Pitfalls of last-minute vacation bargains

As the end of summer nears, some consumers may be looking for quick travel deals for spur-of-the-moment vacations.

The Better Business Bureau advises caution, however, because certain deals may not be as good as they seem. While some consumers can attest that there are some real bargains out there, others who have taken advantage of travel package deals have raised issues about them.

Here are some of the complaints that have surfaced:

▪ Date availability. It’s not uncommon to find that you cannot get a deal for the specific date that you want to travel. Flexibility in travel dates is a must for those looking to snag terrific prices.

▪ Payment options. Those on a budget – and who isn’t these days? – may be looking to pay in installments. This is not an option with some online travel deals, as they require payment in full.

▪ Fine print. As in all cases, the fine print can matter in important ways. Additional daily fees on top of the advertised rate are sometimes required,

making the total price less of a bargain.

▪ Inaccurate listings. Vacationers have shown up at hotels or resorts only to find that they are closed, having ceased business since the deal was advertised. In other cases there have been discrepancies surrounding the business’ advertised description.

Other warnings

The convenience of booking travel arrangements online can be offset by the potential for scammers to trick you. Especially when you’re booking a last-minute trip, your guard may be down just enough for a crook to take advantage.

Watch for these favorite sinister schemes:

▪ Phishing lures: Those amazing bargains that you’re seeing via email may be completely fake. Scammers love to pose as known businesses, faking logos and other aspects of their email’s appearance.

Be suspicious of any unsolicited offer over text or email. Never click on links in such communications unless you know they are legitimate. It may be an attempt to install malware on your device.

▪ Unusual questions: Beware of being asked unusual questions when submitting information for a booking. Identity theft could be the object.

▪ Unusual payment requirements: Credit cards are the safest method of payment. If you are asked to use a prepaid card or wire money, it’s a scam.

At the destination

If you arrive at the destination and find that things are not as promised, don’t lose your cool. Rudeness can end any hope of an easy resolution of your problem by setting up communication barriers.

It’s worth remembering that the third party you used to book a reservation may have falsely represented the accommodations without the hotel or resort’s knowledge. Be polite to increase your chances of a happy solution to the problem.

A recent favorite tactic of scammers is the late-night call at your hotel. Claiming to be from the front desk, crooks will say there’s a problem with your credit card and will ask for the card number again. Don’t cooperate.

The hotel knew instantly when they ran your card at your check-in whether a problem existed. Ignore the scamming attempt to get your card information.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Pitfalls of last-minute vacation bargains."