To save money costs you amenities

''By working with our airline and land partners worldwide, we have negotiated huge volume discounts. These prices have been passed on direct to the consumer, using the Internet as the means of promotion and fulfillment.

''Just as with wholesale clubs like Costco, we may not offer everything all the time, but when we have it, it's an unbelievable travel bargain."

That may be, but even bargains can have costs that are not always readily apparent, and the lowest-priced trips may not be for everyone. Here are a few questions to consider when an attractive offer has you salivating:

Departing from where? That lowest price dangled before your eyes may be for a flight originating somewhere other than Boston. For instance, the $599 Beijing price cited above was good for trips starting in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. The price from Boston was $794.

How direct is the route? Never assume you will be flying the most logical route. A recent $499 London-Paris combo trip, for example, would have you traveling from Boston to Washington, then London. The return from Paris would go first to Munich, then to Boston. This doesn't always happen, but it can, so check the route. You can often fly a more direct path, but usually for more than that low price you saw in the ad.

What about those fees? Airline departure taxes and fees, surcharges for weekend flights, fees for booking by phone rather than the Web, and the like can easily add $100 or more to the cost of your trip. Since most offers are based on two people traveling, the solo traveler will have to shell out more, often a third to a half more. Not all such information is boldly displayed on the site or in the ad, so always read the fine print -- and read it thoroughly.