Ask questions before you take off for unfamiliar 'paradise'

My next-door neighbor called recently to brag about the free trip she had just received through the mail. According to the letter, she was one of 20 people receiving a complimentary week on a luxury island in the Bahamas. The letter went on to say the winners were chosen from a random drawing taken from people who had recently used frequent-flier miles. The recipients would stay in "luxury, safari tents" and enjoy all "the natural wonders the island had to offer." To claim her prize, all she had to do was call the 800 number and set up her travel plans. She was hooked. I thought it sounded fishy. I was right.

Turned out the free trip was only bait to hopefully reel in possible buyers to purchase property in the middle of nowhere. The safari tents were nothing more than pup tents. And the natural wonders were natural all right. There wasn't even indoor plumbing. Anyone who took the trip was going to be faced with a hard-core salesman bent on selling undeveloped land. Not exactly the dream vacation outlined in the letter.

My neighbor was lucky. She found out in time that the trip really was too good to be true. But other vacation seekers sometimes learn the hard way.

Diane Nill booked a trip to Switzerland based on the photos she saw in a travel brochure. The glossy snaps showed hikers walking through mountains and rafting down rivers. The trip promised a glorious week in the picturesque Alps. According to Diane, the only view they had of the Alps was through a dirty bus window. They spent most of their time in cities.

A few years back, I met a couple returning from an island vacation. They had found the resort on the Internet. From the pictures, it looked like every room had a balcony overlooking gardens and the beach. Turned out there was no ocean roar off their balcony. But there was the roar of the crowd and the automobiles pulling into the strip mall next door.

Inexperienced travelers often get caught up in the hype an Internet site or a brochure delivers. But you shouldn't base your vacation on one source. If you're not familiar with the area, you need to talk to someone who has been there whom you can trust and ask some important questions. Here are some of them:

• Is the wording clear? There's a fine line between 'ocean view' and 'ocean front'. Be sure you know exactly what the property offers. A brochure will feature their best room, which might be on the ocean. But the bargain room you reserve may overlook an all-night bar.

• What is the background of the company? How long have they been in business? Does the Better Business Bureau have any information about them? If it's a tour agency, ask for references and phone numbers. If it's a hotel, ask for specific details about the location. Check online blogs for other references.

• What is included? If the trip includes guides, what is their training? What is the quality of their equipment? Are meals included? If so, will you be eating gourmet or trail mix?

Remember, a good photographer can make a shack look like a palace. Be sure you're getting the royal treatment and not a royal pain in the neck. When you go fishing for vacation plans, it's sometimes better to be the one that got away.

• Gail Todd, a freelance writer, worked as a flight attendant for more than 30 years. She can be reached at gailtodd@aol.com

Gail Todd, a free-lance writer,worked as a flight attendant for more than 30years. She can be reached via e-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.