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Frequently Asked Questions About Travel
How do I know that my
travel, tour or transportation deposit and payment will
be secure?
There have been cases where a travel, tour or adventure
company went out of business and left people who had
paid their deposits in advance empty handed, with the
travel arrangements being un-fulfilled, and no refunds
given. While this is a relatively rare occurrence, there
are precautions you can take to protect yourself. The
best option is to simply use a credit card to pay for
your deposit and/or trip. Credit Card issuers protect
the consumer from merchant fraud and unfilled promises,
so that if you have any problems you will be able to
file a dispute with your credit card issuer and get a
full refund of the moneys paid. You can also inquire
with the Better Business Bureau in the travel companies
home town to see if any complaints have been filed
against them. Their web sites are
www.bbb.org and
www.bbbonline.org
for Internet businesses. You can also make sure that the
provider is a member of a professional organization like
the American Society Of Travel Agents (www.astanet.com)
or the National Tour Association. You can also take some
basic precautions, such as verifying the name, address
and phone number of the company. Generally speaking if
you can visit their location then it is most likely a
safe provider.
How can I safely pay for travel using a credit card or
electronic check?
Credit cards are an easy way to pay, and also an easy
way for crooks to try and steal from you and your credit
card company. Never give your card number or checking
account information to a telemarketer who calls you as
they may part of a scam. You are a lot safer if you have
called the company or visited one of their locations. No
company needs your credit card or checking account for
identification or verification reasons so make sure that
you only provide that information when you intend to
make a payment to a company that you trust.
Is it safe to pay for travel by overnight mail or to
a company courier?
In some cases, a travel scam will ask you to overnight
your payment or to pay a courier who comes to your
location. Once they have your money you may not be able
to get it back if they don’t deliver as promised. Insist
on visiting the company’s location to pay, or use a
credit card after checking the company and its offering
out for yourself.
What steps should I take to make sure that my travel
arrangements are what I have been promised?
Before you pay, be sure to get complete details in
writing, verify things like the cost, carriers, hotel
names, cancellation and change penalties. Make sure that
you have been given the names, addresses and phone
numbers of airlines, cruise lines, ground carriers, and
hotels where you are being booked. You can also contact
these companies to check up on the details of your
purchase. Also be sure to call and verify all of your
plans with the providers a week or so prior to your
departure date.
How can I tell if a travel package, tour,
transportation arrangement or adventure tour is not a
scam?
As always, follow the age-old wisdom of ‘buyer beware’.
Does the offer seem too good to be true? Is the price
radically lower than comparable offers from other
companies? Have all details of the offer been provided
to you? Were high-pressure sales tactics used against
you? Do they want to send a courier or messenger to your
location for payment? Do you have to join a club to
participate? Do they pressure you for your credit card
or account information? Is the purchase of a companion
fare required? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of these
questions then you may be dealing with a travel scam.
Either walk away or check out the company with the
Better Business Bureau and with your own research.
What precautions should I take when booking a travel
package, tour or adventure package?
Once you have done a little research on the company
making the offer to make sure that they are legitimate,
take a closer look at the tour package to see what is
included and what isn’t. Here are some steps you can
take to make sure that you are getting what you expect:
- Read the fine print; asterisks will indicate special
limitation and exceptions to the offer.
- Make sure that the availability of the package is not
limited to certain dates or off-peak times and seasons
that you don’t prefer.
What kind of health and medical preparation are
required before I travel overseas?
When traveling to a foreign country you may be exposed
to diseases and health risks that you normally wouldn't
think about. Jungle areas may have Malaria carrying
mosquitoes and other parasitic and bacterial infections.
You will also be away from your normal doctor, so
certain preparations are in order. In the world of
today, the health risks of travel are far less worrisome
than they were in the past. Most countries have Malarial
control procedures to mitigate the risk to visitors for
example. Your travel agent and/or doctor can tell you
what precautions and recommended for the country and
parts of a country that you plan to visit. You should
also handle any outstanding medical issues you already
have prior to your departure. Pack extra medicines that
you need and bring detailed prescription and medical
information with you in case of emergencies. Pack your
medications in your carry-on luggage to make sure that
they are not lost, and carry important medicines on your
person. Most of the countries that tourists visit today
are safe from disease and other medical risks, to do
your homework first, and then enjoy your trip.
Should I be concerned about SARS if I plan to travel
to Asia?
On June 24th 2003 The World Health Organization (WHO)
withdrew its recommendation that travelers postpone all
but essential travel to any area of the world that has
experienced outbreaks of SARS. This means that the risk
to you as a traveler is extremely low or non-existent.
Nevertheless, common hygienic practices will help you
remain free of both SARS and other common illnesses.
Always wash your hands before eating, as this will
protect you from both SARS and many other common
bacterial and viral infections. If you come into contact
with someone who appears to be ill, try to leave their
presence ,and wash your hands and any other of your
possessions that may have been contaminated. Also make
sure to only drink bottled water and cooked food, as
this will prevent you from contracting food and water
born illnesses. These basic practices will help you to
have a safe and healthy trip.
How can I protect myself from terrorism related
threats when I travel out of the country?
The United States Government has issues a world wide
travel advisory to Americans who plan to travel out of
the country. This warning states that Americans are
considered fair targets by terrorists and so some
precautions are in order when traveling. The most
important thing is to simply be aware of the potential
for a terrorist attach, and use appropriate caution. Try
to blend in with the local population, or at least try
not to look like an American. When in places frequented
by Americans, in American owned businesses and/or
government offices, be extra cautious. This means being
aware of your surroundings and looking out for people
and things that seem abnormal. This travel advisory
expires on September 20, 2003. Prior to leaving, you
should check with the US Government to see if there are
any specific advisories for the country you plan to
visit by going to this website http://travel.state.gov
or by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S.
Is it safe to purchase airline tickets for a carrier
that has or may file for bankruptcy protection?
While there may be some risk involved in buying tickets
for an airline that has or may file for bankruptcy, you
can take certain precautions to protect yourself. The
easiest one is to make your purchase using a credit
card. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, credit card
customers have the right to refuse paying for charges
for services not rendered. Also, under Section 145 of
the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, airline
passengers holding tickets (paper or electronic) from a
bankrupt carrier for a particular route are entitled, at
minimum, to transportation on a space-available basis on
ANY airline currently serving that route within 60 days
after an airline has suspended operations. The maximum
fee that an airline can charge for providing standby
transportation should not exceed $25 each way.
Recommended Travel
Websites
JRD
Productions
Site features The Amber Factory, with Baltic amber; a
selection of Polish crafts and gifts; European tours
with Jan Lewan, and the official Jan Lewan Orchestra
site.
Contiki Holidays
Provides worldwide vacations for 18-35 year olds.
Wild Thing Tours
Leading tours to the wild and remote Namadgi National
Park, near Canberra, Australia.
Reviewed Travel Sites on the
Internet
Vacation Outlet -
www.vacationoutlet.com
Your premier online destination for dream vacations and
cruise getaways. Great Vacation Deals. Fantastic prices
on vacation packages at Vacation Outlet!
Travel Resources
Airlines 800 Numbers
Fishing Reports on the Internet
Powercurrent
- www.powercurrent.com/
This site allows fishermen
the opportunity to post reports on their favorite
rivers, and their latest catches. It covers the Western
United States!
Reviewed Adventure Travel
Websites
Wind in My
Sails, Inc. - Sailing Vacations and Offshore
Adventures in the Caribbean Aboard the 50' Luxury
Sailing Yacht 'Sophisticated Lady'. Come Aboard and Live
the Dream... Reviewed Luxury
Vacation Resorts on the Internet
CHLI
Health Spa Resort - A world class luxury resort at the Four
Seasons Hotel in beautiful Westlake Village California. This
wonderful medical clinic offers science-based lifestyle rejuvenation
from physicians, licensed dieticians, exercise physiologists,
fitness trainers, stress management experts and therapists. Come and
revolutionize your life.
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