| | Planning travel in advance may be helpful. Special deals on hotel rooms and airline seats often sell out very quickly and making travel arrangements late may make it impossible to book some accommodation and transportation.
Have flexible travel plans. Hotels may offer better rates on days when they expect fewer people to be staying with them. After you get a fare quote from an airline, ask if you could save money by leaving a day earlier or later, by taking a different flight on the same day, or using a different airport. Changing planes during your trip is sometimes cheaper than a nonstop flight. |
| Check out the seller. Ask tour operators and travel agents whether they belong to a professional association, then check to see if they are a member in good standing. Contact your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau to find their complaint history.
Compare offers. Determine the complete cost of the trip in dollars, including all service charges, taxes, processing fees and such. Beware of unusually cheap prices and freebie as it could be a scam and you could end up paying more than that of a regular package tour. |
| Make sure you understand the terms of the deal. If you are told that you’ve won a free vacation, ask if you have to buy something else in order to get it. If the destination is a beach resort, ask both the seller and the hotel how far the hotel is from the beach.
Ask about cancellation policies as you may want to look into trip insurance for added protection. Insist on written confirmations and ask for written proof of reservations and dates.
Pay by credit card. It’s not unusual to make a deposit or even pay in full for travel services before the trip. A credit card gives you the right to dispute charges for services that were misrepresented or never delivered. If a travel agent or service providers tells you that you can’t leave for at least two months, be very cautious—the deadline for disputing a credit card charge is 60 days and most scam artists know this.
In some states in the United States, travel sellers have to be registered and insured. Advance payments for travel must be placed in an escrow account until the services are provided. Prizes or “free” gifts may also be regulated. Contact your state or local consumer protection agency to find out about your rights and how to file complaints. The American Society of Travel Agents will also help resolve disputes with member agents. |
| Don’t pay if you are asked to give money to claim a prize or get something else free. If you have really won a sweepstakes, you pay taxes directly to the government, not through the company. Beware of invitations that include phrases like:
“You have been specially selected...”
“You have won...”
“A new car! A trip to Hawaii! $2,500 in cash!”
“Yours, absolutely free! Take a look at our...”
“Your special claim number lets you ...”
“All you pay is postage, handling, taxes ...” |
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