I write books that help you become a smarter consumer.
The Unauthorized Travel Manual offers 10 simple rules for smarter travel that challenge conventional wisdom and established industry practices. Consumer advocate and travel journalist Christopher Elliott explains how to dodge inflated prices, win the loyalty game and pack like a pro. But the Manual goes much further, disclosing how to develop a contingency plan, find the perfect insurance policy and discover what’s hiding in the fine print. This guide empowers you to navigate the travel industry shrewdly, maximizing value and minimizing stress for a more authentic and fulfilling trip.
Leading travel expert and USA Today columnist Christopher Elliott shares the smartest ways to travel in this tip-filled guide from National Geographic. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a consumer travel advocate, Elliott gives you the inside scoop on how to navigate the often perplexing world of travel, with detailed advice on everything from airlines to resolving complaints. Full of recommendations, real-life case histories, and the answers to the most common—and confounding—questions, this book is a must-read for anyone traveling anywhere.
A leading consumer advocate reveals how to protect your money, time, and integrity from corrupt businesses.
Once upon a time store prices were simple and fair, businesses stood behind their products with guarantees free of fine print and loopholes, and companies genuinely seemed to care about their valued customers—but those days are long gone. In this groundbreaking exposé, consumer advocate Christopher Elliot reveals the broken relationship between American consumers and businesses and explains how companies came to believe that fooling their customers was a viable, and profitable, business plan. Scammed explores how companies control information to mislead, distort the truth, and even outright lie to their consumers.