When searching for a vacation or even a short time get away, there's lots of talk about "Vacation Packages." These vacation packages are available for almost any popular destination including Florida, Disney and other Entertainment type resorts, cities like Las Vegas, shipboard Caribbean Cruising, Hawaii, and even Europe. Still, what exactly is a vacation package.

There are many types of travel packages available with some handling all the details down to meals and tips. Trip packages can be either basic or comprehensive depending on the offering. Let's look at the most basic packaging with the understanding that some provide a much more comprehensive offer.

Most trip packages include 3 basic items. Travel or airfare to and from the destination, transportation while visiting and the hotel. Just these 3 items however have a wide variety of options that may be offered. Some packaged vacation packages vacations have transportation to and from the hotel via bus with hotel transportation provided around town. Others simply offer a discounted rental car. The value in these types of vacations is in the convenience, the extras that may be offered, and the pricing.

Pricing of a package is based on time of year and the ability of the travel agency or travel group to obtain discounts. These discounts are offered to increase visitors to the destination. So a hotel, in a slow season may offer discounts of 30-50% or more depending on the days visiting. This is then coupled with a discounted airfare obtained through a consolidator. A consolidator is simply a company that commits to buying a certain number of seats on commercial flights. Due to the bulk purchase, they're able to lower the cost per seat.

The convenience factor shouldn't be ignored however. A vacation package allows you to spend your time planning your vacation instead of trying to find the best price on airline tickets and then the hotel and then the transportation details. A quick look through the package offerings and the major details of your vacation can be completed.

Lastly, travel packages often have a number of discounts or perks included. A Las Vegas hotel may offer a free dinner at their top restaurant. Entertainment destinations may offer souvenirs or extended times to visit. Many all inclusive packages may also offer information and discounts on popular attractions around town when you visit. Cruise ships may offer a welcome picture or other momento.

All in all, a travel package can be a good deal. The savings and convenience factors allow you to spend your time planning to enjoy a vacation instead of worrying about the travel details. Vacation packages can be a great way to save money.

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Coastal vacation scam artists take people's money with promises of phony vacations. Many of these offers use words like "cheap Hawaiian vacation" to lure travelers.

Most people dream of taking a coastal vacation. They may hope for a cheap Hawaiian vacation package or dream of a coastal vacation resort weekend.

But many coastal vacation scams disguise themselves as legitimate offers. Police report an increase in coastal vacation scams in recent years.

The Internet spawned a new breed of coastal vacation scam artist wanting to cheat honest consumers out of their money. Anyone who types in cheap Hawaiian vacation package into a "Google" search engine will find over one million his.

The Federal Trade Commission reported 3,600 consumers scammed in 2002, amounting to $3.5 million. How can consumers tell the difference between a coastal vacation scam and an honest cheap vacation package?

1. Many people operating coastal vacation scams will ask for a credit card or other financial information early in the conversation. Many of these so-called vacation companies want consumers to give their financial information online for a "cheap Hawaiian vacation."

The desire by the company to vacation receive financial information before the consumer feel comfortable doing so should indicate a red flag and a possible coastal vacation scam.

Many cases of identity fraud started with coastal vacation scams. Consumers receive their bank or credit card statements and find that in addition to their "cheap Hawaiian vacation," charges of cash advances and purchases of high-dollar merchandise.

Consumers who fall prey to identity fraud should contact their local law enforcement immediately about the coastal vacation scam.

2. The company operating coastal vacation scams will offer the consumer very little details about the planned trip. The person on the other line, on the phone or on the Internet, will offer constant assurances the hotel in the cheap Hawaiian vacation package features Oceanside views, luxuries rooms and private balconies---very broad descriptions.

The "seller" of the coastal vacation scam may claim they stayed there many times but cannot give specifics.

The company asks the consumer not to contact the hotel or resort directly about the vacation package, another sign of a coastal vacation scam.

If the consumer cannot confirm the reservations with the hotel directly, the consumer should look elsewhere for a cheap Hawaiian vacation. Consumers should get the details and take charge of their coastal vacation and not fall prey to coastal vacation scams.

3. Coastal vacation scam artists use word like "free" or "vacation offer." Often these so-called "offers" include a daylong presentation before families can use their free tickets--a common coastal vacation scam technique.

If consumers cannot see the islands on their cheap Hawaiian vacation and must sit through lengthy presentations, the vacation may not seem so "cheap."

4. The Better Business Bureau and other government agencies maintain lists of coastal vacation scams. Smart consumers check these lists and report any contact by these coastal vacation scam artists.

One of the more popular ruses offers a cheap Hawaiian vacation or a cheap family vacation package.

Fear of a coastal vacation scam should not keep consumers from seeking out great vacation deals, like a cheap Hawaiian vacation.

Many companies offer legitimate family vacation packages and an honest travel incentive program that saves families even more money on their vacation costs. Coastal vacation scams should not discourage travelers.

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