Avoiding E-Travel Pitfalls

While the Internet brings the world to your fingertips and offers many tempting travel options, it is important to know the shortcomings and avoid these e-travel potholes and pitfalls.

1. There is no Internet police. No organization that scours the Internet for false and misleading claims. Don't believe everything you see on any web site. Photographs can be doctored to look much better than the actual location. We experienced this first-hand on a trip to Key West. We booked a "Beautiful Romantic Porchside Paradise" from an Internet site. Great photographs. We could hardly wait to get there. Long story short, the porchside paradise turned out to be a dump. No other way to describe it. Fortunately, with persistence and pressure, we got a refund and found a delightful bed and breakfast nearby. Ask for references. Check them out.

2. Avoid web sites that require extensive registration to get information. If all you do is plug in an email address and password, it may not be a problem. Expect to be flooded with email sales pitches…better known as spam. (Hint: Use a separate password and email account for Internet information requests.) Think twice before giving your home address or telephone number. Never provide a credit card or account number to pay for Internet information that is free on the majority of the Web.

3. Is the information on the web site current? Check when the web site was updated or copyrighted. Look for dates on news releases and offers. It is disappointing to get excited about offers that no longer exist and information no longer relevant.

4. Avoid web sites with no telephone contact or street address. How can you ask questions and what will you do if a problem arises? Combine Internet research with telephone calls. Calls are a good way to test customer service response. A legitimate e-travel site welcomes verbal inquiries.

5. Beware of flashing offers or email messages that you have been "selected" to receive a special vacation package or several vacations for one "small handling fee." You pay the fee. When it's time to book your reservation, there is no availability or the offer is not as promised. Travel offers too good to be true are usually not true.

6. Add-on fees, such as service charges and surcharges, are often used to make an advertised price look better than it really is. Add-ons may be legitimate. Question them and take them into account making accurate price comparisons.

7. Read fine print carefully. Large print giveth…small print taketh away. Be certain you understand pricing, restrictions, and cancellation policies for any offer you are considering. If in doubt, ask more questions.

8. Be sure a web site is secure before providing personal information or charge card numbers for payment. The best way to check is to look at the URL address bar at the top of your screen. If the payment page is secure, the URL changes from http:// to https://. The "s" at the end of http indicates a secure site.

9. Don't be pressured into making hasty travel decisions. Ask e-travel operators to provide written materials for review. If travel contract downloads or print offers (including all disclaimers) are not available, do not do business there.

10. Never pay cash for online travel offers. With cash up-front, if the provider goes out of business or fails to provide the promised services, you have virtually no recourse. When payment is made with a major credit card, the credit card company can help you recoup losses for services/purchases never received.

These strategies are commonsense safeguards for all travel offers and purchases. It is better to avoid a scheme or scam than to have to repair the damage after the fact.