Save up to 36% on five-star hotels when you book them together with flights.
Last month we packaged up some juicy tropical-flavored Hawaiian deals for flights and hotels. This month we’re doing the same, only a little closer to home for many – in the glorious warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
Package deals are a funny thing. Many travelers look down on them as a low-end booking approach. But they can be as valuable as buried treasure, offering premium seats and high-star hotels — for much less. Intended as an incentive, these deals are negotiated by airlines and hotels well ahead of time, so lower prices are built into the system intermittently. In my experience, the price difference between package deals and buying fares and accommodations separately can sometimes be huge. Let’s dig for treasure.
How to Save $2,250 / 27% at the Ritz Carlton Aruba
If you book a King room at the Ritz Carlton in Aruba, near the northern tip of South America, expect a price tag of $6,194 for five nights,.
Tack on a couple of First Class round-trip tickets on United from Chicago to Aruba, and you’re looking at another $2,028.
So, for $8,222, you get the Ritz Carlton and two First Class tickets when you buy them separately, as most people do. But if you book them through United Vacations, the price tag is $5,972.
Pick the Right Package
Right now, when you book a hotel directly, you’re paying up to 27% more than normal, given the high “revenge travel” demand. Packages make a lot of sense these days, more than ever before at times. We’ve written about them recently here and here.
However, as we mentioned last month regarding Hawaiian packages, they’re not a blanket solution. You have to dig out the good ones. Here’s another example of a Caribbean package up for grabs.
How to Save $2,162 / 27% at the Fairmont El San Juan
If you book a King Villa Room at the Fairmont in San Juan for five nights, expect a price tag of $6,187.
Tack on a couple of First Class round-trip tickets on United from NYC/Newark to San Juan, and you’re looking at another $1,928.
So, for $8,115, you get the Fairmont and two First Class tickets when you buy them separately, as most people do. But if you book them together through Orbitz, the price tag is only $5,953 with United flights.
More Examples
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