How come I did not receive any confirmation emails? This is a question we recieve often from travelers making reservations on various online booking services. In fact, you may be asking yourself this question even if you’ve purchased a product online from ubiquitous websites like Amazon.com, Ebay.com, 1800flowers.com, etc.

Here are a couple of guidelines to remember when purchasing products or services on the internet:

1) You are entirely responsible for making sure you are able to receive confirmation emails from online services you use.

2) Most free internet email services like Yahoo, Gmail, Aol, Hotmail, etc. will block many important emails and confirmation emails you intend to receive, even if you are not aware they use blocking techniques.

Because of these two basic facts you should never use a free email service, or any email service you cannot totally control, for important purchases or business purposes. If you are using a Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, or other free email system, please know that many commercial websites, including Instant World Booking, may be unable to send you email concerning transactions or purchases you have made. This is because these email systems are known to block a large amount of legitimate email, due to their efforts to fight spam. We advise that these free email systems should never be used for authentic business purposes.

But, you don’t have to take our word for it. This problem has been well documented by many authoritative sources. For example, to find hundreds of problems concerning Yahoo rejecting legitimate email, simply perform a Google search for “Yahoo bouncing email”. Here is just one source documenting dozens of problems in which Yahoo rejected desired mail:
http://www.ahfx.net/weblog.php?article=107

One way to ensure that you receive confimation and delivery emails from online services you use, be sure to add the sender’s email to your address book.

Here are instructions for some popular email clients:

• Yahoo Mail
• AOL
• Google Gmail
• Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express

Want to gain a major boost in traffic and online exposure for your hostel? HostelTraveler.com has introduced a major service level enhancement for it’s hostel partners worldwide. Now, when you list your property with HostelTraveler.com, we translate the information you submit into 14 different languages. We then publish your property on 14 individual multi-lingual webpages, each dedicated to only your property.

This is a major level of service that only Instant World Booking provides for free to hostel partners. In fact, it’s a must-have service for any lodging who wishes to gain serious exposure on the web. As always, HostelTraveler’s services are free for hostels to use.

We invite you to compare services of competing online marketing providers. Some others provide rudimentary translations, others offer none. Then come to HostelTraveler.com, which provides 14 unique and search-optimized (SEO) pages to get your hostel ranked at the top of multi-lingual web searches.

List with HostelTraveler.com today. It’s free:

http://www.hosteltraveler.com/listings/add_listing.php

Read more about Translations on the Instant World Booking Blog:

http://www.instantworldbooking.com/blog_iw/hotel-and-hostel-information-translated-into-14-languages/

Scams abound on the internet, and scammers usually send mass emails to small businesses, but also to individuals. You may think these emails are intended solely for you. But, here’s how to spot scammers.

The scammer’s goal is to get you to send them money. They will often request your assistance and offer to send you a certified check . They’ll claim that the check was already made out by a vendor or partner of theirs, and they need help cashing it. The scammer will request you to cash the check, then send them a part of the funds to them, usually by Western Union. Scammers are very creative and there are many variations. However, they will always offer to let you keep a large sum in return for your assistance.

Since the funds are drawn on a foreign bank it may take up to three months to learn that it is fraudulent. You will then be short the amount you have sent to the scammer. The scammer cannot be found, since they are operating out of public internet cafes, usually in far away countries.

Signs of a Scammer

Overseas/International: Typically the scammer will be overseas or out of country. They know authorities rarely pursue this kind of international crime.

Urgent: Often the scammer will be acting in an urgent manner and ask you to assist them with short notice.

Large amounts: The check will always be for a large amount, intended to lure you into their fraud.

No interest in location: Scammers will not care about your location. In fact, they will always be from foreign countries, and you may wonder why they decided to contact you.

Will not address you by name in the first e-mail: The first e-mail you receive will likely not address you specifically. This is because it will be a general email sent in mass to many people.

Strange grammar, spelling, and choice of words: The scammer’s grammar, spelling and use of punctuation will be unusual. Often the scammer will present themselves as a doctor. Another frequent ploy is that they indicate they are from a religious organization, are holding meetings in your country, and make specific reference to their “delegates” or “delegation” coming to your country.

Free e-mail account: Often the e-mail will come from a free email service like Yahoo or Hotmail. Legitimate travel agents or businesses rarely use free email accounts.

Send money: They want you to send them cash, usually by wire, and quick.

Advice:
If you get one of these emails or letters, remember that if it is too good to be true, it probably is. Whatever happens, do not send them any funds, regardless of what form.

Surcharges are those hidden costs that a youth hostel or hotel can charge you for seemingly simple services, like making phone calls or accessing the internet. In the hostelling and hotel industry, surcharges are a huge moneymaker. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, U.S. hotels earned $1.6 billion from miscellaneous surcharges and fees last year, up from $550 million in 2003. This year that

number is likely to be more than $1.75 billion.

As hotels and hostels creatively find more ways to make you pay more, it’s important to be informed before planning your travel.

Here’s how to save on extra surcharges and fees at your hotel or hostel:

Lodging taxes can add a lot to your bill, depending on what region you’re staying in. In New York, for example, you can end up paying 8.75% on top of the nightly rate, plus a 5% hotel tax. This can add $10, $20, $30 to the cost of your stay.

So-called “resort” or “hotel” fees may cover use of facilities like a pool or fitness equipment. However, itemized charges can be tacked on for extras like landscaping and housekeeping, holding your luggage, tipping, or mini-bar restocking. The Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association now encourages its members to impose an energy surcharge. If you stay at a hotel in Canada, you may pay a 3% “destination marketing fee” to promote its tourism industry.

Before you travel, call and ask questions. When booking on the telephone or online, make sure you understand the total cost, including “total fees and taxes” Tell the hotel or hostel representative you want to know the absolute total you will be paying. HostelTraveler.com rates typically include all fees and surcharges, but sometimes taxes will be added on during your stay. Make sure you read the full listing information in advance to know how much your total cost will be.

After your stay, hotel and hostel staff are frequently reluctant to remove charges from your bill. If you’re not planning on using the specific services or facilities, request that they eliminate those expenses before you check in. Check out early, settle your bill in advance, so that you have ample time to review your bill thoroughly. Once you move on to the next city, the chances of obtaining a correction are much lower. And remember, if the hotel representative can’t tell you exactly what costs are included in your bill, make sure you obtain clarification from a manager before you pay. This will avoid disputes later.