When you travel to a new, exciting location, you want to enjoy your trip. Your hotel or lodging choice should be a no-brainer—something you set and forget.
Unfortunately, many travelers choose to book their stay through third-party, aggregate travel sites. This sometimes leads to deceiving transactions, leaving travelers disappointed and scrambling to make alternative arrangements.
How can you protect your stay to enjoy your trip?
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- Look before you book. Some booking sites will go so far as to use the hotel’s brand name in the URL. Take an extra minute to make sure you’re on the real hotel’s booking site. Always check the URL address. Although the hotel name may be part of the URL, double-check the website address to ensure it’s not a third-party vendor using a hotel’s identity without permission. These misleading sites frequently pop up at or near the top of search rankings. Make sure you know who you’re giving your information to.
- Be aware of false advertising. Online travel agencies can use false advertising tactics to pressure you into purchasing a room. These might include offering false discounts (“Special Rate!”) or creating a false sense of urgency (“Only 3 Rooms Left!” “211 Other People Are Looking At This Room!”). It’s important to note that most hotels will offer a best price guarantee when you book directly.
- Take advantage of loyalty programs. Sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They’re free and offer amazing benefits – and they’re only getting better, as hotels continue to introduce new perks to their programs. Always book directly with the hotel to make sure you’re getting your points.
- Ask the right questions. Before providing your credit card information, check the following:
- What is the cancellation/trip change policy?
- Is it a secure payment site? The URL should have a small lock and should start with https:// as opposed to just http://.
- Is the site, in any way, affiliated with the hotel?
- Look before you book. Some booking sites will go so far as to use the hotel’s brand name in the URL. Take an extra minute to make sure you’re on the real hotel’s booking site. Always check the URL address. Although the hotel name may be part of the URL, double-check the website address to ensure it’s not a third-party vendor using a hotel’s identity without permission. These misleading sites frequently pop up at or near the top of search rankings. Make sure you know who you’re giving your information to.
- Book directly with the hotel or a trusted travel agent. This can help ensure you get what you want and need from your reservation and often provides the better value.
Ensure you take the right steps to ensure your booking is smooth and your hotel stay is pleasant. Make informed choices so you can travel smarter and enjoy your stay.
Prep Smarter. Search Smarter. Travel Smarter.