Anatomy of a Package Deal

When I searched the Internet for air-hotel packages to London, Go-today's offer sounded unbelievably cheap: a "London Escape" deal, including round-trip air to the British capital and four nights' hotel, for $459. Flights alone were running more than $500, and a hotel search showed little for under $150 a night.

But packages can be messy things. Go-today (800-227-3235, http://www.go-today.com/) offers a base package that you then customize by hotel choice, departure airport and date. That $459 starting price was per person based on double occupancy; I was traveling alone. And for the dates I wanted, the cheapest package for one traveler jumped to $679. Then there was the $70 added on for my Washington area departure. (Go-today calculated the flights leaving from New York.)

The final quote, including taxes: $858.29. That still beat the package prices I was seeing elsewhere by at least $35. I booked the nonrefundable trip and crossed my fingers that the flights and hotel I had chosen were still available.

The good news: The company booked me on a nonstop flight from Washington Dulles to London Heathrow and upgraded my return connecting flight to a nonstop. The bad news: The budget hotel I'd requested wasn't available for my dates, and the next level would cost an additional $70. If I declined the upgrade, I could cancel the entire package without penalty, but in the meantime I was seeing other package prices go up and flights sell out. I accepted the price, gritting my teeth at the final add-on: an inexplicable $12 "ticket delivery fee" for an electronic ticket. Total cost: $940.29.

When booking a package, check the company's standing with the Better Business Bureau. Membership in professional organizations -- such as the U.S. Tour Operators Association, which requires companies to carry a minimum $1 million of liability insurance, and to have been in business for at least three years under the same management -- is a good sign. Always pay by credit card, in case you need to dispute any charges.

Other air-hotel package providers for European destinations include:

* Virgin Vacations,888-937-8474, http://www.virgin-vacations.com/.

* Gate 1 Travel,800-682-3333, http://www.gate1travel.com/.

* Apple Vacations,800-517-2000, http://www.applevacations.com/.

* CheapTickets,888-922-8849, http://www.cheaptickets.com/.

* The big booking sites book vacation packages: Try Expedia.com (800-506-0170, http://www.expedia.com/), Orbitz.com (800-504-3248, http://www.orbitz.com/) and Travelocity.com (888-872-8356, http://www.travelocity.com/).

* Locate a travel agent through the American Society of Travel Agents, http://www.travelsense.org/.

-- A.M.