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I see London. I see France. And maybe a bit of Amsterdam along the way.

The stopover visit - using a day or two between flights to go see a city - is a standard tactic for frugal travellers, going back to the days when fliers wanted to squeeze value out of pricey air tickets. And while fares are relatively inexpensive these days, the idea is making a comeback: Airlines have begun to tout stopover deals for major international destinations, urging value-conscious travellers to stay over between connecting flights, get out and see the sights.

While some airlines offer one free stopover on international trips, others have charged for them, upward of $55 (for example, each additional stopover on British Airways). That has become less common now, as some airlines waive fees and start offering stopovers on lower-priced tickets.

These pitches are aimed at getting bums in seats at a time of dropping and uncertain prices, says Rick Seaney, chief executive officer of FareCompare.com. That's especially true on routes from North America to Europe, which have seen fares drop by half since last year. The airlines "are trying to spur people on, get them off the fence about travelling into Europe," Seaney says.

The classic deal here is from Iceland Air, which has encouraged visits to Reykjavik - its hub - by allowing free stopovers between North America and Europe. This summer, travellers can spend four nights in Reykjavik at no extra fee.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Qantas Airways is offering limited-time summer deals from Canada to Australia. With fares starting from $1,038, fliers who book by next Tuesday can stop in Auckland, New Zealand, at no extra charge when en route to or from Australia between July 24 and Sept. 21.

Air France has a similar deal - accompanied by a bonus hotel discount. Until Aug. 31, the airline is offering free stopovers - plus two nights for the price of one in Paris in an Accor hotel (which includes the Sofitel and Novotel brands).

Singapore Airlines is going a step further, in a partnership with Singapore Tourism and the city state's Changi Airport (which is owned by the Singapore government). Travellers get their first night of accommodation in a partnered Singapore hotel starting at $1 (U.S.) and various other discounts. While much of the promotion is designed to encourage visitors to check out the airport - the massive Changi includes its own mall - it also offers coupons for restaurants and attractions such as the Singapore Zoo.

Travellers hoping to hit up Hong Kong on their journey can take advantage of one free stopover there on any international flight on Cathay Pacific Airlines. And the airline will add 70 discounts for hotels, spas and restaurants in the glitzy city.

Seaney says more travellers are taking advantage of stopovers today. Free stopovers - even offers that aren't new - have only recently been publicized online, which has spurred more people to inquire about them, he says.

Still, there's reason to be careful. The word "free" may catch the eye of the frugal flier, says Brian Simpson, general manager of Travelocity.ca, but the value of a stopover can vary. "You need to make sure you check the fare rules very, very carefully," he says.

The cheapest airfares rarely come with free stopovers - and if you really have no desire to see Bangkok or Amsterdam, a direct flight may be the cheapest route to your destination. "You may be paying more for the stopover than you realize," he says, "because if you didn't stop over, you could get a better airfare."

Of course, stopovers also come with the general cost of sightseeing - so Simpson says it helps to check out costs in stopover cities to gauge whether your budget will be stretched. "Ultimately you're going to spend a bit more money because you're going to have taxis, you're going to have hotels, you're going to have meals," he says.

But if you've got the desire to check out multiple cities, getting extra sightseeing in with no extra payment to the airline is a definite bonus.

Free stopovers in Paris, Rome or London can be quite the deals on paper, generating savings as high as $600. But since travellers are getting far cheaper direct fares than they were this time last year, Seaney says the total savings - in taking connecting flights rather than direct - may not add up to much.

And even with free stopovers, fees such as airport departure tax on the general fare still apply, says Jason MacIntyre, account manager at FCm Travel Solutions, a corporate division of Flight Centre. These taxes and fees can range from $50 to $800, he says, if you're stopping at multiple airports. Fuel levies and other airline taxes vary greatly and depend on how far you're going and how many stops you make, he adds.

The 31-year-old Toronto resident can testify to the payoffs. Starting last September - just as the recession hit - he took advantage of free stopovers on various airlines on a six-month around-the-world trip from Toronto to Australia.

Following the airline's natural routings, he stopped for free in Los Angeles, where he went shopping and surfing, and in Fiji, where he rented a little bungalow on a South Pacific island. On the way back from visiting friends in Sydney, he and his girlfriend took Thai Airways for a free stopover in Bangkok. The pair visited Krabi in southern Thailand for a few days, then flew to London before returning to Canada - all without a penny spent on stopover fees.

The idea, he says, was simple: 'Hey, we're stopping here anyway. Let's check it out.' "

It's a thirst for adventure both he and many frugal travellers seek to quench. "People are trying to find new things to do, and that's absolutely one," he says. "If you're going to stop and it's free anyway, you might as well do it."

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Stopover details

Air France Free stopovers and Accor Hotels deal, departing from Canadian airports, until Aug. 31; www.afcanada.ca/accor/index_en.htm

Cathay Pacific One free stopover in Hong Kong plus discounts, departing from Vancouver or Toronto, ongoing; www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_CA/offerspromotions/offerssummary

Icelandair Iceland Stopover, departing from Toronto and Halifax, ongoing; www.icelandair.ca/offers-and-bookings/book-packages/package/item221150/Iceland_Stopover

Qantas Visit Australia from Canada promotion, departing from Vancouver and Toronto, until June 16; www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/am/specials/ca/visit-australia

Singapore Airlines Singapore Stopover, departing from Canadian airports, ongoing; www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/local/US/promotions/freehotel.jsp