Dulciusexasperis--I think we are splitting hairs about wording. You say it's not booking independently but when you go on any website to do a buy tickets for a flight, you are booking through a website which was set up by programmers and with prices carefully determined by airlines. Just for grins, before your next trip call Delta Vacations or AA Vacations etc, or even Gate 1 (Gate 1 is limited because they don't offer open jaw) and see how much it is for round trip air from your home city and a couple nights hotel or a car rental. MAYBE it will be cheaper than booking Delta or AA without the "package". We used Gate 1 once because it was much cheaper to use Gate 1's price for round trip Bangkok-LAX plus 7 nights hotel in Bangkok than just booking airfare online direct from a carrier. We spent a month traveling by train and short hop flights throughout Thailand and Cambodia after our first week in Bangkok. That Thailand trip and what we did for 5 months isn't different than what we are doing this summer. Nobody is showing us around, nobody is with a group, the company has no idea where we are other than spending a couple nights in a hotel they arranged at a discounted price. We do what we want, when we want, where we want. I don't understand what you think the difference is between booking a flight online with an airline and booking a flight online with a flight plus a few nights hotel included when it's cheaper than the flight alone. My goal is to save money so I can travel longer, which is why I posted to begin with.

Here's an example of a Gate 1 "independent" package. It includes flight plus 5 nights in a Munich hotel and a car rental but you don't have to stay in that hotel or rent the car. You can stay up to a month traveling wherever you want to, staying where you want but return to Munich to fly home. Nobody is with you on your trip. (Gate 1 doesn't allow open jaw). Often this kind of independent package is cheaper than airfare direct from the carrier.
https://www.gate1travel.com/europe/g...ebavfds19.aspx

Here's an example of a Gate 1 "escorted travel" that includes flights, hotels, tours, meals and you go with a group together.
https://www.gate1travel.com/europe/g...alpchma19.aspx