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Travel Resources
Avoiding Travel Problems
It is always a good idea to do a little research if you are planning a trip whether it's to a nearby city or to another country. Fortunately, there are questions you can ask and places you can go to help you avoid travel problems.
What Consumers Can Do to Protect Themselves:
- Work with reputable travel providers.
- Know what you’re paying for.
- Check things out before you pay.
You can check out your Travel Provider ahead of time:
- Are they a SYTA member?
- Check with the Better Business Bureau.
- Check with the Federal Trade Commission.
- Check with your state’s (U.S.A.) Consumer Protection Office.
- Check with the Canadian Information Gateway or with Industry Canada’s Strategis website.
Work With Reputable Travel Providers:
- Are they experienced with students to the specific destination you want to travel to?
- Do they have Professional Liability Insurance?
- Do they have Consumer Protection?
- How many Years have they been in business/Years at that address/Years operating under the same name?
- Do they have a Professional Association membership?
Know What You’re Paying For:
“If it’s too good to be true, it probably is!”
- Who is responsible for the tour - Travel Agent, Tour Operator, Suppliers?
- Charter vs. commercial airlines: Who is the charter company/airlines?
- What hotels will you stay at?
- How much does the travel provider work with that hotel.
- What meals are included?
- What restaurants are being used? What are the menus? Are meal times limited? Are there extra meal costs?
- Ask what is included/not included.
- What options must you pay for?
- Get promises in writing from the management of the company.
Check things out before you pay:
- With Professional Travel Organizations like SYTA and ASTA.
- The Better Business Bureau.
- The State Attorney General’s Office/Consumer Protection Division.
- Department of Transportation/Public Charter Number (PC#).
- Hotels & other major suppliers.
- References to the specific destination you are going.
Other Tips:
- Pay with a credit card.
- Pay directly to an escrow account, if possible.
- Read everything on the contract especially the “small print”.
- Know the cancellation policies.
- Work with more than just a web site or a great brochure.
- Ask who pays for hotels & expenses if there are delays.
- Problems can and do happen even with the best travel providers, the difference is how the travel provider handles the problem.
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