I've always been weary of booking in packages (air+hotel+car etc.). The travel websites always advertise that it's cheaper but only because a) they'll most of the time give you the crappiest flights b) they'll give you the lowest priced rooms (e.g. streetview at a beachfront resort-- of course it'll be cheaper!) Most of the time, I can find the airfare and the hotel separately for near the amount of the package they offer ( I actually did a triral search where the non-package price was $200 less for better flights and a better room).

When we went to Belize, I purchased tickets on Travelocity and then went through Hotels.com because Travelocity's cancellation policy was to restrictive and I didn't want to lose a lot of $$. (fyi-- hotels.com cancellation policy is the best one I've seen out there lately).

So I decide to book a package for the first time on Expedia-- only because it was late Friday night and I was tired and I didn't want to put a new profile on USAir. Got the hotel and air at Expedia. Click. Click. Purchase. Well, today, Expedia coincidentally sends an email for a special at the hotel I just booked-- freebies worth $400! I called them up and they said that they can't retro the promo and I can't just cancel and rebook the hotel portion since I purchased the package. :complain: To cancel and rebook the whole thing would cost me $150/ per ticket-- which pretty much negates the whole promo!

So why why why did I do this???? It annoys me that for the convenience that packages offer, it sure does give you even more limitations! :complain:

Do you like to book packages. Anyone with happy stories? Sad stories? Please share!

never. i always book everything myself and bargain hunt like mad. actually the planning/booking is the fun part for me. it's the thrill of the hunt :lol:

for example i now have a full size rental car for a week in orlando for only $133 including all the taxes etc. when i first booked it was over $180 but i keep checking several times a week and the rates are going down.....so i cancel the old and book the new (no charge for this online).

i also book air directly with the airline online. it is generally cheaper.

I dont think we've ever booked a package, except to vegas (air/hotel combo). Like Kim, I enjoy hunting for bargains. Like I can usually get the cheapest car rental rate thru a deal on my credit card (rental agency affiliated w/ FF miles program....plus I get double miles for it). And like Kim, I like that we can cancel hotel & car pretty much up till we get there w/o a penalty!