Talk about romantic!
Unpleasant and costly surprises could ruin your romantic getaway and you don’t want that to happen.
Experienced travelers always look for an honest travel agency and they always get everything in writing.
You should also use a credit card as much as you possibly can and now is a great time to start brushing up on your travel vocabulary.
Here are some priceless tips taken from the Federal Trade Commission.
We’re confident that these tips will boost your travel knowledge.
Find an honest travel agency
Only work with a travel agency you know (either through reference or reputation) and one that is a member of a professional association such as the American Society of Travel Agents, the National Tour Association or the United States Tour Operators Association. Never buy travel over the phone from a telemarketer, or from a firm that wants to send a courier for your payment. This is a sure sign the business wants to avoid detection and suspicion of mail or wire fraud.
Get it in writing
Confirm all travel and vacation information as well as cancellation and refund policies in writing before you pay. Confirm names, addresses, and telephone numbers for the lodgings, airlines and cruise ships you’ll be using (“major hotels” and “luxury cruise ships” is not enough). In addition, call the airlines and hotels yourself to verify your reservations.
Always use credit
Use your credit card for each and every purchase on your honeymoon. If you do get taken for a ride, you can dispute the charges with the credit card company. Unless you know the agency, don’t give your credit card number over the phone. Don’t fall for the telemarketing trick to use your account number to “hold” your purchase until you decide.
Travel vocabulary for understanding
You have been specially selected to receive our Spectacular Dream Vacation offer!
Translation: We’ve called to offer you a vacation that you can pay for fully and still not know anything about!
Subject to Availability
Translation: We’ll never have accommodations when you need them.
Blackout periods
Translation: Blocks of dates around popular travel times that will insure you never get discounted travel when you can afford to go.
Instant Travel Agents
Some companies offer to sell you identification that will guarantee you discounted travel rates. The truth is, only suppliers of travel – the cruise lines, hotel companies, car rental companies, and airlines themselves – have the power to extend those kind of professional courtesies – and only they decide to whom they reward them.
Shelly Parker is an avid vacationer. She is also debt-free thanks to the Home Ownership Accelerator loan from CMG Mortgage.
Photo Credits
Adam Selwood via Flickr
