Joydeep's 7 days trip to Uttarakhand
a month agoWhile booking it was all good.
1. The moment initial payment done, all of the 4 hotels changed to a different one while they guaranteed there will be no change. With help of TT spoc Preeti, I manage to bring back 2 hotels and had to adjust with 2 changed hotels. Had to invest lot of time with these hotel changes and analysis.
2. Before travel there was no communication from the agent. I had to call and ask for the driver number and other details. When I landed Delhi, then I got to know that the agent SPOC is on medical leave since long and gave another SPOC number.
3. My primary objective to book the tour through an agent was a complete peace of mind and was promised to have a complete guided tour as I was having an infant with me. But eventually I was provided with a car and a driver with no guidance at all. To add, the driver sent was very sincere and friendly. But unfortunately he was not aware of Uttarakhand routes, the hotels, the sightseeing spots as he was very new to this job and mainly familiar with Himachal. But he caught in a wrong place. End of the day I had to plan each day itineraries, spots, routes and navigate with the G Map with a poor network at top. Even the agent has not shared the itinerary to the driver, when he asked I shared it from the app. Sometimes we went to wrong direction few Kms, we were asking people everywhere to reach to a place. The driver tried his best, but the extra effort I had to make each day at hotel was not at all expected. Moral of the story, it was pointless to pay to the agent, rather I could have planned it myself and save some money. While escalating, they were not at all cooperative to understand the issue and was argumentative as I demanded for compensation. The response was "..he will learn things its not easy to find a driver with full knowledge in high peak season time"
4. It was a 7 days tour along with infant, so some bit of luggage was expected. Before booking told clearly for a car with good boot space. The car condition was good, but as it was a CNG one there was 60% of the space gone. Had to accommodate few bags at front/back seat. If I would carry the baby stroller/pram, there was no space to keep that, lucky escape!
5. Hotel check in process was very bad and not well managed at all. First 3 hotels I had to wait for min 30 mins after travelling long hectic distances. Either there was no booking on my name, or no voucher or the hotel in-charge is chasing me to chase back the agent for payment etc. I had to call the agent to solve the matter each time and getting a connection at top of the hill was a challenge.
6. The hotel in Almora (Milam Inn) was not recommended at all. They do a-la-karte style dinner (dinner was included in my package) but charged the starter as snacks item, not dinner. Even the hotel took the driver food bill from both the driver and me. Their room service was not up to the mark.
7. The UK police caught the car and found discripenices in the Tax and ceased the DL and Permit. While shared this info to agent asking why this basic arrangements are missing and it was very harassing situation, the response was very reluctant as "this is driver's problem not yours".
8. The Driver got a leg injury 2nd day at corbett and he called his brother to help who was supposed to join next day before our check out. But to due some issue on road his brother joined us 2 days later and the original driver only driving with leg injury and pain killer given by me. But the agent demanded that the 2nd driver came the next day itself and it was on my request only!! So much gap on the facts and when I shared the actual fact, not at all willing to listen!!
9. The initial room provided in Corbett hotel was in a very poor condition and not at all a Deluxe room. While I called the agent I was told that it is a deluxe room only. I went to reception and talked to the manager requesting to change if any other spare room available and they kept my request. But while I gave this feedback, the agent demanded that they changed the room, not the hotel. Not sure!!
10. Before the tour noone asked me to pay the rest amount and while I asked my TT spoc, I was told that I will be asked. In the middle of the tour while I was asked, it was very poor notwork throughout and was struggling. But I was chased thru multiple contacts each day as like I will run out with the due amount. Very embarrassing treatment!
11. Finally - each time I got a response that if I raise the issue immediately they would have solved it, but they are not ready to understand that on ground it is always not possible. But when I raised it immediately there was no response. The whatsapp group with TT and Agent was of no use. Most of the time it was like passing the ball from TT to Agent and then no response for long. While I gave these all feedback to 1 Point, it was not taken in a right direction by Ansh Mehta of 1 point. Instead I received few judgmental comments like below.
a) I am having a high expectation for basic hotels (before booking all the hotels were claimed as top class and while your raise issues end of the tour it became basic)
b) Services can not be like plains not even the staff having professional degree and I am expecting luxury
c) I should understand and adapt to travel in hill stations as it is not a metro city...blah blah blah
Moral of the story to write such a long feedback just to aware you friends before you book a tour that all of the above are facts and I do have the chat history and evidences for all of the issues. Most of the issues I ignored and adjusted not to break the travel spirit, but the way the agent (Ansh Mehta) behaved at last, was very rude and full of sarcasm. They dont know how to behave with a customer esp after the full payment it was completely changed. I will not ask you to avoid 1 point (may be they are good in Himachal), but think twice at least for Uttrakhand before you invest your hard earned money.
Take all commitments in writing as at end they will deny that it was not promised.
Waiting for TT to take some action as I demanded compensation for the 3rd point as it was a major breach of the promised service. If this was the so called guided tour then I don't need an agent, I can personally book hotels and take local cab there only. Why I have paid extra to an agent? Let's see, counting on TT else will not come back again here. Good Luck.