Travel Scams and Mishaps: How to Avoid Them

Picture this: you arrive in a beautiful foreign city, eager to start exploring, only to discover that the hotel you booked is a scam. Imagine the disappointment of reaching Italy with your girlfriends, only to find that your accommodation doesn’t exist. 

Imagine arriving at your destination, hot and exhausted, only to find that the hotel you booked has no wheelchair-accessible rooms available — even though you confirmed your booking and special request the day before. 

Or, turning up to check-in for your flight, only to find you need to pay an additional NZ$1000 or they won’t let you on the plane — despite having paid for your flights in full.   

Unfortunately, these stories are not unique; travel scams and mishaps are more common than you might think. 
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Accommodation Scams 
Clarisa Murgia, an Argentinian woman was travelling around Italy when she arrived at her B&B expecting a room with a stunning ocean view, sweeping coastline, and distant villas. 

She thought she’d secured a cozy stay at an “ocean view hotel”, but discovered that the advertised location was nothing but a misleading poster stuck to the wall of the building outside her window. 

Clarisa is not the first to be scammed by an accommodation provider. 

An American influencer, Alix Earle shared how they arrived in Italy for a girl's trip only to discover their accommodation didn’t actually exist.
Eleven girls stuck in Italy, with nowhere to stay. 
 
Booking Errors 
It’s not just accommodation providers who can make mistakes. Airlines can end up causing unexpected headaches too

As evidenced by the Nelson couple wrongly charged by Qatar Airways and forced to pay an extra €540.82. The couple were travelling from Barcelona to Malaga, and had paid for their flights in full, but the airline wouldn’t let them on the plane unless they paid the fee.  
 
They had a 10-day tour booked in Andalusia, so they had no choice but to pay. But on returning to New Zealand they lodged a complaint with Qatar. 

The airline did eventually send an apology letter and offered to repay the couple, attributing the error to a supposed missed connection due to a delay on an earlier flight. Yet, the couple found this puzzling since they hadn’t actually missed any flights.  

Their experience highlights how even well-prepared travellers can face unexpected, costly issues with airlines. 
 
Accessibility Issues  
Beyond booking errors and scams, Shane Hryhorec an influencer who highlights accessibility issues for travellers in a wheelchair, shows us how even an experienced traveller can run into issues.  

 In his latest video, he shares how he arrived in Nice to discover the hotel he booked had no accessible rooms available, despite specifying it in his booking.  

The hotel was near capacity so they had given all the accessible rooms to non-disabled guests. 

​In the end, after waiting for hours for the hotel to sort this issue, they were assigned a non-accessible room that was unsuitable for wheelchairs, and made to feel like the issue wasn’t the hotel’s problem.  

Avoiding Travel Scams and Mistakes  
 
Booking with an experienced travel advisor has several advantages, but in the long run it could help you avoid these issues.  
 
#1. Special Partnerships 
Most travel advisors have special partnerships in place with accommodation, airlines, tour companies etc, and access to company representatives. Reviews on booking sites can be misleading and some even fake. As a professional travel advisor, I have trusted sources and personal experience, so I can provide you with accurate and reliable information.  
 
#2. Extensive Training  
I have a wealth of expertise and over 20 years of experience navigating the globe. Even if I haven’t travelled to a destination or with company before, I likely have colleague that has. 
 
#3. Peace of Mind 
Nothing beats the peace of mind of knowing an expert is by your side. Knowing that you have a reliable contact. In case of any issues, I can suggest and arrange alternate travel, help you deal with any travel emergencies, and put you in touch with the right local people to answer your needs. This could be the difference between a great holiday and a heap of stress. 

#4. Costly Cancellations and Changes 
Booking your travel through a third-party agency can make it much harder to make changes if unexpected issues arise. These sites often send you to the hotel or airline to make the changes direct, and many accommodation providers and airlines offer less flexible options when you’ve booked through a third party. 
 
I have direct access to the GDS (Global Distribution System, the same computerised ticketing and reservation backbone used by airlines and hotels). This allows me to make changes swiftly and efficiently, saving you time and hassle. 
 
#5. Reliable Customer Service 
Online booking sites often have limited customer service, making it hard to get help when you need it. You might be forced to navigate online portals and automated systems, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. In contrast, I provide direct, human support, ensuring your questions are answered and your issues are resolved promptly. 
 
Ready to start planning your next trip with an experienced travel advisor? Get in touch today!  
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