looking for the cheapest price?

guests receive valuable amenities at the regular Virtuoso rate at the St. Regis New York

Is cheaper better?

Buying products and services on the internet has a logic of its own: customers often feel compelled to search out the absolute lowest price. Sometimes cheaper is better ... but often the lowest price doesn't make sense.

Flying to Europe this summer? Robert McGarvey published an article on Mainstream.com with thoughts on how to save money flying to Europe this summer. One money-saving strategy: fly into a secondary city. According to a web search I did this morning, you can fly round-trip to Lyon, France instead of Paris and save over $200 round-trip per ticket, over $400 for a couple. Sounds great!

But there's a real downside to booking the cheaper ticket. It involves changing planes in Lisbon instead flying non-stop to Paris. You'll have a long layover in Lisbon, losing the entire first day of your European vacation. Even with a reasonable layover, connecting flights introduce the risk of a missed connection due to delays ... and increase the likelihood of delayed luggage. And then you have to add on the additional time and expense of train tickets to Paris.

The same is true with hotel bookings. That lower rate you found may come with a compulsory non-refundable prepayment (always, always read all of the terms and conditions of a rate). And cheap wholesaler bookings never include Virtuoso or Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities. These can be worth hundreds of dollars in free breakfasts, hotel credits, and upgrades at the St. Regis New York (pictured above) and a thousand other luxury hotels around the world.

Bottom line: always search out the best value, not the lowest price.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

spend the night in a real castle in Beaujolais

view from a window at Chateau de Bagnols

This is the real deal! When you stay here, you get a real taste of what life was like in olden times. Chateau de Bagnols is a 13th century castle with a moat (not filled with water), thick stone walls, stone floors (with radiant heat), really high ceilings, and all the atmosphere that kids could possibly want. Or you!

Wine and food… Set in a vineyard, it's got gorgeous views in all directions. Just 28 kilometers north of Lyon, it's in the heart of the France's gastronomic region. And it's got a fabulous restaurant of its own;  the pigeon we were served at dinner (chef's signature dish) was probably the single most creative entree I had during this entire trip to France.

A signature destination, everything feels authentic from the antique wood paneling, red silk brocaded wall paper, antique furniture, canopy bed, and the ornate furnishings. Chateau de Bagnols offers the experience of staying in a real castle and living like a noble family. Be aware, though, that "authentic" and "up to date" don't always co-exist in one package. While the hotel offered free, fast internet, my room lacked a desk with power plugs — and a step-in shower. One tip: request a room with an outside view onto the beautiful gardens and vineyards.

Rumor — Chateau de Bagnols is rejoining Virtuoso, and Virtuoso amenities are extended.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.