“If it’s too good to be true, well then, it is usually too good to be true.” We have all heard this age old adage before. In the travel business, it has been my experience, that this is absolutely the case.
I cannot tell you how many times when we tell potential customers the price of the vacation they’re planning, they will tell us that they saw it on line, or read an ad somewhere that they can get the same exact cruise, hotel, airline ticket much much cheaper. Just today when we gave a round trip airfare price from New York to Rome for $800, the customer said, “oh I saw it on line for $300. I will tell you in 30 years in the travel business I have never sold a round trip New York to Rome ticket for $300.
Why do I tell you this story? Because, there are no secrets in the travel business. No one, and I mean no one has prices that are hundreds or sometimes advertised at thousands of dollars lower than anyone else.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t be a savvy travel shopper. Prices for airline tickets do go up and down as do hotel room rates and cruise fares. But not thousands of dollars. When you see a price that just doesn’t make sense, walk away. It probably is a scam.
For example that cruise fare for a seven night cruise for $199 usually includes a three to four hour time sharing presentation. As many of you know Las Vegas is famous for these promotions and relatives of mine recently sat through a four hour “hard sell” pitch for time sharing in Las Vegas in return for what they thought was a great vacation price. Turns out the vacation price they paid was not “such a deal” and they lost one full day of their Vegas vacation being almost threatened to buy a time sharing property.
The aforementioned $300 round trip air fare from New York to Rome, in all likelihood, probably did not include all the taxes and security fees associated with the price of the ticket. But that’s how the “on line” travel sellers pull you in. Always get the full price including all the taxes and fees.
Here’s the best advice I can give you when buying your vacation. Pay with a credit card. If the company you’re dealing with does not accept credit cards….. walk away. Payment by check or cash only is a big red flag that you might be getting scammed. After all how “easy” (read hard) is it to get a refund when you paid by check or cash. And In many cases the credit card company will protect you if the company you’re dealing with is a scammer.
I’ve often written don’t leave your brain at home when you go on vacation. These few tips above should be helpful in not leaving your brain “at home” even when your planning that vacation and still at home. These few tips should help you plan your vacation with full confidence.
