| When traveling on a budget, one of the most | | | | Of course, some great deals can be had on your |
| often asked questions is whether it is best to | | | | own as well, and this is often a great way to go, |
| travel independently, reserving your own airfare, | | | | especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers |
| hotel stay and sightseeing reservations, or choose | | | | often have difficulty getting those great deals on |
| a package tour where everything is set up for | | | | package deals, since the required single |
| you in advance. | | | | supplement can often ruin the deal. |
| Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this | | | | It is also important to find out exactly what is, |
| question. It is largely dependent on the location | | | | and what is not included, in any package you are |
| you have selected and dates of travel. For | | | | considering. Many package deals have optional |
| instance, travel to European destinations are often | | | | excursions built in, and these extras can add |
| less costly to book on your own, especially when | | | | considerable cost. Be sure to ask for a detailed |
| the airlines are running specials of European | | | | daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on |
| airfares in the off-season. | | | | your own if you fail to take these optional. Also |
| On the other hand, travel to many exotic | | | | ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, |
| locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South | | | | including full descriptions and prices, and then |
| Africa, Thailand, and India, are often much less | | | | carefully compare the total price to what you |
| expensive when booked through a vacation | | | | could find on your own. |
| package company or travel agent. That is | | | | If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start |
| because these tour operators often have special | | | | shopping early, especially if you are traveling by |
| deals with the national airlines of these companies, | | | | air. The important thing to remember is that |
| and with very nice resort hotels, to provide | | | | airlines allocate only so many seats for those |
| considerable discounts in exchange for a steady | | | | advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly, |
| flow of business. | | | | you may be out of luck. It is important to book |
| For instance, with a little bit of shopping, you can | | | | the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to |
| book a vacation package from New York to | | | | ensure the lowest possible prices. |
| Egypt for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, | | | | Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a |
| an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport | | | | vacation package deal or independent travel is up |
| transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including | | | | to each individual traveler. It is important to |
| guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the | | | | carefully compare package prices with those for |
| Sphinx. This is far less than you would have paid if | | | | independent travel to the same location. It is also |
| you had booked this trip independently. | | | | important to consider your own personal travel |
| Similar deals exist for other locations, notably | | | | style. Some people are more comfortable with a |
| India, China, and Taiwan. So be sure to check on | | | | packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, |
| the availability of these package deals when | | | | while others relish the freedom from schedules |
| shopping for a budget travel deal. | | | | that independent travel provides. |