Travel Business Travel Family

MSNBC - MSNBC Travel Front Front Page Skip navigation Travel Active Travel Holiday Travel Luxury Travel Winter Travel Business Travel Family Travel Travel Tips Destinations Cultural Travel Golf Travel Your World Photos U.S. News World News Business Sports Entertainment Tech / Science Health Weather Travel Blogs Etc. Local News Newsweek Multimedia News Video Most Popular NBC NEWS MSNBC TV Today Show Nightly News Meet the Press Dateline NBC MSNBC Home Travel Holiday Highlights 2005 Pope Benedict's first Mass, 16-foot snowman, soldier's special delivery & more. IMAGES MORE TOP STORIES ON MSNBC TRAVEL Deep in Utah's snowy backcountry Bowl season also means great golf! 2005 - an interesting year in travel Sion Touhig / Getty Images file OTHER TOP TRAVEL STORIES Pop the cork!10 hip places toring in the New Year! The Year in Review 2005: The Year in Pictures Aplace that's happy to see you? New Orleans! Beat the winter blahs! Top 10 beaches we love 3,500 feet of vertical glory: Telluride Ski Resort The best places to cross-border ski in Europe Test your angling skills this winter ice fishing World's 10 most expensive ski resorts 2005 Get the most out of your holiday cruise: 10 tips Photos: Travel slide shows from around the world TRAVEL SLIDE SHOWS Holiday highlights 2005 Olympic destinations 2006 Las Vegas then and now Great European escapes Cool Caribbean adventures Explore New Zealand Disneyland celebrates 50 Everyone's favorite city! Polynesian delights in Hawaii Sport Diver's undersea wonders More travel slide shows from around the world ACTIVE TRAVEL MORE DEEP IN UTAH'S BACKCOUNTRY At 3:05 p.m., we entered a grove of ancient Engelmann spruce. A shaft of sunlight illuminated their thick trunks in a bed of snow as soft and fine as powdered sugar. Ride 3,500 vertical feet of glory Make the 19th hole a bowl! Mush! Plunging in the frozen wilderness Best places to cross-border ski in Europe HOLIDAY TRAVEL MORE HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS From Rockefeller Center to Red Square, people around the worldcelebrate the 2005 holiday season. Top 10 places to ring in the New Year 11 perfect gifts for travelers 10 tips for being a goodhouseguest Top 5 places to spend the holidays LUXURY TRAVEL MORE WORLD'S TOP SHOPS 2005 It has never been easier to be a consumer. Not only are products of all kinds available online, but these days it is possible to find Paris fashions, Italian shoes and the newest Japanese cameras along fashionable shopping streets and upscale malls around the world. 10 most expensive ski resorts 2005 Most expensive, remoteresorts 2005 Star quality: What's in a hotel rating? Alaska cruise offers breathtaking scenery WINTER TRAVEL MORE BEACHES WE LOVE Get out of the cold! Go to one of these 10 favorite beaches to beat the winter blahs! December in New Orleans 10 winter wonderland hotels Don't ski? 6 resorts to visit anyway! 10 great winter getaways 2005 BUSINESS TRAVEL MORE BEST NEW BUSINESS HOTELS Business travel may be strong again, but 2005 was a slow year in the hotel-building business - at least in the U.S., that is. The TSA finally gets things right Airlines ditching complimentary meals Top 10 airlines for first-class pampering 5 tips to avoid travel disappointments FAMILY TRAVEL MORE BEST FAMILY SHIPS Choosing the best cruise for your family is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Some ships are better for infants than others, and ditto for teens, and not all itineraries are created equal. Kid picks: 5 top vacation spots Family fun in the Catskills Galloping grandparents Together ... in the Caribbean Travel Tips MORE 10 TIPS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL With travel volume back up to pre-9/11 levels, constriction in the airline business, and Christmas and New Year's falling on Sunday this year, the 2005-06 holiday travel season could be one of the most challenging to date. Did the Grinch steal travel? The 12 tips of Christmas travel The TSA finally gets things right Star quality: What's in a hotel rating? MORE DESTINATIONS MORE ALOHA! The Hawaiian Islands offer tropical adventures you will never forget. Asia Travel Europe Travel Hawaii Travel Caribbean Travel CULTURAL TRAVEL MORE BE REBORN IN FLORENCE The center of the Italian Renaissance art movement, Michelangelo's adopted hometown, the birthplace of modern politics, the source of modern-day credit . . . . Florence is all of these and more. Top 10 cities for art lovers Crush without the crowds Fun foot tours of San Francisco The world's best vineyards: Top 10 GOLF TRAVEL MORE GOLF TRAVEL TIPS Nothing can ruin a golf trip faster than finding something wrong or missing with your clubs and equipment before you even get to the first tee. Make the 19th hole a bowl! Great gifts for golfers Guide to stupid golf gifts Golfing Castel d' Aviano TRAVEL TOOLS Currency converter Traveler's health warnings from the CDC Travel warnings from the State Department Airport status map from the FAA MSNBC.COM'S TAKE 3 MAGAZINE Corbis Pop-culture Americana From Area 51 to Katz's Deli, check out these quirky tourist destinations. MSNBC's Weekly Travel Newsletter TRAVEL TOOLS Currency converter Traveler's health warnings from the CDC Travel warnings from the State Department Airport status map from the FAA MSNBC.COM'S TAKE 3 MAGAZINE Courtesy of Icehotel 5 most bizarre hotels From Amazonian treetops to undersea luxury, these sites are more than just a place to spend a night. Problem? Travel Troubleshooter MORE Help! I can't use my airline credit A textbook rental scam? Missed flight, maxed-out card That's not my ding! No nonstop to Disney Downgraded - and out of miles Help! My tour operator is bankrupt A swapped ship in the Galpagos Double booked at Days Inn Rescheduled flight, repriced ticket There's no room at the Rui One trip, two tickets - no refund Travel Tips & Columns TRIPSO.COM Find out what's happening: Tripso forums Protect yourself from airline schemes Hurricane hassles: The current situation 5 myths about 'au naturel' vacations Nine tips for cruise safety 8 tips for great car rentals Why you should fly the big airlines 50 tips from ... you Getting bumped? Make it pay How to get the service you deserve Getting the best seat on the plane Sherman's Travel Top 10's More top 10's Top 10 places to ring in New Year's Top 10 beaches we love Top 10 wine regions Top 10 fall destinations Top 10 castle hotels Top 10 lakeside retreats Top 10 cities for art-lovers Top 10 U.S. hotel pool bars Top 10 whale-watching destinations Got a travel question? Want to know how to save money on vacation, where to go, or need help solving a travel problem? Send your questions to our travel experts and look for your answers on MSNBC TV this weekend. AP file TRAVEL SLIDE SHOW GALLERY Reuters Happy Holidays! From Rockefeller Center to Red Square, people all around the world welcome the holiday season. Getty Images Italian Dreams History, architecture, art and more - great Italian destinations in the hosting country of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Getty Images European Escapes There's endless adventure around every corner - food, wine, shopping, art and more. AFP/Getty Images Autumn Arrives! With its brilliant palette of fiery red, dazzling orange, bright yellow and gold - enjoy the fall foliage season in all its splendor! AFP - Getty Images Alluring Asia From Seoul to Shanghai and Thailand to Tibet, Asia's diverse cultures and landscapes are a traveler's dream! Cayman Islands Dept. of Tourism via AP Cool Caribbean View photos of this easy, breezy, tropical paradise. www.newzealand.com Explore New Zealand Breathtaking & unique, New Zealand is the perfect travel destination! Reuters Hawaiian Delights The Hawaiian Islands offer tropical adventures you will never forget. Undersea Wonders Presented by Sport Diver Magazine. AP Hooray for New York Visit everyone's favorite city this season! Disneyland Turns 50 Disneyland celebrates its golden anniversary. Lonely Planet Images Great Road Trips Fun one-day driving adventures. REUTERS Warm Getaways See images of more fun, warm getaways for everyone. 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London Vacation Rentals, England

London Apartments | London Vacation Rentals, England U sername: P assword: R emember Me London Car Hire Travel Insurance Airport Parking UK Cheap Accommodation Hotel Bookings Travellerspoint Travel Community Forums Blogs Destinations Accommodation Travel Help Reunions Tools Links London Apartments | London Vacation Rentals, England Budget Accommodation > Apartments > Europe > England > London Find all London Apartments with availability: Arrival Date: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2005 2006 2007 Nights: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not what you were looking for? Choose a different location London Budget Accommodation > [ Apartments ] | Bed & Breakfasts | Hostels | Budget Hotels | Page [1] ( 8 Results ) Accommodation London Studios Our accommodation service enables people to find accommodation for both short and long term... » Book this Apartment Willesden Green (zone 2) and Queens Park (zone 2), London Astons Apartments Astons Apartments is a haven of recently refurbished studio apartments, nestled in a quiet residential street in South Kensington... » Book this Apartment 31 Rosary Gardens, London Clifford's Inn This luxury 5th floor studio sleeps two overlooks gardens and has recently been refurbished... » Book this Apartment 120 Clifford's Inn, London Embassy Court Apartments The Embassy Court apartments are located on Wellington Road in St. John's Wood, one of the most prestigious and sought after areas of Central London... » Book this Apartment Wellington Road,, London Odyssey Apartment Odyssey Apartment is a stunning non-smoking apartment, excellently located at Orion Point in the fashionable Canary Wharf district of the Docklands...... » Book this Apartment 23 Orion Point, London Orion Apartment The Orion Apartment is a beautiful one bedroom is situated on the 1st floor of an apartment block in Canary Wharf with floor to ceiling windows overlooking communal gardens and the River Thames... » Book this Apartment 7 Orion Point, London Royal Court Apartments These apartments are centrally locatd close to an abundance of bars and restaurants... » Book this Apartment 51 Gloucester Terrace, London West End Apartment 1-bedroom apartment situated in Fitzrovia right in the heart of the West End of London, walking distance to many of the famous theatres, bars and restaurants of Soho and Covent Garden... » Book this Apartment 31 Warren Street,, London Page [1] London Budget Accommodation > [ Apartments ] | Bed & Breakfasts | Hostels | Budget Hotels | There's more to Travellerspoint than accommodation. Have a look around! England Travel Guide • Round the World Airfares • Travel Forums • Free Online Diary • Free Travel Blogs • Eurail Passes • • Free Travel Blogs • Hotel Reservations • Last Minute Hotel Reservations • Cheap Travel Insurance • Travel Photography • International SIM Cards © 2002 - 2005 Travellerspoint Travel Community | Contact | FAQ | About | Terms | Site Map \

Argentina Travel

Argentina Forum Topics - Argentina Travel Advice ARGENTINA FORUM by Travelsur.net Argentina Travel Vacations Contact Travelsur | Log Out | Argentina Forums | Search Travelsur Home | Moderators | Register | Edit Profile Preparing yourself for your next trip to Argentina... Topic Posts Pages Last Post Last Poster Destinations in Argentina Discuss Bariloche, Iguazu, Patagonia, Peninsula Valdez, Mendoza, Cordoba, Salta, Humauaca ravine, El Calafate, Ushuaia, Buenos Aires... 313 42 12-28-05 5:15 pm Roberto Argentine Culture Arts, food, tango, yerba mate, architecture, history, gauchos, habits... 73 16 12-14-05 8:00 am julia smith Travel tips Customs, immigration, what to do, where to go, how to dress and more... 124 18 12-28-05 1:15 pm Janice Edwards Lodging and Accomodations Discuss hotels, hostels, beds and breakfasts, short stay rental places, time sharing... 36 8 12-18-05 2:46 pm Filip Negro Tours and Attractions Theaters, must do's, learning spanish, flea markets, Buenos Aires nightlife, tango lessons... 58 9 12-21-05 5:33 pm Roberto Outdoor activities Mountain bike tours, fly fishing in Patagonia, horse riding, rafting in Mendoza, whale watching vacations, south america travel etc... 39 12 12-12-05 11:05 am Roberto Testimonials Share your recent trip. Anything that might be worth others knowing? 43 37 12-15-05 2:46 pm Dina Investment opportunities in Argentina Food business in Buenos Aires, investing in argentine turism, IT outsourcing, exports and more... 116 7 12-23-05 3:43 pm Chreisben Living in Argentina Finances, medical treatments, daily living, rentals and expenses, transportation, banking system, utilities, work, groceries, etc 15 4 12-06-05 3:45 pm Santiago Bengolea Pics, Pics, Pics... Pictures of family and friends, pics of passengers, pics of trips, pics of destinations... 8 7 12-21-05 11:22 am Riyad Anabtawi Argentina Forum | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Guidelines | Travel Directory | Argentina Vacation Administration

European Vacation Planning Map

Your European Vacation - Want Healthy Coffee with that Tramp Steamer?  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors Your European Vacation - Want Healthy Coffee with that Tramp Steamer? Europe for Visitors Blog « Damme! This Belgium Village may be the Perfect Flemish Travel Hub | Main | Assisi - In the Footsteps of St. Francis - Walks to Sacred Places » March 08, 2004 Your European Vacation - Want Healthy Coffee with that Tramp Steamer? What's good about Europe? Those wonderful health institutes for leisurely living called bars, that's what. You can sit outdoors at a Parisian one, sipping some vin rouge and watch the world go by as your arteries unclog themselves of all the cream sauces you've consumed the night before, thanks to the "French paradox." Or you can pop into an Italian one for that healthy dosage of strong coffee known to Americans as "espresso" but to Italians as just coffee. I don't use the word "healthy" lightly. According to a Dr. Trombetti of the Humanitas Gavazzeni Institute, who hates the stuff, "Coffee contains tannin and antioxidants, which are good for the heart and arteries." Not only that, but a few cups a day can help prevent cirrhosis and gallstones. There's even more . Doncha just love it when research actually links healthiness with your baser desires? And speaking of leisure, do you know that tramp steamers are not an artifact of the wild 70s, but that it's still possible to take a leisurely jaunt on a steamer to cross the pond? Sure, most people wanna see Europe in 9 days or fewer, but maybe some of you have the time to fritter on a freighter . Email a Friend Display Latest Headlines Read Archives Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

Vacation Packages Lead Generation

Fraudulent Travel Clubs and Vacation Packages Schemes,Scams, Frauds. www.crimes-of-persuasion.com Site Directory Fraudulent / Deceptive Vacation Packages Lead Generation Be aware that when you place your business card or name into a drawing for afree vacation, you may be added to a telemarketing call list. Telemarketers knowthat wishful thinkers are susceptible to their offers. Also know that yourpersonal information, should you enter it, may be collected by unscrupulousoperators via the Internet when you are visiting bogus travel-related sitesseeking unbelievable deals on trips or airfare. Fly By Night Operations You get a notice that you have won a super travel bargain. All you have to dois make a deposit with your credit card and select your preferred travel dates.The trouble is you may never actually get your "bargain" trip because the travelproves to be a complete fabrication, your reservations may not be confirmed orbecause you must comply with so many hard-to-meet, hidden or expensive"conditions." Fraudulenttelemarketers purporting to be travel agencies can offer substantial travelpackages at comparatively low cost because they know they will never have tocome good on their promises. The use of travel as a commodity makes thelong-distance nature of the transaction plausible but also makes getting arefund next to impossible. Additional Costs and Upgrades Several companies overstate the amenities included, hide extra charges in"all-inclusive" packages, or charge you for products andservices you never received. Free vacations often become assertively pitched"discount" packages, where you have to pay an excessively high pricefor some uncovered part - like hotel or airfare, or inflated charges for a"required" second person. So, your airfare may be free, but your anticipated $50hotel room costs you $350. Perhaps a "handling fee" or"membership fee", anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars, isrequired as well. Some telemarketers say you've won or been specially selected for atrip then "bait andswitch" you into spending additional money for "upgraded" hotelor other accommodations. You get a free or low-cost trip, but the room iscramped and grimy, the food terrible or nonexistent. The promoter then magicallyfinds an upgrade at an outrageous price. In addition, many offers require you to pay upgrade costs to receive theactual destinations, cruises, or dates you were promised. Some may require youto pay more for port charges, hotel taxes, or service fees but not bill yourcard until after you return. They promise you a bargain-priced vacation. However, when you add up all thefees and extras, you wind up paying more for the "bargain" than for aconventional travel package. The total cost may run two to three times more thanwhat you'd expect to pay, or what you were led to believe. They mayalso fail to inform you of their "no refund" policy ormisrepresent it over the phone. Timeshare Sales Trap You take the bait and fly to Florida. When you try to pick up the vouchers for the rest of your trip, you find yourself trapped at a lengthy spiel on timeshares. You may also find out once you reach the final destination you are required to once again spend part of your vacation trapped listening to a lengthy and high pressure sales pitch for timeshare accommodations during your "vacation." For more info on TimeshareSales Presentations Charter Flights Every year at spring break many students, who signed up and paid forvacation packages, are disappointed when no plane is available for the returnflight. When they examine the conditions of their contracts, theyfind, in small print, a clause that says the travel agency had the right topostpone the departure flight by as many as three days without any advance notice. These students are left stranded in airports far from home, with no provisionsfor food or overnight lodging, just so the travel agency can save money,flying fewer of them during the off-peak days, once the break is over. A lot of college students use use charters for spring break but these flights are notcovered by the same laws as commercial airlines (usually charters can becanceled for any reason by the operator up until 10 days before the trip).Charter flights can also raise prices before the trip as well but you can cancelif they increase the package price by more than 10%. Cruise Line Cancellations Some travelers reserve a specific cruising date, sometimes a full year oryear and a half in advance. Then, shortly before the cruise, they are told thatthat particular cruise has been rescheduled. They are told that they can go onanother one, on certain dates, which may not fit their work schedule. Mostcontracts say that a cruise line can cancel at any time, for basically anyreason. Boat Ride to Hell Telemarketers can initiate contact with you in several ways: they may send direct mail to you stating you will receive a "fantasycruise holiday" vacation including a "luxury" cruise, then directyou to call an 800 number; and they also send unsolicited faxes to your business notifying "allstaff" that the "wholesale travel department" has only a fewBahamas cruise packages remaining at a special corporate rate and that youshould call immediately if you are interested in purchasing one; they send electronic certificates to your e-mail address congratulating youon "winning" a fabulous vacation for a very attractive price. Some sayyou have been "specially selected" (only people with e-mail qualify) for this opportunity. As mentioned, leads are also gathered at local fairs and trade shows by "leadgenerators." Booths are decorated with banners or signs inviting people to"register" for a vacation. You register thinking you areentering a draw to win a vacation. Regardless of the method of contact, you are led to believe you are part of aselect group of people specially chosen to receive this vacation package. Once they have you on the line, they describe an exciting vacation in Floridaand a "luxury cruise" to the Bahamas. They state that the vacation isworth a significant amount, sometimes as much as $2,500, but that you will pay amuch smaller amount to receive it, typically $398, $498, or $598. They urge you to immediately "secure" or "register" the vacation witha major credit card. They also say that the payment covers the cost of youraccommodations in both Florida and the Bahamas, as well as the Bahamas"cruise." They inform you that you must purchase the vacation immediately. If yourequest time to think over the offer, or receive it in writing, they respondwith canned rebuttals such as "this is a limited promotion based onavailability" or , "each confirmation number can only be activatedonce, so you cannot call back and reactivate your number" or "by thetime you receive something in the mail, the limited number of vacations will begone." In fact, there is no limit to the number of such vacations for sale. So you give your credit card number to the convincing operator. Once that is obtained, they say you will be switched over to a"supervisor." In actuality, the call is transferred to the"verification" department at their headquarters, where a third personcomes on to the line to confirm details of the sale. Unlike the sales portion of the call, the "verification" is taperecorded. During the verification, they ask for your credit card number again,quickly review the details of the vacation package and, in some but not allinstances, tell you for the first time that you will have to pay additionalcharges for "port service reservation processing fees" and that thevacation package is "non-refundable." These disclosures occur onlyafter you have provided a credit card number which will be charged within minutes ofyour hanging up. In the travel certificate industry, the amount you are initially chargedduring the sales call is known as the "front end" fee. This is because you donot receive a vacation for the money initially charged to your credit card, nordoes that front end fee pay for your vacation. In fact, most, if not all of the front end fee pays the ownersand their telemarketers for their sales efforts. For your initial $398, $498, or$598, you receive nothing more than a packagecontaining a short video, some advertisements and a "reservation requestvoucher" for the Bahamas cruise and the Florida vacation. When you receivethe vacation package you discover that you will have to pay more to take thevacation you thought you had already paid for. You find youhave actually just paid for the "option" to purchase a vacation andalso realize that you did not wina thing. Therequired additional payment, or the "back end" fee, is at least $198 to $316. They state that theback end fee is for "port reservation processing fees." Infact, the back end fee pays for most, if not all, of your"cruise" to the Bahamas and your vacation accommodations. Should you call and attempt to cancel your vacation it is flatly stated thatthey have a "no refund" policy and that you cannot cancel your initialpurchase. If you read the fine print on the back of the reservation vouchersthat are included in their vacation packages, you will discover that theyactually do have a return policy within a specified number of days, depending on thestate in which you live. If you return the vacation package, even following the instructions on the backof the reservation voucher, you inevitably receive your package back, oftenseveral times, until you either give up or call a law enforcement agency, theBetter Business Bureau, your credit card company or a private attorney. People who seek third party assistance generally receive a refund. Those whodo not are generally stuck paying for themisrepresented vacation package. Should you be one of those relatively few people who decide to pay the extra"back end" fee to take the vacation you will find that thevacation is not the "fantasy cruise holiday" you were promised but afive to six hour ferry ride to the Bahamas and back. The cruise shipyou're booked on may look more like a tug boat. The hotel accommodations theyprovideare shabby, and if you wish tostay at the better-known hotels and resorts referred to in the solicitations andbrochures, you must pay yet more undisclosed "upgrade" fees; otherwiseyou must endure the substandard accommodations provided. Never Never Land You receive in the mail an "Executory Writ of Authorization" whichcertifies that you will receive a "World-class Florida / Caribbean VacationPackage . . . including all accommodations and two Round-trip Airfares!" The certificate also states, "This special package is sponsored by, anddesigned to promote, select hotels, resorts and airlines." The certificate displays hotel logos including those of the "BestWestern British Colonial Beach Resort" and the "Nassau Marriott."To receive your vacation package, you must call right away. When you call their 800 number you reach a telemarketer who reiterates thatyou will receive a "promotionally discounted vacation package." Theysay they can offer such a "fabulous vacation" atan extremely discounted rate because they purchase large volumes of rooms fromthe specified hotels which, in turn, are promoting tourism in Florida and the Bahamas. They say you are guaranteed to stay at the British Colonial Beach Resort inNassau, Bahamas and that the vacation package is valid for 18 months, but thatyour reservations must be made at least 60 days in advance of the requestedtravel date. They indicate that they are a full-service travel agency and thatthey are the ones to call to book your reservation dates. This special limited time offer will cost you only $495 which you must payimmediately with your credit card. Through the use of stall tactics and blackoutdates they either manage to have the offer lapse or they have disappearedcompletely by the time you decide to book. Lifestyles of the Poor and Unfortunate Several states are suing National Travel Services Inc. and Ramada PlazaResorts, both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., their owners, and Robin Leach, whopitched their vacation offer. The suit alleges that the companies used Leach's "celebrityendorsement" to convince consumers they had won, or were entitled to, aluxury Florida vacation and cruise to the Bahamas. After paying you'd receive a video hosted by Leach in which herepeatedly described the vacation as "world class" and "anexperience you'll never forget." You'd also receive travel certificates featuring Leach's picture and the message: Robin Leach says, "Pack Your Bags!" As a condition of the trip, thecertificates failed to disclose that you were required to attend lengthytimeshare presentations lasting up to five hours and pay sizable expenses and"port fees" to the promoters. You would eventually find out that you had wononly a chance to pay as much as $1,000 for a seven-day Florida vacation insubstandard accommodations and a bonus Bahamas' cruise which was actually aone-day ferry ride and a game of "Las Vegas style" bingo. There was nothing free or fabulous aboutthese dream travel packages. This was a trip to nowhere that you'll try toforget, but can't. Canadians continue to receive "special deal" offers for a $1600voucher towards an all-inclusive, first-class Caribbean holiday from RamadaPlaza Resorts (rprvacations.com) despite over 665 registered complaints at PhoneBustersregarding their practice of immediately charging $2500 to callers' credit cardsafter asking for a down-payment. Insisting that the packages arenon-refundable, company reps feel that because written scripts are used there isno possibility of abuse or misunderstanding. Some tips: Buy vacation travel from a business you know . Deal with members of a professional association and realize that few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies prices. Verify arrangements before you pay . Get the details of your vacation in writing and a copy of the cancellation and refund policies. Don't accept vague terms such as "major hotels" or "luxury cruise ships." Call to verify your reservations. Look up numbers rather than using those provided. The entire operation may just be a front using mail drops and call forwarding services, all leading back to the same operation. Learn the vocabulary . "You have been specially selected to receive our SPECTACULAR LUXURY DREAM VACATION offer" doesn't mean you'll get a free vacation. It means you'll be "offered an opportunity" to pay for a trip that may fit your idea of luxury or not. "Subject to availability" means you may not be able to get the accommodations you want when you want them. "Blackout periods" are blocks of dates, usually around holidays or peak season, when no discount travel is available. Don't send money by messenger or overnight mail. Some scam artists may ask you to send them a check or money order immediately. Others may offer to send a messenger to pick up your payment. If you pay with cash or a check, rather than a credit card, you may lose your right to dispute fraudulent charges. Subject: RPR Vacations Date: 26 Aug 2001 Help! We think we have fallen victim to this scam. Our trip isn't scheduled 'til the end of Oct. this year, but the more we see& hear the more disappointed we are becoming. First it's approx. $700.00 for the first person, then it's $700.00 for thecompanion - if you don't want a sub-compact car or an inside cabin on whatsounds like the 'hell cruise' it's another $269...... Do you know of a way to get out without substantial penalty? Are thereany class action suits pending? Thanks for your great web site - wish wewould have looked at it sooner. Dayna Kaplan Reply: Suggested search at the FTC site and the search box atpage bottom for up to date info on suits. Big Ships Stop Slowly I happen to have been foolish enough to be taken in by Ramada Plaza Resortsand was given their website while on the phone with the telemarketer, though Idid not access the site until after I had hung up. I had to use a search engine to find their site and, lo and behold, there wasyour warning in big bold letters. I immediately called my credit cardcompany and they advised me to call the RPR ORGANIZATION and cancel, which Idid. They told me they would honor my request, but yesterday, three weeks afterthe cancellation, I received the video package in the mail and my credit cardcompany still shows there has been no refund. What do I do now? Shirl Teaney 11/30/01 I don't presently have the time to ascertain how this spammed offer operates. CONGRATULATIONS! You have been selected as a finalist in the NVP Travel Giveaway! Prizes areaccommodations for two for two nights at any one of the following locations: -- Ft. Lauderdale orDaytona, FL -- Williamsburg, VA -- Orlando, FL -- Las Vegas, NV -- Bahamas -- Branson, MO All you have to do is complete the finalists' registration form - be sureto include your Confirmation Number: G-862622 . As an added bonus, the first 500 finalists to register will receive a free entryin one of our bonus drawings for $1,000.00 Cash or Plane Tickets for 4Adults to any Continental U.S. Destination ! Why wait? You could be on your way! CLICK HERE (www.ca1.waredet.net.co.fr|https.travel.bzah.com) to "Travel Today"! Lisa Davidson National Vacation Promotions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your screen namewas entered in our giveaway. If you do not wish to participate in future promotions, please click here. (www.ca1.waredet.net.co.fr|https.travel.bzah.com/remove.htm) We have a company that has just come to Dallas named GreatEscapes TravelClub based out of Lakeland Florida. It is almost exactly as you describe in yoursection titled "Clubbed on the Head." I too was taken in by whatoriginally was to be a 90 minute presentation that became a 3 hour sales pitch.I was promised the Guaranteed Lowest price on travel and 5 percent back in"travelbucks" to use towards other vacations. I asked the salesmanwhat types of travel and he said"everything". Reading the contract at home I find that the "travelbucks'could only be used for certain items and the fineprint suggested that they had totally misrepresented themselves. I stopped payment on mycheck the next day then faxed and sent them a certified letter demanding theyreturn it to me and to cancel my contract as I have not received any goodsor services from them. I have not heard from them yet nor have they cashed mycheck. My attorney says the contract I signed did not conform to State ofTexas law in regards to certain items be written in bold or underlined print andsays he hopes "GreatESCAPES" attempts to sue. Have you heard anythingabout this company? Bart Terrell 01/25/01 We Sell Dreams, Not Nightmares Les, I have been selling timeshare vacation packages for about three years andalthough I enjoyed yoursite, I was upset with the bad wrap you gave the vacation package business. It's extremely upsetting how a couple rotten apples can ruin the entirebarrel. I'msure there are a lot of fraudulent telemarketing companies who misrepresent thepackages and terms & conditions of the vacation, but I am proud to say that Ihave one of the cleanest and most respectful telemarketing companies in Tampa. (no name given ) You must understand that a lot of these discounted packages are impressively gooddeals made possible by the fulfillment and timeshareindustry. These vacations may not value at "$2,500", but for a personto put a similar package together themselves would cost a good $1000, whereas acustomer of mine can purchase it for $398. Although there is some truth to your article on fraudulent vacation packages,understand that there are many reputable companies who have been providing theirclients with awesome vacation packages and that there are many positive experiencesfrom people who have taken them. Bottom line: The world evolves around business. This is a businessbased on selling people something that will make them feelbetter about themselves. Selling a dream. What better dream than a"fabulous vacation". Jason Martinez 01/11/02 Hi Jason, While I value your opinion and even admit that many people actually sign up forvacation values knowing they must sit through a timeshare presentation, fewactually are prepared for the high pressure inherent in the industry.Timeshares, while predominantly legitimate, are by their nature a poorinvestment in the majority of cases. The scams I try to focus on are the ones where the value of an offer are grosslyexaggerated and misrepresented in order to deceive. Few people seem to arrive atthese offers aware of their future dissatisfaction. I am glad you work within the boundaries of goodwill, make people aware of theirobligations, and do not have add-on charges which negate any value of advertisedpromises. My research is taken from numerous cases of infractions which have seta track-able and unstopping trend. Les They All Sound Good I was looking for information on your great website to see if Ramada PlazaResort Vacations was a scam. I gave them $349USD on Dec 21/01 byVisa which works out to approximately $600.00 Canadian. I had given theirpackage and video to my husband for our 25th wedding anniversary and promised totake our three sons along. Now I still need to send them $1550USD tofulfill the cost, but after reading your info, I just want to see what Ican do to get my money back. I have to admit that I must be quite gullible. I fell for a scam last yearcalled, Skybiz. I paid $100.00 US to get a website instructional programthat was totally useless. I joined on the advice of a friend and with thepromise of making money. Right now I am also trying to get back some money from a company called,Underdoz.com (and underdogz) They offered cheap airline tickets yet I never receivedanything after six months for my $148CDN and I just found out that theyclosed on December 31, 2001. Pamela Funk 01/24/02 Note: the site was active when I visited 01/25/02 Call Center Job Jitters Last month I lost my call center job after I discovered their dishonestmethods. When I started the job I was told that I was to sell a vacation package topeople who called in about winning a $1002 credit voucher on a vacation packagewhich supposedly normally retails for $1400. Basically, the people calling would then be told they could get a packagecontaining seven vacations, one major and six mini vacations, for only $398.00for two people. When I saw this great deal I wanted to get one myself, but because I knewsomeone who was fooled with the Ramada resort travel package, one of myco-workers and I decided to look for them on the Better Business Bureau websitefirst. Oddly, there was no report available despite their claiming to be amember. Two days later I asked to see details of the package I was selling but theyrefused my request, stating that they only had one copy and wouldn't want tolose it. The next day, after nagging my supervisor, he finally agreed tolet me go through the package but then only showed me a bunch of pictures. Though unable to prove fraud, I suspect the worst. Now, after being fired for being too inquisitive, I really feel bad aboutlosing a job but I want to make people understand that, at least where I wasworking, a lot of the staff were unaware that it was actually a scam that theywere selling. Leon 03/29/02 03/00 - In an FTC settlement, Frederick F. Zeigler III, Robert E. Kane , Commonwealth Marketing Group, Inc . and Great Escape Vacations &Tours, Inc .; will be required to pay $145,000 in consumer redress,$18,500 in receiver's fees and expenses, will be enjoined from any futureviolations and post performance bonds of up to $150,000 before either sellingtravel-related services or conducting telemarketing activities. Through the use of direct mail vacation "certificates" and outboundtelemarketing calls to people who, believing they were entering a drawing for afree vacation, had previously submitted "registration forms" handedout at events such as county fairs, they represented thatconsumers had won a "fantasy cruise holiday" to Florida and theBahamas, when, in fact, they had won nothing. They actually had to pay a "promotional fee" of $598 per couple,and up to $300 or more in additional charges when they were ready to travel. Inaddition, the vacation packages received did not provide the "luxury"accommodations promised unless consumers paid yet more money in"upgrade" fees. Upon calling the consumers, CMG's telemarketer described an exciting vacationto Florida and "luxury cruise" to the Bahamas, concluding the pitch byoffering the complete package for a small "promotional fee" of$598. Consumers were instructed to secure their vacation using a major credit card.Only after consumers gave their credit card numbers were they told that thepackage was nonrefundable and that in some, but not all, cases they would haveto pay additional fees - often mischaracterized as "port fees" - whenmaking their reservations. When consumers received their packages, according to the Commission'scomplaint, they found that they had to pay more money for a vacation theybelieved was already paid for in full, and that they had, in fact, won nothingat all. Many consumers were told their purchase was nonrefundable. In fact, while CMGdid have a written return policy for the vacation packages, the companyallegedly did not honor it, and consumers who returned their packages often hadthem mailed back several times. Severing Ties With Tijuana On scams like the Mexican Vacation Club , or others where the consumer uses a credit cardfor time payments, I often tell consumers to destroy their cards, report their cards stolen, etc. Do anything you need to in order to close thataccount. I sometimes tell them to not accept the card company's offer of a replacement card, just to put more distance between you and the scammer. Reporting the card lost or stolen may be dishonest, but in this case, turnaround is fair play. Be sure to make good on your other debts or stop using the card for 10 days before you do this. I have never had a consumer report back to me that the business is actually legitimate and that it ispursuing the "debt." You may get a dunning letter from a"letter service" collection agency (as opposed to a real collection agency). The MexicanVacation Club contracts usually list jurisdiction in Mexico City, and I've never seen them file a suit there against a U.S. or Canadian consumer. Consumer Attorney in Seattle. 04/02 Have you heard of Dreamquest Communications which says you tour Ramada Plazafor an hour and get to stay at a Ramada in Orlando for 3 nights for$228.00? They offer some free Disney tickets but they want a bank checkpayment right away. Anon 05/06/02 04/02 - Vermont's Attorney General filed a consumer fraudlawsuit against Cape Canaveral, Florida based Cape Canaveral Tour &Travel , Inc. and two of its employees, Lory Walker and Michael Dwyer. According to the complaint, Cape Canaveral contacted Vermontconsumers by telephone to sell them seven-night vacation packages to the Bahamasand/or Florida, typically consisting of hotel accommodations, a rental car andtravel on a cruise ship that, not including air fare, cost $1,155 and involved atime-share tour. The complaint alleges that they violated Vermonts ConsumerFraud Act by: through their agents, soliciting consumers to fill out entry forms at fairs on the pretext that this would entitle the consumer to participate in a giveaway or drawing, whereas in fact the purpose of the entry forms was to generate "leads" for Cape Canaveral. failing to disclose, at fairs, that a purchase was required. misrepresenting the companys vacation package offer as a special offer and highly discounted, when in fact the offer was ongoing and was figured from hotel "rack rates" that consumers could easily obtain at a discount from a local travel agent. failing to disclose that consumers had to take a time-share tour in order to take advantage of the vacation package offer. failing to afford Vermont consumers their right to cancel the telephonic purchase of a vacation package within three days. A court order requiring the defendants to comply with Vermontlaw, refunds for Vermont consumers, civil penalties of up to $10,000 perviolation, and other legal relief is being sought. Diamond Holidays Travel called me to let me know I won acruise including 4 nights and 3 days in the Bahamas with hotel, but I have tosend them a check for $77.00 for me and the second person plus port charges of$99.00 a person. I have four days to call them back. Is this ascam? Thanks, Agnes 06/20/02 One spammer offering vacations in both English and Spanishformats and which are accompanied by timeshare presentations is Valued Guest atwww.valuedresorts.net See also: TimeShareBeat's VacationClub Scams . Have you ever heard of Sundance Vacations out of Pa?. Theirdeal started at $10,000 for 20 vacations which included excess inventory andother enticements but I kept saying no. Final deal, $5000, unlimited vacations, excess inventoryplus. Seemed too good to be true. Walked out. Hope I receivethe free weekend which was the come-on. Owlgolf 07/31/02 Live Wire Shorted Out 10/24/02 Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan filed suit against Live WireSystems , 2425 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, and JamesP. Davis with violating the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act, UniformDeceptive Trade Practices Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive BusinessPractices Act. The defendants are charged with placing more than 10,000 autodialer marketingcalls since at least July 2002 to individuals and businesses across Illinoisusing prerecorded messages that invited consumers to purchase low-cost Disneyvacation packages. To confirm their invitations, consumers were instructed to call a toll-freenumber that provided the details and conditions of the trips. The lawsuit alleges that they misrepresented the nature of the offer byfailing to disclose that consumers are required to tour timeshare resorts aspart of the package and that Walt Disney Company is not a sponsor of the tripand has not approved use of their name. In the suit, Ryan is seeking a permanent injunction, restitution toconsumers, costs, a civil penalty of $50,000 and an additional penalty of$50,000 for each act committed with intent to defraud. www.crimes-of-persuasion.com Crimes of Persuasion2000 LegalDisclaimer Web www.crimes-of-persuasion.com Using Paypal First Name Last Name [ Home ] [ Up ] [ RPR Vacations ] [ Tempus Resorts ]