very bad bait and switch from AFRICA POINT - don;t do it! they absolutely gave false hope/info
Jun 6th, 2006, 04:53 AM
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very bad bait and switch from AFRICA POINT - don;t do it! they absolutely gave false hope/info
hi all-
i am coming here immediately having been strung along from africa point who advertised a specific game lodge then said they could confirm it when i made my inquiry as to availability, quoting pricing for a complete itinerary based on this lodge and then a second amboseli lodge also listed on their site.
i have been emailing all weekend with the person in each eamil i have reiteraed my pleasure that these desirable lodges were available on such short notice- the entire back and forth initiated by them when i filled out a form on their website indiciating this was the lodge i wanted and requesting availability.
this morning very early so i could coordinate with africa time came the email "oh, unfortunately..."
most of you will not be in the last minute positin i am currently in- but should you find yourself in it- do NOT trust africa point.
the man i worked with was so kind and responsive but what good does that do when he is completely making up the fact of a lodge's availability.
i appreciate your empathy- i will not be pon the board for a while as now i will truly be scrambling.
what a terrible way to do business. to string along a customer.
kerkeri
i am coming here immediately having been strung along from africa point who advertised a specific game lodge then said they could confirm it when i made my inquiry as to availability, quoting pricing for a complete itinerary based on this lodge and then a second amboseli lodge also listed on their site.
i have been emailing all weekend with the person in each eamil i have reiteraed my pleasure that these desirable lodges were available on such short notice- the entire back and forth initiated by them when i filled out a form on their website indiciating this was the lodge i wanted and requesting availability.
this morning very early so i could coordinate with africa time came the email "oh, unfortunately..."
most of you will not be in the last minute positin i am currently in- but should you find yourself in it- do NOT trust africa point.
the man i worked with was so kind and responsive but what good does that do when he is completely making up the fact of a lodge's availability.
i appreciate your empathy- i will not be pon the board for a while as now i will truly be scrambling.
what a terrible way to do business. to string along a customer.
kerkeri
Jun 6th, 2006, 10:00 AM
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thanks so much for the empathy, kavey.
i do have to stop and remember this is just a leisure trip after all and i am going to maintain that attitude.
the beach portion is perfect thanks to all the input i've had here.
worst case scenario- i've contacted cc africa directly for room at kwicha tembo and i'll forefeit amboseli.
thit-cho- this arrangement was just for the kenya portion of my planning. the lodge in question was in masai mara.
the agent's first email was in response to my request for that lodge on my dates and he confirmed the availability and we proceeded from there. also i should have said all week- not weekend as they did not work over the weekend.
thanks again.
kerikeri
i do have to stop and remember this is just a leisure trip after all and i am going to maintain that attitude.
the beach portion is perfect thanks to all the input i've had here.
worst case scenario- i've contacted cc africa directly for room at kwicha tembo and i'll forefeit amboseli.
thit-cho- this arrangement was just for the kenya portion of my planning. the lodge in question was in masai mara.
the agent's first email was in response to my request for that lodge on my dates and he confirmed the availability and we proceeded from there. also i should have said all week- not weekend as they did not work over the weekend.
thanks again.
kerikeri
Jun 6th, 2006, 12:15 PM
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Patty,
Kerikeri is leaving in less than 2 weeks. I hope she’ll have some time to post the sequel to this drama.
Kerikeri,
You could ask Let’s Go about these fly-ins, the rates aren’t always updated, but just push the enquire button.
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/450
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/451
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/461
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13107
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13081
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/12949
Kerikeri is leaving in less than 2 weeks. I hope she’ll have some time to post the sequel to this drama.
Kerikeri,
You could ask Let’s Go about these fly-ins, the rates aren’t always updated, but just push the enquire button.
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/450
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/451
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/461
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13107
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13081
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/12949
Jun 7th, 2006, 02:04 PM
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hi all
thank you so much. i have someone at cc africa assisting me on an entire new itinerary and she feels confident of my hopes for recouping. i will need to move some things around. she's getting back to me in themorning but we spoke on the phone.
nyamera i did fill out all of those forms on each link- really great of you to go to all that trouble for me.
i will post when i have something to post!
thank you to everyone for your kindness, amazing advice and expertise and all around good will. what a great service you've all provided!
i hope to be this helpful to you or others someday.
kerikeri
thank you so much. i have someone at cc africa assisting me on an entire new itinerary and she feels confident of my hopes for recouping. i will need to move some things around. she's getting back to me in themorning but we spoke on the phone.
nyamera i did fill out all of those forms on each link- really great of you to go to all that trouble for me.
i will post when i have something to post!
thank you to everyone for your kindness, amazing advice and expertise and all around good will. what a great service you've all provided!
i hope to be this helpful to you or others someday.
kerikeri
Jun 9th, 2006, 11:03 AM
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I'm so sorry to hear you had trouble with Africa Point.
I am leaving for Kenya next Saturday to take a safari with them. We don't seem to have had any problems, but we also booked it about 9 months ago.
I'll let you know when we get back if we got all of the accomodations that we were promised.
I hope everything works out well for you. There is nothing like starting out a holiday all stressed out!
Try to sit back and enjoy the ride.
I am leaving for Kenya next Saturday to take a safari with them. We don't seem to have had any problems, but we also booked it about 9 months ago.
I'll let you know when we get back if we got all of the accomodations that we were promised.
I hope everything works out well for you. There is nothing like starting out a holiday all stressed out!
Try to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Jun 9th, 2006, 12:12 PM
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We have been working with Levis. He's been very forthcoming and pretty quick with the emails. But, as expected, very unlike an American company which would be inundating us with information. It seems that we will just meet them there and hope for the best!
I'm SO excited!!!! First time in Africa.
Doing the Twin Attractions safari:
Aberdares - 1 night, The Ark
Nakuru - 1 night, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Masai Mara - 2 nights, Sarova Mara Lodge
Amboseli - 2 nights, Amboseli Serena Lodge
Tsavo West - 1 night Kilanguni Serena Lodge
Mombasa - 3 nights, Voyager Beach Resort
Plus, we are staying at the Stanley in Nairobi for 2 nights before the safari. We will do a half day excursion to the Giraffe Center, Animal Orphanage and the Karen Blixen Museum. Then, we will hit the Carnivore for dinner.
You can't beat the price! Wayne, sounds like you had a great experience with them.
I'm SO excited!!!! First time in Africa.
Doing the Twin Attractions safari:
Aberdares - 1 night, The Ark
Nakuru - 1 night, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Masai Mara - 2 nights, Sarova Mara Lodge
Amboseli - 2 nights, Amboseli Serena Lodge
Tsavo West - 1 night Kilanguni Serena Lodge
Mombasa - 3 nights, Voyager Beach Resort
Plus, we are staying at the Stanley in Nairobi for 2 nights before the safari. We will do a half day excursion to the Giraffe Center, Animal Orphanage and the Karen Blixen Museum. Then, we will hit the Carnivore for dinner.
You can't beat the price! Wayne, sounds like you had a great experience with them.
Jun 9th, 2006, 12:28 PM
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I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Aberdares, since I got such little time there I didn't think much of it or Treetops. Your thoughts may be different.
I also want to hear your thoughts on Nakuru. We didn't get to stay their at Sarova Lion hill, so we only got to stop there for about 2 hours. Waking up there would make a big difference. Rumor has it the park has leopards.
Just be aware you will be doing A LOT of driving... A LOT. For a first trip to Africa it had us cover a lot of ground for a lot of different places. I am glad we didn't this. Now I have an idea of where I would go back to next time!
Yes, overall great time with them.
I also want to hear your thoughts on Nakuru. We didn't get to stay their at Sarova Lion hill, so we only got to stop there for about 2 hours. Waking up there would make a big difference. Rumor has it the park has leopards.
Just be aware you will be doing A LOT of driving... A LOT. For a first trip to Africa it had us cover a lot of ground for a lot of different places. I am glad we didn't this. Now I have an idea of where I would go back to next time!
Yes, overall great time with them.
Jun 9th, 2006, 12:45 PM
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Wayne,
Have you seen my Aberdares photos? They're in this album (starts with #57) - http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-r5e7ji
We didn't stay at one of the tree hotels but rather stayed outside of the park nearby. We did game drives in the Salient area and also drove across the park and stopped at some of the waterfalls on our way to Nakuru. The landscape is beautiful and we saw some rare species like the giant forest hog not seen elsewhere.
Have you seen my Aberdares photos? They're in this album (starts with #57) - http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-r5e7ji
We didn't stay at one of the tree hotels but rather stayed outside of the park nearby. We did game drives in the Salient area and also drove across the park and stopped at some of the waterfalls on our way to Nakuru. The landscape is beautiful and we saw some rare species like the giant forest hog not seen elsewhere.
Jun 9th, 2006, 01:11 PM
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Of course I am jealous of your Aberdares and Nakuru shots. You have changed my thoughts on the two places.
I see you stayed at Ilkeliani. Great place. I could swear we had the same tent. I can't remember our number.
I see you stayed at Ilkeliani. Great place. I could swear we had the same tent. I can't remember our number.
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