BBB offers tips for planning your next family trip

If you’re planning an event or looking for a good deal for a family vacation, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) encourages you to do all you can to avoid scams and travel safely. 

The following tips to help ensure an enjoyable vacation:

Plan ahead. Allow plenty of time to research hotels, flights and the area where you’re staying. Typically, the earlier that reservations are made, the better the deals and the lower the risk of the destination being booked solid. Making reservations in advance also locks in rates and prevents higher prices later during prime spring break, peak summer or holiday travel seasons.

Avoid broad internet searches. Searching with phrases like “best deals” can sometimes bring up websites that look official but are designed solely to rip people off.

Be alert for travel scams. Watch out for phone calls or letters claiming a “free trip,” or websites offering prices that appear too good to be true. It’s easy to extend questionable offers like these, but most leave hopeful travelers in limbo – and out of money. Learn more about common travel scams here.

Do your homework. Scammers often target people looking for great deals online by offering tempting vacation packages at unrealistically low prices. One place to begin an online search is BBB.org to find reputable travel agencies, agents and websites.

Ask family and friends to recommend a travel agent or website, then visit BBB.org for free business profiles to research the business and read customer reviews.

Get trip details in writing. Before making a final payment, get all the trip details in writing. This should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation penalties and names of the airlines and hotels. Also, review and keep a copy of the airline’s and hotel’s cancellation and refund policies, as well as the cancellation policies of the travel agency or booking site used.

Consider travel insurance. Travel insurance covers things like trip cancellations or medical emergencies. There are different levels of coverage based on what type of plan is purchased. Ask many questions, and always read the fine print to see what’s covered and what’s not. Learn more about travel insurance here.

Pay with a credit card. Paying with a credit card provides additional protection if something goes wrong with a travel reservation.

Check travel advisories. Planning to travel internationally? Check to see if any advisories affect Canada and the U.S. Travel Association for any issues that may impact your trip.

No matter when or where you are traveling, take extra precautions:

Wait to post on social media. It's fun to post adventures with friends and family, but wait until getting back from the trip. Photos and social media posts of the family having a great time let thieves know your house is empty.

Check your home insurance. If your home will be unattended while away, make sure you know your responsibilities under your home insurance policy. Some policies don’t cover damage if nobody checks on your home for a while.

Tell someone you trust. Share a copy of the itinerary with a family member or close friend. Include the contact information of someone joining you on your trip.

Take a map. People rely heavily on smartphones and GPS. Consider having an atlas or physical map just in case of technical difficulties.

Prep for the weather. Check the conditions where you’ll be traveling, and pack appropriate supplies and clothing.

Avoid traveling alone. Use the buddy system and stick with the group.

Lock it up. Use a hotel safe to store extra cash and keep valuables under lock and key.

More from the BBB

For more information about scam alerts from the BBB, click here. If you suspect you’ve been scammed, submit a report to the BBB Scam Tracker to warn others and enable the BBB to investigate.