Vacation Certificates
Timeshare resorts, travel clubs, and other companies may notify you by
mail or telephone that "You have been selected for an island vacation
that includes free airfare and accommodations." Or maybe you filled out
an entry form for a vacation sweepstakes at a store, trade show or
other local event. Why are these offered and how do they work?
Businesses often provide vacation certificates with the goal of selling
a specific product or service. They print these certificates in large
quantities, believing that the attraction of a "free" vacation will
draw customers to their sales site. Making a purchase or attending a
sales presentation may be required to claim a vacation at a timeshare
resort, membership campground or other land sales promotion.
Vacation certificate offers vary. Some certificates include lodging in
a hotel or timeshare resort for a certain number of days and nights.
Other offers include airfare or a cruise, or provide one complimentary
ticket with the purchase of a second. Some certificates include
discount coupons for restaurants, tours or attractions in the resort
area.
Companies using vacation certificates may require a non-refundable
processing and handling fee or a refundable deposit of $50 to $100 to
reserve a vacation offer. Vaca-tion certificates requiring a refundable
deposit often state that the deposit will be returned after a vacation
has been taken. Written confirmation should be sent when the deposit is
received.
What to Look For
Before committing to participate in any vacation promotion, it’s wise to do the following:
-
Contact your Better Business Bureau for a reliability report on the
company providing the vacation certificate and any other company
involved in an offer that requires you to listen to a sales
presentation or purchase a product. Until you receive complete details
in writing of total cost, terms and conditions and restrictions, do not
offer any payment to the company.
- Read the rules carefully. Do you meet the required conditions, such as age and marital status?
- Determine
all costs involved in using a vacation certificate. It will be your
responsibility to pay for anything not specifically mentioned.
Do you pay for:
- Hotel, timeshare resort or other lodging? Meals?
- Transportation
from your home to the resort? Do you have to travel to a distant
location before the company pays for "free" travel?
- Transportation from the airport to the lodging accommodation?
- Additional fees for the peak tourist season? When is the peak season? Are there any port taxes when visiting a foreign country?
- Before traveling, confirm all arrangements directly with the:
- Airlines, cruise lines, etc.
- Hotel,
timeshare resort, etc. (By requesting descriptive brochures directly
from the lodging you may avoid any unpleasant surprises once you
arrive.)
- Business sponsors such as restaurants or resort
attractions offering discount or other coupons. Determine any
restrictions on the use of these coupons.
- Ask the vacation certificate promoter what happens if the hotel or other accommodations are completely booked.
- If
a refundable deposit is required, when and how do you get it back? Find
out what the company will do if it can't match your request with a
specific vacation time. Can you get your money back?
- If
"free" travel is offered, can you make your own travel arrangements, or
do you have to use a specific travel agent? If you use the company's
travel agent and you must pay for a second ticket, determine if the
cost of the second purchased ticket is more than if you had made your
own travel plans for two through another source. Is the rate
competitive with rates available through other travel agents, airlines,
etc.?
- If you attend a land sales presentation, obtain a
copy of the Property Report often required by federal law, and read it
before signing any contract or written agreement.
Travel Packages
A travel package is a prearranged vacation. Usually, these packages are
assembled by an independent tour operator and are sold through travel
agents. Purchasing a travel package has the advantage of convenience
and, in many cases, value. Paying attention to the following can help
you choose wisely:
-
Small Print or Asterisks: Make sure that asterisks or small print are
not used as a means of altering the meaning of any advertising
statement. Asterisks are commonly used to indicate restrictions --
required length of stay, particular days and/or times of departure or
additional charges.
- Availability:
Make sure that the travel services are currently available at
advertised prices. If the travel service at the advertised price is not
immediately effective, availability should be stated in the
advertisement.
- Extra Charges: Any extra charges such as
port taxes, service charges or single supplement charges should be
clearly and conspicuously disclosed.
- Features: If the
brochure/advertisement states, for example, that you can play golf or
that you can visit an amusement park nearby, it does not necessarily
mean that these attractions will be included in the travel program for
the advertised price. Make sure to look for the following:
- What features are included in package price? Ask about:
- airfare
- hotel
- transfers
- sightseeing
- gratuities
- baggage handling
- meals
- car rental mileage
- The total number of nights in each city and hotel, as well as the amount of free time you will have on the tour.
- The daily itinerary/schedule of events.
- The name of each hotel and the type (grade) of accommodations offered by each.
- Is the tour escorted and to what degree?
- Conditions:
You should pay special attention to the contents of the "conditions"
clause, usually found in fine print on the last page of the brochure:
- How firm is the price? (i.e. does the tour operator have the right to increase the fare?)
- What are the cancellation penalties? What is considered a valid reason for either you or the tour operator to cancel the trip?
- What are the conditions under which you can receive a full refund?
- Abbreviations: Common abbreviations used in travel ads and brochures include:
- AP (American plan) -- hotel rate includes bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- CP (continental plan) -- hotel rate includes bed and continental breakfast.
- FIT (frequent independent travel) -- a prepaid, custom-designed travel package with many individualized arrangements.
- GIT (group inclusive tour) -- a pre-paid tour of specific group size, components and value.
- single supp. (single supplement) -- extra charge for a single accommodations tour.
- pp. dbl. occ. (per person double occupancy) -- price per person for a room to be shared.
- OW (one way) -- one way airfare.
- RT (round trip) -- round trip airfare.
- dep. (departure date) -- date of departure.
Quick Check List
Before finalizing any vacation or travel plans, you should do the following:
-
Deal with a business you know or have checked out with the BBB or other reliable groups like those listed on the back of this brochure;
- Verify everything before you pay.Be cautious about prepaying for multiple years.
Timeshares, campgrounds or travel clubs may offer to sell membership
vacation accommodations for five years or more. Take into account your
physical and financial health, a company’s solvency, potential rising
membership and maintenance fees, and the often poor appreciation of
such investments;
- Watch out for instant travel offers. If
a company offers special identification that they say will guarantee
discounted travel rates, be wary. No company has control over
discounts. Only suppliers of travel such as cruiselines, hotel
companies, car rental companies, or airlines can decide to extend such
professional courtesies.
Vacation Scam "Red Flags"
Be alert to the following "redflags" that may signal fraudulent vacation promotions:
-
Salespersons who use high pressured tactics such as:
- demanding your credit card number before explaining all the conditions of an offer;
- requesting that you identify yourself by your credit card number (a sign of possible misuse of your card);
- or refusing to provide all the information about the total cost of a vacation or travel offer.
- Post card or fax promotional mailings that require you to pay a fee or to purchase membership in a travel club, in order to claim a vacation or travel prize.
- Low rates on air travel that require you to purchase an additional ticket for a companion.
- Offers by companies attempting to subvert U.S. postal authorities by requiring a messenger or courier to deliver the travel package to you in exchange for your payment.
How to Protect Yourself
To avoid falling prey to a vacation or travel scam, heed the following advice:
- Be wary of “great deals” and low- priced offers.
- Be suspicious of companies that require you to wait at least 60 days before taking your trip.
• Ask detailed questions.
- Get all information in writing before you agree to buy.
- Don’t
give your credit card number or bank information over the phone unless
you have confidence in the company you are dealing with.
- Don’t send money by messenger or overnight mail.
- Check out a company with the Better Business Bureau before you buy.
- Don’t be pressured into buying.
- If in doubt, say “NO.”
Outside Contact
To learn more about vacation and travel issues, contact the following:
