| When you have to travel on a budget, one of the | | | | deals on travel packages, since the required single |
| biggest questions is whether it is best to plan each part | | | | increase can often make the deal not worth it. Don?t |
| of your trip independently, making separate airfare and | | | | despair; there are great deals out there if package |
| hotel reservations, or to opt for a package deal where | | | | deals are too expensive or aren?t your thing, and it is |
| everything is included for one price. | | | | often a better option, especially if you are traveling |
| Unfortunately, there isn?t one east answer to this | | | | alone. |
| dilemma, because it depends on where you want to | | | | One important tip is to find out exactly what is and |
| go, and what deals are available at the time. For | | | | isn?t included in any package deal that you are |
| example, traveling to many to European cities is often | | | | considering. Most travel packages include optional |
| less costly to arrange yourself, especially in the | | | | excursions, which can add considerable expense, and |
| off-season, when airlines are running specials on flights | | | | blow your budget. Try to get a detailed daily schedule |
| to Europe. | | | | to make sure you won?t be on your own if you don?t |
| On the other hand, if you want to travel to an exotic | | | | buy into the options. It?s also a good idea to ask for a |
| place, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, or | | | | list of the optional outings available, including |
| Asia, it is often less expensive and easier when | | | | descriptions and costs, so that you can compare what |
| arrange by a package company or travel agent. This | | | | the price would be to what you could arrange on your |
| is due in part to travel agencies having special deals | | | | own. |
| with the national airlines and resorts of these countries, | | | | If you are traveling alone, make sure you start planning |
| and they are able to provide substantial discounts in | | | | ahead, especially when it comes to airfare |
| exchange for a steady flow of business. | | | | arrangements. The important thing to remember is that |
| For example, last year I traveled solo to Egypt from | | | | there are only a certain number of first come, first |
| New York for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, | | | | serve seats the advertised low fares, and if you wait |
| an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and | | | | too long you won?t get the lower rate. It is important |
| daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the | | | | to reserve your airfare and your lodging as early as |
| pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. This is a far better | | | | possible to make sure you get the best available |
| deal than I could have arranged on my own, since | | | | prices. |
| airfare alone would have cost over $700. The secret | | | | In the end, the decision whether to choose a package |
| of this great deal was the relationship of the tour | | | | deal or independent travel an individual decision based |
| operator with Egypt air and the hotel at which we | | | | on the traveler?s situation. Make sure to carefully |
| stayed. | | | | compare package prices with those for independently |
| There are similarly great deals for many Asian | | | | arranging travel to the same destination. And don?t |
| locations, particularly India, China and Taiwan. Make | | | | forget to take your own personal travel style into |
| sure to research the availability of these types of | | | | account. Some people are more cut out for a |
| package deals when looking to travel abroad on a | | | | packaged tour, particularly to an new destination, while |
| budget. | | | | others prefer the freedom from itineraries that |
| Solo travelers often have trouble getting the great | | | | independent travel offers. |