Search
Recommended Products
Related Links


 

 

Informative Articles

Brazil Travel
If you are thinking about going to Brazil, I think you are a very smart person. Brazil is an exciting country with plenty to see and do and a very warm people who love to receive and share with whomever is receptive enough to make friends with them....

First Time Travel to Europe – Your Six Month Planning Guide
So, you’ve decided that you want to travel to Europe within the next year. Fantastic! Your trip is sure to be an exciting learning experience. This article will discuss the key plans you’ll need to make before traveling to Europe, starting from six...

Successfull travel is not just cheap plane tickets
Planning ahead when traveling can save you so much time. Simple things such as trying to find cheap plane tickets is obvious, but researching your selected place of travel is the most important thing you can do to ensure a fantastic holiday or...

Travel to Shimla (india) at Cheap Price
Travel Shimla(india) at Cheap Price The British called Shimla the About the Author John D. Samara is a master degree holder in Journalism and Mass Communication.He is working as freelance article writer for various categories like ...

Traveling By Motorcycle
One of the best ways to truly see the United States is from the saddle of a motorcycle. I have ridden through many states with trips over six thousand miles in length including two solo trips from New Jersey to the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota,...

 
Travel Bargain Or Travel Scam? How To Know The Difference

Congratulations!!! You have been selected to win an exciting luxury vacation to.......

Where have you heard that one before? Although there are many genuine travel offers, there are also many travel scams that defraud innocent travelers out of millions of dollars each month. Travel is a big ticket item and most people would like to save some money or even travel for free. Unfortunately, it opens the door to some unscrupulous individuals and companies who try to take advantage of this.

Travel packages turn out to be very different from what was originally offered or what the "winner" expected. Sometimes, the company just takes the money and runs! So if you get a phone call or email offering a free or extremely low-priced vacation , keep these tips in mind:

The Most Common Travel Scams

- Emails, phone calls, or snail mail advising that you have been selected to "win" a free vacation, free airfare, or a hotel stay, especially when you haven't entered anything.

- Ads for great travel deals or discounts with the condition that you agree to a time share presentation. You will be subjected to a high pressure sales pitch that is really not worth your time - unless of course you really are interested in buying a timeshare!

- Travel clubs that charge a fee for their great travel discounts and offers. There are of course may legitimate travel clubs but there are just as many that are not. Do your research well to make sure it is worth it.

- Contests which do not post or provide rules or requirements or even any details about the company running it. A legitimate contest will provide rules to participants and if it does not, it is probably just a ploy to get information on you.

How to Spot the Red Flags

- Does the price seem too good to be true? If so, it probably is.

- Are you pressured to make a decision on the spot?

- Did you get the call after business hours. Legitimate businesses normally operate between regular business hours.- Did they require you to pay before you receive any details about the trip, or ask you to pay for more information.- Are you told


you can't leave for two months? This should be cause for concern because the deadline for disputing a credit card charge is 60 days. - Is the supplier simply identified as "a major airline," or a "popular hotel" without getting into specifics?

- If you have won a free vacation, you should not be asked to pay hundreds of dollars in order to "claim" your prize.

How to protect yourself from Travel Scams

- Determine the complete cost of the trip in dollars, including all service charges, taxes, processing fees, etc.

- Pay by credit card, if you don't get what you paid for, you may be able to dispute the charges with your credit card company. - Don't be pressured into buying anything, legitimate businesses don't pressure you to make a purchase.

- Get a receipt in writing. If you make reservations online, print out the itinerary and receipt.

- Find out the exact names of the hotels, airports, airlines, and restaurants that your package includes; if they tell you a "major hotel chain" or "major airline" ask for specifics

- Always ask for a copy of the cancellation and refund policies.- If you are told that you've won a free vacation, ask if you have to pay any money in order to get it.

- Be aware of what "subject to availability" means may not get the accommodations you want when you want them.

- Be aware that if you have been "specially selected to receive our Super Duper Travel Deal offer" doesn't mean you'll get it free, it means you'll be offered an opportunity to pay for a travel deal!

And last but not least, be skeptical. Read or listen to carefully what is being said, not what you want to hear. We would all like to win that all expenses paid dream vacation to Hawaii, but like everything else, you get what you pay for if you don't pay attention first.

About the author:

Jolana Klobouk is a former travel agent who has traveled extensively for work and vacations with her family. She is currently the editor of Best Family Beach Vacations and Fly From Canada