Tips to Avoid Vacation Disappointment

Regardless of vacation budget, travelers put time and effort into planning their getaways. However, with all of the information available, it is easy to get off track during vacation planning and sometimes what appears to be a great “deal” could leave travelers stranded or disappointed.

The United States Tour Operators Association has created its top 10 tips on how to avoid disappointment on a vacation

1. Protect Identity: If a telemarketer offers you a vacation deal, never give your credit card number over the phone.
2. Use Common Sense: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Get it in Writing: Seeing the offer on a Web site does not count as getting an offer in writing. A Web site can be easily changed and provides no proof of what the offer was like when you first saw it. (Source: National Fraud Information Center, part of the National Consumer League)
4. Conduct Background Search: Before purchasing a vacation, check with a travel agent or other reliable source to ensure the company you are dealing with is legitimate.
5. Know Company’s Associations: Find out if the company is a member of an organization with a consumer protection plan, which could reimburse travelers’ deposits and monies paid in the unlikely event of the company’s default or bankruptcy. For information, call toll-free 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862) or visit www.ustoa.com.
6. Think about “What If”: Know the cancellation clauses in your travel agreements.
7. Feel Confident about Cost: To save money, investigate early booking discounts offered by tour operators.
8. It Counts Who You Know: If you can’t find space on your own at a popular destination, consider a vacation package. Tour operators and travel packagers reserve blocks of space at the most popular destinations well in advance. Best of all, they can often save you up to 40% over booking the same vacation on your own.
9. Ensure Airfare is Available: Book airfare when you make your vacation arrangements. Don’t play airplane roulette, waiting until the last minute to see what late airline sales occur. This is particularly true if you’re traveling to a highly visited area, where flights may be booked well in advance.
10. Be realistic: you get what you pay for. Don’t expect luxury accommodations at bargain basement prices.

Additional tips to further prevent disappointment when traveling include:

• Purchase Travel Insurance: Just like auto and homeowners, you hope you never have to use it, but there are a variety of travel insurance policies that can protect you from unforeseen circumstances such as a hurricane, a work commitment or medical issue.
• Do Your Homework: Read past travelers’ reviews of selected vacation suppliers and ask friends, families and co-workers if they have any experience with travel partners involved.

To help travelers navigate vacation planning, USTOA is offering a free copy of its “Smart Traveler’s Planning Kit,” by calling 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862) or sending an e-mail to information@ustoa.com.