False advertising. Everywhere you turn, there it is. Particularly when you travel. The world is full of travel companies that promise the world (“You’ve already won a cruise to the Bahamas!”) or close to it (“Become a travel agent instantly and save big $$!”). And where are the industry’s watchdogs? Most of them have fallen asleep after feasting on the scraps thrown to them by the travel industry.
You probably hate false advertising as much as I do, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. And admit it, you’re mad — if not at the fact that the proverbial hen house is unguarded, then that you clicked on my headline … which I’ll be the first to admit, was false advertising.
Good. Well, here’s your chance to do something about it.
This blog and its companion newsletter, Elliott’s E-Mail, is one of the last remaining efforts to produce honest, consumer-focused, truly useful travel journalism. Most of the others have gone commercial or gone under.
Twice a year, I ask for your help to continue this important work. This is one of those times.
I probably don’t have to tell you why having a site like Elliott is important. You already know the syndicated Travel Troubleshooter and the edgy MSNBC.com column that also appears on this site. You’ve seen this blog’s take on important issues, from airline regulation to the maddening array of hotel fees. You also know that I’m here to help travelers when they run into trouble.
And you know that when it comes to protecting consumers, I don’t back down from a fight. Even when it costs me my job.
Will you stand with me?
Will you join the other readers who have supported this site?
Here’s what you get:
• At the Associate level, we’re randomly giving away cool BagRagz luggage covers. They’re a terrific way to distinguish your checked or carry-on bag from the masses — plus they’re a lot of fun. My roll-on bag looks like it collided with a Hawaiian shirt (and I mean that in a good way). You’ll always grab the right luggage off the conveyor belt when you’re traveling with BagRagz.
• At the Benefactor level, you get an annual subscription to the award-winning, always-compelling Dream of Italy newsletter. No other publication covers restaurants, hotels, cooking schools, villa rentals, museums, shopping and everything in between the way Dream of Italy does. I’ve been a reader since the beginning, and I never miss an issue.
• At the Patron level, you receive the new 2008 Great Alaskan TourSaver. This book contains more than $22,000 in deals for Alaska’s top attractions, including over 140 two-for-one Alaska travel discount offers. Many travelers use just one or two coupons and the book pays for itself. If you’re planning an Alaska vacation next summer, you need the Great Alaskan TourSaver.
Whether you give $10 or $100 to support this cause, you’ll also receive on other thing: The knowledge that you’ve helped make the travel industry a better place.
How do you support this site and blog? Here are the details.
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