Month: March 2024

Planning a holiday? Watch out for these scams

LetsGet1

It’s the time of year when we might be planning our summer vacation and looking to treat ourselves to a well deserved camping trip/seaside adventure/tropical getaway. So, let’s take a look at common holiday scams and top tips to protect your money this summer.

Holiday booking scams

Looking for the perfect getaway? Then searching online seems like the ideal place to start. But first things first – is the website you’re looking at what you think it is?

Criminals will set up fake websites offering deals that are ‘too good to miss’ so you need to do some research to make sure that you’re not sending a fraudster on the trip of a lifetime.

  • Check the URL. Is someone trying to impersonate a legitimate company? Make sure the company name is spelt correctly and check the domain; retail sites rarely use .org for example
  • Make sure you have a secure connection. Check the address starts with https:// and ensure the padlock symbol is shown next to the URL
  • Look out for spelling/grammatical errors or links on the page that don’t work. Genuine companies will make sure there are no silly mistakes on their sites!
  • Don’t click on links sent to you by unsolicited emails. This is a big red flag.
  • Check reviews. Sites such as Tripadvisor or Trustpilot will tell you if people have had a good experience with a company. Watch out for fake reviews though; if multiple comments were posted at the same time or have similar content, this could indicate they’re not real
  • Thinking of a package holiday? Make sure it’s ATOL protected. This means that if the company collapses, you’ll get support and financial help. Find information on how to check if your holiday is protected on the ATOL website

Fraudsters will also use social media to advertise non-existent flights and holidays. Just because a social media profile or post has lots of followers and positive comments, it doesn’t mean it’s legitimate, so it’s of utmost importance to thoroughly research any companies advertising deals on Facebook, Instagram or other sites. Look for the company’s website using the above tips and never send money by bank transfer to a company you’ve not investigated.

Accommodation booking scams

There are numerous legitimate websites that list properties available for holidaymakers to rent. Scammers may post fake listings on sites like this, so make sure you follow the guidelines on the company’s website. Sites like Airbnb will often direct you to their own payment platform, so use this to take advantage of the protections they have in place.

Holiday cancellation refund scams

In the unfortunate event that your holiday or flight gets cancelled by the provider, be cautious of anyone approaching you offering to help you with obtaining a refund. Make sure you deal directly with the company you booked with originally as criminals may contact you in the hopes of getting hold of your personal details.

When you’re abroad

So you’ve finally made it to your dream destination… but criminals never rest! Continue to protect your money by ensuring you:

  • Don’t let your card out of your sight, especially in bars and restaurants
  • Never give out your PIN, even if someone tells you they’re the police
  • Cover your PIN when making any purchases or withdrawing cash
  • Make sure transaction notifications are turned on in the app. If you don’t recognise any payments, lock your card straight away
  • Keep your bank phone number handy and let them know as soon as possible if your card or phone is lost or stolen.

India’s Golden Triangle

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The Taj Mahal is near the top of every traveller’s list as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, but it’s only one of the amazing sites of India’s “Golden Triangle”.

The established tourist route includes the home of the Taj Mahal, Agra, the city of Jaipur, and the country’s capital, New Delhi. Convenient air connections mean most people begin their trip in Delhi

Old Delhi is full of chaotic energy, where livestock, vehicles, and street food vendors all weave frantically between one another. It’s an assault on your senses that you have to experience at least once.

On now to Agra, and the thing we’ve all been waiting for—the Taj Mahal. You can absolutely do it under your own steam, but to get the most out of your visit, members recommend hiring one of the government-certified guides waiting outside or booking a private tour.

Once again, visiting early tends to be the best way to avoid huge crowds, although sunrise is a popular time to get the classic Taj picture. Don’t try to wait for a moment without other people in the background, that time is unlikely to come!

If you have more time, the gardens (and wildlife) surrounding the intricately designed Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah (aka the Baby Taj) are a dreamy spot to explore. Agra’s own Red Fort is another great example of Mughal architecture, even better preserved and more accessible than its namesake in Delhi.

Around 25 miles from Agra, the fortified ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri is often missed off tight schedules. It’s easy to spend a day here, soaking in the grandeur of the palace buildings, mosque and pavilions, which were designed as the first permanent Mughal settlement.

For those who’ve had enough of the red sandstone, it’s on to Jaipur, which is called the “Pink City” due to the colour of the buildings.

While Jaipur may not be as hectic as Delhi on the whole, it’s still a very busy place, so allow yourself a couple of days there. As well as the essential visit to the Amber Fort make time to see the Patrika Gate, and its daily musical fountain show, and the iconic Hawa Mahal palace.

You can spend hours just photographing the colourful buildings as you walk onwards to the City Palace and make sure you include Nahargarh Fort at the end of the day for sunset views over the city.