Freeda

Hi <BR>Has anyone been successful at booking the following type of flight package? I've seen newspaper advertisements (Boston Globe) for airlines offering off-season roundtrip fares from Boston to London at $500 per person. These packages have included 3 nights stay at specified London hotels. While I haven't gone through a travel agent yet....I have done some research on the said airlines' web sites and have not yet been able to see this offer repeated. Are these ads just a gimmick or can someone actually tell me they've been able to get this sort of deal for real? <BR>Would love to hear from you if you have! <BR> <BR> It sort of reminds me of some auto dealer ads where they advertise a great deal but they neglect to mention that the steering wheel and tires are extra??!! <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR>Freeda <BR>

Jayelle

While I can't speak to the specific deal that you saw, I would warn you to be careful when looking at packages with prices that seem to good to be true. Often the price of the package is actually based on the specific hotel that you choose, and as you mentioned, there are usually multiple hotels to choose from. The low price that is shown in the ads is usually for the cheapest hotel on the list. As you might guess, the cheapest hotel may not be up to your standards. Be sure to do your research on the hotels offered with the package before you buy it so that you don't end up with sub-standard accommodations.

sand

the packages were real. they were advertised here in the d.c area, too. but that was at least four weeks ago.

elaine

Freeda <BR>In general the airline hotel-air packages are good deals, especially off season, as long as there are two of you traveling together. However, as already mentioned, you have to research their hotels, both for amenities and for location. Too often the airllines list hotels that are more convenient to the airport than they are to the center of town.

Shasson

I'm not sure about those types of deals, but my wife and I and another couple did book a flight/hotel deal thru web travel agent go-today.com and had a fantastic experience. Our off-season trip (late February, when London is warmer than Boston or Chicago, no doubt) was for 6 nights lodging with r/t airfare and other goodies for just barely over $500 per person, inclusive. Great flight (Virgin Atlantic), good-enough hotel, airport transfer via mini-bus etc. This year the rates appear to be a tiny bit higher. Go-today.com is much discussed in Fodors forums, of course. <BR>Not sure if that helps.

tcc

Hi Freeda: <BR> <BR>I went on a trip to Paris through a package like this last March and it was wonderful. Of course the cost went up as more days were added to the trip and so forth but it still came out to be a lot less than what we would have paid if we did the hotel and flight separately. As the other posters said though, research is key.

Allison

These deals are definitely real and I have been to London on one of the British Airways sales. It is true that the low price is based on their lowest price hotels, but in the case of British Airways, their lowest price hotels (Royal National and Tavistock) are fine and are in Bloomsbury which is a very convenient place to stay. If the deal you saw advertised in the Boston Globe was British Airways, it actually was on their web site but I think they took it off once the last date to book was over (I'm not sure when that was).

s!

Hi! <BR>Try the websites for Virgin Airlines and British Airways. Also try the sunday NY Times. There are usually pretty good package deals from these two airline listed in ads. I have never taken a package trip... but I would if the price was right. Good luck.

Maira

There are very legitimate low cost off season offers to Europe. I know this because I have taken two of these. In November 1993, we paid $589/pp for a week in Southern Spain, included RT from NYC/Kennedy, hotel (beautiful APARTMENT in Malaga), and a day trip to Ronda. In May 1994, we paid $559/pp flew from NYC to Rome, car unlimited miles. These were advertised on USA Today newspaper and the flights were packed. Somebody is taking advantage....

Ed

Without addressing a specific offer, these off-season deals are real. They've been around for years. Most commonly found for London, though also elsewhere from time to time. Expect them to be valid for a very limited time, usually in the dead of winter. Obviously the airlines are looking at filling seats that will fly, whether empty or not. <BR> <BR>For some technical reasons it's possible to offer a package of air fare with hotel for less than the 'normal' and 'approved' air fare, and arguably, in the eyes of the airlines, more desirable to do so. Strange but true. <BR> <BR>More often the not the hotel will not be particularly desirable, at least to many. Check it out carefully. <BR> <BR>If you find the hotel unsatisfactory, don't despair. You'll probably find the package is so well-priced that you can afford to throw away the hotel, buy your own, and still come out miles ahead. And, quite frankly, the airlines expect many or most travelers that use these packages to discard the hotel part of the offer. <BR> <BR>Strange business, eh? But some good off-season opportunities for those who can take advantage of them. <BR> <BR>Ed

Freeda

Hey folks <BR>Thanks for all the great testimony and quick responses. It's been most helpful! <BR>We are definitley fired up now to make some plans.Wehave looked into the British Airways and Virgin airlines and arefinding what some of you have reported to be true....now..just to research the hotels and ....which deal do we pick!!!! <BR>Thanks so much...there's nothing like word of mouth from people who have done it already! <BR> <BR>Freeda