Sometimes packages can be a bargain

People often ask me if it’s cheaper to buy a vacation package or to book airfare and hotel on their own.

It depends. While packages can be a bargain, compare total costs to see whether a package is a good deal.

Travel retailers can offer special rates on packages by bundling airfare and hotel, and sometimes rental and tours.

Last-minute packages are often a bargain. Several Web sites offer weekend getaway packages, including airlines, Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and our own Bestfares.com.

Still, planning ahead gives you access to cheaper airfares, greater airline seat availability and greater hotel choices. If you wait until the last minute, seats may not be available to your desired destination.

If you’re traveling during a peak period, prices for last-minute packages will be higher. Last summer, planes were full and the package prices we saw weren’t as cheap as off-season travel.

Do your homework by checking rates for airfare and hotel and comparing them against package rates that you find. If you have plenty of time, wait for sales on airfare and hotel. Make sure that the rates you’re comparing include taxes, fees and surcharges, so that you’ll have an accurate picture.

We occasionally see kids-fly-free offers, often combined with kids-stay-free promos, on vacation packages to destinations such as Walt Disney World and Disneyland, ski locales, Mexico and the Caribbean. These offers are usually available for children ages 2 to 11 or 12.

Once again, compare components to see whether you’ll save money, and keep in mind that many hotels will allow kids that age to stay free in the same room anyway.

Package rates do offer the convenience of one-stop shopping, saving you time and often saving you money.