When travelers register for a vacation, they tell the tour operator what weekend they would like to leave, and it becomes the operator's responsibility to book the flight. Upon booking a vacation several months or weeks in advance, travelers are told to be ready to leave anytime during that weekend but are assured they will be given the departure time several days in advance. In some cases, however operators fail to notify travelers and, in extreme cases, fail to book tickets altogether. The tour operation business is transient, she said. Occasionally, a tour operator will go broke and cancel a tour.
Students usually get their money back, but the refund process can be lengthy.
Despite problems, travel agencies routinely book vacations through tour operators, Brasier said. We try to see who's been around for more than a year. Traditionally tour operators offer trips to destinations such as Cancun, the Bahamas, Jamaica, San Juan, Miami Beach, Nassau, Panama City, Daytona Beach and South Padre Island. However spring break business to Caribbean destinations has increased, while less travelers are choosing Florida, a fact Brasier attributes to sustained economic growth. What Brasier didn't mention, but is displayed prominently on most brochures, is the 18 and over drinking age in most Carribean countries.