"Travel is one of the finest and most life-enhancing stimulants to good health, happiness and longevity."

Travel "scams" come in all forms and often in appealingly enticing disguises. A few precautionary actions and a little early and simple detective work can eliminate most of the "rip-offs" that can not only cost you dearly but also turn a time of relaxation and joy into a highly nerveracking experience.

The first place to start is with your selected travel agent or tour operator. Scams abound so consider the following TEN TRIP TIPS:

1. Travel agents usually don't cost you anything directly, but of course most work on a commission basis for airlines, etc., so you might as well use the best. Most travelers are unaware that anyone, particularly in the USA, without a scintilla of training, can pay a modest fee and become a 'travel agent.' So, to be safe, check to see, for example in the USA, if the agent is certified by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) or ARTA (Association of Retail Travel Agents). In the case of a tour company, check at the USTOA or National Tour Association or your national equivalents.
2. Check with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) or national/regional equivalent to see if there are any recorded complaints or lawsuits against the agency or operator.
3. By asking simple questions ensure your agent has some degree of familiarity (more than the highlights on a company brochure) about your intended destination.
4. If you're in the market for travel bargains ask if the agency has relationships with 'reliable' consolidators who sell cut-price air and tour tickets (also known as wholesalers, coupon brokers or 'bucket shops').
5. Ensure your agent is fully aware of special offers: 'book early'- incentives; senior discounts; reduced companion fares; special membership association benefits such as Automobile Association of America (AAA) or American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) or your national equivalents, and other discounts. Also make sure the agent has e-mail and is willing to access the latest and often the best airline fares and other money-saving opportunities.
6. Beware of those special offers from "Travel Experts." You know the games -- enticing postcards or phone calls offering too good to believe (they are!) vacations if you make 'instant decisions' and 'immediate deposits.' Watch for that key line: "This is a special one-time offer to you personally -- far below our normal price -- and available today only with this phone call, so I need your decision now." If you hear this or anything like it, put the phone down. And don't bother to say goodbye! In fact, to help us all, report the organization to the appropriate authorities.
7. Avoid companies or agencies using PO addresses, unanswered 800 numbers and who refuse to accept credit cards. When using a credit card, don't give out details to companies you haven't checked out or know to be reliable.
8. If you have any doubts about 'special offer' companies you can check them out by typing in 'travel scams' or 'travel fraud' on your internet search engine (a later article will discuss useful travel websites).
9. Always try to use a credit card when arranging trips or vacations in order to ensure you have a way of disputing erroneous charges or false advertising.
10. Make sure your agent or tour company explains in detail any small print restrictions relating to your travel arrangements. (It's better still to read the small print yourself.) Arrangements may include: limited travel periods with 'Saturday night' stopover requirements; large penalties for flight and other changes or even the dreaded non-refundable, non-changeable clauses; special discount price air fares but inflated package hotel rates, etc. And, if you have problems with any agency (or any hotel or airline for that matter) you can always get the U.S. website www.passengerrights.com (or your national equivalent) to help you fill out the appropriate complaints and get action!

And finally -- as a useful reality check, for example on a travel agency-quoted airline flight, call the airline directly as a regular consumer and ask them for their best price for the same or similar flight. In most instances your agent will equal or beat the price but -- just once in a while -- they don't. Whether it's because the higher your fare the higher their commission, or their 'preferred' relationship with a particular airline, or just plain laziness/incompetence/outdated computer files, etc., you should decide -- but get the best price anyway!

Don't worry you'll have a great time!

Don't let all these tips and precautions put you off. Most are common sense and the vast majority of travel agents and tour operators are only concerned about your happiness and satisfaction. After all, they want you back and they want you to recommend them to others. That's how they stay in business -- by ensuring that you're a TTT (Totally Tranquil Traveler)!