Planning a trip to the Super Bowl? Be ready to pay up

Tack on airfare and outrageous hotel prices and you're talking about a spending free-for-all.

The Burchell family says they are die-hard Panthers fans, but come Super Bowl Sunday, even they will be cheering from a distance.

“The lowest price I saw was $4,000 per ticket,” said Leigh Burchell. “Yeah, and we’ve got five in our family so no, that’s like a college tuition.”

Travel agents say even the most basic package – including a single ticket to the game, airfare, and a modest hotel – will top $5,000.

Paul Iacono, with Travel Experts of Cary, is already getting calls from fans who want to book trips to Santa Clara, Calif.

“Everybody’s going to be jacking up their prices two, three, four, five times,” Iacono said. “You can easily spend $7,000, $8,000 if you really want to blow it all out.”

Trip Advisor shows hotels within a 10-mile radius of Levi’s Stadium are charging nearly triple the normal rate.

Iacono says travel agents can often get a better deal on tickets, and even entire packages, than fans going through the re-sale market.

“You can find a deal if you go out there on your own,” Iacono said. “You’re also taking a chance because you’re not sure exactly who you’re buying the tickets from, perhaps.”

Airbnb is already stocked with locals listing their homes, apartments, bedrooms, even single beds, for a premium price tag.

A one bedroom apartment, an hour away in San Francisco, is going for a staggering $7,500 a night.

And then, of course, there is a tree house available for $250 -- bathroom NOT included.

Travel agents say prices will only increase the closer it gets to game day, so their best advice is if you plan to go, don't wait.