Top 5 Travel Scams

Scams are all around us and unfortunately, travel scams tend to be near the top of the heap. It seems that for every legitimate travel offer there is one that isn’t.

According to the National Fraud Information Center, the average loss to fraud in 2004 was $803 per incident — up from $468 two years before. While travel is not at the top of the fraud list (that is reserved for online auctions), it is number two in frequency of complaints. Be sure to steer clear of the folks who are only out to separate you from your travel money.

Don’t be a victim of these 5 top travel scams.

1. Discount travel clubs. Usually a bad idea. If your travel club is asking for more than a few dollars for membership, they are probably scamming you. They will offer a discounted menu of trips (of course it is discounted — they said so didn’t they?), only available to members. For this membership, you get the privilege of booking the trip, probably a substandard product and a newsletter. They get your money plus the commission paid by the travel supplier. It’s a great asset to anyone’s cash flow. Travel clubs should be geared towards social engagement and any dues or membership paid should be reasonable and cover only the true costs.

2. Become a travel agent. This is a scam that is running rampant now. Once you pay a fee to a company, it will issue “credentials” allowing you access to travel agent freebies and discounts and commissions on selling travel. First off, the days of freebies and discounts are done — trust me, they are few and far between. Secondly, 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. Believe me, this is a perfect example of the old axiom, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

3. Deceptive pricing. Know the real price. Know the final price. Look at any major airline ad and you will see their too good to be true fares. The problem is the fine print. The ads are for a one way fare based on round trip purchases. Presto, your cost has doubled. It seems the airlines are more adept at creative pricing than flying their own planes. From frequent flier redemption to unavailable seats, to bogus two-for-one offers, they know all the tricks. But be careful, while the airlines are masters of this scam, they do not have a patent on the practice. Be sure you read all of the fine print before you hand over the credit card or click on the “buy” button.

4. Timeshares. People marketing timeshares are slick. They are not afraid to lie, cheat, or steal to make a sale. Most timeshare offers are made while you are already on vacation and your guard is down, but many are from contest entry forms where you fill out a form while waiting for your Chinese take-out. Very simply, never agree to a meeting or a presentation. Ask that any information be sent to you. Once in a presentation, you have put yourself in physical and fiscal danger. A client of ours just returned from Mexico where he thought he agreed to extend his stay to try out a timeshare. When he returned, he found that his credit card had been charged $37,000 and he was a proud new owner of a timeshare — Spanish contracts tend to be confusing if you are not fluent in the language.

5. Out of business. If you want to make a donation, do it to a charity for Tsunami Aid and not some corrupt or failing business. Cruise lines, tour operators, airlines, and yes, even travel agencies, have all gone under and left the consumer holding the bag.

While life offers no guarantees, you can hedge your bets a little.

Check out the company. Are they members of a professional organization such as the American Society of Travel Agents, Association of Retail Travel Agents, or the Cruise Lines International Association? Do they belong to a local Chamber of Commerce? These are all indicative of someone who is serious about doing business with you.

How long have they been around? Question the experience and tenure of the employees. Are there any complaints with the Better Business Bureau? Don’t pay with cash or checks. Remember, just because someone says they have the best deal, does not mean it is so. Anyone can open an online store in less than ten minutes for less than $200? It will take less time than that to recoup the investment tenfold.

Do your due diligence. ASTA’s consumer site, TravelSense offers more tips for keeping your travel purchases safe from the con artists. If you suspect you have been a victim of travel fraud, notify ASTA’s consumer affairs office, or call the National Fraud Information Center’s hotline at (800) 876-7060, and check with your local law enforcement agencies to see if they can help you.

Be careful out there. Scams are everywhere and they prey on you when you are least expecting.

5 Secret Caribbean Bargains

The Caribbean has become a second home to the mega-rich including the likes of Mick Jagger (Mustique), Richard Branson (Necker Island) and Donald Trump (Canouan).

But with a bit of careful planning, your jaunt to the sunny shores of some obscure island does not need to break the bank. While those islands will definitely be a pain in the wallet, here are five that won’t.

1. Palm Island. There are more than 30 islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines — but you don’t want to miss this one. Built in 1964 by John Caldwell, a wealthy American who was granted a 99-year lease from the government, it is a quiet hideaway with reasonable prices. Snorkeling and diving opportunities are abundant and the entire island is informal (shoes are almost totally optional). The beaches are first-rate and on the western side, Causarina Beach allows discrete topless and nude sunbathing. Plan your flights into Barbados and connect to Union Island and catch the ferry. The resort will handle all the transfers and will offer free inter-island airfare on stays of seven nights or longer. Palm Island Resort rates begin at $600 a night per couple and are all-inclusive. Many private villas on the island offer most of the same amenities and rates begin at $350 per night for a beachfront private villa that sleeps eight.

2. Vieques. Now that the Navy firing-range controversy is behind it, the allure of this small island off the East Coast of Puerto Rico is coming into its own. This sparsely populated island offers one resort and a myriad of guest houses. Vieques offers some of the best beaches in the Caribbean including Sun Bay and the more secluded beaches of Media Luna and Navio. While there, be sure to check out their bioluminescent bay — Mosquito Bay. Swimming in these waters at night with the glowing plankton is an experience of a lifetime. For a full service resort and spa, the Wyndham Martineau Bay Resort & Spa is the place, with rates from $215 per night. However the smaller and more personal guest houses are where the real bargains are. Check out the Inn on the Blue Horizon where rates begin at $110 per night and include a breakfast. You can reach Vieques by air from San Juan International Airport ($135 round trip) or, for a more leisurely trip, take a cab from the airport to the ferry and ferry over to the island. The ferry is $2 each way and the cab ride will cost about $65 each way.

3. Tortola. This is the largest and the most touristy of the British Virgin Island chain, but it offers so much and once you venture from Road Town (Tortola’s Capital) the island all of a sudden seems so much smaller and more intimate. Shopping, activities and nightlife are a short taxi away from anywhere, but the sailing, beaches, and scenery are what Tortola is all about. Be sure to take a trip around the island and bring your camera for the wonderful vistas. For a one-of-a-kind party, don’t miss Bomba’s Shack on Little Apple Bay and their famous Bomba Punch. Monthly they host a Full Moon all night party which breaks up around 7 a.m. During the other phases, it is a great place to watch the surfers. There are no big resorts on the island, but two great places are Prospect Reef Resort where rates begin at $115 per night. For a place a little off the beaten path, situated on a West End peninsula, is the Frenchman’s Cay Resort Hotel & Villas where rates begin at $145 per night. Frenchman’s is defiantly a hidden gem and well worth the extra dollars. To get to Tortola, fly into Beef Island Airport and taxi to your hotel.

4. Dominica. For the eco-traveler, Dominica is an isle well worth exploring. Discovered by Columbus in 1493, Dominica is filled with mountains, volcanoes, rain forests, challenging hiking, plus spectacular scuba and snorkeling. While seemingly prone to hurricanes (1979, 1995, and 2004), the island, and its charm, endure. Dominica is not known for its beaches as most people prefer to swim in the fresh water rivers such as the Layou which is a wide river laden with waterfalls, rapids, and calm pools. This is the place for an active vacation — white water rafting, mountain biking, deep-sea fishing, sea kayaking, and diving. Cabrits National Park is rather dry and has some wonderful mountain scenery. Morne Diablotin National Park is the park for the rain forest and hiking. The island only has 850 hotel rooms spread out among many guest houses and locally-owned hotels. Most properties are modern (rebuilt after hurricanes) and range in price from $45 per night to over $300 per night. Dominica is served by two airports.

5. Saba. Like Dominica, beach-goers are not flocking to this tiny volcanic island of 1,200 because, well, there are no beaches. This is the perfect island for doing nothing. Saba is in the eastern Caribbean just south of St. Maarten and offers wonderful mountains to explore, great views, small restaurants and inns, and great diving and snorkeling. The native Sabans are friendly and outgoing and definitely worth getting to know. There are two deluxe hotels on Saba; Willard’s of Saba offering cliffside rooms from $250 per night, and Queen’s Gardens Resort from $145 per night. The other choices are the many small and fun guesthouses and inns. The Cottage Club is a colony of 10 Saban cottages perched high on the hill. Rates begin at $105 per night and there is a discount for honeymooners. Remember, there are no beachfront hotels in Saba, because there is no beach. There is a small airport served from St.Maarten which is worth the experience as it is one of the shortest runways in the world with an end that is a steep cliff dropping into the sea.

While the rates in Mustique, Canouan, or Necker Island might run upwards of $3,000 per night, these five islands offer a taste of the intimate Caribbean that is usually reserved for the high rollers of the world. With a little homework and good travel planner, you can craft a unique experience that may just have you sipping a Bomba Punch with Brad Pitt.

Don't Sink Your Next Cruise: 5 Tips

Think a cruise is a problem-free, no-hassle vacation? Think again.

As with any uncharted waters, danger lurks below the surface. The brochures may advertise smooth sailing — after all, they’re brochures — but as a travel advisor, I know better.

Cruise lines haven’t conducted any surveys on floating vacations that head south, figuratively speaking. But I estimate that roughly one in 75 trips run into serious trouble. Most problems can be avoided with a little effort.

Here’s how not to become a statistic:

1. Know the required documentation. While the cruise line will help you out, it is ultimately your responsibility to be sure your paperwork is in order. You need visas (the immigration form-not the credit card) to enter Russia, for example. You need parental consent to take a minor into Mexico without both traveling parents. Certain nations require a passport, while others do not. Your cruise line may know most of the regulations, but it is not responsible if they change. While a trusted travel planner can be a big help with this, ultimately it is up to you to be sure you have the proper documents needed to cruise. Biggest tip: get a passport.

2. Know your costs. No one likes a last minute surprise — especially when it has already been charged to your credit card. Mandatory gratuity, what the heck is that? What do you mean the soft drinks and ice cream were extra? $300 for one telephone call home? Increase in port charges? All of these may pop up on you when you disembark the ship, leaving your cruise as nothing more than a bad taste in your mouth. You can negotiate “mandatory” gratuities. You can’t negotiate a change in port fees. You ought to know better about the phone — they don’t call these floating hotels for nothing. Certain lines include tipping, alcoholic beverages, sodas, and ice cream. Knowing what to expect is a lot easier than being surprised.

3. Investigate the ship before you book. Ask friends who have sailed her before. Check with your travel professional. Seek out those who are affiliated with a professional organization such as American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) or the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Check with the cruise lines. And don’t forget the CDC. You want to ask how clean a ship is? What was the report card from the CDC? Yes they issue report cards. Any recurrent repair problems? Carnival just converted a Mexican cruise into a Cruise to Nowhere for a mechanical problem. Any crew issues? Norwegian Cruise Lines has had many problems with its American crew on the US-flagged ships. Believe me, there are few worse cabins than those directly below a dining room. Dining rooms are busy all night and when they die down, the crew cleans and waxes the floors until the morning — so much for that romantic pre-dinner wine and cheese date with your spouse. Oh, and might as well toss out any hope of a restful sleep as well.

4. Know your ports. While ports can always be changed (and they do routinely), you are better off knowing a bit about each one before you go. Request a destination report from your travel professional so you can be prepared to maximize your short time at the port of call. Bone up on your language skills — maybe just a few key phrases to get you through in a pinch. Do something nice for humanity and help us shed our “Ugly American” image when we travel. Smile, be friendly, make an effort to talk the language, dive in and have some fun. It will take you a long way. Learn some customs, don’t ever assume you can take a photo of a local in the Caribbean without permission, indulge in some local cuisine (yes, they really do eat that) and forego that urge to check if the Big Macs taste the same — they do — anywhere in the world.

5. Expect the unexpected. Travel is an adventure. While the brochure lays out 3,5,7 10, or more days of pampered luxury, it never goes as planned. Be prepared to be flexible — you may not like group dining, your flight may be delayed (plan ahead during questionable weather months — better yet, let the cruise lines book your air for you), you may get sick, someone may get left behind, you may lose a suitcase, they guy on the plane might be 400 pounds and have an allergy to soap. Re-accommodate yourself. You are on vacation so make it the best that it can be. Eat at the buffet or one of the specialty restaurants, be sure your flight arrives in time to get from the airport to the ship, take some basic medication with you, know what a port agent is and how to find them if someone gets left behind, do not put all your eggs (or clothes) in one basket, and as for that 400 pound gorilla, well, let’s hope it is on the flight home.

Taking these additional five steps before you head up the gangplank will go a long way to insure your cruise is everything you dreamt it would be.

Don't Sink Your Next Cruise: 5 Tips

Think a cruise is a problem-free, no-hassle vacation? Think again.

As with any uncharted waters, danger lurks below the surface. The brochures may advertise smooth sailing — after all, they’re brochures — but as a travel advisor, I know better.

Cruise lines haven’t conducted any surveys on floating vacations that head south, figuratively speaking. But I estimate that roughly one in 75 trips run into serious trouble. Most problems can be avoided with a little effort.

Here’s how not to become a statistic:

1. Know the required documentation. While the cruise line will help you out, it is ultimately your responsibility to be sure your paperwork is in order. You need visas (the immigration form-not the credit card) to enter Russia, for example. You need parental consent to take a minor into Mexico without both traveling parents. Certain nations require a passport, while others do not. Your cruise line may know most of the regulations, but it is not responsible if they change. While a trusted travel planner can be a big help with this, ultimately it is up to you to be sure you have the proper documents needed to cruise. Biggest tip: get a passport.

2. Know your costs. No one likes a last minute surprise — especially when it has already been charged to your credit card. Mandatory gratuity, what the heck is that? What do you mean the soft drinks and ice cream were extra? $300 for one telephone call home? Increase in port charges? All of these may pop up on you when you disembark the ship, leaving your cruise as nothing more than a bad taste in your mouth. You can negotiate “mandatory” gratuities. You can’t negotiate a change in port fees. You ought to know better about the phone — they don’t call these floating hotels for nothing. Certain lines include tipping, alcoholic beverages, sodas, and ice cream. Knowing what to expect is a lot easier than being surprised.

3. Investigate the ship before you book. Ask friends who have sailed her before. Check with your travel professional. Seek out those who are affiliated with a professional organization such as American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) or the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Check with the cruise lines. And don’t forget the CDC. You want to ask how clean a ship is? What was the report card from the CDC? Yes they issue report cards. Any recurrent repair problems? Carnival just converted a Mexican cruise into a Cruise to Nowhere for a mechanical problem. Any crew issues? Norwegian Cruise Lines has had many problems with its American crew on the US-flagged ships. Believe me, there are few worse cabins than those directly below a dining room. Dining rooms are busy all night and when they die down, the crew cleans and waxes the floors until the morning — so much for that romantic pre-dinner wine and cheese date with your spouse. Oh, and might as well toss out any hope of a restful sleep as well.

4. Know your ports. While ports can always be changed (and they do routinely), you are better off knowing a bit about each one before you go. Request a destination report from your travel professional so you can be prepared to maximize your short time at the port of call. Bone up on your language skills — maybe just a few key phrases to get you through in a pinch. Do something nice for humanity and help us shed our “Ugly American” image when we travel. Smile, be friendly, make an effort to talk the language, dive in and have some fun. It will take you a long way. Learn some customs, don’t ever assume you can take a photo of a local in the Caribbean without permission, indulge in some local cuisine (yes, they really do eat that) and forego that urge to check if the Big Macs taste the same — they do — anywhere in the world.

5. Expect the unexpected. Travel is an adventure. While the brochure lays out 3,5,7 10, or more days of pampered luxury, it never goes as planned. Be prepared to be flexible — you may not like group dining, your flight may be delayed (plan ahead during questionable weather months — better yet, let the cruise lines book your air for you), you may get sick, someone may get left behind, you may lose a suitcase, they guy on the plane might be 400 pounds and have an allergy to soap. Re-accommodate yourself. You are on vacation so make it the best that it can be. Eat at the buffet or one of the specialty restaurants, be sure your flight arrives in time to get from the airport to the ship, take some basic medication with you, know what a port agent is and how to find them if someone gets left behind, do not put all your eggs (or clothes) in one basket, and as for that 400 pound gorilla, well, let’s hope it is on the flight home.

Taking these additional five steps before you head up the gangplank will go a long way to insure your cruise is everything you dreamt it would be.