Don't Get Tripped Up When Traveling

When planning a vacation this summer, consumers need to protect themselves not only from too much sun, but also from travel scams. The FTC’s new game, “Gear Up for a Great Trip,” is available in English and Spanish at www.ftc.gov/travel and www.ftc.gov/viajar. As players help animated travelers gear up for vacation, they get tips for their own travel planning, including:

• Buy your travel package from a company with a good reputation. Ask friends to recommend a business you can trust.
   
• Be wary of ads or faxes offering deeply discounted vacations. Some scam artists offer the world, but leave you at the gate. Other “deals” may contain hidden costs.
   
• Before you buy, get the details in writing and a copy of the company’s cancellation and refund policies. Consider whether cancellation insurance is right for you.
   
• Be wary of vague promises that you’ll stay at a “major” hotel or sail on a “luxury” cruise ship. Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers before you buy. Then call to verify your reservations.
   
• Use a credit card to make your travel purchases. If you don’t get what you pay for, you may be able to dispute the charges with your credit card company.
   
• Thinking about joining a travel club? Ask questions before signing up. Sometimes these “free” memberships can weigh you down with credit charges that you did not approve.

Travel tips are also available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt012.shtm and http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/salt012.shtm.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.