I%26#39;ve been reading lots about how it is usually best to book a hotel direct (for many reasons). Also, I%26#39;ve seen some fabulous promo codes for very cheap rates at really nice properties...So, that by itself is a great deal. BUT, my question is this....no matter how I slice it, I can seem to get the best deal (overall $$) when I search hotel+air as a package. Most folks don%26#39;t seem to do that? I know packages have their negatives (non-refundable, if rate goes down you%26#39;re out of luck, etc.), but I always seem to come out at least $200 more for the trip when I price it separately. Am I missing something -- a special secret to making those rock bottom hotel deals actually worth it?
If best hotel rates are direct with prop or w/promo code....I booked 3rd party this time around also for the same reasons you are saying. Saved well over $300.
If best hotel rates are direct with prop or w/promo code....Maybe it depends what part of the country you are flying in from? Coming from here in Denver, Hub and I seem to (at least in the last year or so) find the best airfares on Southwest, which as far as I know does not come up on the major travel search engines such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. So we book it separately. Add a good promo code on a hotel and we are there!
I%26#39;m alsways a bargain hunter- if we%26#39;re traveling, I spend Sundays with my cup of coffee, looking at the computer for hours to try and find the best deal-I%26#39;ve never booked as a package, always found them more expensive-BUT-going to Vegas for the first time in June, and for the first time US Airways hotel and air booked together was slightly cheaper than booking it seperate-that%26#39;s even using the Volcano code for the Mirage. I figured $80 in my pocket, is better than their pocket-just keep researching. First time I found a package cheaper!
I fly Southwest when possible, and the only way to book them is directly from their site. 99% of the time it%26#39;s cheaper than any flight on expedia.
Faith, I second the person who said it may depend where you are flying from. Going to Vegas from Rhode Island, I have not seen better deals using packages. Either the flights offered are for certain dates %26amp; times, or the price is just higher than what I can get booking separately.
I like booking the hotel myself and giving myself the ';out'; of being able to change or cancel the reservation if I find something else.
It also depends on how you are booking. When I used to look at packages the cost was per person, so if you were going alone it was much higher.
Faith: I fly SWA from Oakland and a package is never cheaper. The packages don%26#39;t have enough room to play with because the airfare is so low. Air from Sacramento to LV is $59 today. And with a little patience you could almost certainly beat that, I know I%26#39;ve seen $49, and I%26#39;m not even trying. How much could a package possibly save on that part?
Even if resellers buy rooms in advance, right now they can%26#39;t possibly compete directly with the hotels themselves, which are dropping the prices practically on a daily basis. Rates went down for both MB and Luxor this morning. So if a 3rd party bought rooms last week they now have a higher price.
The exceptions to this would be: you are leaving very soon and picked some dates when demand is higher than normal and the hotels are raising rates, but this would usually men you pay more for airfare. OR you are looking too far in advance. Hotels don%26#39;t release their best rates too early, usually around 60 days in advance.
But just because a package is cheaper today or maybe next week, doesn%26#39;t mean it will be in 2 weeks. And in my experience the time will always come when you are better off booking direct.
ktinca ~ thanks! True, IF I can get $49 SWA from Sacramento, I could save about $100 total for the trip. I%26#39;m planning a trip for July, so I guess I should just wait it out and keep my eye on the airfare. Right now it%26#39;s $99. I guess I was just trying to book too soon.
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