How to avoid getting scammed when getting a vacation rental?

True story of how Seth Kugel (NYTimes Frugal Traveler writer) got scammed while booking a vacation rental apartment in London. Some important lessons from his experience, on how to :

  1. Always use a credit card. He wire transferred the money and then there was no way to get it back. Credit cards will usually refund your money if something goes wrong.
  2. Check for previous scams. Search Web sites like Scamwarners.com, Fraudwatchers.org, Scam.com and 419legal.org, if a previous traveler has warned that the rental you are interested in might be a scam.
  3. Use reputable and tested sites. Airbnb, Roomorama, Hostelworld and a few others are trusted services which will have some measures to protect the user.

25 Places on the endangered list!

If you thought endangered only referred to the animal species, think again!

Beijing’s Hutong communities, a collection of traditional Chinese homes with courtyards are just waiting to be picked off by the demolition board. Matterhorn, yes the great Mt Matterhorn, might have a hotel perched atop it. Eeks!! The holier than thou institution, the great British pub is slowing being devoured by something called the ‘gastropub’. Gives us the shudders, it does!

Suit up or dress down, whatever your style and check out these 25 places you must-see now before they are changed forever.