Let's Take a Day Trip

CHICAGO, Ill. — As the summer travel season is in full swing, many of you might be contemplating planning a trip before Labor Day Weekend.

Traveling can be costly, and you may be seeking ways to economize. As you navigate the planning process, you may encounter advice suggesting that booking vacation packages and bundles could result in greater savings.

However, is this advice accurate? Additionally, how do third-party websites like Priceline and Expedia compare to direct booking in terms of potential savings?

Today, we will delve into these inquiries to assist you as you prepare for your upcoming journey.

It’s worth noting that I’m specifically addressing booking vacation packages through third-party sites rather than booking through your airline’s vacation packages or credit card travel sites such as Chase, Capital One, and American Express. However, I will touch upon those considerations towards the end.

Let’s Bundle a Trip and See if It’s Worth It

I believe it’s important to consider that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to booking travel. In some instances, booking hotel, flights, and rental cars separately may turn out to be the same price or even cheaper than purchasing them together as a package.

Conversely, you might find better savings by booking two items together and then arranging the other separately. Consequently, it is essential to conduct thorough research while navigating this process.

Allow me to provide a real-life example. I am currently planning a vacation to Memphis, Tennessee, from July 21 to 28. Since I’m based in Chicago, I will be in need of a flight, rental car, and hotel.

In this example, I’m using both Priceline and Expedia. Then, I’ll look at prices booked directly.

The search engines provided the flights via United Airlines leaving July 21 at night and returning first thing in the morning on July 28. The hotel I’d prefer to stay is the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Memphis/Olive Branch. Expedia and Priceline offered similiar rental cars from Enterprise.

Here’s the break down.

For the car, hotel, and airfare, Priceline came in the cheapest with a pricetag of $1384.12

Expedia came in at second place for the vacation packages with the pricetag of $1,507.95.

Lastly, booking seperately was $50 more with a final cost of $1,557.36.

Going Beyond the Numbers

When considering your options, it’s important to look beyond just the pricing. If your main goal is to save money and you’re not concerned about making changes or receiving a refund, then Priceline could be a suitable option.

However, booking directly with the hotel has the advantage of not being caught between two companies if you need to make changes. For example, let’s say I arrive in Memphis and realize I only need the hotel for fewer days than I originally booked.

If I had booked directly with the hotel, I could work with them to modify my reservation. Booking through a third party limits my flexibility since more often than not — all sales are final — and makes it more difficult to make changes.

When booking through third-party websites, one thing to consider is the limitation on earning points. In my experience with websites like Priceline, it’s not possible to accrue American Airlines miles/loyalty points or Marriott Bonvoy points. If earning miles and points is a significant factor for you, you may want to weigh your options carefully before making a decision.

Things to Watch for When Booking Packages

I cannot stress enough the importance of reading the fine print. Often times, online travel agencies and third party websites list prices per traveler which can be confusing if you’re not careful.

It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the cancellation policy before booking vacation packages and to carefully consider the potential risks associated with making changes. While booking vacation packages can offer cost savings, for greater flexibility, it may be preferable to book directly and select your preferred car agency, airline, and hotel.

Credit Card Travel Portals Can Be Beneficial

When considering travel bookings, one may find advantages in using a credit card portal. Providers such as Chase Travel and American Express offer generous points incentives for bookings made through their platforms.

For instance, my Capital One Venture card allows me to earn five miles per dollar when booking a hotel or rental car through the Capital One Travel portal. Similarly, my Amex Hilton card enables me to earn five Hilton Honor Bonus Points for each dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.

Given the already high costs associated with travel, it is wise to ensure that one maximizes the value of every dollar spent. Utilizing a credit card travel portal presents the opportunity to accrue points or miles for each purchase.