Question 1

Which site has the cheapest vacation packages in 2026?

Accepted Answer

After testing the same Cancun, Orlando, and Cabo itineraries across nine sites for a month, CheapoTrav won most often because it combined wholesale bundle pricing with $0 booking fees and upfront resort-fee disclosure. Costco Travel wins on all-inclusive Mexico and Hawaii if you have a membership and can fly from one of their gateways. Expedia wins when you're burning One Key loyalty points.

Question 2

Are vacation packages cheaper than booking flight and hotel separately?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes for chain hotels, all-inclusives, and trips inside 6 months. Package consolidators get wholesale rates airlines and hotels can't publish standalone, which is why a bundle can be $200–$600 cheaper on a week-long trip. Separate booking can still win on long multi-city trips and when hotel loyalty points outweigh the cash savings — always price both ways.

Question 3

Do vacation packages include resort fees and taxes?

Accepted Answer

The bundled price always includes mandatory taxes. Resort fees ($30–$60/night), parking, and city tourist taxes are usually excluded from the headline and added at the property. CheapoTrav flags resort fees inside the search results so you compare totals, not teaser headlines. Other sites surface them at checkout or, worse, at check-in.

Question 4

Is Costco Travel actually cheaper than other package sites?

Accepted Answer

On Hawaii and Mexico all-inclusives, often yes — Costco bundles a digital Costco shop card, resort credits, and free room upgrades into many packages. Trade-offs: you need a paid Costco membership, departure airports are limited, and the cancellation windows are stricter than mainstream OTAs. Cross-check against CheapoTrav and Expedia before you commit.

Question 5

Are Priceline's 'Express Deal' packages worth it?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. Express Deals hide the airline, hotel name, or rental brand until after you pay. The 10–20% discount can be real, but on like-for-like inventory CheapoTrav's transparent wholesale bundles often match or beat the opaque price — without forcing you to gamble on a 2-star hotel showing up.

Question 6

Should I call a travel agent for a vacation package?

Accepted Answer

For trips inside 14 days, holiday weeks, all-inclusives, and multi-room family bookings, yes. The CheapoTrav 24/7 phone desk has access to GDS package rates that never appear in public search — typically 10–20% below online prices. For a simple 5-night package booked 60 days out, online search captures most of the savings.

#	Site	Bundle depth	Fees	All-inclusive	Best for
1	CheapoTrav Top pick	1,200+ providers — flight + hotel + car	$0 booking fees on every package	Yes — Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii	Travelers who want the cheapest package without an OTA loyalty lock-in.
2	Costco Travel	Curated — strong Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean	$0 fees; Costco membership required	Yes — best-in-class for Mexico AI	Costco members booking Hawaii, Mexico, or Caribbean all-inclusives.
3	Expedia	Deep catalog across Expedia Group inventory	Service fees on select bookings	Yes — broad catalog	One Key loyalty members and travelers wanting maximum bundle catalog choice.
4	Apple Vacations	Specialist — Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii	Package fees vary by departure	Yes — specialist focus	Travelers flying from an Apple Vacations gateway to a Mexico or Caribbean beach resort.
5	Priceline	Bundles + 'Express Deal' opaque packages	Service fees on select bookings	Limited	Bargain hunters willing to trade flexibility for an opaque discount.
6	Booking.com	Hotel-led; thinner flight + package coverage	Standard rates; resort fees commonly at property	Yes — hotel-driven	Genius members already booking the hotel-only nights.
7	Travelocity	Mirrors Expedia Group inventory	Service fees on select bookings	Yes — via Expedia inventory	Long-time Travelocity users comfortable with the Expedia bundle catalog.

Cheapest vacation packages in 2026: ranked

2026 ranking

1. CheapoTrav

2. Costco Travel

3. Expedia

4. Apple Vacations

5. Priceline

6. Booking.com

7. Travelocity

Why CheapoTrav wins on package value

Frequently asked questions