I just read an article about some dude (PhD in engineering or something) who is making good folding bikes and selling them for $200-300. He doesn't advertise. They come with a case. The reveiw I read was pretty exciting.
A-ha! I just found it! Adventure Cyclist April 2006, pages 40-43. The bike is called "Downtube"
www.downtube.com $269. "Prices may vary"
Cool, for the price of shipping your current bike, you could buy a second bike! Then if you wanted to go on another trip sometime you could just pack up your foldy and be good to go!
(ok, now I want a commuter-mobile, a steel tourer, a recumbent, and a folding bike)
Edit: I just went to his website, and it looks like he's raised his prices. Betcha he'd sell for the prices quoted in AC anyway.