You’ve read the horror stories. The KZN beachfront apartment that was too good to be true (because it was occupied; or never existed). The December deposit that disappeared into a stranger’s bank account.
The urgency that felt exciting at the time –book now, only one left, deal ends at midnight– until it didn’t. The urgency that felt exciting at the time – Scam season is real, it’s peaking, and it’s getting harder to spot. Fraudsters aren’t the typo-riddled amateurs of years past.
Today’s fake listings have professional images (often borrowed from legitimate sites – try a reverse image search if you’re uncertain), convincing copy, and even boosted Facebook ads. They know exactly when demand spikes and they know that FOMO is powerful. The green flags (aka what genuine travel expertise actually looks like) As Antoinette Turner, GM Flight Centre South Africa, explains, a qualified travel advisor isn’t just someone with a nice website and a friendly WhatsApp presence.
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They have an established track record, accountability, and something scammers can never fake: skin in the game. Accreditation and industry membership.Legitimate travel professionals are affiliated with recognised industry bodies – look for names like ASATA or SATSA. These Associations represent codes of conduct, consumer protection, and professional accountability.
If you’re ever feeling unsure, contact ASATA or SATSA directly and they can confirm membership (beforeyou make any deposits). Legitimate travel professionals are affiliated with recognised industry bodies – look for names like ASATA or SATSA. If you’re ever feeling unsure, contact ASATA or SATSA directly and they can confirm membership ( A verifiable history.Real agencies or independent advisors have years of client relationships behind them.
Flight Centre, for example, has been helping South Africans travel for over three decades – there are consultants who’ve been planning the same families’ holidays for years. That kind of institutional memory, knowledge and loyalty doesn’t appear overnight, and it can’t be manufactured. Real agencies or independent advisors have years of client relationships behind them.
Supplier relationships that you simply can’t access yourself.This is one of the most underrated advantages of using a travel professional. Established experts have negotiated rates, preferred partner agreements, and direct lines to hotels, airlines, and tour operators built over years. When you see a deal through a reputable advisor, the price reflects genuine buying power – not a fiction designed to make you move fast.
If anything, a suspiciously low price from an unknown source is the red flag. A transparently good rate from a trusted advisor with genuine supplier relationships is the green one. This is one of the most underrated advantages of using a travel professional.
Reviews that read like real people wrote them.Authentic client reviews are specific, varied, and occasionally imperfect. They talk about a complicated itinerary that came together, or a flight change that was handled brilliantly. What they don’t do is read like keyword-stuffed marketing copy or arrive in identical batches.
Look for reviews across multiple platforms. Another good tip? Look at reviews in date order… consistently good reviews that are also recent? Green flag.
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