Last Updated on January 7, 2021
#3 – Check professional rankings
If you already verified the travel provider’s legitimacy and checked ratings about it on TripAdvisor or other sites but didn’t find reliable customer reviews, you can check out J.D. Power—a marketing research company that provides professional analysis and scores for airlines, car-rental agencies, hotel chains, and travel agencies.
Check out the J.D. Power’s annual reports like the Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index that asses hotel brands and their services, or the Rental Car Satisfaction Study, etc., before making a decision.
#4 – Check customer complaint sites
Sometimes the best way to separate good travel providers from the worst is by checking customer complaint sites or “gripe sites” where customers criticize and complain about certain travel suppliers including airlines, car rental, hotels, and travel agencies.
Although the criticism is not always constructive and some travelers use these sites to lampoon a certain travel supplier but there you can read more details about customers’ worst experiences, how the supplier dealt with the problem and whether the suppliers were quick to fix it or offer compensation.
#5 – Seek a travel agent
More and more travelers seek the expertise of travel agents nowadays and for good reasons because travel is getting more complicated than ever!
Some of the perks of using a professional travel agent include cost-saving and having someone help you pick the right trip, find exclusive events, good and cheap airlines, cruise lines, or anything, really!
Just ask a friend or frequent traveler to help you find a trusted travel agent and save your time and energy.
Lastly, when you find a legitimate, reliable travel provider and all is set, pay with a credit card because the credit card companies may refund you if anything goes wrong! Enjoy your vacation!
