12 May, 2021 → by ClaimboUser899166
Bait and switch pricing and failure to refund.
1
.With news of the continuing pandemic and slowness of vaccines, particularly in the area to which the Silk Road Tour would be travelling, I contacted Vantage World Travel to ask what options I might have as I did not feel comfortable travelling to Central Asia until that part of the world was fully safe. I had looked through all the other travel options on their website in terms of potentially safe regions and affordability. I sent an email February 5th in this regard asking various questions about options, etc. In this email I mentioned that I had seen one possibility for July 2021 (Majestic Rivers) that had a decent solo price (listed on the website in the $3699), but that I had several questions about it. Hannah, the agent, wrote back on February 9th answering some of my questions, but then stated she had moved my booking to this new trip on her own accord. I wrote back that I still wanted answers to my other questions and then I would decide. Next thing I know I am receiving a new invoice for what she booked and at a price of $5399! That was not the price shown on the website at the time I inquired about the trip. Now Hannah is telling me I must pay that price as it was the price of my original tour booking, even though my original December 2019 was not that price and this booking would be a completely different tour. Furthermore, I never specifically asked her to make that new booking; she just did it. Additional attempts to get a refund have been with all kinds of excuses. I even filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau with no result as Vantage never fully addressed their "bait and switch" pricing. In the end I've only received a $200 refund and a $300 voucher for future travel. I refused the voucher as I would never travel with this company again. My original payment was for $1099.