Worst Travel Scams

A special kind of shady enterprise, travel clubs often prey on retired folks with a line that's similar to the timeshare pitch. They offer "free" gift certificates to a favorite restaurant and then corral you into a high-pressure sales presentation, where they convince you that for a membership fee of several thousand dollars, you can enjoy special discounts on travel. It's nonsense. Their cleverly worded contracts ensure that they get to keep your money whether you find the promised bargains or not (and usually you don't). Truth is, these "clubs" are selling nothing. The Red Lobster gift card isn't worth it. Don't fall for this shady deal.