Consumer Beware - Deceitful Practices
Consumer Beware: My Experience with Smarter Getaways We originally joined Smarter Getaways through TrippsPlus with what was presented to us as a premium-style membership — free trips, meaningful travel discounts, and a price-guarantee benefit that made the program feel like a smart long-term travel solution. Based on that understanding and paperwork we received, we later renewed our membership through TrippsPlus all the way through 2029. Fast forward to now, and the experience has been incredibly frustrating. Despite our valid renewal, we’ve received repeated emails stating our membership “expired” in 2026. When we reached out to clarify, we were told our account is no longer considered a premium membership — it’s now classified as “basic,” which comes with very limited perks. Conveniently, we were also told that most of the benefits we originally joined for can be restored if we upgrade again… for over $6,000. For example: • We were told our annual discounts are capped at $500 — and only usable on certain bookings. This is very different from how the benefits were originally explained at the time of purchase. • We were then offered the chance to increase that to $1,000 per year if we upgrade to a higher-tier membership. • The widely promoted “price guarantee” that helped sell us on the program is now apparently not supported under our current membership classification. Trying to get clear answers has meant being bounced between departments, repeating the same story multiple times, and feeling like meaningful assistance only becomes available when there’s an opportunity to sell us another membership. This review isn’t about venting — it’s about helping others make an informed decision. If you’re considering a membership with Smarter Getaways, ask very specific questions about: – How long your benefits are guaranteed – What can change over time – Exactly how discounts are applied – What happens after renewal – And what level of service you can expect if you’re not upgrading Travel clubs can sound incredibly appealing upfront. Just make sure you fully understand what you’re committing to — and what protections you actually have if the terms or perks evolve later. We wish we had known to ask more.
By Constance and Alex M.