Avoid Holiday Travel Scams

Newswise — Giving a trip as a holiday gift might be nice but beware of bogus offers that purport to have great prices on hotel rooms, airline tickets and rental cars. "If a travel deal looks too good to be true, it probably is," said UAB marketing expert Doug Ayers, Ph.D. Horror stories emerge each year about travelers stuck in airports without flights home or stranded without accommodations. Minimize the risk of being a scam victim. Use a reputable travel agency, use a credit card to pay for the vacation and research the company through the Better Business Bureau. "Ask a lot of questions, check the fine print and get the phone number, especially if it's an Internet company, to make sure the company truly exists."