How to avoid online travel deal scams

After two years of lockdowns, thousands of Aussies are busy planning a long awaited holiday.

But travellers are being warned about an increase in holiday scams.

The most common tricks are fake hotel bookings, bogus deals and inflated promises, leaving victims out of pocket thousands of dollars.

Australia is in peak booking season at the moment, which means it's also peak scamming season.

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"The scammers know that the tsunami of bookings is coming. So they're really trying to make sure they can capitalise on this pent-up demand as well," Australian Traveller's Quentin Long told Today.

Long said a classic example is an Airbnb that offers a great listing that looks amazing but it doesn't exist.

"You turn up to the address there's no property there. They have done a lot to clean that up, but it still happens," he said.

To avoid disappointment the experts recommend doing an image search on the property and see what other travellers have posted.

You should also read reviews and confirm the location on Google Maps.

Websites with spelling errors or a PO Box rather than street address can also be a red flag.

"Then there's the more sophisticated ones where you will see a deal on a website. It looks legitimate and they actually do the transaction," Long said.

"They send you a booking confirmation it has your name on it. It looks absolutely normal, legitimate and trust worthy. The problem is they have used a stolen credit card to book that travel on your behalf."

So when you turn up at the airport and there's no booking, the airlines realise the credit card was stolen and cancel the ticket.

Booking with an Australian operator is usually safer and you should also be weary of cheap overseas resort deals.

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"One of the classics is you book fantastic accommodation, but you don't get any of your meals included, you can't go anywhere else to eat and the menus are so expensive. You end up paying a lot just for the meals," Long said.

Long also said travel insurance is recommended and you should always pay by credit card.

"If you do not get the product you paid for you can complain to your bank and give them proof of what happened, they will give you the money back," he said.

Right now, most people are booking for the Christmas holidays.

Peak periods could cost more but if a deal or price looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Watch Sarah Stewart's full report above

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