Have you already booked your upcoming vacation? If not, it's important to know about some common pitfalls to watch out for when booking flights and overnight stays online. ChatGPT helped us summarize them:
1. Online
intermediaries Many travelers turn to online travel agencies like Expedia, or lesser-known sites – either intentionally or accidentally, due to the fact that they rank first in search results for certain destinations on Google – to find the best deals. These sites make up a significant portion of travel bookings, but it is essential to be careful not to use new or unfamiliar websites.
2. Reviews and ratings
Before placing an order through a website, you should do your homework, which includes reading user reviews about the site (not those posted on its main page – these will always be flattering, and often fake), searching for details about it from sites dealing with consumerism, relevant Facebook groups and more. It's also a good idea to ask friends and family about recommendations or "dis-recommendations" for good sites or ones that should be avoided.
3. Surprise
Fee One of the common problems is the appearance of unexpected commissions after ordering. So, for example, a user who searched for a particular hotel and booked from the first search result discovered that the reservation was made through a third-party website that charges a commission that appears only in the fine print. He had to fight for a long time to get a refund, and other users who ordered from the same site reported never receiving refunds for the unnecessary fees charged to them.
4. Always
check the booking details to make sure there are no extra charges or fees that were not transparent during the booking process. If you encounter unexpected fees – contact customer service immediately and document your communication with them.
5. Cancellation and refund policy
Understand the cancellation and refund policy of the site you are booking from and make sure it is acceptable to you. Some platforms offer flexible policies, while others have strict, non-refundable rates.
6. Timing matters
Booking timing can affect the overall experience. Some passengers reported problems booking flights or accommodation late at night. Avoid placing important orders at unusual times, as customer service and support may be limited. Of course, this rule talks about quite different hours if ordering from an Israeli or international site.
7. Double check who you're booking from As mentioned earlier, it too often happens that travelers believe they are booking
directly from a hotel or airline, but are actually booking from a third-party platform. Pay attention to the URL and company name at the bottom of the site, to make sure you're ordering from whomever you think.
8. Be prepared for changes
Plans can change unexpectedly, so it's essential to maintain some flexibility. For example, sometimes flights are canceled and you are forced to choose between booking another flight at the last minute at a high price or skipping the flight. Eventually, you're likely to get a refund, but the inconvenience will already be caused.
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