The Top 5 Travel Scams

Don't fall victim to any of the travel scams that have made our travel fraud list or your dream vacation could end in ruin.

1. Discount travel clubs
   
   Any money paid to these clubs is probably wasted. What do you get for your membership? Nothing less than the opportunity to purchase vacations at discounted prices. This benefit would certainly justify paying a small fee were it not for a few minor problems. These are:
   
   
   • Are these vacation packages really discounted? How could you even know?
   • How does these packages compare with others? You might be able to find out yourself but the details of the package could make a fair comparison difficult.
   • Memership fees can be outrageous. How much you pay up front for your membership could indicate the degree to which you are getting scammed. You could argue that every penny is wasted if the travel club's packages aren't priced at a discount.
   
   The truth is that many of these clubs collect fees both from you and the travel suppliers they work with. Travel clubs that serve social needs with modest dues that cover no more than club expenses are your best bet.
   
   
2. Save money by becoming a travel agent
   
   Doesn't this sound like a sly, savvy way to save money on travel? Travel agents have access to many freebies, discounts and commissions so why not become one? There's more than one company out there waiting to take your money should you heed their ads. Once you've sent them the required fee, you'll be sent documents that say you're a travel agent. Now you can join in on the low-priced travel feeding frenzy, right? Wrong. These mythical discounts and freebies no longer exist. Furthermore, in order to sell travel and be recognized by a supplier, you need to be affiliated with either a travel agency or be registered as an independent seller of travel with either the Cruise Lines International Association or the Airlines Reporting Corporation.
   
   
3. Deceptive pricing
   
   Expect to be lured by what appear at first glance to be low prices. Further scrutiny often reveals the sad truth hidden in the fine print. Additional fees and conditions can add up to a lot more than you might think. If a flight is only one-way you may need to double the amount! The travel industry is well rehearsed at creative pricing but the airline's have turned it into an art form. They've given us frequent flier redemption to unavailable seats, to bogus two-for-one offers. It's easy to miss something and get stuck with a bad deal. Make sure you aread all of the fine print and understand all of the costs associated with your trip before you finalize your purchase.
   
   
4. Timeshare Scams
   
   We don't think you should ever attend a timeshare presentation. If you're truly interested in a property, ask them to send you some information through the mail. They'll be happy to oblige and you can check it out in peace and quiet while you evaluate its pros and cons. A timeshare presentation can be a nightmare. You will be put under a lot of pressure to close a deal immediately because once you leave the room the low price you've been quoted is gone...forever! They don't want you to think about it or have to to read the fine print or compare their properties with others. Who knows what you might find. You could walk out thinking you've purchased a deam vacation only to find out that you owe $50,000. Some consumers understand the real price they're paying but are told how easy it is to sell their time for more than the original cost. You heard me right. You can turn this into a magic money machine. The salesperson really has no idea how easy it is or what prices you could fetch. What do they care. They just want to make a sale. Do yourself a favor and ask a lot of questions and insist that any claims made are supported by more than a salesperson's say-so.
   
   
5. Out of business
   
   This may not be intentional on the part of the cruise line, tour operator, airline or travel agency but when they go bankrupt and cease operations people lose out on vacations that have been paid for. You can lower your risk by checking on the financial health of the company, check the Better Business Bureau and purchase travel insurance when offered.