Travel Arrangements: Get the Deal You Were Promised

Have you ever gone on a trip and the travel arrangements weren't exactly what you were expecting. Maybe you just said ok since you already paid and followed your reservations through. But for many of us, not getting what we expect can be a big problem especially when it involves large amounts of money and travel. Not every travel agent or agency is trying to rip you off but you should be aware of some things that will protect you in case you do. These tips will help you get the deal you were promised when paying for tickets, hotel rooms, reservations, or any other travel arrangements.

Plan Ahead and Try to Be flexible

It is always best to plan ahead when traveling. Often special deals and rates sell out quickly and you will end up paying more if you wait until the last minute to reserve. If you read the fine print before you make a purchase often times you will see a rate hike if you reserve less than 2 weeks in advance, and this includes hotels, entertainment tickets, flights, trains, and even buses. It can cost you anywhere from $20 more to over $100 more for reserving last minute. By planning ahead you could save yourself a couple hundred dollars, especially if you are traveling with more than 2 persons.

When it comes to hotels and flights, often children may stay free or fly at a discounted rate. Ask your airline or hotel if there are any family packages or deals that apply to your situation. Even some bus and train lines let children ride for free with an adult, or at a discounted price. If you want to get the best deal it is best to compare your options. You may be able to save money on transportation by transferring flights or trains instead of taking an express or non-stop. First, determine the maximum amount you can spend on your entire trip including travel, food, entertainment, and accomodations and shop around to get the best deals. Getting a package tour or package vacation may not always be the cheapest solution because extras you weren't expecting can really add up, especially if you didn't read the fine print first.

It also helps to be flexible when planning your next trip or vacation. For most of us this is not easy because we only get our 7-14 days off a year. For those of you who get more time off from work, or are retired you will find it easier to be flexible. Even if you can't change the week of your vacation or trip you can be flexible when it comes to what dates you depart, arrive, and return. Leaving a day early or staying an extra day may save you a few hundred dollars on accomodations and transportation. When it comes to getting a great deal there are plenty of them to choose from. Just beware of unusually low prices, freebies, contests, and sweepstakes.

Contests, Freebies, and Sweepstakes

All you have to remember when it comes to contests, freebies, and sweepstakes is if you did not enter a contest you did not win. Scammers are notorious for phishing through email contact with phrases like "you have won", "you are entitled to", "yours free", or "you have been selected". If you did not enter a contest you did not win. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Often times, even if you are a winner you later find out you have to pay taxes, or food is not included, or the hotel is not very good. You will be better off getting a deal from a travel agent or travel company than you will trying to claim reservations from an alleged contest.

Check the Sellers Reputation

Before purchasing any travel or accomodations you should check out the reputation of the travel agent, travel company, hotel, and airline. Find out if your travel agent or travel company belongs to a professional organization. Check that they are a member in good standing with the organization or check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there is a complaint history. You should also do the same for the hotel and airline. Often you will find especially with flights, travellers have been dissapointed in the services they recieved. You should note the ratio of resolved problems to unresolved problems. If there are more unresolved issues than non-issues you may want to think of finding another company. When checking out the hotel make sure it is what you were promised. If the hotel says it's "oceanview" or "beach front" ask how far it is from the beach. You may be shocked to discover that the hotel is not as close to the beach as they say it is. Also if the hotel states there are certain accomdations available to all guests make sure they are available to you upon check in.

Use a Credit Card instead of Cash

After you have decided on what travel arrangements are the best deal for you and you have checked out the seller you should be fine to go ahead and make reservations or purchase tickets. As with all purchases you should make sure that you get a written receipt or printed confirmation of reservations or ticket purchases. This document should include the dates of travel, location of accomodations, the transportation carrier (flight, train, or bus line), and the amount you paid. It should also be signed at dated by the agent or company representative that sold the arrangements. You should also avoid paying by cash or check and use a credit card. If there happens to be a problem you can always dispute the charges with your credit card company. Most credit card companies give you up to 60 days to file a dispute or chargeback in the event services were not delivered as promised or were misrepresented. Most scammers know about the 60 day limit so if an agent or company tells you you can make reservations in advance but you cannot travel for 2-3 months do not purchase or make reservations.

Understand the Terms of Travel or Accomodations

Before you travel make sure you clearly understand the terms, conditions, and limitations of travel and accomodations. Nothing is free anymore so don't fall for the it's free trick. Find out if you have to tip, if you have to pay for meals and drinks, what happens in the event of cancellation or delay, and so on. Learn as much as you can before traveling so it doesn't turn out to be your worst nightmare. If you are expecting a certain service or other accomdation and it was promised to you, make sure that you get it when you are entitled to it. If there are any problems you should always call your booking or travel agent/company to find out how the situation can be remedied.

Part of your terms of travel will include luggage delays and damages. If your luggage is lost or delayed it is imparative that you file a report with the ar, bus, or train line. If you expect to get anything you MUST file this claim before you leave the terminal. Each carrier will have its own set of policies regarding luggage. Read up on these terms before traveling and become familiar with baggage check in procedures so you don't have delays. You should also get a copy of the claim or report filed before leaving the terminal for your own records. Make sure it says, if possible when your bags will arrive and make sure the agent signs and dates it. Leave a phone number where you can be reached or an address where your bag can be delivered upon arrival at the terminal. Confirm with your carrier that you will be contacted in the event your luggage is not found and call your travel agent to make a second, back up report.

If by some chance your luggage is lost fill out the neccessary claim forms with your travel carrier. In most cases, while traveling in the United States you are entitled to about $1000 worth of coverage for lost luggage. This amount can vary greatly from carrier to carrier so make sure you read the terms and conditions, or any other fine print before handing over your luggage. You should also consider trip insurance to cover lost or damaged items especially if you are carrying high value items like jewelry. International coverage also varies from carrier to carrier but the average payment for lost or damaged luggage is about 9 dollars US per pound.

Sometimes it is best not to send your luggage with your air, train, or bus line. In some situations you can have your luggage shipped to your destination several days before you arrive. This is very easy to do. All you need to do is call your hotel and let them know your baggage will be arriving before you do. Do not let your luggage arrive too soon before your arrival or it may end up lost. Try to arrange for it to be delivered the same day as your arrival or shortly thereafter. Many standard shipping companies will send luggage at the same rates as any other package and it is not generally too expensive unless you are shipping heavy items. Shipping items home purchased during your trip is not a terrible idea either. Often you are only allowed a certain number of bags and weight per person. Generally you are allowed two bags with no more than 75 lbs in weight combined. It may be cheaper to ship items than pay for excess baggage tickets.

By doing a little research and reading before purchasing or reserving your next trip you may be able save hundreds of dollars. Not only will you save money but you won't have to worry so much and you can just relax, that's what a vacation is for anyway. In the event of a problem at least you will be prepared and know how to handle the aftermath. Enjoy your vacation!