Spring break is just around the corner. Have you made your travel plans?
Whether you’re jetting to Cancun or taking off for Disneyland -- or even staying close to home -- this is not the time to book a trip from a provider you are unfamiliar with just because it looks like a bargain.
As you investigate options for your spring break retreat, you’ll find a bunch of “deals” online that appear to be too-good-to-pass-up travel steals. Some of them might -- emphasis on “might” -- be. And a whole bunch of others are anything but a good deal.
We’ve all heard and read stories about groups heading out for spring-break beach destinations on organized outings only to find the tour companies didn’t follow through on the trip as described. Travelers -- often college students -- were left without promised transportation, hotels were shoddy and not the three-star accommodations described in the brochure, and some were left stranded with no way home.
Vacation scams cost consumers more than $10 billion each year. Out of the almost 4,000 industries the BBB monitors, the travel industry consistently ranks near or in the top 25 for number of complaints.
What can you do to ensure your trip will be memorable for all the right reasons? Begin by looking for a travel agency that is a BBB Accredited Business so you know you can trust them.
Other travel tips from your BBB:
Gather Information. Don’t be fooled by professional-looking travel Web sites or e-mails. Few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies’ prices. Visit the BBB Web site, HYPERLINK "
http://www.bbb.org"
www.wynco.bbb.org, or call your BBB at 484-1348 for a free reliability report on the travel company making the offer.
Ask detailed questions and get it in writing. Get names of airlines, hotels, car rental companies and travel providers. Consider contacting these businesses directly to verify arrangements. Always ask for confirmation of your travel arrangements in writing and ensure you receive copies of cancellation and refund policies.
Pay with a credit card and avoid deals that require you to book 60 days in advance. Why? Because 60 days is the time limit for disputing credit card charges at many banks. Representatives from eBay also caution consumers against paying with personal checks and strongly recommend paying with a method such as PayPal that has built-in protection measures.
Contact the BBB if you are a victim of fraud. The BBB helps consumers and businesses through complaint and dispute resolution services. Victims of travel-related scams can file a complaint online at
www.wynco.bbb.org or call the BBB to receive a complaint form by mail. Ultimately, consumer complaints expose bad businesses and help other consumers avoid becoming victims of vacation and travel-related fraud.
Start With Trust. For reliable consumer tips and information, visit
www.wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.