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Be it summer holidays or a long weekend, everyone starts planning to travel somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In such a situation, when a very cheap and attractive ‘travel package’ appears on the internet, people rush to book it without thinking much. Companies show such low prices in the beginning that it seems like a profitable deal to anyone.
But have you ever wondered why a trip that seems so cheap in the beginning completely ruins your budget by the time it reaches the end? In fact, there are many hidden charges and tricks behind these cheap packages, which the companies never reveal in the beginning. Let us understand in very easy and practical language what is the real mathematics of low cost travel packages.
1. The changing game of flights and peak-season
Cheap travel packages are often designed at rates that are expected to be in the off-season or when tourists are less likely to travel there. But as soon as you go to confirm the booking for your preferred dates, especially holidays or weekends, the prices of flight tickets and hotels start skyrocketing. During peak season, this difference becomes so huge that the initial base price becomes just an illusion and you have to pay a lot of extra money from your pocket.
2. Hidden taxes and extra fees at the time of booking
Travel companies deliberately display only the base price on the website to attract customers. But as soon as you reach the last page of payment, GST, huge service charge, resort fee, and many other small local taxes are added to it. Due to these expenses not being visible in the beginning, the passenger thinks that the deal is very cheap, but as soon as the final bill comes in hand, the total amount goes out of the budget.
Comparing the real pros and cons of cheap packages
You can easily understand the reality shown by a cheap package and the actual expenses incurred during the journey from the table given below:
| What is shown in the package? (The Bait) | What is the ground reality? (The Reality) | Extra Expense |
| Great hotels at low prices | The hotel is far away from the city, in a secluded area or has very basic facilities. | Heavy upgrade charges in the name of good location, better view or deluxe room. |
| promise to tour the whole city | The schedule is so tight and hectic that you are not able to enjoy any place. | To travel comfortably, travelers have to spend extra days and increase their stay expenses. |
| Local transport included | Trains are available only for some fixed points, there is no facility for other places. | Airport transfer, local auto, taxi, sightseeing and entry tickets paid separately. |
3. Budget hotel and room upgrade affair
The hotels included in low-cost packages are often located far from the main tourist destinations or in places that are difficult to reach. Moreover, the rooms are quite basic with no basic amenities like ventilation, good view or breakfast. When a traveler feels inconvenience after reaching there, the hotel management charges them a huge amount to convert ‘Standard Room’ into ‘Deluxe Room’.
4. Additional burden of local transport and entry tickets
Many packages cleverly exclude local transport altogether. You have to pay for airport transfers, local taxi or bus fare from your own pocket. Apart from this, entry tickets to the historical buildings or parks to which you are taken, guide fees and food expenses for the day are also excluded from the package, thereby adding up to your daily expenses.
5. Limited planning and incomplete journey in less time
Cheap packages often have a rush-hour schedule. They claim to show you 5 to 6 places in a single day, due to which you are left only sitting in the vehicles and not able to experience any place properly. To avoid this incomplete planning and fatigue, travelers often add extra days to their trip or book a different hotel on their own. In this way, the trip which initially seemed within the budget, turns out to be twice as expensive as expected by the time it is completed.
Tips to book wisely
Don’t make the mistake of immediately booking any cheap looking travel package just because of its low price. Before pressing the booking button, read the ‘Terms & Conditions’ and ‘Exclusions’ sections very carefully. Check the location of the hotel yourself on Google Map and get complete clarity about transportation. Only by having correct and transparent information will you be able to truly enjoy your vacation without any mental stress.
