L.A. Times travel editor Catherine Hamm talks about resolutions for your travel plans in 2012, such as doing business with people and services you know with a trusted reputation. If you are going to book a trip through a travel agent or website you don’t know, make sure to get a personal referral from a friend. (Image Credit: AP)
Don't rack up credit
Have your heart set on that trip to Belize? Start putting money away in a special vacation fund. Hamm said setting money aside is a better way to pay for your vacation, since paying off an expensive vacation gradually on your credit card can add up in interest. (Image Credit: AP)
Insure yourself
If you can’t afford to lose it, insure it. Buying travel insurance is the way to go for expensive vacations like cruises because it gives you some protection with your purchase, Hamm said. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Put your cash away
Some hotels or travel sites require you pay cash – Hamm says don’t do it. Using cash can be risky because you have no protection if the plans go south. The L.A. Times travel editor also warns steer clear of anyone who requires you wire money to pay for travel. (Image Credit: AP)
The lure of the bargain
Even though that trip you booked is dirt cheap, you may find spending a little extra is worth the value it will bring to your travel experience. Hamm said consider that sometimes those little extras turn out to be a more comfortable flight or a killer ocean view from your hotel room. (Image Credit: AP)
