The Internet has created a plethora of opportunities for people, especially college students, to save money on travel. But buyers need to be wary.

While some Internet travel companies do save you money by offering incentives for free travel, there can be hidden costs that make the trips not completely on the company's dime.
 
“Be aware of great deals and anything that seems too good to be true,” said Karen Nalvin, president at the Better Business Bureau's West Florida office. In 2007, the travel industry nationwide received 6,831 complaints to the Better Business Bureau.

Web sites such as, XtremeTrips, Student Travel Services, and SpringBreaktravel offer free vacations for college students over 18, if they get a certain amount of students to sign up. A pretty attractive deal for college students who think they've scored a free vacation.

“Kids blindly sign and these sites have such iron clad terms and conditions they can't get out of it and they have to pay,” said Angie Barnett, president and CEO of Maryland's Better Business Bureau. Students are lured by false advertising prices because they think they are getting a great deal, she said. Often, these companies leave out important information that would ensure a safe travel experience.  “They get sucked into this deceptive advertising because they think that they are getting something for nothing,” added Barnett.

XtremeTrips, STS and SpringBreaktravel declined to comment on potential hidden costs. XtremeTrips co-founder Jorge Brouwer did say the company targets "influential students" when offering incentive travel packages.

The way many of the Web sites operate is that in addition to offering students a way to book their own trips they are given the opportunity to be a campus representative. Students who sign up and sell a certain amount of trips, often times fifteen, get a free trip in return. The more they sell, the more they get. This can include free VIP tables, and entry into nightclubs and parties. Some companies also offer cash and points. However, some of the free trips do not include taxes, fees, and trip options, which are usually printed in the terms and conditions contract.

The University of Illinois warns students about possible spring break travel scams on its Web site. The university usually receives eight to ten complaints about the travel industry a year but no complaints have been filed this year, according to Tom Betz director of student legal services at the university.

Betz said a common complaint from students is companies offering free spring break trips if they sign a new lease for rent.  

“There is no such things as free, students are actually paying for spring break in their rent,” said Betz.

STA Travel of Los Angeles takes a different approach to free travel by offering sweepstakes and promotions to students rather than having them sell trips.

 “Our goal is to get students excited about travel in a new way,” says Amanda Webb, public relations coordinator for STA Travel. In 2008, they had over 2,000 applicants enter their World Traveler Internship program. The program, which requires the winner to keep a diary of experiences, sent one student on a trip to New Zealand completely on their dime. Not only did STA provide travel insurance, but they also gave the student a cell phone, computer and stipend.

It’s not only students being targeted for incentive-based travel and in some cases travel scams. In 2007, Travel Agents Go Direct, of Seminole Fla., was shut down by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly defrauding customers. The Better Business Bureau received 289 complaints about the company last year. 

“Don’t be sucked in by deceptive advertising prices. It’s just like choosing a doctor you can trust, talk to friends, get company reports, do your research. Don’t think the cheapest price is always the best,” said Barnett.