The travel agent Chetna Ranout followed rigorously to finalise the travel plan. 25% payment was done 2 months in advance. Chetna shared fake pics of the hotel to lure me to book through them. Since the trip was to Manali, I thought it would be really true. Chetna lied to me that the journey from Chandigarh would take only 6 hours. I confirmed it multiple times stating I have 2 year kid along with me.
I booked a luxury hotel, luxury room after looking at the fake pics which Chetna sent. I didn’t book the flight ticket through Sampuran Yatra as her quote was 7k expensive. We were excited for this trip. Our driver Vijay Rana called us one day prior to confirm the arrival time at Chandigarh.
We reached Chandigarh at 12pm and were picked by the driver on time. Driver Vijay Rana seems to be a decent family man, being polite with us. He made us comfortable, and kept on chatting with kids, our journey started in car toward Manali. We were shocked to know that the journey is going to take 12 hours to reach the hotel which will be almost 12 midnight and Chetna has informed us that we will reach by 6 pm and she has planned sight seeing first day itself.
The driver switched on the AC intermittently as it was hot. We were tired as we were awake since 5 am to reach the airport on time. Imagine, how tiresome it was for my kids.
I kept talking to Chetna about the duration of the journey that she promised but she dodged the question by saying" sir, aap hotel pahuch jaao mai aapko phone karti hoon"
We reached the hotel at 22.45 completely drained, but "picture abhi baaki tha mere dost"
We were allotted the room, it added to our frustration after seeing the room, it was a normal lodge room, the wash basin tap was broken, commode booster was leaking, the quilt had paint stain marks on it. The balcony had a dead wall taller than it and no mountain view was available to us.
We felt cheated & spoke to hotel manager. He confirmed that they were notified about this room only and no luxury or mountain room was booked for us. Gosh, it was terrible first day.
We called Chetna who promised to call me when we reach the hotel. She urged me to wait till next day morning and sleep in the same allotted dirty room stating nothing can be done now. We even shared the terrible room pics with Chetna in the night but she stated that she cannot see anything wrong in the room. She promised me that she will call me next day morning to resolve our issue. But, from first night till last day, we did not receive any call from Chetna to know whether our issue was resolved, how was our trip going. It seems they were directly calling the driver and taking to him secretly and checking whether we have paid amount to him or not.
First night, we had to help ourselves, my wife & I managed to get a better room after shouting at the manager. We did not even have proper food that night.
Nevertheless, we had a peaceful sleep due to extensive travel & assuming that " hota hai aisa kabhi kabhi" We dreamt about good sight seeing next day. From next day, till last day, we did not receive any call from Chetna to check what we were going through, how was our trip. But it seems, they kept calling the driver secretly to check for us and how much money we gave to the driver.
Next day, the driver asked us to pay 3, 500 stating that he will take us to better snow point than what is in our itinerary. He asked to pay 12k for his trip charges which I paid him immediately without hesitating or questioning as why full amount needed on the first day itself. Otherwise, other tourist will pay only pay 25% on the first day. I paid him extra 3, 500 for activity, he took me to a vendor for snow activity who charged me another 6k.
The driver kept on narrating stories where the tourist take care of the driver’s food, accommodation expenses whereas my itinerary clearly specified that driver expenses will be borne by the company. The driver kept quiet after I forwarded him my itinerary. But, we included him in all our breakfast, lunch, dinner if we had it outside the hotel during our sight seeing. I even got it packed for him every evening from on our way so that he don’t sleep starved.
From the first day, he kept saying that we will have to leave at 6 am on our return journey day to reach on time to avoid delays caused due to road construction. But, on our return day, we all got at 5 am and got ready by 6 am. I assumed the driver would be ready like everyday. But, he didn’t answer my call when I called him to get the vehicle from hotel parking to the hotel entrance.
Since it was our need, I had to walk to the parking area and to my bad day has begun, I saw this guy was fast asleep with quilt on him. I woke him up after long attempt by knocking the door. He got up half awake and assured me that he will come in 20 mins. I went upstairs and had from my room I had the view of road downside and the hotel entrance.
Suddenly, I saw the driver taking his car right ahead on the road which normally he could have taken a right angle left and climbed the hotel entrance pathway. He kept on moving ahead rubbing his side view mirror with a tempo traveller parked on the roadside. Then, he furiously took a reverse which he could have drove straight, and accelerating, speeding releasing carbon banged, smashed his rear to the hotel’s entrance and my family kept observing from the hotel room.
We were scared and realised that the driver had hangover of the alcohol he consumed last night. He could barely balance himself, his car’s dicky was completely smashed, the tin has gone inside, side tyre guard has come off.
Above all this, he insisted to put the luggage in the car and move with him to Chandigarh. We were frightened for death, if this driver drove us back & loses balance during the hill drive, we all could reach to cemetery instead to Mumbai home. We refused to go with him and asked the hotel manager to call Sampuran Yatra manager or owner. Rohit, may be the owner answered our call and gave us another irritating reply that all driver have to drink every night due to their job role and started convincing us that the driver is not drunk and we can start our journey with driver Vijay Rana.
The driver was infront of us, unable to stand properly, half sleepy, smelling of alcohol. We insisted to arrange a cab for us so that we reach on time. But he said it will take time, 2 to 3 hours. We lost our senses, and clearly told him that if we miss our flight, he will be responsible to compensate the entire expense.
It was 6.45 by now and we were unsure how we will reach Mumbai. At 7 am, we got a call from Banty, our saviour, another driver from different car renting agency who was arranged by Rohit that he is coming to pick us. What a sigh of relief. He picked us at 7.30 am and we were off on road to Chandigarh.
Overall, Manali trip was awesome but Sampuran Yatra is pathetic, disaster travel company, Chetna is a cheater, shares some beautiful morphed pics and gulps your money and then they disappear. I recommend one should hire private cars from any airport and reach Manali directly. We have plenty of exotic hotels at a cheaper rates.
Say No to Sampuran Yatra, its employees like Chetna and driver Vijay Rana. Giving them 1 star as no option to give zero star.