Not kind of experience tour should have. (********Also All the hotels were booked with complementary breakfast for all 4. The reference for the same will be come below in my review. do read it carefully).
Though the tour started on positive notes it went down and down day by day.. We wanted to get freshen up as we had been travelling whole night. We visited Poovar Island after starting the trip at 6:00 AM in the morning. We started with nice tour of the Island after freshening up and after island tour started for our first destination Kanyakumari at around 10:30 AM.
This is where first twist to our tour started. Driver told me that his agent has asked for cab money to be transferred as soon as we reach hotel. I was surprised to hear this as I had booked the tour from some other agent(Through Travel Triangle) and why cab agency was asking amount for. I knew the balance amount was to be paid on first day of starting the tour however in place of Travel Triangle asking the amount I was asked by sub agent and that too only for cab.
Not sure when trip was booked from Travel Triangle how sub agency is asking amount for. When checked with my agent he asked to pay the amount and sent me watsapp message with breakup of amount to be transferred in below way:
Cab: Rs. xxxxx
Kovalam: Rs. xxxx
Madurai: Rs. xxxx
I summed up all the amount and paid to Cab agent directly as there was no clear instruction as only cab amount was to be paid to cab agent and other amount was to be paid directly to the hotels. After multiple discussions it was decided cab agency will pay for rest of my hotels in Madurai and Kovalam as I had settled my dues.
On reaching Madurai after day long travel and sight seeing at 8:30 PM next twist awaited for us. On visiting reception to do check in formalities, the formalities were completed however the staff there told me that booking amount has to be paid before check in and I was totally lost as what is this happening? I am travelling whole day cleared all my dues to the travel agent and he haven't paid the amount to the hotel? The hotel should had receive amount well in advance and I should had been room as soon as the formalities were over. instead I had to call my agent, then sub agent and then all things got sorted out which took another 15-20 mins.
Next morning started pretty as usual however another turn was awaiting for me. *****While having breakfast, on table my little one was having breakfast along with me, my wife and my elder child and suddenly one person came and told me that complementary breakfast is only for 3 of us and for my younger child I need to pay the amount. My younger one is not so small that she will not understand what was going on and suddenly she stopped eating. I told the person that we will pay and asked younger one to continue. This is not the way one need to tell us on the breakfast table that we need to pay the amount. this need to be told prior or while settling dues. However when I went for payment the reception staff only asked for payment for the beverages we ordered in room. On enquiring for breakfast amount they told that it was misunderstanding and it was for some other guests and not for us. But again this is not the way to treat the guests when on breakfast table.
We started our next leg of trip with the sourness already put in by the Madurai hotel restaurant staff. On the way to Kovalam we visited Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Palace which is huge and then checked in the hotel. Went to the beach in the evening and enjoyed there. Next day before starting for final leg all dues were cleared at the hotel reception however next Hurdle awaited us. As soon as we boarded our CAB the hotel employee came running and stopped us from starting as balance payment was not made by the agent. We had to call the agent multiple times before the payment was cleared, and had to wait in scorching heat for almost 45 mins before we started(this was not expected at all even after making full payment guests are kept on the toes). Finally after starting visited zoo, museum, however were not able to visit Padmanabhswamy temple due to huge rush. The temple opened at 5:00 PM however the rush was soo heavy that the driver as well as couple of locals told us that it would take min 4-4.5 hrs for darshan in normal line and atleast 3 hrs in special line. Also locals told that if the darshan timings are over we can wait for next morning darshan in line. Keeping in mind the time for darshan and travel back we decided against the same. Also it was wise decision keeping in mind the hectic tour younger daughter's age and as it rained heavily as soon as we reached airport.
Now to Hotels:
1. Kanyakumari-- Nice hotel with sea view. Was able to see the monuments from my room. However I had booked for family couple with one child without bed and one with extra mattress, I was not provided extra mattress in the room and 4 had to adjust on same bed.(Was ok as we had just 1 night)
2. Rameswaram: 1st room provided was having lot of bugs and cockroaches in the room. My room was changed after discussion with manager and showing them the cockroaches roaming even on beds. 2nd room provided was also having same issue however number was very less comparatively. Had to be cautious that bugs or cockroaches do not enter my luggage or eatables. 2 nights stay was ok kind of.
3. Madurai: Room provided was ok as we checked in there very late evening(almost around 8.00 PM). However main twist came here when we were told that balance amount has not been paid and checkin would be possible only after balance payment. Also as mentioned in the main details while having breakfast, at the table I was told the amount need to be paid for breakfast for my younger child(which was already been paid and was complementary for all 4 of us) due to which she suddenly stopped having her breakfast and I had to tell her to have her breakfast properly and not to worry for other things. This was ridiculous as other guests also started staring at us on hearing this. The staff might have told same thing in person before or after finishing breakfast. Even before speaking they should had checked at reception where amount was already paid.
4. Kovalam: We had to request for room on the upper floor having sea view. However the sea view was not visible from there too as the hotel is in too interior and the view is blocked by other buildings standing infront. Not the kind of room we would have liked to stay. very old kind of room with A/c not operational. Even on keeping it 16 degree the room was not getting cooled.
Finally.. The trip was not at all well organized and I will give Poor rating for over all trip and would not recommend this to any of the family members and known people.
Amol Naik booked a trip to Kanyakumari for 6 days in a group of 2 adults on TravelTriangle website from Book It Forget It and submitted a review on Nov 20, 2022
