Not every vacation deal is a good one. I know — shocking revelation from a website literally called VacationDeals.to. But for every legitimate $49 Westgate deal, there's a sketchy offer from a company nobody's heard of promising a free Caribbean cruise if you just provide your credit card number and social security number and the name of your first pet. Spoiler: don't do that.
I've seen enough bad deals (and heard enough horror stories from readers) to compile a definitive list of red flags that should make you run the other direction. Bookmark this page and check it before booking any deal that seems questionable. And always compare deals on our vetted deals page where we've already vetted the sources.
1. Red Flag: No Verifiable Company Information
The biggest red flag is also the easiest to spot: the company selling the deal has no verifiable online presence. No website (or a terrible one), no social media accounts, no reviews, no BBB listing, no physical address. If you can't find basic information about who you're giving money to, don't give them money.
Legitimate companies — even small ones — have websites, contact information, and some kind of online footprint. If the only evidence this company exists is the Facebook ad you clicked on, that's a problem.
What to do: Google the company name. Check the BBB. Search for reviews on TrustPilot, Google Reviews, and Reddit. If you find nothing — or only find complaints — walk away.
2. Red Flag: Price Is Too Low (Yes, That's Possible)
I know this sounds crazy coming from a website that promotes $49 deals, but there IS a floor below which deals become suspicious. If someone is offering a 7-night beachfront resort stay for $19, that's not a deal — that's a scam. Even the cheapest legitimate timeshare deals rarely go below $49 for a reason.
The economics don't work below a certain price point. Resorts need to cover at least basic costs (cleaning, utilities, breakfast for the presentation) when giving away rooms. If the deal price can't even cover those costs, something is off.
Suspicious price thresholds:
- Under $30 for any domestic resort: Probably a scam or will have massive hidden fees
- Under $20 for international: Almost certainly a scam
- "Free" vacations: Always a catch. Always. The catch might be a $500 "processing fee" or a mandatory timeshare purchase, not just a presentation
3. Red Flag: They Want Wire Transfers or Cash
Legitimate vacation deal companies accept credit cards. Period. If someone asks you to pay via wire transfer, money order, Zelle, Venmo, Bitcoin, or cash, run. These payment methods offer zero buyer protection. Once the money is sent, it's gone. You have no ability to dispute the charge or get a refund.
Credit cards are your best friend for deal bookings. They provide purchase protection, chargeback rights, and fraud monitoring. If a deal goes sideways, your credit card company can fight for you. Western Union cannot.
4. Red Flag: No Written Terms or Contract
Every legitimate deal comes with written terms — what's included, what the cancellation policy is, what the presentation requirements are, what happens if you don't qualify. If a company refuses to provide written terms, or says "we'll tell you everything when you get there," that's a major red flag.
Verbal promises mean nothing. "The agent told me it included breakfast" won't hold up if the written terms don't say that. Get everything in writing — email, text, confirmation letter — before you pay a dime.
Must-have in writing:
- Total cost including all fees and taxes
- Exact resort name and location
- Number of nights and room type
- Presentation requirements (duration, what happens if you skip)
- Cancellation policy and refund terms
- Qualification requirements
5. Red Flag: The Resort Doesn't Exist (Or Can't Be Found)
This seems obvious but you'd be surprised. Before booking any deal, Google the specific resort they're sending you to. Verify it exists. Check recent reviews. Look at photos. Make sure its an actual operating resort and not a condemned building or a parking lot.
I've seen deals advertise stays at resorts that were "under renovation" (translation: closed), at addresses that don't match any known resort, or at properties that have reviews so bad they should come with a health warning. Five minutes of Googling can save you from a nightmare vacation.
6. More Warning Signs
"You won a vacation!" — If you didn't enter a contest, you didn't win anything. These are almost always scams or extremely sketchy promotions with massive hidden costs.
Extreme urgency: "This deal expires in 10 minutes!" — Legitimate deals have reasonable booking windows. Artificial urgency is a pressure tactic to prevent you from doing due diligence.
Requests for personal info upfront: If they want your Social Security number, bank account number, or other sensitive info just to book a vacation deal, that's identity theft setup, not travel booking.
Multiple presentations required: Legitimate deals require ONE presentation. If they're requiring 2-3 presentations during your stay, the deal structure is designed to maximize sales pressure, not deliver a good vacation.
Non-refundable deposits with no written policy: Legitimate companies explain their refund policies clearly. If they refuse to discuss refunds or say "all sales are final" without providing written terms, avoid.
7. The Green Flags: Signs of a Legitimate Deal
Not everything is a scam. Here's what legitimate deals look like:
- The company has a verifiable website, address, and phone number
- The resort is a recognizable brand or can be independently verified
- They accept credit cards as primary payment
- Written terms are provided before payment
- Qualification requirements are clearly stated
- Reviews exist online (even mixed reviews are better than NO reviews)
- The price is in the realistic range ($49-$799 for domestic, $49-$299 for international through brokers)
- Only one presentation is required
8. What to Do If You've Been Scammed
- Dispute the charge with your credit card company immediately. You typically have 60-120 days to file a chargeback.
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- File a complaint with your state Attorney General's office
- Report to the BBB (this puts a public record of the complaint)
- Leave reviews on Google, TrustPilot, and relevant forums to warn others
9. Trusted Sources for Deals
Stick with sources that have established reputations:
Brands: Westgate, HGV, Marriott, Wyndham, Bluegreen, HICV
Brokers: BookVIP, GetawayDealz, StayPromo
Aggregators: VacationDeals.to (that's us — we only list verified deals from legitimate sources)
10. Final Advice
Trust but verify. Most vacation deals are legitimate — the timeshare industry is a multi-billion-dollar business with real companies selling real products. But bad actors exist on the fringes, preying on people who are excited about a cheap vacation and not asking enough questions.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it seems really good but comes from a verifiable company with a track record? It's probably just a really good deal. Know the difference, and you'll never get burned. Browse our vetted deals page for offers we've already verified.