Are you planning your next vacation? If you are planning now, there are many things that you ought to know so as to make your trip more enjoyable and hassle-free. Travel scams are one main thing that you ought to know because there have been a rise in the number of travel scams lately, and you should make it a point to not to be one of the unlucky victims of it. Explained in this article are some ways (tips) that would help you avoid those travel scams.

Before going on to explain the methods of avoiding travel scams, a good understanding of what travel scams are is vital. A travel scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation related to travel and some examples of common travel scams are Free vacations, Free airfare, Free Meals, Travel deals by email and Winning a lottery (that you never registered with and haven’t heard of). These offers would look highly attractive, but they can be too good to be true. When such deals arise, that’s the red flag that shows that it’s a scam.

There are many ways that you could choose to follow in order to avoid these travel scams. These methods are listed below:

· If you are obtaining the service of a travel agent, make sure the agency belongs to a professional travel association such as the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

· Get recommendations from your friends or family and check as to whether the travel agents that offers you great deals are reputable and reliable ones.

· Check whether the offers and deals are realistic. This can be done by comparing prices with other agencies. If the deal seems too good to be true, then it is most probably a scam. So beware!

· Always get everything in writing. In other words, don’t make any payment if you haven’t got anything in written form.

· Look for hidden costs such as additional reservation fees that add to the price. Always check as to what the total price and the cancellation fees prior to the booking or payment, so that you will not have to pay more money later.

· Don’t be fooled by professional looking brochures and websites.

· Do not disclose your income for any reason since this is irrelevant and unimportant to the travel agent or the company that offers you the great deals. If they request for such information, it is indeed a red flag.

· Do not reveal your credit card information if you feel that the travel agent and his/her deals and offers are too good to be true.

· Do not respond to any calls of unsolicited travel agents who come up with extraordinary travel plans. Don’t be afraid to end the call. Just hang up.

Given above are some ways (tips) that would help you to avoid some common travel scams and by the careful following of these tips, you are ensured that you will not fall into the traps of those fraudulent travel agents and thieves. You won’t be an unlucky victim. So follow these guidelines and enjoy your trip to its best. Good Luck!