When you commit hundreds—even thousands—of dollars in advance to a travel provider, you like to know that the supplier is reliable. There are three considerations:

• Can a supplier be counted on to deliver the services it promised?
• Will it make good if something goes wrong?
• Is your advance payment safe?

Obviously, there's no absolute guarantee of reliability. Back in the '70s and '80s, several big tour operators failed, leaving people with neither their money nor their tour—and even leaving some stranded overseas. Those operators were considered "reliable" right up to the day they folded. Still, there are ways to check before you commit your money and time.