Planning a getaway should be exciting, not stressful. With travel costs still high, many people are hunting for deals on flights, hotels and vacation rentals. Scammers know this too, and they count on excitement (or urgency) to cloud good judgement. A few precautions before you pack your bags can protect your money and your trip.

How can I avoid getting scammed when booking travel?

Start by doing your homework. Research any travel agency or booking platform before paying for anything. Look up contact information independently rather than trusting a number listed on a site you just found, and check reviews from trusted sources.

Before you pay, get everything in writing. Ask for confirmation of pricing, policies and any special arrangements. Clear documentation protects you if a dispute comes up later.

Read the fine print, especially for “all-inclusive” packages. Watch for hidden fees, service charges and restrictions, and hold onto copies of every agreement and receipt.

Pay with a credit card whenever possible. Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection and dispute rights than debit cards, cash or checks. And stick with verified listings. Scammers sometimes build fake vacation rental pages or copy real ones, so book through reputable platforms and never send payment outside official channels.

What are the most common travel scams right now?

A few patterns show up again and again:

• Online booking scams. Fake or unreliable booking sites can tack on hidden fees or fail to make your reservation at all. Book directly through the hotel or property’s official site when you can.
• Fake front desk calls. Scammers pose as hotel staff and call your room asking for credit card information. If something feels off, hang up and call the front desk directly.
• Too-good-to-be-true deals. A steep discount can be bait for a switch, where the price climbs or extra purchases get pushed on you later.
• Phishing emails and AI voice scams. Fraudsters impersonate airlines, hotels or financial institutions, sometimes using realistic AI-generated voices to create urgency and request personal information.
• Gift card payment requests. No legitimate travel provider will ever ask for payment in gift cards. If you hear this request, it’s fraud, and funds sent this way are almost never recoverable.

Should I post my travel plans to social media?

It’s tempting to share the moment, but posting in real time can signal that your home is empty or that you’re away from your normal routine. Save the photos and updates for after you’re back.

What should I do if I suspect fraud while traveling?

Act quickly if something looks wrong:

• Contact your financial institution right away to report suspicious charges
• Lock your card through your mobile app
• Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov
• Notify the hotel, airline or booking platform involved
• Keep monitoring your accounts for additional unauthorized activity

Consumers’ fraud prevention page has more on spotting scams and knowing what to do next, and our Connect & Support page covers card controls, travel notices and account alerts in more detail.

What else can I do to protect myself before I go?

A little setup goes a long way:

• Turn on transaction alerts so you can catch unusual activity in real time
• Keep your cards in a secure spot and skip carrying extras you don’t need
• Use trusted ATMs and avoid currency exchange kiosks with high fees

Travel isn’t the only time to stay alert. Our post on spoofing scams covers tactics scammers use year-round, and if your phone doubles as your wallet, here’s how to keep it protected.

A memorable trip comes down to more than a good itinerary. Knowing what to watch for and having a plan if something goes wrong, means you can spend more time enjoying the trip and less time worrying about it.

 

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