Do Your Own Math

Most airlines and booking engines sell packages that lump together airfare, hotel and sometimes meals, airport transfers and activities into one price. The vagueness of the combo approach favors airlines and hotels because it allows them to quickly fill up planes and rooms without announcing how low theyre willing to go. Certainly, packages can be incredible deals, but occasionally theyre not. To be sure, check DealBase.com, which will break down most packages and tally up the bill for each individual component of the deal.