Although it may seem like the semester just started, spring break is a short three weeks away. While it is a prime time for college students to travel and party, spring break is also a perfect opportunity for companies to scam college students. Whether you have already made travel plans for the vacation or plan to soon, here are a few things you may want to consider.
Before you sign a contract with any company, make sure to do a background check on it. You can contact the Better Business Bureau for any travel service or the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Consumer Affairs for charter companies.
\A spring break trip is a big investment--know exactly what you are buying before putting any money down, and don't be afraid to ask questions,"" advised Alyssa Meritt, marketing manager for StudentUniverse, an Internet discount air travel company exclusively for students.
Many companies may not even be registered to service the arrival and departure locations they advertise. Also, make sure you know the facts on charter flights. According to commercial laws, charters can change schedules and destinations at the last minute and even cancel flights until 10 days before departure.
As a consumer you also have special rights for charter packages. If the company you book with makes a drastic change, like changing the date, departure or arrival location, or increasing the price by more than 10 percent, you are entitled to cancel the package with no penalty.
Be suspicious of companies that contact you by telephone with high-pressure sales pitches that require you to act immediately or send advance payments. Make sure you know all the details before you sign on, like total cost (including any possible last-minute charges or add-ons) and guaranteed departure dates and prices. A good way to protect yourself is to use a credit card for payment, since credit card companies have special fraud protection laws. If you do not use a credit card, make sure the company has an escrow bank account.
When you do decide on a company to go with, make sure you get everything in writing, including all contact information, the names of representatives you spoke with, and specific trip details, like departure and arrival dates.
When it comes to special offers for spring break, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many charter companies offer ""all-inclusive"" packages, a popular option for many college students because these packages usually include food, lodging and drinks. The director of the Wisconsin Union Travel Center, Melissa Kaltenbach, warns students to be wary of these ""great deals.""
""For the people down there, tourism is their livelihood,"" said Kaltenbach. ""They're trying to make the dollars, so they're not going to just give things away.""
Some all-inclusives place extra hidden charges and charge customers for things they never receive. Companies will also occasionally force their clients to go on lengthy timeshare tours without informing them in advance.
Other companies will advertise a picture of one hotel and put the students in cheaper hotels in their contract that are in less desirable neighborhoods. These hotels often provide a completely different experience, as they are completely separate from the ""spring break crowd,"" Kaltenbach advised. Students may find themselves sleeping on cots in hotels where Spanish fluency is a must.
""Education is the key thing,"" Kaltenbach said. ""Some students aren't prepared for the experience because they have a different perception of what they think it's going to be.""
Offers for ""all-you-can-eat"" are usually not the grand banquets students imagine, but rather pasta and cereal three times a day. And be wary of offers for ""free drinks"": the only way to get the watered-down drinks they serve is to have a tip in hand.
Many companies that have been charged for spring break scams that are still in business now. Some even switch the names of their companies and continue to scam students. You can find a list of these guilty companies at the Federal Trade Commission's Web site, http://www.ftc.gov.
If all this seems overwhelming, don't worry too much. There are plenty of reputable companies out there that offer great vacations at reasonable prices. The Wisconsin Union Travel Center recommends five companies in particular: Student Travel Services, USA Spring Break, Bianchi-Rossi, Apple Tours and Funjet Vacations. Additionally, you can book trips to Cancun and Acapulco at the Travel Center through the University. According to Kaltenbach, the University-sponsored trips have many advantages to offer, including a 23-year rapport with students, past participant evaluations of the trips and Travel Center representatives on the trip to assist students with any problems that may arise.
""One advantage is that we charter our flights directly from Madison to Cancun,"" said Kaltenbach. ""We also have a pre-departure session that explains what to pack, how much money to bring and personal safety tips.""
Safety is another issue students must be careful of once they have reached their destination. Experts advise students to travel in groups and keep close tabs on all personal items at all times. Although most resorts are safe, pickpocketing, harassment and abuse of tourists are not unheard of. Students should also pay close attention to warning flags on beach areas. Most areas have little or no lifeguard supervision, and ocean tides can be deadly if students ignore warnings.
The most important part of planning for trips is to be prepared. Make sure you have all necessary passports, documentations and immunizations if you're traveling outside of the country. Also, once you are underway, be prepared to wait ... a lot. Flights can be delayed for up to 48- hours before the company has to provide an alternate form of travel or compensation, so plan your flight times accordingly. After all that time in the sun, you'll probably be dying to get back to snowy Wisconsin anyway.
