St. Thomas Vacation Packages: Are They Worth the Money

If you’ve decided that a vacation in St. Thomas is what you’d like, you might be trying to decide if you should purchase a St. Thomas vacation package.  You might be considering this and need to know if they’re worth it.  Almost all vacation package companies say they will save you money, but this may not, in fact, be the case.  Actually the kind of vacation package that you purchase is the determining factor.

First of all, consider what is being offered.  Most vacation packages offer hotel accommodations but some also include your airfare. Make sure that you examine what accommodations are offered.

If your airfare is included in the vacation package, it should specify what airline the reservations will be on.  It is a simple thing to then go online and price the airfare against what the package offers.  Also compare how many stops, if you have to change planes and what is the airline schedule.  If you’re unfamiliar with the airline, research them online and especially look at their on time arrival record.

Consider the cost of the hotel that you will be staying in as well as the safety factor.  The cost of the hotel or resort as well as the name should be specified upfront.  Once you know that, it’s easy to compare prices and determine the cost of the reservations.  You can look online, ask your travel agent or even call the hotel directly.

What are some of the other things included in your St. Thomas vacation package?  Often they might include entertainment or discount coupons on meals or tours.

Don’t confuse vacation packages with all-inclusive vacations.  They aren’t the same thing.  All-inclusive vacations include accommodations, entertainment, meals and travel and vacation packages don’t.  While entertainment is often similar and can be boat tours, SCUBA diving, beach activities, most vacation packages don’t include food and drinks.

Once you have determined the estimated cost of entertainment, travel, and overnight accommodations, you can compare your total to the total cost of the vacation package. You may be surprised to see a significant difference.  The difference often varies. There are many individuals who are given a great deal and others will actually lose money by purchasing a St. Thomas vacation package.

Why are some St. Thomas vacation packages considered bargains while others are too expensive?  Well it depends on many factors.  Is the package from a discount travel website?  If so, then you might get a better deal.  One thing to note though is that when you’re purchasing a St. Thomas vacation package, you might want to make sure there are no hidden fees.  These fees can significantly increase your cots.

One thing that might surprise many people is that vacation packages to St. Thomas can sometimes be the best bargains if purchased directly through St. Thomas resorts.  You can also use a travel agent however you must be prepared to pay for that.  The nice thing about purchasing through a travel agent is that most of them offer a guarantee of satisfaction so you can know that the resort and travel agent are trustworthy.

So if you’re planning a vacation to St. Thomas, make sure that you look into purchasing a vacation package.