Rome is such a mega-popular tourist destination that it doesn’t really have a low season in terms of tourist traffic – there are visitors trekking around St. Peter’s Square, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon every single day of every single year. But when it comes to paying for that vacation, you don’t have to spend a fortune if you avoid Rome in the peak of the tourist season. So while this particular six-night package trip to Rome (which includes round-trip airfare) says that it’s good on trips through August, don’t be fooled into thinking the super-low price of $599 stretches into August, too.

Now, if you want to visit Rome in January or February, you’ll get a steal of a deal with the low $599 price. That includes round-trip airfare on Alitalia from New York’s JFK airport and six nights in a three-star Rome hotel. And if you’re not flying from New York, there are a few other departure cities you can choose from for a small additional charge.

Traveling beyond February will cost more, too, but compared with the cost of the same vacation if you booked it separately and later in the year, the prices are still pretty doggone good. In March, you’ll pay $689 per person. In April it’ll cost you $969 per person. May is $1149 per person, June $1499 per person and July-August $1269 per person. Seriously, I’ve paid more for airfare to Italy alone.

If you’re interested in this deal, you’ll need to book by January 16, 2009. Read all the details before you book, as always!