What to Avoid When Booking a Trip This Year

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With the cheap deals on vacations, airfare, and hotels, it’s tempting to go ahead and book a vacation for 2021. But with all of the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, this is a huge mistake that can cost you lots of time and money. If you are thinking about planning a vacation, avoid doing these things.

Not Reading the Cancelation Policy

While it’s common for hotels and airlines to offer free flight changes or free cancelation policies, not all of them are doing that. Always read the entire cancelation policy before booking anything. Some companies are allowing free changes, but not cancelations. Check to see if you’ll get a refund or a credit and when it expires.

Getting the Cheapest Travel Insurance

Now that the pandemic is a “foreseen condition”, most basic travel insurance policies won’t cover cancelations related to COVID-19. Read the terms and condition for the policies to make sure they cover pandemic-related cancelations. Most likely you’ll have to upgrade to a “cancel for any reason” plan.

Paying with Anything But a Credit Card

If your airline or hotel goes out of business and you’ve paid with something besides a credit card, don’t count on getting your money back. Credit cards offer purchase protection and you’ll likely get a refund if the company goes out of business.

Forgetting About Travel Restrictions

Keep up to date on travel restrictions which are constantly changing. Make sure you look at if borders are closing and the most recent quarantine guidelines and testing requirements before you leave.