Five Federal Travel Tips

Wherever you decide to honeymoon, learn to be a savvy travel shopper. Since unpleasant and costly surprises may ruin your romantic getaway, take these tips from the Federal Trade Commission to boost your travel knowledge.

Find a travel agency on the up-and-up. Only work with a travel agency you know (either through reference or reputation) and one that is a member of a professional association such as the American Society of Travel Agents, the National Tour Association or the United States Tour Operators Association. Never buy travel over the phone from a telemarketer, or from a firm that wants to send a courier for your payment. This is a sure sign the business wants to avoid detection and suspicion of mail or wire fraud.

Get it in writing. Confirm all travel and vacation information as well as cancellation and refund policies in writing before you pay. Confirm names, addresses, and telephone numbers for the lodgings, airlines and cruise ships you'll be using ("major hotels" and "luxury cruise ships" is not enough). In addition, call the airlines and hotels yourself to verify your reservations.

Always use credit. Use your credit card for each and every purchase on your honeymoon. If you do get taken for a ride, you can dispute the charges with the credit card company. Unless you know the agency, don't give your credit card number over the phone. Don't fall for the telemarketing trick to use your account number to "hold" your purchase until you decide.

Travel vocabulary for understanding. "You have been specially selected to receive our Spectacular Dream Vacation offer!" Translation: "We've called to offer you a vacation that you can pay for fully and still not know anything about!" "Subject to Availability." Translation: "We'll never have accommodations when you need them." "Blackout periods." Translation: "Blocks of dates around popular travel times that will insure you never get discounted travel when you can afford to go." Hope this clears some things up.

"Instant Travel Agents." Some companies offer to sell you identification that will guarantee you discounted travel rates. The truth is, only suppliers of travel - the cruise lines, hotel companies, car rental companies, and airlines themselves - have the power to extend those kind of professional courtesies - and only they decide to whom they reward them.