These 10 ways can make surfing more productive e-Travel SPECIAL SECTION: How to use the Web to plan your vacation

BYLINE: CLARA BOSONETTO, FOR THE JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
DATE: 05-20-2001
PUBLICATION: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
EDITION: Home
SECTION: Travel
PAGE: K.13

Still skeptical about booking your travel needs via the Internet? You should be. It's a jungle in there.

The Internet retail travel business can offer the most flexible shoppers tremendous values, but the Web is ripe for scams, rip-offs and false or vague information. Surfing for deals can eat up valuable time and create confusion (all those different prices for sometimes different, sometimes not, flights, hotels and packages).

Here are 10 ideas, cautions and tips to help you save time, money and sanity: First, read all the boring yet essential details regarding purchases, exchanges, refunds, handling costs and other terms. It will be worth your time to search for this info to avoid post-purchase surprises. This information should be a fundamental feature of any reputable online retail site. If it isn't there, skip the purchase. Would you consider spending $400 or more on a washing machine from a company in Wisconsin? It's no different when you purchase an expensive airline ticket or trip from an online company located states away. What do you know about the company, its reputation and financial health? Does the company have a real street address, phone number and a customer service department? The Internet is invaluable for research on destinations (one of millions is World Travel Guide at www.wtgonline.com); visa, passport, travelers' health and more (www.state.gov/travel); airport information (www.quickaid.com); and sites that should be bookmarked for Yellow Page-type references for all topics related to travel such as www.johnnyjet.com. Rock-bottom prices on airline tickets can be found at individual airline Web sites, usually for last-minute or current month travel. There are downsides. The airline may shout about a great sale on the home page, but once you're ready to purchase, the guessing game begins. Which date has the sale space? Which flight of that day has the discount seats? Airline booking engines are primitive and do not suggest alternative dates, times or seasons for the sale specials. However, many airline sites offer mileage bonus perks for a direct booking. To save time and to benefit from perks, first visit www.expedia.com or www.travelocity.com to enter your desired destination and dates. Both instantly return a complete listing of airlines with available sale space for specific flight times. Meanwhile, the travel industry is waiting to measure the impact of Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), an Internet travel agency owned by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United airlines. Launching in June, it will sell discounted airfares for these five airlines and from hundreds of other domestic and international carriers. Don't be too sure that all Internet travel sites can give you the best price on vacation packages. You will usually find the same price or even lower prices along with perks, upgrades and other extras when booking with a local travel agent. That agent also should have good knowledge of the financial health of tour companies and wholesalers. Beware of travel sites (typically auction sites) that offer an airline ticket to an exotic spot for less than $100 per person, or free air travel. It's a good indication that you will be required to book a weekly hotel stay through the same company. The hotel rates are generally inflated to cover the actual cost of the airline ticket. Individual cruise line Web sites are only the first step in obtaining price quotes and general information. But the last step should be booking your cruise through a local travel professional. No Web site will be able to match the personal-touch benefits a cruise specialist can offer, such as choosing the proper itinerary, ship and cabin, as well as offering you representation should things go wrong. Find a local cruise expert at www.cruising.org. Take several steps to obtain low rates on hotel stays. Start gathering rates at sites such as www.hoteldiscounts.com, www.all-hotels.com or www.hotelguide.com, but also call the hotel chain toll-free number and a local travel agent for price quotes. Agents can guide you to a convenient, quality hotel better than a computer can. Taking a highway trip with no firm plans? Visit www.exitguide.com for deep discounts at hotel chains located along interstates. Don't use a debit card, the cards that zap checking accounts, for online purchases. Rely on the consumer protections offered by traditional credit cards. Want a real human to assist you with travel needs? Visit www.astanet.com for an American Society of Travel Agents-member travel agent in your neighborhood. ASTA agents follow a 13-point code of ethics. Look for the ASTA logo on travel Internet sites.

Clara Bosonetto is a longtime travel consultant who also writes the Budget Update column in Wednesday's Living section. Get daily updates on travel deals at www.clarkhoward.com.