Proceed at your own risk
By Herschell Gordon Lewis

Tipoff to the Ripoff of the Month

Here’s a clearly stated offer: “$348 sumptuous Viceroy Palm Springs getaway. Get air and a 3-night stay at fabled property….” Okay, what are the specifics? Well, that price, obviously, is per person. The Viceroy isn’t quite in Palm Springs; it’s just outside of town. And the airline is Alaska Airlines, flying from San Francisco only on Monday and returning on Thursday. Start from somewhere else or on another day and the deal doesn’t apply. The offer isn’t bad if you start from San Francisco and have those days free, because the hotel has a pool, a restaurant and wireless Internet access. But you’re out of luck on that price if you live anywhere else.

Bargain travel is the only way to go — if you can spot and validate the bargain.
One of two key questions to ask when you see a discounted travel offer: Departing from where?

Most but not all flights to Europe leave from New York. Most but not all flights to the Far East leave from San Francisco or Los Angeles. Most but not all flights to South America leave from Miami.

Okay, you’re in Pittsburgh or Cleveland or St. Louis or Denver. Here’s an ad in the paper, offering “Costa Rica Package – 4 days, 3 nights, $607 dbl” including “5 Star Hotel, Airfare, Meals, Transfers, US Departure Tax.” Is that airfare from Pittsburgh? From Miami? From Atlanta? From where? If it isn’t from your city of origin, the cost of this mini-vacation easily can be double the printed price.

Who and what? Some starting points:
For mature individuals planning a longer trip, a logical question is: Just who is behind this tour? (Ignore this if you only travel as individuals, an increasingly rare procedure for trips involving more than one destination.)

Suppose you’re feeling especially adventurous and decide to investigate tours to “iffy” countries such as Ethiopia or Egypt or Lebanon. Your question, “Who’s the tour leader?” is valid. So, for example, when you see an organization such as Spiekermann Travel Service (800-645-3233) advertising tours to such places escorted by university professors, you tend to have greater confidence than you would have in a blind ad.

Or, if you’re on a tight budget and heading for a more common destination, check out tour companies specializing in that kind of travel, such as Global Adventure Travel (888-207-6236) or Go.today.com (800-227-3235) or Swain Tours (800-227-9246) or Pleasant Holidays (800-742-9244). These are good starting points. Chances are you’ll be in economy class, not business class. And you’ll want to ask specific questions about your accommodations and whether any meals are included so you can know in advance what to expect. That knowledge avoids disappointment.

Look, too, for companies that seem to specialize in the destination you’re after. Suppose, for example, you’re thinking of Jamaica. Air Jamaica Vacations (800-568-3247) might be a strong starting point.

Discussing your trip with such vendors gives you a source of comparison. Armed with that information, you can approach your local travel agent or an advertiser in the yellow pages or the newspaper on an informed basis.

Is it more luxurious or less?
In recent years, the “star” appellation has become an object of abuse. Genuine four-star or five-star ratings come from Michelin, the French producer of tires and travel guides. Dependence on other sources can be dicey. For example, in Switzerland a volunteer organization applies the ratings. My “five-star” hotel in Zurich wouldn’t, in my opinion, have rated three stars anywhere else. Consider that hotel rates often are tied to the star ratings, and ask questions.

When a tour operator offers a range of prices, the reason for the range is probably your choice of hotels. Worldview Tours (800-373-0388), for example, in a recent ad in the very worthy International Travel News (800-486-4968) advertised an 18-day tour of India with rates ranging from $7,590 for “luxury” hotels to $4,790 for “4 star” hotels.

What’s the difference between a luxury hotel and a four-star hotel? Ask questions to get an understandable answer. Business travelers who don’t roost in their rooms often settle for only three stars, because these hotels include the necessities such as television, phone and air conditioning.

A suggestion that can add significantly to the completeness and pleasures of your trip: Stop at a local bookstore and pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet Guide to your chosen destination country. You’ll have detailed city information, maps, and estimated prices. Be sure your guide has a recent copyright date.

Tips on payments
Before you leave, find out the exchange rate. The U.S. dollar has lost its once-lofty position among currencies, and a nasty byproduct is the occasional attempt to lower the value of the dollar even more, when pricing “stuff” you decide to buy. Don’t let that happen to you.

Credit cards can be a chimera, too. The mighty American Express Centurion Card, which touts itself as bestowing benefits no other card can match, can’t match the simple Capital One Visa card. AmEx charges foreign exchange conversion fees on all its cards. Capital One doesn’t.

Make that toll-free call to compare your card. Why pay more than you have to pay?

When to ask more questions
Any travel ad that includes asterisks is suspect. When you see an asterisk adjacent to a price, proceed with caution. The little symbol may not result in a negative, but the advertiser placed it there for a reason. Discover what that reason is before reaching a conclusion.

Look for ads with wording such as “Absolutely no hidden costs or booking fees.” In the absence of such wording, ask: “What other costs or fees should I expect?”

And what about tips? What’s the story on transfers? If these aren’t specified, don’t expect the best; expect the worst.

It’s easy enough to avoid the worst. How? Ask questions.