| Consumer travel tips |
By: Carol Odell
|
|
By Carol Odell, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado
Are you thinking about a vacation? Begin by deciding what kind of vacation you would enjoy and can afford. Set a budget before calling a travel agent to avoid getting talked into something you can’t afford.
Too many people have given money to travel agencies that go out of business after they have paid them or to agencies that do not provide what you paid for. Check how long an agency has been in business. Are the dates you want to travel actually available? Does the hotel know you have paid reservations with them through the travel agency? These are a few of the problems you could encounter when dealing with an unscrupulous travel agency.
Be safe and use a local travel agent. Check their record with the BBB of Southern Colorado. Talk to the agency about where you want to go, the amount of time you would like to spend and your budget. The agency should be able to tell you the best time to go for weather and your budget. If you plan to travel outside out of the U.S., ask about the exchange rate of the dollar.
You don’t have to use an agency. You can do research on your own. Many people use Frommer’s Guides or other books that tell you the best sights for the area. Talk to friends who have vacationed where you plan on going.
A combination of a travel agent and your own bookings works, too. If you have airline mileage points, hotel points, or car rental or credit card points, you might want to book those yourself and then work with the travel agent for reservations for products and services your points don’t cover. Travel agents can also help plan those special activities that require tickets.
If you hear about a trip that is so inexpensive it sounds too good to be true, it might be just that. Call the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado at 719-636-1155 or go to www.bbbsc.org to read about the company’s history and reputation.
|
|
Printer-friendly format
|
|
