SECURITY TIPS ON BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY ONLINE

There has been a lot of talk in the media about the increase in consumers shopping online over the recent Christmas and New Years period.
One of the most frequent purchases people book online is their holiday and in particular, hotel accommodation. For many travellers, especially the inexperienced, the main fear about booking online is security, so here are a few tips:-

Paying for your hotel
When entering the booking page the browser should show a padlock or the web address will start with https:// - this means that the page is secure. You should look out for security logos on the website which will certify that the site is secure. One example is Verisign secured seal.
When you have paid make sure you check your credit card or bank account regularly to ensure that the correct payment has being withdrawn and that there are no suspicious payments have also been taken from you.

Reputation of the Web Site

Make sure you use a company / Accommodation Web Site that has a good reputation and if you have any concerns do a Google search for the company name and for any negative comments.
Look out for travel association logos, i.e. ABTA, TTA, AITO, ATOL etc and visit the association’s web site to check if they really are a member.

Check privacy statements

We all assume that our personal data is going to be secure and any reputable travel company will display its privacy statement on the site, which will detail how it will use, collect and store your personal information.
If the site does not have a privacy statement, contact the company and ask them why.

Word of Mouth

Ask family and friends if they have booked online recently, and who they booked with as this will make you feel more confident about booking online. Join a travel forum and read the experiences and advice from consumers who have booked online.
I personally believe that you should go with your gut instincts, and if you have any concerns about booking online, most companies will have someone at the end of the telephone to guide you through the process.