Booking a holiday can be a stressful experience, and travel companies know just how to panic you into booking fast without thinking. Here are the six most common scams to look out for
Planning a summer holiday abroad can be a daunting task, with the cost of flights and accommodation quickly adding up. To make matters worse, booking companies often use clever marketing tactics to pressure you into making a hasty decision.
Mark Baldwin, CEO of Baldwin Digital, has revealed six common scams to watch out for – and how to avoid them.
One tactic used by hotel websites is to create a false sense of urgency. Those “only 3 rooms left at this price” or “12 people looking at this hotel right now” alerts are designed to trigger your fear of missing out.
However, Mark warns that these notices are often misleading. “They might be technically true, but they’re designed to create a false sense of scarcity,” he explains.
To avoid falling for this trick, try searching for the same hotel on multiple booking sites. You’ll often find similar or better rates elsewhere without the artificial scarcity, reports the Express.
Another tactic used by booking sites is to create a sense of urgency with countdown timers next to special offers or deals. However, Mark reveals that these are rarely accurate.
“Most of these so-called limited-time deals aren’t actually limited,” he says. “They’re programmed to reset or show different timeframes to different users.”
Avoid the pressure of a ‘limited time offer’ by taking a screenshot of the deal and checking back in a day or two.
More often than not, you’ll find the same offer still available days later. Another trick is to use incognito windows to track deals and compare prices without cookies.
Another way websites squeeze more money out of you is through dynamic pricing. If you’re repeatedly searching for the same destination, travel sites will often increase the price.
Matt warned: “Travel sites often use cookies to track your interest and adjust prices based on your online behaviour.”
This strategy exploits your invested time and growing attachment to a specific trip, making you more likely to accept a higher price rather than start your search anew.
One way to dodge this is by using incognito sites for your browsing so you aren’t tracked by cookies. Even better, use a VPN to hide your location, as prices can fluctuate depending on where you’re booking from.
Websites also try to extract more money from you by pre-selecting optional extras and automatically adding them to your total. Common add-ons include travel insurance, seat selection or priority boarding.
Matt revealed: “Companies know most consumers won’t uncheck these boxes,” Baldwin explains. “It’s called the ‘default effect’ – we tend to stick with the pre-selected options. These add-ons can increase your initial price by 15-30 percent.”
Ensure you scrutinise your total carefully at checkout and deselect any add-ons you didn’t choose. The age-old saying ‘too good to be true’ certainly applies when it comes to booking flights and hotels.
Matt warned: “Budget airlines pioneered this technique by advertising bare-bones prices that don’t include basics like checked luggage or seat selection. Hotels do it too, showing rates that don’t include taxes, resort fees, or parking.”
To dodge hidden costs, always proceed to the final checkout page on various websites to compare the real prices. But beware of another pitfall – deceptive price comparisons.
Travel websites often boast about the savings you’re supposedly making compared to a higher rate – but take these with a pinch of salt.
Matt explained: “Those crossed-out rates might represent the highest possible price that room ever sold for, perhaps during a major holiday or event.
“Or they might compare a standard room to a deluxe room, making it seem like you’re getting a deal when you’re actually looking at different products.”
To sidestep this ruse, concentrate on the actual price you’ll pay, rather than the purported discount.