Vacations

Advertised vacation prices are starting rates. They assume double occupancy, the cheapest cabin or room category, and dates nobody wants. The real number appears after you pick your dates.

That is not a reason to ignore sales. It is a reason to treat the headline as a starting point for a quote and to read three things before you book: what is excluded, what the deposit terms are, and what the cancellation policy actually says.

Using points on package vacations

Packages are usually poor value for point redemptions, because the components are discounted below what the points are worth. Earning is a different matter: package bookings often carry large earning promotions, like the current American Airlines Vacations offer of 5X to 11X miles and Loyalty Points per dollar.

If you are chasing airline status, a package booking can be one of the cheapest ways to generate qualifying activity. If you are chasing value, compare the package against booking the flight and hotel separately before you commit.