The Internet
has greatly expanded options for making travel arrangements. While travel
agents may save you time finding arrangements that best serve your needs,
you can also do research and make reservations on your own via telephone
or computer. Here are some tips that will help you get a travel deal that
delivers what you are promised.
• Plan as far ahead
as you can. Some airlines set aside only a few seats on each flight at
the lower rates. The real bargains often sell out very quickly. On the
other hand, air carriers sometimes make more discount seats available
later. If you had decided against a trip because the discount fare you
wanted was not available on the desired date, try again, especially just
before the advance-purchase deadline.
• Be flexible in your
travel plans. The best deals may be limited to travel on certain days
of the week or particular hours of the day. After you get a fare quote,
ask the reservations agent 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. A connection (change of planes) or a one-stop flight is sometimes
cheaper than a nonstop flight.
• Research the background
of any new travel agent or tour company. Ask if they belong to a professional
association, then check to see if the company is a member in good standing
and ask about consumer protection programs. Contact your state or local
consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau to find out
about the company’s complaint history.
• Comparison shop. Determine
the complete cost of the trip in dollars, including all service charges,
taxes, processing fees, etc. Beware of unreasonably cheap prices or free
trips - you usually get what you pay for! A free airfare or free accommodations
may disguise the fact that the total price is still higher than that of
a regular package tour. See Contests and Sweepstakes.
• Make sure you understand
the terms of the travel offer. Find out exactly what is included in the
price and what is not. If you are told that you’ve won a free vacation,
ask if you have to buy something else in order to get it. Some packages
promote free airfare, but you may have to buy expensive hotel arrangements.
Others include a free hotel stay, but no airfare. If the destination is
a beach resort, ask the seller how far the hotel is from the beach. Then
ask the hotel.
• Ask about cancellation
policies and get all promises in writing. You may want to look into trip
insurance for added protection. InsureMyTrip.com offers pricing and policy
information on plans from different companies and describes the different
forms of policies available.
• Get a confirmed departure
date, in writing, before you pay anything. Don’t believe that an
acceptable date or reservation will be arranged later.
• 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. Being
told you can’t leave for at least two months should raise a red
flag, because the deadline for disputing a credit card charge is 60 days,
and most scam artists know this. (See Resolving Credit Problems).
• Don’t be pressured
into making a hasty decision by claims that you have to act now! You might
pay processing or other fees up front, and then find that a con-artist
has pocketed your money and left you high and dry.
In some states, travel sellers
have to be registered and insured, and advance payments for travel must
be placed in an escrow account until services are provided. Prizes or
“free” gifts may also be regulated. Contact your state or
local consumer protection agency to find out about any laws that might
protect you and to file complaints related to travel agents, and train
or bus travel. The American Society of Travel Agents will also help resolve
disputes with member agents.
Protect Yourself: Travel
Safety
Several federal agencies offer
advice and other up-to-date information on the Internet that can help
insure you have a safe trip.
• The U.S. Department
of Transportation at www.dot.gov offers
airline, highway and rail safety information. For example, you can look
up crash-safety reports on cars or find out how weather is affecting air
travel and road conditions.
• The U.S. Department
of State at www.state.gov/travel
tells what to do before, during, and when you return from a trip overseas.
State also offers warnings on locations to be avoided and what to do in
an overseas emergency.
• The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/travel
offer health-related travel information on subjects such as diseases,
vaccination requirements, and avoiding illnesses associated with food
and water. Inspection scores on specific cruise ships are also available.
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