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After saving forÌýthat dream trip away, nobody wantsÌýtheir plans ruined by a scam holiday company.

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A good way to protect yourself against booking fraud is to make sure the company is a member of a recognised trade association such as ABTA. Members have toÌýmeet rigorous entry criteria, minimising the chance of fraudulent companies joining.Ìý You can verifyÌýa company's ABTAÌýmembership and find tips for booking online through the .

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ABTA’s advice is to read the terms and conditions of any booking, so you know exactly what you’re buying. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, either.Ìý A legitimate company will answer queries and address problems.

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If you can, book with a credit card, which provides protection against fraud and could help get your money back if something does go wrong. When entering your personal or payment details online, look out for a padlock in the address bar and a web address beginning with ‘shttp’ or ‘https’. These indicate the site is secure.

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Our travel expert Simon Calder’s advice is to check the website’s giving correct contact details for accommodation.Ìý Look for a telephone number. If it is a scam, they won’t want you calling the hotel.

While enjoying yourself on your summer holiday, you might be more likely than usual to have your attention distracted from looking after your valuables cash. And being in a foreign country can be very disorientating. The locals wouldn’t stand for inflated prices and tricky scams and neither should you. ÌýOur experts have a few tips for the scams to look out for when you’re away.Ìý

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Looking out for your luggage – our expert Simon Calder says: If there are two of you then it’s easy to avoid losing any valuables. If one of you does the heavy lifting, the other can keep an eye on what’s going on around you. If you’re alone, ask the hotel staff for help, but don’t lose sight of your belongings for a minute.

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Timeshares – the timeshare industry has cleaned up its act in recent years, but there are still some dubious companies operating. At Rip Off Britain, we’ve heard many tales of holidaymakers being approached in popular tourism spots and sold timeshares or holiday club memberships. The deals then turn out to be much more expensive and much less rewarding than they’d appeared. If you do want to invest in future holiday options, go through legitimate channels - the beach is no place to sign up for anything.

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Eating out – Paying with a card in can leave you vulnerable to unnecessary charges. And if you’re given the chance to pay in sterling, be aware you may be charged a much higher rate than the fee for your currency exchange.

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Dining in – If you fancy dinner in your hotel room, you may be tempted by local delivery services. In case, be wary. Leaflets slipped under your door may not be from legitimate companies. Such firms are known to take your card details over the phone, and the only service you’ll get in return is large sums of money vanishing from your bank account.

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Excursions – With so many electronic tickets available it’s not always obvious whether passes you buy for holiday activities are genuine. Avoid buying from strangers who approach you. Only purchase tickets through official channels.

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Sights - The Roman centurions outside the Colosseum add to the sense of theatre at this ancient arena - but they are most definitely in business. Be warned: If you so much as point a camera in their direction, they’ll expect a fee - and if you pose with them, 10 euros is the minimum. Offer just five, and you’ll get the thumbs down.

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You can find specific travel advice on local laws and customs for the country you’re visiting on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office .