We (couple) had taken a 2 N AND 3 D PACKAGE to Ooty from Coimbatore airport and back to the same place. We were asked to pay 25 % of the total amount as a token of advance. After paying it, she (Anjali, the agent who finalized our holiday package) insisted in paying another 50% of the total amount so that bookings of resorts can be done and booking I’d be sent. The balance 25% could be paid after reaching the destination as was said to us. It was an airport pickup and airport drop deal along with meals and sightseeing and night stay- one night at Ooty and another at Coorg. Since we planned the trip suddenly because of the sudden declaration of holidays, we did not pay much attention to the places and their locations as we completely trusted the agency naturally expecting them to know a lot more than us since it is their daily Job.
We reached Coimbatore airport at night 11’ O clock. While we were on to Coimbatore (from Hyderabad) I happened to inquire the details of the driver who will pick us from the airport. She (Anjali the agent) told that I had to complete my payment, only then she shall be sharing the cab driver details. It was quite surprising for me. She told me that a few customers had completed their trip without paying the remaining amount. Since our office is at Ghaziabad we were helpless, she said. Anyway, I paid the balance amount on the way before reaching Coimbatore.
After we reached Coimbatore airport I wanted to know the driver details. She said the driver will pick up in the morning and so also the driver details will be sent tomorrow morning. We suffered a lot in the late night hours.
Then the morning a driver came and took us to a hotel in Ooty. We were promised a resort, whereas it was just an ordinary hotel without any 3-star facility. There was no buffet breakfast. Simply 3 idlis were served to each person in the room. At night there was no provision for dinner. The hotel people told us that they don’t provide dinner. When I called up to Anjali she said no problem. You may just have dinner of your choice and send the bill through WhatsApp or mail. And the same shall be refunded in the same bank account through which we did the payment.
Next day the driver changed. He didn’t know (or he might be acting for that matter) Hindi, English or Tamil. He said that he knew only Kannad. Add to that, he was not aware of the roads and sightseeing spots of Ooty or neighboring areas. He was using Google maps or enquiring from his friend telephonically. He wasted the entire time (day) in just searching for the destination by actually going to wrong places simply because he was not acquainted with the roads of Ooty. We kept on Sharing our problem with Anjali and see he kept on fooling us telling that she had spoken to the travel agent and he shall soon replace the driver. Add to our woes, we had to manage two days with the Same driver.
The second day we learned that Coorg is on the other side of Ooty as compared to Coimbatore, and that travel time from Coorg to Coimbatore airport will be not less than 9 hours. Needless to mention that if we went to Coorg for night stay then the third and last day of our holiday package will be lost completely in traveling.
We took a hotel in Ooty itself and stayed overnight at our own expenses. Again we dinned in a restaurant and sent the bill.
Till this date, they didn’t refund a single paise. Either they don’t lift the phone or she Anjali) asks me to talk to the refund in charge. He doesn’t pick the phone and Anjali says that she is helpless in this matter.
Overall experience was extremely bad and irritating. I feel they are just a crew of online cheaters.