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Tibet Budget Tour Travel Agency-Beware !

Replies: 2 - Last Post: 20-Sep-2007 14:33 Last Post By: gorski

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abcd123

abcd123 avatar

20-Sep-2007 11:40
Posts:  16

Tibet Budget Tour Travel Agency-Beware !

Tibet Budget Tour Travel Agency-Beware !

Hello ,
I just want to tell you a bad experience of mine . I have travelled in Tibet using the services of a travel agency located near Traffic Hotel in Chengdu . This travel agency is called "Tibet tour budget Travel ". Though the hotel and its staff prove to be competent , its travel agency organizing permits to Tibet proved itself to be unreliable and not trustworthy to the least. Here's my story ( I'm sorry it's a long one ):
I paid 1950 Yuan to get the permit for Tibet. I asked to get a copy of the permit from the agency as a proof I paid the money in case I need to show it to the authorities . I have asked for it at least three to four times . The man in the office told me I don't need it. I asked for some receipt to prove I paid the money for the tour. The man in the office told me I don't need it. I paid four days in advance . I was told to wait at 5:50 am on the day of my flight . A taxi-driver was supposed to wait for me . The taxi fee was included on the total sum of money I paid in advance. Furthermore , I was told that a represantative of the company would wait for me at the airport.
The day of my flight arrived. As instructed , I waited on time . No taxi . Suddenly a taxi arrived . The driver didn't have any faint idea where I was going to . I was told to pay the taxi-fee. Since I was tight on time , I paid the money .
I arrived to the airport . No represantative waited for me . I went to the check-in to hand over my luggage . The officer sitting in front of the counter asked me : " Where is your permit ? " . I told him the whole story . I told him I paid the money to the agency located near Traffic Hotel . But the man sitting in front of the check-in counter refused to let me on board of plane . I was refused to take the flight to Tibet.
I felt very angry and desperate . I took a taxi back to Traffic Hotel . I paid full special price to the taxi-driver . When I arrived to the hotel , I realized that the taxi which had to take me at 5:50 on the same morning , didn't arrive on time .
I took a wrong taxi and that's why the driver had'nt had any faint clue where I was going to .
I called the lady in charge of the agency . I was furious. I told her the whole story . I explained her the company's faults. I told her I want the money I paid for the taxi . She refused to give the money I paid for the taxi and said " Sorry , it's your mistake , not mine " .
Finally , the company's taxi took me to the airport . Of course I didn't have to pay money this time .
Resuming , I asked for a permit ( at least 3-4 times )or any official documents . I got nothing and it caused me a lot of problems.
Secondly, I waited exactly at 5:50 a.m as instructed. The company's taxi didn't arrive at all. I took a wrong one WHICH I INNOCENTLY THOUGHT WAS THE COMPANY'S . IT WAS NEAR THE HOTEL AT ABOUT 6:00. AS A RATIONAL PERSON, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO THINK ???? THAT THE TAXI WHICH WAITED NEAR THE HOTEL WAS NOT MINE ???. IT SEEMED SO OBVIOUS THAT A TAXI WAITING NEAR THE HOTEL TEN MINUTES AFTER THE DECIDED TIME SHOULD BE MINE !! The woman on the Traffic's hotel reception desk even instructed me to take it...what a confusion !!!
Thirdly , I didn't get the money I paid for the taxi since it was my "fault".
Once again , this company is located near Traffic Hotel (just beside the hotel's entrance ). DON'T USE THE SERVICES OF THIS UNRELIABLE COMPANY !
Thanks


westwood

westwood avatar

20-Sep-2007 13:24
Posts:  10,544

1

How long are you going to be dwelling on this?? You posted TWICE back in July the same post, thats a lot of sleepless nights.

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

gorski

gorski avatar

20-Sep-2007 14:33
Posts:  462

2

While I sympathize with you for having a bad experience, abcd, I share #1's concern. I've done a search on your postings and found:

You posted this same information (twice), which anyone searching for info about Chengdu would find, months past. You got several replies.

You also posted a speculation on why Chinese people are rude to travelers which got a lot of replies and eventually led to a lot of accusations about your being a troll.

You also made some negative comments about someone for using the name "idiot" yet used the same name in one of your posts to describe someone who responded to your post.

Though you claim to have traveled a great deal, you have only posted a few times at TT, and only in the China section... and all of your posts have been negative.

If you are indeed a world traveler and a concerned person, I would encourage you to contribute some positive information for other travelers. You suggest you had quite an unpleasant two months in China, but good experiences elsewhere. Perhaps you could share some of those experiences - on other TT forums.

I appreciate warnings about traps for tourists, but I know the odds are unlikely I will run into most of these specific pitfalls (except for Larry in Yuangshuo!). But I benefit most from the many positive experiences people have while traveling that they share here on TT.

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