Dirt cheap travel deals appear to offer amazing getaways for next to nothing.

But, what you many end up with, is just that...nothing.

from Cruise Traveler Magazine

If a travel deal sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.

Some offers sound like great deals, but dig deep into the "fine print" and you may find hidden additional fees, taxes or costs, not revealed until after you’ve booked the trip; so-called free trips or free nights may require you to sit through a timeshare presentation or are offered for a very limited time and are no longer available when you want to go. The accommodations and services offered, may be far less than the brochure and it's fancy pictures or web site promoted.

When considering travel offers, don’t assume offers are "as advertised" just because brochures, fliers, websites or the email you received looked good. Check out the internet, read consumer reviews, ratings and rankings for the hotels, airlines or cruise ships advertised. Visit web sites like Trip Advisor or Cruise Reviews Online to find out what other's are saying about the destination, property or cruise ship you are thinking about.

Beware of unbelievable deals and extremely low-priced offers. Few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies’ prices.

You may want to pay as cheap as possible for your vacation, but you don't want a cheap vacation. You want a Great Vacation - cheap.

Get all details in writing, including total cost, date and length of stay, cruise line, airline and hotel accommodations and review their refund and cancellation policies. Read everything and pay attention to the fine print, asterisks, flags and footnotes, which may detail restrictions, limitations and additional charges. Make sure you understand everything before booking. Ask all the questions you want. Get all the answers to your satisfaction, or go elsewhere.

Rule number one.  Verify your reservations directly with the airline, cruise line and hotel immediately after have placed a firm reservation, deposit or any payment.  Never give out personal information, including your credit card number, unless you’ve confirmed the company can be trusted with your personal information. Always pay with a credit card, so you have recourse if the services aren’t provided as promised.

Dirt cheap travel deals appear to offer amazing getaways for next to nothing. But, what you many end up with, is just that...nothing.

Research, research, and more research will go a long way to help protect your vacation investment.

 

Know & Go!

From planning to packing, from discount rates to

departure dates, everything you need to know before you go. 

Such as our Ultimate Packing List. The definitive guide to what to pack on your next cruise.

Read about exciting locales in Destinations Uncovered. Check out the readers 70 Best Cruise Ships

Read about everyone's Favorite Cruise Line and Cruise Ship Ratings

for taking the kids and teens, high adventure, or their best romantic cruises.

All the tips and tricks to have a successful cruise vacation.

 

*Staycation - A vacation in which the vacationer stays at home, or near home, while creating the environment of a traditional vacation

Find more about a Staycation from Consumer Reports.