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Package booking?

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Gomar

Gomar

Low-Roller
Joined
Apr 18, 2012
Messages
281
Location
NYC
Trips to Las Vegas
4
Hi all,
Last trip to Vegas I booked with Travelocity. Rate was good for MGM, but you know we wuz charged that fee, for water, chips, etc. whatever.
Anyway... I am now considering booking hotel and flight separately. Is that wise or cheaper than a bundle?
With so many people having check-in room problems, perhaps booking with the hotel's website is better even if more expensive. Also, 3rd party only give you 24hours to cancel, but hotel is flexible?
Is my reasoning correct? Has anyone done separate bookings or is bundle the way to go?
 
There is no single way to get the best rate. Sometimes packages (Southwest, Funjet, etc...) can get you a better deal. Sometimes they can't and it's better to book flight and hotel separately So you have price everything out and see what's the best price for you. First thing I do is log into my players account (Total Rewards, MLife, etc...) and check room rates directly on their websites. If you aren't a member many of these clubs let you sign up online. Even if you haven't played a nickel on your card you'll almost always get a lower rate than if you don't log in on their website. Check all of the third party sites, Kayak, etc... Check various deals (many posted on this board, LVA, etc...), the links provided will usually take you right to the site with the promo code already entered. Check cancellation policies. They can vary. Sometimes package deals can't be canceled unless you have bought the travel insurance. Sometimes packages require you to pay 100% up front instead of just the first night.

So again, there is no right answer here. It's always "it depends". And once you book you can keep on looking and if you see a better deal, at the same hotel or elsewhere, then go ahead and cancel (if you can) and rebook.
 
Before I learned about comps and started shopping through SWA for points I booked most of my trips as packages. Most of the time the price was better but you were locked in and it seemed that you ended up in a crappier room. The last company I booked through was a site called Early Vegas that I got a couple of really good deals. On one of the promos at MGM that I booked it came with free breakfast , lunch and dinner at the buffet. The amount of money they took off for the buffets at the end of the trip was more than I paid for the room.

Mark
 
It can go either way. I book separately because of flexibility w/flights and because the prices work out better for me w/hotels. I think I did a package a time or two, but have always found better options.
 

  • Out and about
Occasionally a package will have a crazy good price. But you are almost always giving up flexibility. It would take such a huge difference in price to make me book a package that I'd be worried the price was a mistake.
 
bshowell said:
It can go either way. I book separately because of flexibility w/flights and because the prices work out better for me w/hotels. I think I did a package a time or two, but have always found better options.
Click to expand...
Same here. I'd priced package deals to Vegas in the past and always have been able to find a better deal booking the flights and hotel separate. There is also the added benefit that I can rebook the hotel if I find a better rate the closer to the time for the trip, which I am able to do just about every time. Also, even though I don't really gamble enough to get part of my room taken off on the back end, booking a air/hotel package excludes a host from being able to take anything off for your hotel room (they can still do room charges though.)

Now, for other cities, I've been able to price a package deal and save a considerable amount of money on a flight and hotel room over booking separately, and sometimes even at last minute getting a deal where I save 40-50% off booking separate.
 
The last time I used a package deal was when I used a travel agent last and that was in 2002. I find I get the flights I want and hotels I want better when I do it on my own and having the power of the internet makes it easier.
 
My experience is that u can get some really great prices on packages if u take the time to look around and if your not set to a specific date !
 
The wife and I have only been to Vegas twice, the first time I booked a package thru SW staying at the Four Queens. The 2nd trip, I contacted a Four Queens host and explained that we were there a year ago, told her our daily gambling/food budget (low roller) and asked if she could do anything for us. We got the Casino rate for the room. It worked out cheaper than the package deal with SW. We charged most of our meals to the room and got them comped at the end of our stay. It worked for us.
 
ok, I will check rates both ways and then will post here what I chose.
Thank you all.
 
Gomar said:
... now considering booking hotel and flight separately. Is that wise or cheaper than a bundle?

With so many people having check-in room problems..
Also, 3rd party only give you 24hours to cancel, but hotel is flexible?
Is my reasoning correct? Has anyone done separate bookings or is bundle the way to go?
Click to expand...

Cheaper? It all depends on what offer you are getting.
Cancel? Most hotel deals offer cancel up to a few days before. Airlines usually almost never offer cancel options (we never pay for airfare anyways)
Check in problems? Not sure what you are talking about - have not been hearing about those.

Again, bundles sometimes are cheaper,sometimes are not.
 
Did a pkg on our first trip and never did it again. Did not rent a car on our first trip and always did after that. We like the options, the price is usuually better, and airfare is the only thing that's locked in once you book.

However, as is commonly said here, your mileage may vary, and so may your needs and desires.
 
It used to be that, if you decided on a 'last-minute' trip, booking airfare could be mush higher than it usually is.
...and when I ran into that, I look at the packages ("vacations") offered by the airline I was planning to fly.
I once booked air + 3 nights at the Nugget for a lower total than just the air would've been with that same airline.
I don't think that little loophole exists anymore, but it's always worth checking out when the airfares are sky-high.

Also - another closed loophole (I think) is the infamous "alternate" airport.
It used to be that, periodically, a seat would be cheaper for me flying out of Waco & connecting at DFW. Don't ask me why.
It probably has something to do with allocated "bargain" seats per flight...some are obviously reserved for incoming, connecting flights.
 
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