The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: February fifth, with a few tips for student trips.

Tis the season when young scholars encounter enticing offers for both spring-break escapes and summer study tours. While most student trips are organized by legitimate travel companies, there's no shortage of fly-by-night scammers. A blizzard of alluring flyers, student newspaper ads, e-mail offers and dot.con come-ons can make it hard to tell the two apart. The only rule is buyer beware. Here are questions both students and parents to ask when evaluating these expeditions.

First, about the trip offer. Make sure what the price includes, and what it doesn't. Along with transportation, what meals or accommodations are provided? Are specific hotels designated? If so, are they in a safe location and appropriate for the students' ages? Will any security be present? Ask for hotel contacts so you can confirm the information yourself. If the trip has tour guides, what's their experience? If parents are chaperons, have they been trained?

Obviously, it's crucial to find out about the company offering the trip? How old is it? What's its experience with student travel? Does it carry liability insurance? How much and what is covered? How about a consumer protection plan? Can it provide references from teachers or parents whose kids have traveled before? Using a company involved in professional organizations like the U.S. Tour Operators Assn., American Society of Travel Agents or Student/Youth Travel Assn. provides a measure of reliability, but no guarantee of satisfaction. Experienced travelers know glitches can happen on any trip. One big difference in tour operators is how they handle problems that arise.

FMI For a list of participant travel companies in the US Tour Operators Association, American Society of Travel Agents or Student/Youth Travel Association, click on www.syta.com

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