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Cheap-vacation-travel-packages-versus-independent-budget-travel
By smgenie
When traveling on a budget, one of the most often asked questions is whether it is best to independently, reserving your own airfare, hotel stay and sightseeing reservations, or choose a package tour where everything is set up for you in advance.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It is largely dependent on the location you have selected and dates of travel. For instance, to European destinations are often less costly to book on your own, especially when the airlines are running specials of European airfares in the off-season.

On the other hand, to many exotic locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand, and India, are often much less expensive when booked through a vacation package company or agent. That is because these tour operators often have special deals with the national airlines of these companies, and with very nice resort hotels, to provide considerable discounts in exchange for a steady flow of business.

For instance, with a little bit of shopping, you can book a vacation package from New York to Egypt for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. This is far less than you would have paid if you had booked this trip independently.

Similar deals exist for other locations, notably India, China, and Taiwan. So be sure to check on the availability of these package deals when shopping for a budget deal.

Of course, some great deals can be had on your own as well, and this is often a great way to go, especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers often have difficulty getting those great deals on package deals, since the required single supplement can often ruin the deal.

It is also important to find out exactly what is, and what is not included, in any package

100 cool places in Arizona
Grand vistas? Check. Funky restaurants? On the list. Wild and woolly history? You got it. Arizona marks the centennial of its statehood, so we scoured the state and found five score places for your "must" list.<br/><br/>Western Arizona <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XPxmU7LaGBTsv7rNbOoFm0d1Irw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XPxmU7LaGBTsv7rNbOoFm0d1Irw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XPxmU7LaGBTsv7rNbOoFm0d1Irw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XPxmU7LaGBTsv7rNbOoFm0d1Irw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/34ls8UYH14c" height="1" width="1"/>
Arizona: First-rate journeys in the 48th state
When Arizona sought to become a state, an Indiana senator stood in its way, and President Taft vetoed the first try.<br/><br/>To get a modern-day perspective on the euphoria Arizonans felt on Feb. 14, 1912, when they were granted statehood, try to imagine the Cardinals winning the Super Bowl. Or the Diamondbacks winning the World Series. Or the Suns at long last nailing the NBA Championship. The territory had lusted after the equal status that came with statehood much like a teenager waiting for his driver's license. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t0bPvr_hgRk9VgP_LMe4vPiQPHA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t0bPvr_hgRk9VgP_LMe4vPiQPHA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t0bPvr_hgRk9VgP_LMe4vPiQPHA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/t0bPvr_hgRk9VgP_LMe4vPiQPHA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/N1VEHro7aC0" height="1" width="1"/>
Latest news at Grand Canyon National Park
Visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park this year will find new water-bottle refilling stations, a South Rim bicycle rental and bike-tour operation is expected to open, a multiuse trail is expected to be finished, and more.<br/><br/>Grand Canyon National Park, the 5-million or 6-million-year-old granddaddy of Arizona tourism, logged 4.3 million visitors last year. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mWwiRvBqxH13K1HYTzgrbbPiVaw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mWwiRvBqxH13K1HYTzgrbbPiVaw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mWwiRvBqxH13K1HYTzgrbbPiVaw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/mWwiRvBqxH13K1HYTzgrbbPiVaw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/zZnuwNd286c" height="1" width="1"/>
Dining out in Phoenix with Dodger Andre Ethier
The Arizona native is a devoted foodie and loves chasing down hole-in-the-wall joints and trendy new places. Here are a few Phoenix-area favorites.<br/><br/>For Phoenix food tips, we turned to Andre Ethier, who summers in the right corner of Dodger Stadium and winters at his ranch in Chandler, 30 minutes south of Phoenix. The Arizona native is a devoted foodie &mdash; chasing down hole-in-the-wall joints and new, trendy places whenever he gets the chance. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ViEqwcOcn5PCIig1opef0rcKP14/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ViEqwcOcn5PCIig1opef0rcKP14/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ViEqwcOcn5PCIig1opef0rcKP14/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ViEqwcOcn5PCIig1opef0rcKP14/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/jPmJjDFmpY0" height="1" width="1"/>
Travel experts share bargain-hunting tips
Los Angeles Times Travel Show: Experts from Travelzoo, LivingSocial and JohnnyJet.com share strategies for stretching vacation dollars.<br/><br/>If you don't know where you're going on vacation this year, you may not be indecisive. You might just be a bargain hunter. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HchKaaDTZNHe0oILArbtYbxs6SM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HchKaaDTZNHe0oILArbtYbxs6SM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HchKaaDTZNHe0oILArbtYbxs6SM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HchKaaDTZNHe0oILArbtYbxs6SM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/XVO5AUaL2D0" height="1" width="1"/>
Romantic getaways
A vibrant street life, stunning visuals, food and drink that sweeten your lips. The world's most romantic places seem to share these traits. But there is something more: a sense of style and spirit, a pace that's almost musical. Here's a list of ethereal places -- some expected, some not -- that can easily capture your heart.<br/><br/>Berlin: Put Berlin next to Paris and you have both sides of the coin: romance, which occasionally appeals, and eros, which never fails. "Berlin is sexy," said the German capital's openly gay Mayor Klaus Wowereit, and it's been that way since the iniquitous Weimar Republic of Marlene Dietrich and cabaret, when only verboten was a naughty word. Recent influxes of German hipsters and clued-in foreigners are (as the song says) "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)" with Berlin's outré art scene, drinking in all-night bars where mind-numbing absinthe is the poison of choice, and dressing in provocative Weimar styles for Bohème Sauvage, an on-going series of nightclub parties with dancing to hot jazz, backroom poker and floor shows featuring scantily clad performers of undetermined sex. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jPkxS4uT4VvO1Lo7RdNrMDAU2Q8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jPkxS4uT4VvO1Lo7RdNrMDAU2Q8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jPkxS4uT4VvO1Lo7RdNrMDAU2Q8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jPkxS4uT4VvO1Lo7RdNrMDAU2Q8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/gD70SeTkg3I" height="1" width="1"/>
Hollywood finds romance in travel
On a train 'North by Northwest' and others, on a bus in 'It Happened One Night,' in Italy in 'Roman Holiday,' in Bali in 'Eat, Pray, Love' &#8212; love is all around.<br/><br/>Love is always lovelier some place other than home. Well, at least in the celluloid universe. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9Ep_dFTeA0BVVUtyK7MS82aYYOA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9Ep_dFTeA0BVVUtyK7MS82aYYOA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9Ep_dFTeA0BVVUtyK7MS82aYYOA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9Ep_dFTeA0BVVUtyK7MS82aYYOA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/Jw20SZSobcQ" height="1" width="1"/>
Indy tips for Super Bowl visitors
OK, you somehow scored Super Bowl tix. Congrats. Shouldn&rsquo;t everyone&rsquo;s uncle be a regional fleet manager for Ford?<br/><br/>OK, you somehow scored Super Bowl tix. Congrats. Shouldn&rsquo;t everyone&rsquo;s uncle be a regional fleet manager for Ford? <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/G7ECjb7E_QRNRvkhtuG5wxmKFY4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/G7ECjb7E_QRNRvkhtuG5wxmKFY4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/G7ECjb7E_QRNRvkhtuG5wxmKFY4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/G7ECjb7E_QRNRvkhtuG5wxmKFY4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/Hl2jKJwYO9E" height="1" width="1"/>
Cooking up gourmet adventures across the West
A guide to the hotels, resorts and other locales in the West that offer travelers hand's-on cooking lessons.<br/><br/>Cooking classes are sprouting like shiitake mushrooms across the West, often in gorgeous locations. For travelers who want to plan their gourmet adventures, we've found restaurants, hotels, lodges, resorts and culinary academies where they can improve their home-chef skills with hands-on lessons, demonstrations or tutoring by noted chefs. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BFoY9DXihQS8qermaYzL_Y88240/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BFoY9DXihQS8qermaYzL_Y88240/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BFoY9DXihQS8qermaYzL_Y88240/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BFoY9DXihQS8qermaYzL_Y88240/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/XfMAQG4NEkA" height="1" width="1"/>
12 places to visit in 2012
From historical celebrations to Oregon wines to a diamond jubilee in Britain to Warhol in Arkansas, here are a dozen places to explore and enjoy.<br/><br/>New Mexico: This year, New Mexicans mark 100 years of statehood. But much of the state's appeal stems from its human history that goes back much further. (In 2010, Santa Fe celebrated 400 years of cityhood.) Explore here: the adobe architecture and art galleries of Santa Fe; the vintage signage along old Route 66; the lingering hippie vibe of Truth or Consequences. Don't forget the Lightning Field, an art installation outside Quemado where (for $150 to $250 a person) you spend a summer night in a wood cabin and wait to see if lightning will strike one of the 400 tall steel poles outside your door. Even if there's no strike, the sky puts on shows at sunset and sunrise that will leave you in awe. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TKG1ZPX1ejRk_XExaQDmltHXSp4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TKG1ZPX1ejRk_XExaQDmltHXSp4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TKG1ZPX1ejRk_XExaQDmltHXSp4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/TKG1ZPX1ejRk_XExaQDmltHXSp4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/travel/~4/Ld3egPKkyIs" height="1" width="1"/>

you are considering. Many package deals have optional excursions built in, and these extras can add considerable cost. Be sure to ask for a detailed daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on your own if you fail to take these optional. Also ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, including full descriptions and prices, and then carefully compare the total price to what you could find on your own.

If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start shopping early, especially if you are traveling by air. The important thing to remember is that airlines allocate only so many seats for those advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly, you may be out of luck. It is important to book the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to ensure the lowest possible prices.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a vacation package deal or independent is up to each individual traveler. It is important to carefully compare package prices with those for independent to the same location. It is also important to consider your own personal style. Some people are more comfortable with a packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, while others relish the freedom from schedules that independent provides.

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smgenie
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