

Need some fresh air? Avoid the overpriced two-minute cable car ride up tree-lined Namsan Hill and take one of the one-hour walking trails to the summit. Or join the cheering locals at a K-League FC Seoul soccer game at the landmark Seoul World Cup Stadium. Tickets are $9 to $17 ($1 discount if booked via www.fcseoul.com) all summer.

Speaking of tours, the weirdly intriguing Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea is a must-see—book ahead for a $40 bus trip via www.vviptravel.com. Take the morning option and you’ll be back in time for the labyrinthine Namdaemun Market, a sprawling bazaar where you can eat cheap (try the noodleries near gate six), haggle for potent ginseng capsules (I paid $20 for 100) and measure-up for a perfectly fitted handmade suit (mine cost $350).

If you’re still hungry, try the sizzling fish ball carts and chatty neighbourhood eateries along Mukja Golmok Street. Or, consider Café Soban’s contemporary takes on bibimbap (a signature Korean rice dish) or the fancy traditional meals at Hanmiri where the lower-cost lunch is recommended. And when you’re finally craving some Western grub, go for the weekend $12 brunch at Suji’s: it’s almost as fortifying as ginseng.

Sample budgets for two

7 days for $5,000

Return airfare (Toronto-Helsinki-Incheon): $3,400 (Finnair, itravel2000.com)

Double-occupancy, 6 nights: $522 (teaguesthouse.com)

Food & drink: $950

Attractions & Transport: $70.20 ($48 for AREX Airport Express transfers and $22.20 for two T-money transit cards with 10 trips on each)

7 days for $6,500

Return airfare (Toronto-Seoul): $4,200 (Air Canada)

Double-occupancy room for 6 nights: $730 (metrohotel.co.kr)

Food & drink: $1,350

Attractions & Transport: $150.20 ($48 for AREX Airport Express transfers, two $40 DMZ tours and $22.20 for two T-money transit cards with 10 trips on each)

Don’t blow your Windy City budget before arriving. Mid-June Air Canada flights from Toronto to O’Hare currently average $550 return (taxes included) via Expedia.ca and Travelocity.ca. Non-direct fares are typically $100 less, and Air Canada’s @ACwebSaver Twitter feed also provides handy late-breaking discount codes. Alternatively, Porter Airlines services closer-to-downtown Midway from Toronto City for around $475 return.

Be sure to pack some savings before heading to the airport, though. Groupon Chicago (groupon.com/chicago) hawks some attractive deals, offering savings of 50% to 90%, via its website while great trip planning tools and discounts are also available from chicagoofficeoftourism.org/chicagocoupons.

Taxis from either airport to the city’s central Loop area cost up to $45, while hopping the ‘L’ (an elevated train) from O’Hare or Midway is just $2.25—although you may still need a cab to get to your downtown hotel. Airport Express minibus shuttles are also available (online booking advised) but with one-way fares up to $29 they’re only recommended for solo travellers.

Any savings can easily be obliterated by Chicago’s pricey hotels, which are aimed at business travellers. It’s easy to drop $300—plus $40 for overnight parking—on even bland Chi-Town accommodation. Peruse Hotels.ca and Priceline.ca for near-Loop deals where you’ll be close to attractions, Magnificent Mile shopping and ‘L’ stations.

Consider the bargain Chicago Getaway Hostel (from $60), with its private rooms and free breakfast, or more salubrious mid-rangers like the Gold Coast Guest House ($129) or the small-roomed but comfortable Inn of Chicago ($157). At the boutique end, funky Amalfi Hotel Chicago ($229) and stylish Hotel Felix ($209) are recommended.

Once unpacked, get your bearings. Reserve ahead for free tours via chicagogreeter.com or download gratis iPod strolls covering movie locations (onscreenillinois.com) or blues music hot spots (downloadchicagotours.com). Be sure to include a boat tour from the Chicago Architecture Foundation—save up to $8 on tickets via their website (architecture.org). And if you fancy the views from the 343-m John Hancock Center, avoid the Observatory’s $15 admission and ride two floors higher to the bar. For a one-drink minimum (around $10), you’ll have seating, a libation and camera-hugging panoramas.

Major Chicago museums recently restricted free-entry days to Illinois residents, so consider a City Pass (five attractions/nine days/$84) or a Go Chicago Card (26 attractions from $72) for must-sees like the Art Institute of Chicago and Field Museum of Natural History. Or stick to permanent freebies like Lincoln Park Zoo and the National Museum of Mexican Art.

If a Cubs game at Wrigley Field is your idea of culture, the stadium releases $15 standing-room tickets two hours before most games. Follow it with some free laughs: the legendary Second City comedy troupe routinely stages gratis late-night improv shows. With your savings, you might want to splurge on a Flintstones-sized T-bone at North America’s original Morton’s Steakhouse. Or just head to the bar—cheaper than the main restaurant—for a $17 prime burger and fries.

Since this is America’s celebrated hotdog capital, consider a tube steak alternative at Hot Doug’s or Portillo’s. If Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is more your style, try hot spots like Lou Malnati’s or Uno Chicago Grill. But when it’s time for views and fine dining, head for Trump Tower’s Sixteen where the lunchtime $32 prix fixe menu is a taste of the high life without the top-floor price tag.

Chicago For Less: Two sample budgets for two

7 days for $3,000

• Return airfare (Toronto City- CHICAGO Midway): $950 (flyporter.com)
• Double-occupancy private hostel room for 6 nights, Breakfast included, shared bathroom: $610 (getawayhostel.com)
• Food & drink: $1,200
• Attractions & Transport: $92 (for two seven-day transit Visitor Passes and two Wrigley Field standing room tickets)

7 days for $4,000

• Return airfare (Toronto Pearson-Chicago O’Hare): $1,100 (aircanada.com)
• Double-occupancy room for 6 nights: $1,292 (hotelfelixchicago.com)
• Food & drink: $1,300
• Attractions & Transport: $318 (includes $90 for airport taxi transfers, $168 for two City Passes and $60 for two Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tours)

Top value sleepovers

Chicago Getaway Hostel (getawayhostel.com)

Gold Coast Guest House (bbchicago.com)

Amalfi Hotel Chicago (amalfihotelchicago.com)

Inn of Chicago (innofchicago.com)

Top value dining

Uno Chicago Grill (unos.com)

Hot Doug’s (hotdougs.com)

Sixteen (trumphotelcollection.com)

Don’t wait too long to hit Björk’s backyard, though: Iceland’s 2008 financial meltdown means our dollar now buys 40% more krona than it did five years ago. But while prices on the ground still echo larger European cities, there are ways to enjoy this land of northern lights and hot pools without leaving your wallet as empty as an extinct volcano.

First up: flights. Five hours from Toronto, Icelandair’s seasonal direct service starts in late March with prices on Expedia.ca, Travelocity.ca and the airline’s own website—which usually has the best fares—from $600 return (taxes included). Or consider a two-city vacation: book via Icelandair.com to another European spot—Amsterdam, for example—and you can include a stopover of up to seven days in Reykjavik for no extra ticket cost. And if you’re already in Europe, consider a weekend side trip on budget airline easyJet’s new service from London Luton (from $150 return).

On arrival, follow the main corridor through Keflavik International and you’ll soon be blinking outside at a sparse, lava-cragged moonscape. But rather than paying $80 for a city-bound taxi, hop the 45-minute Flybus ($28 return) to Reykjavik’s central bus station—it’s $8 more for return transfers direct to your hotel. Book ahead at Flybus.is or buy at the desk near the airport exit.

In the city, save some legwork—and extortionate rental car fees—by staying near the gable-roofed old town, within sight of the hulking Hallgrimskirkja church. KEX Hostel (doubles from $65) and Downtown Hostel (from $46) have private rooms for those on a budget. Mid-rangers include the simple Askot B&B (from $72) and friendly Guesthouse Sunna (from $71). Alternatively, consider contemporary boutique Hotel Pingholt (from $163) or the kitchen-equipped Forsaela Guesthouse cottage (from $290). Summer-season rates kick in at most sleepovers on May 1.

Once you’ve unpacked, hit the streets with a free walking tour from the main Tourist Information Centre, running 1 p.m. daily May to September and Fridays-only the rest of the year. A $10 gratuity is appropriate—the only time you’ll have to consider one in a country where tips are included on bills. Reykjavik Bike Tours (Icelandbike.com) offers popular guided trundles for $36.

But if you really want to rub shoulders with the locals—who often speak unnervingly good English—click some free invitations at Inspiredbyiceland.com. Even better, dip into a geothermic pool. The spectacular, mountain-ringed Blue Lagoon (entry $39) lures visitors, but locals prefer functional facilities in the city centre, including the ever-popular Laugardalslaug complex and its four “hot pots.” Admission is about $4 or free with a visitor Welcome Card (24/48/72 hours, $19/$26/$32), available from the Tourist Information Centre. It also includes entry to the excellent Culture House and National Museum, but you’ll have to pony up $8 for Reykjavik’s infamous Phallological Museum.

If you’re now hungrier than a rampaging Viking, it’s time to start scoffing. Traditional Icelandic dishes like rotten shark might not appeal, but don’t miss the seafood here. Hunt down ultra-fresh sushi at Mulakaffi, or dive into local food tasting menus at bistro-chic Fish Market or Grill Market. And when it’s time for a culinary adventure, try tucking into gamey puffin or low-fat reindeer at 3 Frakkar or Laekjarbrekka.

Don’t forget that lunch at many restaurants is about half the price of dinner. Make that your main meal of the day and you could save enough for a memorable evening soak in the Blue Lagoon.

British-born Vancouverite John Lee is a regular Europe visitor. Follow his travels at www.johnleewriter.com.

REYKJAVIK FOR LESS: Two sample budgets for two

7 days for $3,000

Return airfare (Toronto-Reykjavik): $1,180 (Icelandair, via www.icelandair.com)

Double-occupancy hotel room for 6 nights, breakfast included, shared bathroom: $474 (KEX Hostel, via www.kexhostel.is)

Food & drink: $1,250

Transport: $56 (for two return Flybus airport transfers)

7 days for $4,500

Return airfare (Toronto-Reykjavik): $1,228 (Icelandair, via www.travelocity.ca)

double room for 6 nights: $927 (Hotel Pingholt, via www.centerhotels.com)

Food & drink: $2,000

Attractions & Transport: $208 ($72 for two return Flybus airport transfers, with hotel drop; $72 for two bike tours; $64 for two 72-hour Welcome Cards)

Top value dining

Mulakaffi (www.mulakaffi.is)

Fish Market (www.fiskmarkadurinn.is)

3 Frakkar (www.3frakkar.com)

Top value sleepovers

KEX Hostel (www.kexhostel.is)

Downtown hostel (www.hostel.is)

Askot B&B (www.askot.is)

Guesthouse Sunna (www.sunna.is)

And with steep discounts aimed at belt-tightening Americans, there’s never been a better time to cash in your Canadian chips for a fleece-free winter jaunt.

A little card counting is required to ensure you don’t lose your shirt, though. At time of writing, one-stop mid-February Toronto flights were $435 return (taxes included) on Expedia.ca and Travelocity.ca, with pricier direct services also available. But rather than rolling the dice on a deal, consider a bargain package: Flight Centre was also offering Sunwing hops, including four-night hotel stays, from $504, at the beginning of February.

Booking your own sleepover, you’ll find plenty of eye-popping deals—especially on weekdays. Aim for the mid-Strip area—the city’s shimmering main thoroughfare—and connect to a variety of hotel Twitter and Facebook accounts for sale rates as low as $19 a night. Cross-reference with Hotels.ca and Travelworm.com to make sure you stay within your accommodation budget.

If you’re more cost-conscious, consider the faded Circus Circus or the Riviera (both from $40). Step up with Luxor ($90) or the boutique Platinum Hotel ($90), where rooms include budget-stretching kitchens. And for a high-rolling suite try The Hotel ($170) or Encore ($440), but call first to strike a deal. Note: there’s a 12% hotel tax, and some hotels charge a daily resort fee.

On arrival at McCarran International, splurge up to $20 for a Strip-bound cab or hop on a $7 Bell Trans shuttle bus—their booth is outside door nine at the airport. And while it’s not worth renting a car to get around, it’s also best to avoid the overpriced and limited monorail in favour of the Deuce double-deckers that trundle to downtown’s Fremont Street area (two-hour pass $3/24-hour pass $7).

When it’s time to eat, buffets are as ubiquitous as losing streaks, and lunches are the best value. Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas ($15/$25) is justifiably popular. Seafood fans should hit the Bellagio ($20/$28). And if you haven’t eaten for a month, try an all-access 24- or 48-hour buffet pass offered by some hotels ($30-$50). For a less face-stuffing approach, pop to the patio at Border Grill for margaritas and authentic Mexican nosh.

If you’ve blown your budget on the slots, you’ll still be able to enjoy the rest of your Vegas stay. Freebie spectacles abound, including the stirring Bellagio fountain show; Mirage’s kitschy volcano display; MGM Grand’s two-cat lion enclosure; the Pinball Hall of Fame (where you can play 200+ games); and the 4,000-fish aquarium at Silverton. It’s also worth paying $8.95 for the Imperial Palace’s vintage auto collection, but check flyers and local publications for 2-for-1s to this and other attractions.

Consider a couple of good value tours, too. The $17 Bally’s Backstage Tour peeks behind the curtains of the long-running Jubilee stage show, while $15 gets you a narrated wander around the Neon Museum, an outdoor “graveyard” of vintage Vegas signs. Also drop by the Atomic Testing Museum, illuminating the crater-making experimentation that shot mushroom clouds over the desert in the 1950s. Call ahead for info on the free bus tours to the old testing sites.

And before heading home, consider a show or three. Save on popular tickets—typically starting at $100—via official discounter Tix4tonight.com. But if you can’t afford a Cirque or Céline extravaganza, check out the free Sirens of TI show at Treasure Island or tuck yourself into the lounge of Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon for my favourite gratis show: a jumpsuit-wobbling one-hour singalong with Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee.

LAS VEGAS FOR LESS: Two sample budgets for two

7 days for $3,000

Return airfare (Toronto-Las Vegas, one stopover): $870 (United, via Expedia.ca)

Double-occupancy hotel room for 6 nights: $574 (Golden Nugget, via www.goldennugget.com)

Food & drink: $1,500

Transport: $42 (includes $14 for two 24-hour bus passes and $28 for four airport shuttle transfers)

7 days for $4,500

Return airfare (Toronto-Las Vegas): $1,428 (WestJet, via Expedia.ca)

Double-occupancy room for 6 nights: $875 (Platinum Hotel, via www.theplatinumhotel.com)

Food & drink: $1,900

Attractions & Transport: $102 (includes $28 for four 24-hour bus passes, $40 for two airport taxi transfers and$34 for two Bally’s Backstage Tours)

Top value dining

Circus Buffet: (www.circuscircus.com)

Bellagio Buffet: (www.bellagio.com)

Border Grill: (www.bordergrill.com)

Top value sleepovers

Circus Circus: (www.circuscircus.com)

Riviera: (www.rivierahotel.com)

Luxor: (www.luxor.com)

Platinum Hotel: (www.theplatinumhotel.com)

Encore: (www.wynnlasvegas.com)

The Hotel: (www.mandalaybay.com/thehotel)