Vacations can be expensive. You're not only buying flights but paying for somewhere to stay and activities to do while you're there. Maintaining a travel budget can be difficult, and many turn to travel hacking to manage their trip costs. However, combining purchases using vacation packages can help reduce costs and maybe even get great discounts on things to do.
So, what exactly is a "vacation package"? Think of it as a bunch of vacation stuff bundled into one payment. The term can be misleading because you may automatically think that a vacation package encompasses your whole trip. That's not necessarily true.
A vacation package can be for your whole trip, for a weekend, or even for a day. It can refer to bundling payments regarding flights, hotels, and car rentals. There are also "vacation packages" that involve only booking activities while you're at your destination. Some include just a tour guide and some major sites to see.
A vacation package is when you purchase more than one thing together for your vacation. It can be any combination of things to help you plan your trip and save money.
Whether you're planning or looking to put together a last-minute travel package, there are several ways to go about your booking.
Travel and airline websites will have vacation package options for you. For instance, on sites like Expedia, you can choose the option that says to book "flight and hotel." That's one way to bundle. Another is to select the "vacation package" option and see what other ways you can bundle.
On Expedia, to continue the example, you'll be able to add a car to your package under the vacation package. On Southwest's website, you'll be able to choose activities as well.
Aside from Expedia, there are dozens of online travel site options for booking your travel packages. I recommend comparing prices from different websites to see which gives you a better deal. Some examples of where to get started:
Just be aware when using these sites that they are the middleman. So, if for some reason you need to cancel or make changes, you'll have to go through them, not the actual travel company that's taking care of you at your destination.
Sometimes getting your money back can be tricky, so if you aren't certain about your plans, consider either waiting to book until you are or contacting local companies directly so that you don't have the middle man issue.
Booking sites like Viator or TripAdvisor are great options for reserving weekend getaway travel packages at your destination or day trips. For instance, if you're in Germany and want to take a quick trip from Munich to the Austrian border, you can do so by booking a day trip package. The package will likely include transportation, a tour guide, and a meal (included or a stop where you can purchase one).
These sites can also be used to book activities, excursions, and tours. Booking these kinds of travel packages is a great way to experience the local culture and not worry about the details of planning it!
If your travel wallet has a credit card with great travel perks, check out the website (or call them) associated with your account. It's another resource you can use for finding deals and bundling payments. By booking through your travel credit card, you may also quickly pay for everything using your points.
Many credit cards have redemption portals where you can use your points or cash to book travel packages. For example, the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal allows you to redeem your points or buy various things, including travel.
Groupon has a lot of travel options to choose from. You go to their vacation option and choose where you'd like to go. This is also a great way to see different destinations and deals being offered if you are stumped about where to go in the first place.
LivingSocial is similar to Groupon and has very similar deals. I think it's always a good idea to compare the cost and what you get before you book. Comparing these two should give you a good idea, and read the fine print!
Different hotels and resorts offer packages for guests who book directly through them. This can include packages for different activities, meals and resort credit, or even the ability to stay free for a night if you book a minimum number of nights.
No matter where you decide to go, check out the official website of where you're staying and see what they offer.
All-inclusive vacation deals generally refer to everything at the hotel/resort being paid for or included in your room's price. For instance, all of your meals and alcohol will be paid for in the per-person price of your hotel room, and you don't have to worry about that cost while you're there.
Regarding vacation packages, this is an excellent option for more extended stays, especially at resort and spa locations where you will likely spend the whole time at the resort itself. Of note, these all-inclusive trips don't always include all excursions or activities on-site, so be sure to check the options. Also, the flight may be separate unless you book the all-inclusive resort together with your flight.
(Remember that almost all resorts charge a daily resort fee. That, plus taxes, are not included in the all-inclusive price, so you will still be responsible for paying that upon checkout)
If you have a Costco membership, then be sure to check out the Costco Travel website. The site offers flight and hotel deals and curated vacation packages exclusively for Costco members. One of the nice things about them is that the price you see is the price you pay; taxes and fees are all included, making it easier to understand what you will be paying - no surprises!
For any executive members, the 2% cash back also applies to your travel purchases!
This is not as commonly used nowadays. However, travel agents are still a great resource for helping you book your travel package. Through agents, you can often customize your travels in many more ways than a simple online booking would allow.
As an example, they can not only help you with your airfare and hotel stays but can also book activities, tour guides, airport transportation, and much more. By booking together, they can sometimes get a better deal for you (not always); they may also have contacts within different companies that will help you with discounted prices.
For anyone who wants everything booked together and doesn't want to think about it, a travel agent can be beneficial.
While they sound great, there are good and bad aspects of purchasing these packages.
Depending on your trip and what you hope to do, vacation packages can be a great way to pay for it all at once and not incur any additional costs while you're at your destination.
Some distinct advantages include:
While there are many great things included in vacation packages, I think there are some limitations to using them. For instance,
This all depends on where you're going and what your goals are. To give some examples of how I think about it:
This is a personal decision that depends on what you hope to get out of your trip.
Depending on where you look, websites will advertise that buying packages or bundling payments can save you hundreds of dollars. This may be true, but the actual number will vary depending on your trip.
The best thing you can do is check package prices and then calculate how much it would cost if you booked those items separately. Then you'll have to see if those savings are enough for you to go through with it. Not all savings are worth it.
For instance, if you realize that a package will stifle your spontaneous ability, that package may not be worth the savings.
Whether it's a solo trip, going on a family-friendly vacation, a romantic getaway, a girl's weekend, a vacation to relax, or a vacation filled with activities, there is a vacation package out there to suit your needs.
Vacation packages can take the stress out of planning. Just be sure to calculate how much you're saving and see if it's worth it for you. Your next bucket-list vacation awaits. Happy Travels!
This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks.