Credit: GuideAdvisor
Don’t be surprised when “$20 a night” turns into “stranded on a desert island.”
The consistent thing about the summer time is how eager everyone is to get out of the house, especially these days. You wanna go on a vacation. Where? Literally anywhere that isn’t here. How are you going to get there? Who cares, we’re getting out of here! But while that attitude is understandable, it can be potentially hazardous to your health (and wallet). Scammers are very aware of how eager everyone wants to vamoose, and they’re laying down all kinds of bait to catch inexperienced travelers.
The Better Business Bureau has been offering warnings about summer travel, with a heavy emphasis on travel restrictions and certain travel websites. As we’ve mentioned before, due to the pandemic, certain states will require you to quarantine for an extended period depending on where you came from and where you’re going. Scammers are counting on you to be out of the loop on that; they’ll rent you a beach house for the summer, only for you to show up and find the whole beach cordoned off.
All travel websites should be thoroughly researched and vetted. Check reviews and comments, read the fine print, and check for hidden costs and penalties. You should also refrain from searching for things like “best deals” when you’re looking for a travel site, as many scam sites are optimized to intercept those kinds of searches.
Credit: Smarter Travel
Finally, make sure to get any plans, agreements, or rentals in writing. Don’t just hand a wad of cash to someone and call it a day. If things go sideways and you need to go legal on some butts, a paper trail will help you illustrate your case (provided you didn’t agree to anything without reading it first).
I know how eager we all are to be somewhere that isn’t our own living room (good heavens, do I know), but you still have to do your due diligence. It’s either that, or end up in a Gilligan’s Island situation, except without the option of a raft. So more like a Fyre Fest situation.
