Are Vacation Packages the Best Travel Deals?

You have to do the math. They might be cheaper in total, but you might forgo chances to earn points and miles.
Carissa Rawson
By Carissa Rawson 
Updated
Edited by Meg Lee

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Wanting to travel but not sure where to start? Vacation packages may seem like an appealing option, especially since they can bundle together multiple bookings at once. But are travel packages a good deal?

Let’s take a look at the costs of booking travel packages, how they compare with separate bookings and how much you could save by redeeming rewards points.

Costs of booking vacation packages

There are a lot of moving parts when booking a vacation, especially when it comes to your travel itinerary. Plenty of websites offer the ability to book travel packages, but one of the more popular options is Costco Travel. Costco Travel vacation packages are available exclusively to members, though members can book them for others without the need to travel.

Costco’s travel packages can include flights, cars, hotels, theme park tickets and additional activities.

Here’s an example of a weeklong vacation for two adults to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, including flights, a hotel and theme park tickets:

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - costco travel

Your total out-of-pocket cost is $2,113.11, which isn’t bad for a vacation that includes Disney World admission. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll also be on the hook for Costco’s annual membership fee, which starts at $60 per year.

Other options for travel packages include airline websites such as Delta Vacations, American Airlines Vacations and United Vacations. However, not all travel packages are created equal.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Booking vacation packages on airline websites allows you to redeem your miles toward travel.

Here’s the same vacation through the Delta Vacations website, though this package doesn’t include theme park tickets. (Note that the cost listed is per person.)

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - universal holiday inn

Since theme park tickets aren’t included, you’ll need to purchase them separately.

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - disney

In this case, booking through Delta Vacations will cost you a total of $2,463.94 — a full $350 more than the identical package Costco Travel is offering. Those wondering "Is Costco Travel a good deal?" can answer a resounding yes in this scenario.

Costs when booking separately

So we’ve seen the difference in price for varying vacation packages, but what about when you book each item separately?

Here’s the same flight featured in those travel packages, which will run you $374.40 for two people.

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - delta air lines

Note that these tickets are main cabin fares, not basic economy, which means you’ll get seat assignments and standard boarding. Basic economy tickets are cheaper but lack these features, among other restrictions.

A seven-night stay at the Holiday Inn & Suites across from Universal Orlando will cost $993.41.

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - holiday inn orlando

Finally, you’ll want to add in those Disney World tickets for $1,225.10.

All told, your Orlando vacation would run you $2,592.91, which is more than either travel package offered by Costco Travel or Delta.

As you can see, booking a travel package can save you money — and in some cases the difference is significant — so when does it make sense to book separately? Short answer: when you care about elite status at a travel loyalty program.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Check the rates of all major hotel chains, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG, to find the best lodging rates before booking.

Frequent travelers will be aware of hotel loyalty programs, which reward repeating guests with amenities such as complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout. However, these loyalty program member benefits don’t apply to stays booked through third parties, which generally include those within travel packages.

If you have top-tier elite status, you could be missing out on hundreds of dollars' worth of perks by booking through a third party.

Costs when redeeming travel rewards points

There’s another option for value-seekers looking to save money, and it comes in the form of travel rewards. Points and miles can be redeemed for flights, hotels and even theme park tickets, drastically dropping the cost of your vacation.

In keeping with the above example, here’s the cost of that flight in miles when booked with Delta SkyMiles.

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - delta

You’ll be paying 24,000 miles round-trip for two passengers, plus $22.40 in taxes and fees.

IHG has dropped its award chart in favor of dynamic pricing, which means you pay variable figures depending on the night. For our example trip, your total would be 121,000 IHG points — though if you're an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card holder, you could expect to save some points because of the card's Fourth Reward Night Free discount.

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - ihg

And although you can’t use your rewards points to directly purchase Disney tickets, you can take advantage of a card such as the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card to apply your points as a statement credit toward the purchase.

tips for booking vacation packages and getting good travel deals - disney

In this case, you’d be redeeming 122,510 points at a rate of 1 cent each to pay for your tickets.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Disney ticket purchases don’t typically code as travel — but there's a way to do so if you book a vacation package from Disney or buy tickets through a site like Undercover Tourist. Cards like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer a way to use your miles to reimburse yourself for travel purchases, so this is one method to covering the cost of Disney tickets through points.

All in, you can build this Disney vacation for around 267,510 points and $22.40 in taxes and fees. Even better, elite members would be eligible for all the benefits and credits they’d normally receive.

There’s a cost associated with earning rewards points, but travelers can take advantage of credit card welcome offers to earn large lump-sum amounts of points. For this example, acquiring three different credit cards would almost entirely cover the cost of your vacation:

If you want to get good deals on vacation packages

Planning a vacation can get overwhelming very quickly, which can make travel packages a particularly compelling option. These packages can provide a great deal — and convenience — compared with separate bookings. Even so, those pursuing elite status with their preferred travel loyalty programs should stick with booking directly to get credit for their purchases and access to the perks.

Those looking to save as much money as possible can plan well in advance to get the right credit cards — at least six months ahead of your trip is recommended. Then, you can redeem points and miles for deeply discounted vacations, no matter where you're traveling.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Travel Cards from Our Partners
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Points
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-5x

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

Miles

Intro offer

75,000

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Miles
See more travel cards
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