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Between booking flights, hotels, a rental car, and things to do, planning a vacation can get stressful. It’s one reason many travelers turn to vacation packages, which bundle multiple aspects of your trip and may even help you plan your daily itinerary. Vacation packages are simpler to purchase and can save you money too.
To get the best deal and avoid unpleasant surprises, BBB recommends the following tips when booking a vacation package.
Tips for finding and booking a vacation package
- Count the cost. The best way to know if you’re getting a good deal on a vacation package is to check the price for booking each part of the vacation separately. If a vacation package costs more than purchasing hotels, flights, rental cars, etc., separately, you might want to make your own bookings instead.
- Be flexible to get the best deal. Getting a better value for your vacation package is easier if you can be flexible with your dates. This is also true if you’re flexible with your destination. Is your heart set on Cancun, but it’s outside your budget? Why not consider a travel package that takes you to a lesser-known beach in Mexico? The same goes for airport choices. Being open to departing from any nearby airport at any day or time might save you hundreds of dollars.
- Know that you can extend travel dates (usually). If you’re offered a package with pre-established dates, know that most packages allow you to extend your trip or modify the dates as you see fit. You’ll pay more for different dates, but it can be done. However, if you can’t extend your trip for the package you’re interested in, you can always find your own way home. Taking advantage of the travel package and adding your own separate travel plans to the end of your trip is still an option.
- Book early or last minute. You can also get a good deal by booking your trip early or scoring a last-minute deal. If last-minute travel plans sound stressful, consider blocking off the time earlier in the year and hunting up your travel package the week before. Set yourself some reminders to search for vacation deals each week so you can stay on top of any flash deals or extra savings.
- Read the fine print. Always read and re-read the fine print when booking a vacation package to ensure you know exactly what is included and what isn’t. Airfare and your hotel might be included in the price, but what about land transfers, tips, activities, amenities, and food? The last thing you want is to assume your package is all-inclusive, only to discover you’ll need to pay for more than you expected after arriving at your destination.
- Check the refund and cancellation policies. Get to know how cancellations and refunds are handled if your trip is interrupted by illness, bad weather, or other unforeseen events. You’ll find this information in the fine print as well. This information may be especially important to you if you are booking your trip very far in advance.
- Think about loyalty points and travel rewards. If you travel regularly, you might want to earn points through a loyalty program you use or redeem travel rewards for your next trip. This isn’t always possible when booking vacation packages. However, it might be if you book a vacation package through the company you get rewards from. For example, if you have plenty of sky miles saved up through your favorite airline’s loyalty program or your credit card, try booking a vacation package through them.
- Watch out for scams. As always, you’ll need to watch for bad actors when searching for a good vacation package. Book through reputable vendors and be wary of travel companies you haven’t heard of before. Do your research to ensure they have a good business reputation before booking a trip. Read plenty of reviews, keeping a close eye out for complaints and reports of scams.
- Beware of "free" travel offers. Did you receive a phone call, email, or mailer offering you a free cruise or vacation package? There's likely a catch, like being required to attend a travel exhibit or travel excursion to redeem your "free" offer. The vacation will likely not be entirely free either, as you'll be responsible for paying taxes and other transportation fees.
- Work with a reputable travel agency. Travel companies and travel agents may be able to help you find the perfect vacation package that fits your timeline and budget. To find a reputable travel company, search on BBB.org for BBB Accredited ones.
For more information
For more tips and tricks to get the most out of your next family vacation, see the BBB Tip: Planning your next family vacation or trip. Take some time to learn more about travel insurance and travel agents.
Visit the BBB Travel HQ for more advice on trip planning and staying safe while traveling.
Watch out for hotel booking scams on third-party websites.