You work hard every day so you can enjoy your vacation when it finally arrives. Unfortunately, sneaky scammers are everywhere, and even the savviest travelers can find themselves being swindled. Here are some ways to spot and avoid getting tangled up in hotel scams.
The Front Desk Scam
When you arrive at your hotel, you might be dog-tired and jet-lagged. Maybe you just want to drop your luggage and settle into your room, so you hand your credit card to the desk clerk. You start getting settled, and the phone in your room rings. “This is the front desk clerk,” says a concerned-sounding voice. “We are having trouble with your credit card. Will you please re-read the number on the front and verify the security code on the back?”
Don’t do it. If you think the front desk clerk is on the line, go to the desk instead of giving your credit card information over the phone. If there is no problem with your card, inform the manager about what just happened. Never, ever give credit card information to someone who calls you – at home, at work, or while traveling.
Beachfront and Airport Hotel Scams
Often, hotels advertise themselves as being “right on the beach” or “next door to the airport.” While this may be true in some cases, it is important that you verify such claims before booking your stay. Through misleading advertising, hotels often get visitors to stay with them for convenience’s sake, despite the fact that they’re miles from the airport or blocks from the beach. Doing just a little homework can help you avoid disappointment. One place to start? Check out the Beachfront Club for information on real beachfront hotels all over the world.
Hotel Parking Valet Scams
Be cautious if you’re leaving a vehicle with a hotel parking valet. Begin by ensuring there are no valuables in your vehicle, and ensure nothing with personal information on it is left, either. Also, don’t assume your vehicle will be kept in the hotel parking lot. In some areas, valets simply park cars on the street, and when parking tickets are written, you’re left to pay the price. Ask where the car will be parked, and if you’re not happy with the answer, park it yourself. At least this way you’ll be in control of the situation.
Watch Out for Fake Bargains
Hotel representatives have been known to troll airports and taxi stands looking for easy targets – usually tourists carrying luggage. Wearing tidy clothing, name badges, and smiles, and carrying flyers advertising hotel rooms at great prices, they suck travelers in with promises of great savings on hotel stays. Once you arrive at the hotel, you find that there are “no more rooms left at this price,” and that “nicer rooms are still available for more money.” Plan your trip in advance from A to Z, research your hotel, and know how you’ll get there from the airport. This will make it a whole lot easier to say no to scammers.
Scammers are always on the lookout for easy targets. Arming yourself with solid information and remaining alert while traveling can help keep you from becoming prey to scams. As the old saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.