A few minutes of research can save you many hours (and headaches) down the road.

By Lydia Mansel                      Published on September 24, 2026

Some travelers like to plan their trips very loosely, booking a flight and a few hotel nights and figuring out the rest after they land. Others who are more type A prefer to have their itinerary nailed down and every worst-case scenario accounted for. If you fall into the former category, you may want to read a new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on how to avoid travel scams—and then spend a bit more time on the research phase of your next trip. 

But don’t worry: It’s an incredibly simple step that could help you avoid a potentially disastrous and expensive situation, and all you need is a smartphone (or computer) and access to the internet. “Look up the names of travel companies, hotels, rentals, and agents with the words ‘scam,’ ‘review,’ or ‘complaint,’” the agency shared on its website. “See what others say about them before you commit.” 

If your search turns up one or two bad reviews, don’t immediately assume the travel hotel or organization is a scam. “Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish, but consumers can look for patterns of troubling complaint topics such as: unauthorized charges, unexpected fees, bookings falling through, unreachable customer support, or an inability to secure promised refunds or cancellations,” an FTC spokesperson told Travel + Leisure via email.

If you do happen to come across a Reddit thread or comment section filled with worrisome experiences, pause and set aside time to dive further into the topic before booking anything or sharing any personal information. “Research is just one tool to arm consumers and isn’t foolproof, but it can surface red flags,” the FTC spokesperson said. “Use trusted resources or type the company’s website directly into the browser, if you know it.” 

The agency recommends taking a few additional steps if you have a feeling a hotel, travel agency, or rental company could be illegitimate. The website suggests seeing how recent the reviews are or looking for a “burst of reviews over a short period of time.” 

You can also look at the profile of a reviewer, analyze their past review activity, and determine your level of trust. “You won’t always know if a reviewer got something—like a free product—in exchange for writing a review. But, on some websites, you’ll see a label or badge next to the review that tells you the reviewer got an incentive. How you weigh those reviews is up to you,” the FTC shares. 

At the end of the day, it’s best to trust your gut—and do your own research—when it comes to travel scams.