RustyC

Are there ever jaw-dropper, give-away-the-store stype deals on flight + hotel (+ car) packages?

I ask this because more and more sites like Priceline or Expedia are really pushing combo deals hard, probably because they're still partially commissionable. There are also more coupon codes, sometimes even in the triple-digit-dollar range, out there that apply only to combo deals.

I've always been skeptical, but I guess it's theoretically possible to get a sale deal + a coupon and really get a bargain. If it's REALLY, really a deal I might even do it even if it doesn't earn usable miles. (It's why I fly Spirit sometimes, I guess).

Anyone found any of these yet?

JerryFF

Since you didn't mention any destination, I would offer that many casinos run big promotions with a number of airlines, especially Allegiant Air and Sun Country, to places like Las Vegas and Laughlin. Often you can get a free flight, depending on your status with the casino, or even if you don't gamble much, I know you can get great deals to Laughlin on Allegiant through Harrah's or on Sun Country through the Riverside.

pinniped

Personally, I've never seen a great package deal that included flights. When my wife and I commonly did weekend getaways, I'd troll the "last minute" sites looking for them. It was always easy to unpack the offer, find the true underlying flight cost, and figure out that they were getting you on the hotel.

For most offers, you'd earn miles on the flights but no points or status perks on the hotels.

I have, however, seen hotel + car offers from Marriott that have been worthwhile. Some Hawaiian properties offer them...every now and then, you'll find a property where the car-included rate is either the same or just a few bucks more than the best available rate. (I even thought of booking one and calling the hotel to negotiate something else besides a bundled rental car...)

Is it possible to Priceline an entire travel package at once? (That is, everything's opaque and you are bidding for it.)

SixAlpha

A buddy of mine just completed a trip to PHX using a package he had booked on Expedia. IIRC, the whole deal cost only a hundred bucks more than he would have paid just for the flight.

JerryFF

Next time I get one, I'll post it here. We get offers about once a month to 1) Reno-Tahoe, 2) LAS, and 3) Laughlin that all include flights and we are not big gamblers. Just go to your nearest Harrah's and get a Player's Card.

Rebelyell

I've found great weekend trips on Travelocity using last minute travel. They have "this weekend" and "next weekend." You can even book for just one person although you have to pay a suppliment. You will usually get a better deal booking through Travelocity than you will booking the same package with the airline.

You can book these trips with air and hotel, air and car, or I think air, hotel and car. Sometimes they are a GREAT deal. Sometimes not so great. They are especially good if you need to travel on short notice.

I used to use these quite a lot for business travel. I would drive to my business destination, work a few days, fly home for the weekend, fly back on Monday, work the week, and so on before finally driving home.

Canadasiaflyer

Depends where you want to go and stay. the best deals are never online. i never ever seen a blockbuster jaw dropping absolutely gotta book it now deal online on the whole shebang! . BUT I have seen huge discounted economy fares on obscure sites, not the main ones like Expedia or Travelocity. Once I get the quote on a nice air fare my travel agent here is only too happy to match it since they are all buying fares from the same people anyways. Good luck out here! ^