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Are we dreaming? Or must we fork over $720 to get to Portland, Ore., or $649 to Albuquerque, N.M.? What about Omaha, Neb.? That's a $596 round-trip ticket. You'll need $432 to travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., this summer.

Airlines might see a slight reduction in passengers for the rest of the year but not enough to roll back prices. Best advice: Follow the deals rather than your desires. For instance, if you were set on Paris this summer, why not save beaucoup bucks with a visit instead to Quebec?

Air Canada is joined by most of the nation's carriers in offering decent deals on trips taken across Canada through Sept. 30. Travel is permitted any day, based on sale seat availability, with no blackout dates or a minimum-stay requirement. Give two weeks or better advance notice and buy tickets by midnight Thursday.

Sample round-trip rates, inclusive of a $115 round-trip fuel surcharge: $381 to Halifax, Nova Scotia; $387 to Calgary, Alberta; $423 to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; $439 to Vancouver, British Columbia; $468 to Winnipeg, Manitoba; and $485 to Montreal.

Round-trip rates to Quebec City are $479 (rates to Paris are $1,026). This city celebrates its 400th birthday this summer with special events, performances and festivals. Highlights include the biggest fireworks extravaganza ever held in Canada on July 3 on the St. Lawrence River and a free outdoor concert on Aug. 22 with Celine Dion. For event details and hotel packages: www.monquebec2008.com.

Birmingham option

If obligations take you to a wedding, graduation or reunion in a spot where auto travel isn't feasible or logical, consider a trip to Birmingham. The presence of low-fare carrier Southwest Airlines keeps offers as low as $99 each way to Western and Midwestern destinations, such as to Portland, Ore. The per-person savings of $502 vs. leaving from Atlanta will pay for the gas, and a night or two in a hotel (lowest round-trip airfare is $218 from Birmingham). Same concept applies if you travel to Omaha. Start and end that trip from Birmingham for round-trip rates from $250 vs. $596 from Atlanta, or a savings of $346 per person. Worth noting is that on June 26, Southwest will permit online bookings for trips taken through Jan. 9. www.southwest.com

Save in Europe

If you end up across the pond this summer, look for a hotel stay that includes extra values such as complimentary breakfast, a tour or theater tickets.

In London, look for the guaranteed dollar program at the Radisson Edwardian Hotels. A pounds-to-dollar deal is valid at several properties from July 21 to Sept. 7.

Stay at the four-star New Providence Wharf from $198 per night double or from $230 at the four-star Vanderbilt Hotel in Kensington. www.radissonedwardian.com/rehdollarrates

Sale fares are subject to change and do not include taxes and fees.