==> Try to buy your vacation travel package from
a business you know.
If possible, deal with businesses that belong to
professional associations such as the American Society
of Travel Agents, the National Tour Association or
the United States Tour Operators Association. If you're
not familiar with a company, get its complete name,
address and local telephone number.
==> Be cautious if the names of the seller and
travel provider differ.
You may be dealing with a telemarketer who has no
responsibility to you after the sale. And be wary
of ads in the newspaper, on the Internet or that you
receive by unsolicited fax that offer deeply discounted
vacations. These "deals" often contain hidden
costs or don't tell you that you may have to attend
a sales presentation to qualify for the discount or
the travel. Avoid buying from a firm that wants to
send a courier for your payment or asks you to send
your payment by overnight delivery. The business may
be trying to avoid detection and charges of mail or
wire fraud.
==> Verify arrangements with your travel agent
before you pay.
Get the details of your vacation in writing and a
copy of the cancellation and refund policies. Ask
if the business has insurance and whether you should
buy cancellation insurance. Get the names, addresses
and telephone numbers for the lodgings, airlines and
cruise ships you'll be using. Don't accept vague terms
such as "major hotels" or "luxury cruise
ships." Call to verify specific reservations,
too.
==> Use a credit card to make your purchase.
If you don't get what you paid for, you may be able
to dispute the charges with your credit card company.
Some telemarketers may claim they need your account
information for identification or verification. They
don't. Your account number should be used only to
bill you for goods and services.
==> Be wary of prepaying for long-term arrangements.
Timeshares, campgrounds or travel clubs may offer
to sell membership vacation accommodations for five
years or more, or until you resell your interest.
Unless you're certain you'll stay healthy, both physically
and financially, and that the company selling the
memberships will stay in business, prepaid vacations
may not be right for you. In addition, annual membership
and maintenance fees may rise. If the seller claims
the fees will stay the same, beware. Beautiful properties
today may be run-down in five or 10 years without
sufficient maintenance. If you decide to buy a timeshare
or membership in a vacation club, be aware that resales
are difficult, if not impossible, because there's
no secondary market. As for timeshares as investments:
they rarely appreciate in value.
==> Learn the vocabulary.
"You have been specially selected to receive
our SPECTACULAR LUXURY DREAM VACATION offer"
doesn't mean you'll get a free vacation. It means
you'll be offered an opportunity to pay for a trip
that may fit your idea of luxury - or not. "Subject
to availability" means you may not get the accommodations
you want when you want them. "Blackout periods"
are blocks of dates, usually around holidays or peak
season, when no discount travel is available.
==> Watch out for "instant travel agent"
offers.
Companies may offer to sell you identification that
will "guarantee" you discounted rates. These
companies have no control over discounts. Only suppliers
of travel - cruise lines, hotel companies, car rental
companies, or airlines - can decide to extend professional
courtesies, and to whom.
For more information and resources related to travel
check out our web sites at http://www.Finest-Cruises.com
and http://www.Greatest-Travel-Resources.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Back to Tips Index
TRAVEL
ADVICES & SUGGESTIONS
