No one wants to get scammed, especially when they’re planning a vacation.
However, travel scams are all too common these days, partly due to the nature of the travel industry.
Since most trips booked through reputable means require payment up front, travel is a prime target for scammers and con artists looking to make a quick buck off of your desire to take a break.
Here are five tips to avoid getting scammed this summer season.
1. Get the Facts
All of them. Before you pay for your trip, be sure you get all the facts about your itinerary and the costs of each aspect of your vacation.
Your travel agent, consultant, or site should be able to provide you with all the information regarding how cancellation fees will be assessed and under what circumstances, what your itinerary will be, and how much you’re paying for each aspect of your trip.
The fewer details your agent is willing to provide, the more likely it is that you’re getting scammed.
2. Ensure that Your Agent has Appropriate Bonds or Protection
Depending on which country you are in, your travel agents should have acquired a bond or license for financial protection.
For those in the UK, foe example, make sure your travel agent or service is an ABTA-registered or ATOL bonded company and double-check the license number for which ever scheme they are a member of.
The ABTA and ATOL schemes guarantee the travelers money in case their travel organizer fails to deliver.
For those in the US, travel agents and services in every state are required to acquire the <a href="http://www.suretybonds.com/travel-agency-bonds.html">travel agency bond</a>.
For example, someone using a Missouri-based travel service would be protected against any unscrupulous or unethical practices on the part of the travel service by <a href="http://www.suretybonds.com/states/missouri.html">Missouri surety bond</a> regulations.
Be sure to ask if your agent is bonded before even getting an estimate of your trip.
That way, if something does arise in the course of doing business with your agent, you’ll have a way to recoup any financial losses you may have suffered.
3. Avoid Unsolicited Travel Offers
Be extremely wary of any unsolicited offer, telephone call, or phone call telling you that you’ve won a fabulous vacation, or the chance to book one at a very low rate.
These offers are almost always scams and ways of taking your money or even stealing your identity.
Also avoid travel firms that require a waiting period of at least sixty days before you take your trip, as most of these waiting periods exist to run out the timeline of any protection you may have with your credit, debit, or PayPal accounts.
4. Protect Yourself with Travel Insurance
While it may seem expensive at first, travel insurance can make the difference between financial crisis and inconvenience. Just ask anyone stranded in Europe during the recent ash cloud. Generally a percentage of the cost of the trip, travel insurance protects you against theft, damage, or cancellations during your trip which can at least give you some additional peace of mind while you relax your cares away.
5. Do an Independent Follow Up
Even if your travel agent confirms your trip with you prior to departure, call each hotel and airline to ensure that your reservation is made and is problem free.
Double checking can never hurt, and you’ll know firsthand that everything is confirmed before you take your trip.
Most vacations go off without a hitch, just as most travel agents have the consumer’s best interest at heart, but there are always cases in which agents are out to scam you.
However, making sure that your agent is bonded and doing a few simple, pro-active confirmations before your trip can go a long way to ensure that you have a great, stress free vacation.
NB: This is a guest article by Matthew Bruns, a principal at
Surety Bonds, a leading US consumer protection and surety bond service.
No one wants to get scammed, especially when they’re planning a holiday. However, travel scams are all too common these days, partly due to the nature of the travel industry.
Since most trips booked through reputable means require payment up front, travel is a prime target for scammers and con artists looking to make a quick buck off of your desire to take a break.
Here are five tips to avoid getting scammed this summer season.
1. Get the facts
All of them. Before you pay for your trip, be sure you get all the facts about your itinerary and the costs of each aspect of your vacation.
Your travel agent, consultant, or site should be able to provide you with all the information regarding how cancellation fees will be assessed and under what circumstances, what your itinerary will be, and how much you’re paying for each aspect of your trip.
The fewer details your agent is willing to provide, the more likely it is that you’re getting scammed.
2. Ensure that your agent has appropriate bonds or protection
Depending on which country you are in, your travel agents should have acquired a bond or license for financial protection.
For those in the UK, foe example, make sure your travel agent or service is an ABTA-registered or ATOL bonded company and double-check the license number for which ever scheme they are a member of.
The ABTA and ATOL schemes guarantee the travelers money in case their travel organizer fails to deliver.
For those in the US, travel agents and services in every state are required to acquire the travel agency bond. For example, someone using a Missouri-based travel service would be protected against any unscrupulous or unethical practices on the part of the travel service by Missouri surety bond regulations.
Be sure to ask if your agent is bonded before even getting an estimate of your trip.
That way, if something does arise in the course of doing business with your agent, you’ll have a way to recoup any financial losses you may have suffered.
3. Avoid unsolicited travel offers
Be extremely wary of any unsolicited offer, telephone call, or phone call telling you that you’ve won a fabulous vacation, or the chance to book one at a very low rate.
These offers are almost always scams and ways of taking your money or even stealing your identity.
Also avoid travel firms that require a waiting period of at least sixty days before you take your trip, as most of these waiting periods exist to run out the timeline of any protection you may have with your credit, debit, or PayPal accounts.
4. Protect yourself with travel insurance
While it may seem expensive at first, travel insurance can make the difference between financial crisis and inconvenience. Just ask anyone stranded in Europe during the recent ash cloud.
Generally a percentage of the cost of the trip, travel insurance protects you against theft, damage, or cancellations during your trip which can at least give you some additional peace of mind while you relax your cares away.
5. Do an independent follow-up
Even if your travel agent confirms your trip with you prior to departure, call each hotel and airline to ensure that your reservation is made and is problem free.
Double checking can never hurt, and you’ll know firsthand that everything is confirmed before you take your trip.
Wrapping up...
Most vacations go off without a hitch, just as most travel agents have the consumer’s best interest at heart, but there are always cases in which agents are out to scam you.
However, making sure that your agent is bonded and doing a few simple, pro-active confirmations before your trip can go a long way to ensure that you have a great, stress free vacation.
NB: This is a guest article by Matthew Bruns, a principal at Surety Bonds, a leading US consumer protection and surety bond service.