BBB Tips: Planning your next trip or vacation

(BBB) — Better Business Bureau® has tips for travelers to plan a safe, fun and hassle-free summer trip. Read more or hear from BBB Regional Director Pamela Hernandez below:

Planning a vacation is often hectic. It can be hard to know where to start with travel agents, booking lodging and finding businesses.

Scammers are poised to take advantage of this, especially around spring break and into the summer travel season. They often target people looking for good travel deals online by offering tempting packages at prices that are too good to be true.

Common vacation scams include fake bookings for lodging and outings, phony vacation giveaways and fraudulent timeshare sales services. BBB issued an in-depth study on vacation and travel-related scams in 2023.

Last year, consumers reported more than 1,300 travel scams and over $29M in travel-related losses to BBB.

One St. Louis consumer received an offer in the mail with raffle tickets for a free trip to the Bahamas and entered the raffle with her contact information. She was soon contacted by someone who told her she won the raffle, then asked for her payment information for a $400 “online account setup fee.” The consumer entered her information, but noticed the website looked suspicious and asked for a refund, which she was unable to get. She did not receive the promised tickets.

“The best way to avoid losing money is to work with trusted businesses,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO. “Start your planning by searching for businesses with BBB, and don’t fall for an offer that’s too good to be true.

Tips for planning a safe and fun vacation:

• Plan ahead. Allow plenty of time to research hotels, flights and your stay area. Earlier reservations typically lead to better deals. Don’t make a snap decision on a too-good-to-be-true offer, and research companies with BBB before you book. You can also ask family and friends for recommendations.
• Avoid broad internet searches. Entering phrases like “best deal” or “cheapest flights” for your destination can sometimes bring up websites that look official but are designed to rip people off.
• Be alert for travel scams. Watch out for unsolicited phone calls, text messages, emails or mailers that claim you’ve won a “free trip.” Offers like these might seem like a great opportunity, but often come with hidden fees and other restrictions.
• Get the details in writing. Before making a final payment for the trip, get all the details in writing. This should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation penalties, and the names of the airlines and hotels. Review and keep a copy of the cancellation policies for all services you book.
• Consider travel insurance. These policies cover things like trip cancellations or medical emergencies. There are different levels of coverage based on what type of plan is purchased. Ask questions and read the fine print to see what is covered and what isn’t.
• Pay with a credit card. Card payments offer extra protection if something goes wrong or if you need to dispute a charge.

BBB has more tips for booking travel and avoiding vacation scams.