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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2023 Page 13 BBB Tip: What to know before booking a vacation package B etween booking fl ights, hotels, a rental car and things to do, planning a vacation can get stressful. It’s one reason many travelers turn to vacation packages, which bundle multiple aspects of your trip. Vacation packages are simpler to purchase and can save you money, too. To get the best deal and to avoid unpleasant surprises, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following tips when booking a vacation package. • Count the cost. The best way to know if you’re getting a good deal on a vacation package is to check the price for booking each part of the vacation separately. If a vacation package costs more than purchasing hotels, fl ights, rental cars, etc., separately, you might want to make your bookings instead. • Be fl exible to get the best deal. Getting a better value for your vacation package is easier if you can be fl exible with your dates. This is also true if you’re fl exible with your destination. Is your heart set on Cancun, but it’s outside your budget? Why not consider a travel package that takes you to a lesser-known beach in Mexico? The same goes for airport choices. Being open to departing from any nearby airport might save you hundreds of dollars. • Know that you can extend travel dates (usually). If you’re off ered a package with pre-established dates, know that most packages allow you to extend your trip or modify the dates as you see fi t. You’ll pay more for different dates, but it can be done. However, if you can’t extend your trip for the package you’re interested in, you can always fi nd your way home. Taking advantage of the travel package and adding your travel plans to the end of your trip is still an option. • Book early or last minute. You can also get a good deal by booking your trip early or scoring a last-minute deal. If last-minute travel plans sound stressful, consider blocking off the time earlier in the year and hunting up your travel package the week before. • Read the fi ne print. Always read and reread the fi ne print when booking a vacation package to ensure you know exactly what is included and what isn’t. Airfare and your hotel might be included in the price, but what about land transfers, tips, activities, amenities and food? The last thing you want is to assume your package is all-inclusive, only to discover you’ll need to pay for more than you expected after arriving at your destination. • Check the refund and cancelation policies. Get to know how cancelations and refunds are handled if your trip is interrupted by illness, bad weather or other unforeseen events. You’ll fi nd this information in the fi ne print as well. • Think about loyalty points and travel rewards. If you travel regularly, you might want to earn points through a loyalty program you use or redeem travel rewards for your next trip. This isn’t always possible when booking vacation packages; however, it might be if you book a vacation package through the company you get rewards from. For example, if you have plenty of sky miles saved up through your favorite airline’s loyalty program, try booking a vacation package through them. • Watch out for scams. As always, you’ll need to watch for bad actors when searching for a good vacation package. Book through reputable vendors and be wary of travel companies you haven’t heard of before. Before booking a trip, research to ensure they have a good business reputation. Read plenty of reviews, keeping a close eye out for complaints and reports of scams. For more tips and tricks to get the most out of your next family vacation, see the BBB Tip: Planning your next family vacation or trip (https://www.bbb.org/ article/news-releases/14079bbb-tip-planning-your-next-vacation-or-trip). Take some time to learn more about travel insurance (https://www.bbb.org/ article/news-releases/18108is-travel-insurance-right-foryou) and travel agents (https:// www.bbb.org/article/newsreleases/18618-bbb-tip-travelagents), too. Visit the BBB Travel HQ (https://www.bbb.org/all/ travel-leisure) for more advice on trip planning and staying safe while traveling. Mercury remains prohibited in the mail T he United States Postal Service (USPS) is reminding customers that metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices. However, compact fl uorescent lamps, which contain small amounts of mercury in vapor form, are mailable domestically but not internationally. Here’s what you should do: 1. Review USPS Publication 52, “Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail,” to fi nd out if your item is mailable. 2. Follow U.S. laws and USPS hazardous material (hazmat) guidelines. 3. Ship items securely with required labels and markings. Customers can take their package to a Post Offi ce location to make sure it is labeled correctly. Improper, undeclared or prohibited hazmat shipping can have serious consequences for everyone involved. Full responsibility rests with the mailer to comply with all USPS and non-USPS laws and regulations in the mailing of hazmat. Anyone who mails, or causes to be mailed, a nonmailable or improperly packaged hazmat can be subject to legal penalties (i.e., fi nes and/or imprisonment), including those specifi ed in 18 U.S.C. The transport of hazmat prior to entry as U.S. Mail and after receipt from the USPS is subject to Department of Transportation regulations. If a person knowingly mails items or materials that are dangerous or injurious to life, health or property, they might face a civil penalty of at least $250, but not more than $100,000, per violation, the costs of any cleanup associated with each violation, and damages. They might also face criminal penalties. The USPS is committed to the safety and security of its employees, its customers and its transportation networks and will remain vigilant in safeguarding the mail stream against any article that might pose a hazard to health, safety, property or the environment. Reminder: Effective July 9, USPS requires Electronic Indicators when shipping hazmat and Dangerous Goods (DG). Publication 52, “Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail,” will be revised to incorporate new requirements for mailers to use unique Service Type Codes (STCs) and extra service codes (ESCs) within the tracking barcodes and electronic data submission for package shipments containing hazmat or DG. Additional tools: “Hazmat Shipping Tutorial: https://www. uspsdelivers.com/hazmat-shipping-safety/. Public service announcement on mercury: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wriu99Z01r8 Please note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-fi nancing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the USPS is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for AmeriSaugus welcomes Summer DRIVERS | FROM Page 12 Sundays to the Kowloon SAUGUS - It’s summer on the North Shore and time for Rockin’4 Vets to roll out another season of outdoor benefi t concerts for Veterans at Saugus’ Kowloon Restaurant. This series gives a nod to the season and a play on the day of the week and the type of weather, they hope for. It is called “Summer Sun * Days”. Here’s dreaming that this year’s weather matches both the spirit of the title and the desire for people to get out and enjoy it. Kowloon has partnered with Rockin’ 4 Vets, in putting on these shows, over the last 3 years and it has been not only a successful venture for both parties, but also for local organizations who assist Vets with issues relate to their time in the service. Local organizations such as the Saugus Veterans Council, Boston Wounded Vets Run and regional ones such as Liberty House, Homeland Heroes Foundation, Hidden Battles and Guitars 4 Vets. The entire concept was built off a single show to be done at the Kowloon, to help raise funds for a trip set up by local Saugus resident Dennis Moschella’s organization, Veterans Assisting Veterans to bring a dozen Vets to Washington, DC to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, more commonly known as “The Vietnam Wall”. The legendary John Caff erty & the Beaver Brown Band came in and tore the place up. It was a great time, and helped VAV meet their goal, leading to a very successful trip to D.C. for some very worthy Vets. KOWLOON | SEE Page 18 ditionally, drivers bear the burden of paying out-of-pocket for gas, car maintenance and other work-related expenses, exacerbating their fi nancial struggles. To make ends meet, many drivers are forced to work over 60 hours per week. Industry-leading company Uber generated revenue of $31.8 billion revenue in 2022, an 82% increase on the previca, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term fi nancial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands. The USPS generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow USPS on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube channel, like USPS on Facebook and enjoy the USPS Postal Posts blog. For more information about USPS, visit usps.com and facts. usps.com. ous year. In an attempt to silence Massachusetts workers, they spent $13 million on a voter initiative last year, which was ultimately invalidated by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and did not appear on the ballot. Recognizing the potential for another ballot measure in Massachusetts, drivers urged the State Legislature to act urgently to safeguard their rights before Uber and Lyft could employ similar tactics to avoid granting drivers the rights they deserve. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net

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