(Newswire.net — January 24, 2019) — Cybercrime is on the increase and is becoming increasingly hard to detect. A recent report estimated that the annual damage as a result of cybercrime is estimated to be in the region of US$ 445 billion throughout the world. A recent report by Barclay’s claimed that in 59% of the reported cases the victims were women. Of these, more than a third were in the age group of 30 to 44. Of course, this is across every industry in the world and not just tourism. But tourist cybercrime can be one of the most distressing.
People can spend weeks researching the perfect holiday venue and then months looking forward to it. Imagine finding out that your perfect villa or hotel was a hoax or that you have sent your money to a hoax site. The cost is not just financial but can also cause extreme disappointment and emotional distress.
Here are our top tips on ensuring you stay safe this holiday season and have the vacation of a lifetime.
1. Research is everything. A company that has been in business for at least five years is preferable but the longer, the better.
2. Check the reviews and the testimonials on the site. A good barometer is to check if the company has reviews on recognised and trusted sites such as Trustpilot or TripAdvisor.
3. Choose a company that personally inspects all their properties. When you are speaking to them, ask if the salesperson you are speaking to has been to the property themselves.
4. Ask a lot of questions. It will be very obvious very quickly if the company representative has really good knowledge of their subject. They should have intimate knowledge of the properties, the location and the destination.
5. Check to see if the company has a real location and a real phone number. Are the contact details including the address and phone number easy to find? Avoid companies that only provide a booking form with no visible emails addresses, postal addresses or phone numbers.
6. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Compare prices. If one company is offering property at a much-reduced price then another, this is a real red flag.
7. If you are unsure, pay by credit card rather than by bank transfer. Make sure the company provides you with a secure link to pay with your card. If you do prefer to pay by bank transfer, ask for references. These should be readily available.
8. Make sure you choose a company that has plenty of testimonials from past customers.
9. Choose a company that is renowned for their trust. For example, Try searching for One of the Most Trusted Villa Companies in the world.
10. Check to see if the travel company offers a concierge service. All good travel providers will include this with their compliments. It will save a huge amount of time and money in the long run. The concierge service should include travel details such as ground transportation, airport fast-tracking, car hire, restaurant reservations, boat hire, excursions etc. Imagine how much more relaxed you will be in the knowledge that everything is already organized.
11. If you already know which destination you want to go to, consider choosing a company that is an expert on that particular destination. If you are travelling to Ireland, consider a company that has been in business for over 25 years. Or if you are travelling to Barbados consider a Barbados Villa Expert.
12. Last but not least, Always take trip insurance that includes a free cancellation policy and that also has a good policy for Force Majeure.