Since its opening gala in 1912, Boston's luxurious Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel has served as a symbol of the city's culture and tradition, and as one of the architectural landmarks in the historic Back Bay neighborhood.  Located in Copley Square, the hotel is set within easy walking distance of some of The Hub's best shopping, dining and attractions, including the unmissable New England Aquarium, one of the country's top aquariums with more than 50 exhibits and thousands of marine animals in their habitats.

The Fairmont bundles accommodations and aquarium tickets in its New England Aquarium Family package. With advertised rates starting at $239 a night, the package is available through December 31. But is it really a good deal for families? As always, we did the math to find out.

The New England Aquarium Family package includes:

• accommodations (worth $359 for a weekend night in July with the best available rate, in a deluxe two double room)
• four tickets to the New England Aquarium (worth $20.95 x 2 adults + $12.95 x 2 kids under 12 = $67.80)

When we test-booked a July stay for a family of two adults and two kids under 12, the Fairmont's site quoted a package price of $426 a night. (We checked other dates between July and December and could not find the advertised nightly rate of $239.) If the same family purchased the hotel room and aquarium tickets separately, they would spend $426.80 – or 80 cents more than the package price.

Deal or no deal? Hmph. The hotel is merely passing on the price of the aquarium tickets, so all you're saving is a stop at the aquarium ticket window.