How to Not Fall Into The Free Vacation Trap

Summer is here, as people search for vacation deals, free vacation advertisements frequently pop up. Who doesn't like a free vacation? However, pay attention to the follow free vacation traps.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Ask you to put down a deposit to reserve your free vacation spot.
   
   Be highly suspicious of such offers, when your deposit money is cashed and the travel company disappear, it will be too late!

2. Require you to go to a high pressure presentation in order to enjoy the free vacation.
   
   If you are a person who could control yourself well under high pressure, it might not hurt to attend such presentation, as long as you have made up your mind not to purchase anything on the spot. However, not everyone could exercise such self-control, otherwise, how could such marketing company offer those free vacation deals?

3. Hide costs so it becomes too late for you to back out later on.
   
   Ask if there is any hidden cost or undisclosed fees, such as service fees for hotels, travel fees, port charges, etc.

4. Membership penalties that will make your free vacation super expensive.
   
   Do you have to join some membership associations in order to get the free vacation offer? Do you have to pay a hefty penalty fee when you have to cut your trip short? Ask any costs that are likely to occur in case of an unexpected event.

[marielc]

on 8/18/2009 Also, be careful of those who offer a free vacation and in return you deliver a package for them. That might be illegal.