Should you buy an NBA All-Star Weekend Vacation Package or not?

Say the words “vacation package” to a bunch of travelers and you’re likely to get a mixed reaction. Some will shun them regardless of the details because they prefer to strike out on their own. Some only book vacations as package deals because they’re too busy to do the research themselves. Most people fall somewhere in between, booking vacation packages when it makes sense schedule-wise or it saves money.

The problem is that so many vacation packages advertise themselves as being big money savers when they’re not – especially when those packages are around a big event like the NBA All-Star Weekend. The good news is that you can do a pretty good job of figuring out whether an NBA All-Star Weekend vacation package is really saving you money. The bad news is that you’ve got to do some math in the process.

I know, I’m sorry.

It’s not as bad as it sounds, really. There are no spreadsheets or complicated formulas involved, and you don’t even need to get down to super-specific numbers. You do, however, need to break down the vacation package into its individual components. Here are the things to remember when you’re trying to figure out whether that NBA All-Star Weekend package vacation is a good deal or not.

>> The NBA All-Star Weekend in 2012 is February 24-27 in Orlando, Florida.

Know What’s Included

First things first, you’ll need to make a list of all the things the vacation package you’re looking at is offering. Include everything – from the hotel and airfare to tickets to the game, and any “perks” they’ve added to sweeten the pot. Compare this list with the list of things you’d book on your own.

Is transportation included? Are there any meals included? Since you’ll need to eat at some point and you’ll need to get around, those might be good extras to have. But if the “perks” are things like spa treatments or souvenirs you wouldn’t buy on your own or have time to do, then they aren’t really “perks” at all.

If you’re only going to Los Angeles to see the NBA All-Star Game, then you’ll need airline tickets, somewhere to stay, meals, and a way to get around – and that’s it. Anything else that’s in the package deal has to be worth the extra money you’re paying for it, or it’s not a deal.

Do the Math

And how do you know whether it’s a deal? You do the math. It’s simple, but it’s a step that’s often skipped because we’re all too busy to double-check these things. If you’re into saving money, however, it’s important.

When you’ve got your list of what’s included in the vacation packages you’re considering, the next thing you need to do is do your own search for the best prices on those individual things. Find cheap airfare to Orlando, look up the prices on hotels in Orlando, and – if transportation is included in the package – get quotes on a rental car.

If that total adds up to less than the package – and the extras they’re including aren’t worth the difference in price – then booking each piece separately is the way to go.

photo by Adam Pieniazek