You got a good deal on your flight, a mere $180 round trip. So why did your vacation cost so much more than you expected?
Probably because you thought your work was done after you snagged that air fare. In reality, you had only just begun, with a whole minefield of costs, both hidden and out in the open, still ahead. Just where might you may have gone wrong ?
The flight. That $180 was a bargain all right. But wait: That was the price exclusive of taxes, airport fees, and possible booking charges. That boring fine print mentions Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18, federal fees of $3.40 per flight segment (a takeoff and landing), and a Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10. Now the ticket costs more than $200, but consider yourself lucky: If you're flying overseas, a Travel Facilities Tax along with other fees can cost you up to $200 more. In addition, many travel agencies, online and off, now charge a booking fee of $10 or so, a cost that is often avoided when booking directly with an airline's website.
The parking. At Logan International Airport, rates vary slightly depending upon where you park there, but most people will pay $24 a day, or $168 a week, just $12 less than the pre tax price of your flight. Fortunately, there are alternatives. PreFlight Airport Parking in nearby Chelsea, for instance, charges $17 a day and $94 a week with a shuttle to and from the airport, and is offering a 25-percent-off coupon at preflightparking.com/bos.asp . If you want the convenience of parking at the airport itself, Logan Valet and Fly parks your car and has it waiting at the airport when you return for a fee starting at $99 a week. (Visit loganairportvaletparking.homestead.com .) Or, try the Logan Express Bus , available at lots in Braintree, Framingham, Peabody, and Woburn. Round-trip fares are $20 and parking is $11 a day or $66 a week. (Visit massport.com/logan/getti_typeo_logan.html .)
The hotel. People who scour the Internet for the least expensive flight don't always apply the same diligence to hotels. Websites like Hotels.com,
Yet another method of getting a good rate is bargaining with the desk clerk. My son seldom books a room in advance, but drops in at a few hotels and asks what the lowest rate is. In Myrtle Beach, S.C., recently, the clerk gave him a suite with Jacuzzi for about $65 a night. (The downside of that strategy is finding no room at the inn.) Others say chances of a reduced rate by phone are better if you dial a hotel's direct number rather than the chain's 800 number .
The car. Nowadays you can often get a good car rental rate on the Internet, including the websites of the rental companies themselves. But then comes an optional collision damage waiver of $10-$12 a day or more. Before signing for it, check to see if you are covered by your auto insurance policy and whether your credit card provides secondary coverage in case of an accident. Some travelers know they are covered but still buy the waiver to lessen the hassle in case of an accident. There is no option, however, about paying assorted charges. For an upcoming trip to San Francisco, I found these added to the $160 cost of a weekly rental: concession recovery fees (whatever they are), sales tax, transportation fees, and a tourism surcharge. My total went up about $30.
The meals and sightseeing. You have to eat, of course, but every meal doesn't have to be in a swanky restaurant. At any given destination, I usually have one break-the-bank meal (in Minneapolis it was at Manny's Steakhouse) and seek out moderate restaurants for the rest of the meals. Coupons in tourist booklets may help a little, but the Entertainment coupon books ( $9.99 at entertainment.com ) might help a bit more, with their discounts of up to 2-for-1. As for sightseeing, you can't walk everywhere, but going on foot to some destinations can yield a richer travel experience as well as saving fares. Souvenirs are everywhere, so ask yourself if you really need that neon orange T-shirt or mug shaped like a tiki god.
For details on these and many other projects, visit gviusa.com or call 888-653-6028 .
How about getting Dad his own vine in California's Napa Valley? With the DiVine Dream package , your father gets to tour the Caldwell Winery with three companions, barrel-taste the most sought-after wines, visit the vine anytime from bud break to harvest, and take home two magnums of wine . Regular e-mail updates on the vine's progress are part of this $750 package.
Call 707-265-1835 or visit wine country.com .
Closer to home, the Westin Copley Place, Boston's High-Flying Father's Day Package for June 18 features a night's accommodations, four box seat tickets to the Red Sox, Dad's favorite room-service breakfast for four, dinner for four at Turner Fisheries , a half-hour helicopter ride for four over Boston, a nine-hole playing lesson at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy with a ride to the links included, a $150 gift certificate to the pro shop, and a Mont Blanc pen. The price is $3,425 plus tax and tips.
Call 617-262-9600 or 800-WESTIN-1, or visit westin.com/copleyplace .
When not included, hotel taxes, airport fees, and port charges can add significantly to the price of a trip. Most prices quoted are for double occupancy; solo travelers will usually pay more. Offers are subject to availability and there may be blackout dates. Richard P. Carpenter can be reached at carpenter@globe.com. 
