TRAVEL TIPS - Part 1
Pre-Booking Checklist
By J. S. Ramkissoon

Summer is on its way and the race is on for best prices. BE ALERT! Getting the best price doesn't always guarantee the best holiday experience. Here are some tips to follow:


Where to go

If you haven’t yet decided where to go then you can:

 Call into your local travel shop and pick up a few brochures; or

 Ask your travel agent for information on available choices;

 Surf the internet – it can be fun but often confusing for those less familiar with jargon and technology in general;

 Ask friends and relatives about places they have been to.


Type of holiday:

Will it be a packaged holiday - staying at a hotel on an all-
inclusive (AI), half-board (HB) or full-board (FB) basis? Maybe Self-catering (SC) is your style. Whatever the case, it all helps the process if you have an idea what is out there and what you would like.


Enquire:

Once you’ve decided on your destination and choice of accommodation, its time to make some enquiries. Your travel agent is there to give unbiased advice. You can also call up the tourist board and ask them to send you information on your choice of destination – they are often very friendly and only too willing to send you brochures and leaflets on their country.


Compare:

Don’t just settle for the first offer – you may find something more tailored to your needs. Compare it with other offers by the same company or with two or three other companies especially if you are on a budget. That will give you an idea of the average prices and allow you to make an informed decision. You can use the internet for this purpose or simply scroll the pages of the newspaper’s travel section.


Security:

Don’t risk your money! Book your tickets with reputable travel firms. Generally they will have affiliation with atleast one form of regulatory body. Signs for these regulatory bodies should be visible in their shop windows or some other noticeable area on the premises as well as on their website. These signs vary depending on the service provided and the country of operation. See table below for some of these regulatory bodies.

Discounted Rates:

Be careful with discounted prices. Always ask questions about things that aren’t clear or obvious. For example:

 How long can I stay on this ticket?

 Can I change the date if I decide to stay longer?

 
 Does this special rate allow me to choose the date of departure and return?

There are more restrictions on tickets with special rates, so get the facts right or you may be later disappointed.

Payment Methods:

Check out options available to you and payment procedures. This is one to take note of if you are about to book a special offer. Your travel may be months down the line and so you assume that a deposit is all you need to secure the booking when in fact you need full-payment. Always check that they accept the card you hold and whether or not there is a credit card or service charge.

Deadlines:

Deadlines for booking certain holidays are in place for various reasons. It is therefore vital, that you check the deadline for booking your ticket. Especially if you have to make a deposit, or you can easily lose your deposit, once you part with it.

Copyright 2006 Janice S Ramkissoon