How to buy travel online safely

Three out of five Italians book travel online. The European Commission found that 253 out of 352 travel portals deceive users. Here's how to avoid scams.

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How to buy travel online safely

HOW TO BUY TRAVEL ONLINE SAFELY

It's vacation time, last-minute trips, and weekend getaways to destinations near and far. Three out of five Italians book their trips online, but things don't always go smoothly. Travel sites are making a killing with exclusive deals, which in many cases even seem like a free vacation. These rock-bottom prices often turn into outright scams, to the detriment of customers.

The European Commission, not surprisingly, recently published a document reporting that 253 out of 352 travel sites are hiding scams for unsuspecting internet users . These are scams disguised as exclusive offers, available for "a few more hours" or "limited availability." Airline tickets, desert excursions, and many other attractions attract attention and entice you to click on links. The most common are promises of discounts in exchange for personal information. They're a simple way to access personal contact information at no cost, sometimes offering a small discount on the final price of the trip. So how can you protect your data and book securely? We offer some tips to avoid being fooled by travel sites and travel with peace of mind to your desired destination.

HOW TO BOOK TRAVEL ONLINE SAFELY

Travel is a moment of relaxation and shouldn't turn into a nightmare. Therefore, it's important to pay attention to certain factors when deciding to purchase a travel package or book a stay . The number of operators and "exclusive offers" grows year after year to meet ever-increasing demand. However, you need to be wary and not be caught off guard by banners showing dream beaches at ridiculously low prices. Travel websites and their networks of intermediary portals often offer prices lower than the customer actually ends up paying . This is due to a veritable battle for the lowest price, which is fought on search engines. This phenomenon is detrimental to reputable companies, which advertise the actual price of the trip, and to customers who give in to the temptation to book a week in the tropics, including flights and a resort, for the price of a weekend in southern Italy. However, the European Commission wants to clarify the situation, having found that 20 percent of promotional offers are actually unavailable. This is therefore misleading advertising, which in many cases results in the user being charged a higher final price than the promised discount. This translates into a commission on the order, which can be as high as 50 euros.

TO KNOW MORE: Summer holidays, we choose Italy. It's got it all, and it's all waiting to be discovered.

HOW TO BOOK HOLIDAYS ONLINE SAFELY

To avoid ending up in unpleasant situations, here are five useful tips that will avoid unpleasant surprises :

  • Don't be seduced by the bannersNot all advertisements are deceptive. There are cases where the offer is genuine, but unlike advertising, which appears in banners on other sites or on social media, the favorable terms are only valid for customers of a specific bank or credit card. Therefore, we recommend reading the terms and conditions carefully and not immediately entering your details and booking.
  • Get information before bookingAn attractive price, a beautiful website, and maybe even a gift for your first booking. What more could you ask for? Reliability. Before choosing who to book with, it's important to research the company you're entrusting your trip to. This is a crucial step, never to be underestimated.
  • Look for referencesDon't trust the site with the prettiest pictures and the best prices. Instead, look for references from other customers who have already traveled using that particular site or stayed at the proposed property. This is one of the best ways to determine whether it's worth choosing one tour operator over another.
  • Do not rushAlthough many travel booking sites almost make customers anxious, urging them to finalize the purchase as soon as possible to avoid missing out on the offer, you must remember that bookings must be made with due care, so the worst thing to do is rush them.
  • Pay attention to the final priceMany of the companies that have ended up in the European Commission's sights for unjustified price increases compared to the advertised rate. In some cases, the advertised rate did not include VAT, which was then promptly applied at checkout. In other cases, travelers were forced to pay a surcharge if they chose to pay with a certain payment method. credit cards. Therefore, the advice is to be careful that the companies you contact keep their "promises", otherwise, before booking, look elsewhere.

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