Travel experts have warned against using a popular money-saving travel hack that could see your holiday cancelled and leave you unable to book with that provider again
While we’re still basking in the summer sun, autumn is just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to start planning your next getaway. However, travel gurus have issued a warning against a popular money-saving trick that could potentially ruin your holiday before it even starts.
We all know that holidays can be pricey, particularly when it comes to securing accommodation. One common method to cut costs is by using a VPN to alter your online location when booking flights or hotels.
But the experts at Travel Republic warn that this tactic is a risky one that could leave you both without a holiday and out of pocket too.
TikTok user @nicoletravelandlife recently posted a video demonstrating a travel hack that uses a VPN to secure discounts on flights and hotels this summer.
She explained that by using a VPN to change your digital location to somewhere outside the UK, the price of the booking will drop once conversion rates are factored in. After putting this into practice, she managed to save a whopping £1,254 on her Maldives holiday, reports the Express.
The video has racked up over 11.7K likes and 11K saves, and while some viewers were impressed, others remained sceptical.
One dubious viewer asked: “I tried this but then it wanted a card to be used from that country to pay?”
Travel Republic’s experts have issued a stark warning against using the VPN hack for your upcoming holiday bookings.
They said: “While booking your holiday via a VPN might seem like an easy way to save money, it could cause problems that lead to your holiday being cancelled.
“One of the main reasons we would not recommend using this hack is that it could cause your booking to be flagged as fraudulent, even if you have paid in full. When the VPN virtually changes your shown location, an alert may be sent to the booking provider via their website that flags the transaction as suspicious.
“This is especially likely if your card details and billing information are based in a different country from where your VPN is set.”
Your getaway could end up being scrapped or the purchase marked as dodgy, and you might find yourself banned from purchasing through that travel firm again down the line.
Whilst many people opt to use a VPN to keep their privacy safe online, the holiday specialists warned that not all services can be trusted.
They explained: “Free VPNs in particular may log any data you input while using them, and sell it to third parties.
“If you’re using one of these untrustworthy VPNs to book your holiday, then any personal and financial information you use as part of that booking could be at risk.”
If you do use a VPN to purchase something on the internet, ensure you switch it off before entering any confidential details.
This will help minimise the chance of your information being stolen as well as assist in preventing any complications with the bank or holiday company.