What are the most common travel booking scams to avoid?
Fake booking sites that mimic hotel or airline domains (look for HTTPS + exact domain), "third-party fee" phone calls after a booking, non-existent vacation rentals listed off-platform, and taxi meter overcharges. Pay with a credit card (not debit) for chargeback protection, and book direct or through reputable OTAs.
Common patterns: a Google ad leads to a lookalike hotel booking page that takes your card and never delivers a reservation. A caller claiming to be the airline asks for 'confirmation fees' — airlines never call for fees. Off-platform vacation rentals (Facebook, WhatsApp) demand bank transfers instead of platform payment. Always check the domain matches the operator, pay by credit card (Visa/Mastercard chargeback covers non-delivery), and never wire transfer for accommodation. AVARA's booking flow surfaces the operator directly to reduce scam surface.
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Last verified 2026-07-29.