Discount Foreign Travel Packages

Not All Travel Packages Are Tours

A travel or vacation package is a combination of airfare, hotels and transportation reservations which are purchased together from one travel agency. The package may also include tour elements such as transportation between destinations, planned excursions, a professional tour guide and a scheduled itinerary. All tours are travel packages, but not all travel packages are tours.

Advantages of Foreign Travel Packages

The decision of whether to book each element of your travel separately or purchase a travel package really depends on the cost savings as well as the style of the individual traveler:

• Cost Savings - Discount foreign travel packages may, or may not save you money over booking your own airfare, hotel and sightseeing reservations. It depends upon your vacation location and when you plan to make the trip.
• Traveler Style - Some travelers prefer to select their own hotel or travel on a specific airline. These travelers may not be happy with a travel package. Some travelers might be willing to follow the tour's schedule in exchange for the comfort they feel traveling in an unfamiliar place.

Key Destinations for Vacation Packages

For some travel destinations, a vacation package is usually a much better buy than booking each travel element yourself. Travel to some of the more exotic destinations such as Belize, South Africa, Egypt and India are typically less expensive when booked as a vacation package because the package providers are given reduced airfare and hotel rates in exchange for guarantying the better hotels and the national airlines a certain number of vacationers.

Getting Legitimate Deals: Foreign Travel Package Tips

By Federal law, travel companies must list all the terms and conditions in their advertisements, but they often use vague or confusing terms. Avoid being lured in to fraudulent or unsatisfactory travel arrangements. Here are a few tips to make sure you receive the best vacation for your money:

• Avoid travel agencies that do not provide a telephone number to call for information. Having a telephone number does not guarantee that the agency is reputable, but getting questions answered over the phone by a "live person" will help provide you with the information you need to make your travel decision. Be sure you make notes of the date and time you called as well as the name of the person to whom you spoke. Take the time to record the questions you asked and the answers you received. These records could prove valuable if you don't receive what you think you paid for on your vacation.

• Be sure you understand which expenses are, and are not, covered by the package. For example, if your tour includes museums, confirm whether the museum admission is included. Ask which meals are included, and if beverages and tips are also included.

• Avoid deals that appear to be very inexpensive. Be sure that the price quoted is not just the down payment, with additional payments due at a later date. Read all of the details of the trip before agreeing to purchase the package and before making any payments.

• Avoid tour operators who are not willing to provide you with the exact airline, hotel and rental car company that are included in the package. You don't want to be surprised to find that the luxurious downtown hotel shown in the photograph has been replaced by a dingy, low-quality hotel on the outskirts of town.

• Be sure to ask for a daily itinerary, so that you can see exactly when you will have free time to explore sights on your own.

• Carefully review the descriptions and pricing of any optional excursions which are offered as part of the package. Compare the cost of the optional excursion versus the cost if you arranged the elements of the excursion on your own. Don’t forget to factor in any added conveniences of the excursion such as reduced wait time in line, specialized tour guides etc.

• Stay alert to travel scams. Remember the old saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Finding Discount Foreign Travel Packages

The major online travel websites such as Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline always include foreign travel packages, often at special discounted rates. Additionally, discounted travel packages can be found on websites that specialize in last minute discounts or on unusual foreign travel packages. Some of these specialty discount travel websites include:

• TravelZoo.com
• LowestFare.com
• EconomyTravel.com
• TheTravelSite.com

Watch When You Book

Booking early may, or may not be the best deal on discount foreign travel packages. As a rule of thumb, you get the best deals on travel packages the closer you get to the departure date. This is because the travel agency and tour operators have already booked a set number of seats and hotels and they would rather sell them at a discount right before departure than to have them go empty. Continually watch the prices shown on several websites. The best deals will probably be available seven to fourteen days before departure.

You might be able to save some money if you book very early, like months before your departure. But remember, if you need to cancel or change your travel plans, you could end up paying large cancellation fees which might be equal to, or larger than, your savings.