Avoid Brendan-Trafalgar Tours!!
Aug 14th, 2012, 03:55 PM
#21
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I don't see how travel insurance would help in this particular scenario. Janet was refunded her money. So she wasn't out of pocket. I wouldn't have thought that an insurance company will cover the cost difference of the original tour and a more expensive tour. And if Trafalgar can't offer a GD date then I suggest travellers shop elsewhere.
Aug 17th, 2012, 04:31 PM
#22
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Thank you for all your comments-good & bad. As I originally said I could understand the cancellation-probably caused by the economy and not being able to fill the bus. That was not my problem. I had trip insurance and did pay with a credit card, I was offered a refund or a substitute trip. I had prepaid hotels and transfers because my dates of travel did not match the tour dates, they were booked thru Brendan and included on my booking invoice. This was necessary because we arrived a day early to rest up and leave a day later to avoid any problems with our connections for the cruise. This trip was to celebrate our 50th anniversary and I find it sad that so many people think if I could afford both I have no right to complain 
When I accepted the substitution and declined a refund I had to leave the tour 1 day early to make my connection--they therefore did not have any expenses for us on the last day of the tour-eliminating the cost of the last night hotel, farewell dinner,and tour expense of Bunratty Castle. But they refused to credit or refund the cost of the hotel and transfer we had prepaid under the original booking. They eliminated a promised $100 AE gift card for early booking and prepayment with AE card. They just kept the money and didn't provide the service!! I don't believe there was anything travel insurance or the credit card company could do since we did accept the substitute--we were just stupid to trust them to honor the terms of the original agreement. Given the time frame and our lack of experience in travel planning we did not see any other option to finding another trip in the same price range-and we were unable to handle the increased cost that would be incurred without the early booking, prepaid discounts that would no longer be available to us. We waited 50 years for this trip and just feel they did not act honorably...I guess "buyer beware" and you get what you pay for is still true! I thank those of you who made constructive comments and provided links to websites for information. To those of you making rude comments-get a life!!
When I accepted the substitution and declined a refund I had to leave the tour 1 day early to make my connection--they therefore did not have any expenses for us on the last day of the tour-eliminating the cost of the last night hotel, farewell dinner,and tour expense of Bunratty Castle. But they refused to credit or refund the cost of the hotel and transfer we had prepaid under the original booking. They eliminated a promised $100 AE gift card for early booking and prepayment with AE card. They just kept the money and didn't provide the service!! I don't believe there was anything travel insurance or the credit card company could do since we did accept the substitute--we were just stupid to trust them to honor the terms of the original agreement. Given the time frame and our lack of experience in travel planning we did not see any other option to finding another trip in the same price range-and we were unable to handle the increased cost that would be incurred without the early booking, prepaid discounts that would no longer be available to us. We waited 50 years for this trip and just feel they did not act honorably...I guess "buyer beware" and you get what you pay for is still true! I thank those of you who made constructive comments and provided links to websites for information. To those of you making rude comments-get a life!!
Aug 17th, 2012, 04:48 PM
#23
"<i>they therefore did not have any expenses for us on the last day of the tour-eliminating the cost of the last night hotel, farewell dinner,and tour expense of Bunratty Castle. </i>"
What makes you think they had no expenses? They no doubt pre-arranged/paid for your room, and probably the dinner as well.
Brendan tours posted on your other thread w/ a peace offering and you rejected the overture.
What makes you think they had no expenses? They no doubt pre-arranged/paid for your room, and probably the dinner as well.
Brendan tours posted on your other thread w/ a peace offering and you rejected the overture.
Aug 27th, 2012, 09:22 PM
#24
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When we accepted the alternate tour, they knew we were leaving a day early--therefore they did not book hotel, dinner, admission fees, etc.==therefore no expenses or changes needed.
I did not reject their earlier post, I had been in contact with them and my travel agent had been in contact with them--they offered us $50 for future travel. What makes you think a public posting would change anything? As I said it was PR purposes only. I replied with my booking number for them to check their files and they did nothing! I had already dealt with them and gotten nowhere, so I put the ball back in their court with my booking # for reference and again they did nothing.
I did not reject their earlier post, I had been in contact with them and my travel agent had been in contact with them--they offered us $50 for future travel. What makes you think a public posting would change anything? As I said it was PR purposes only. I replied with my booking number for them to check their files and they did nothing! I had already dealt with them and gotten nowhere, so I put the ball back in their court with my booking # for reference and again they did nothing.
Jan 2nd, 2013, 03:08 PM
#25
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The first thing you must check when you book is if that specific tour is designated as one that will definitely go no matter what
Most tour companies can tell you that
I have gone on 3 T rafalgar tours and they were most professional and I thoroughly enjoyed them
This whole notion that you can only enjoy yourself if you do it "independently" demonstrates a lack of experience with all sorts of travel options...
Most tour companies can tell you that
I have gone on 3 T rafalgar tours and they were most professional and I thoroughly enjoyed them
This whole notion that you can only enjoy yourself if you do it "independently" demonstrates a lack of experience with all sorts of travel options...
Apr 7th, 2015, 11:34 AM
#26
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Wow. Going to Spain in May w/Trafalgar for 8 days (10 w/travel) w/my mom. We have a guaranteed departure date AND we bought travel insurance (something I have done since my son was born nearly 6 years ago).
I am reasonably fluent in Spanish and have been to Madrid and Barcelona before. Looking forward to it and hoping to have a positive travel post!
JanetK1943, (is that your birth year? - it's my mom's) this is the trip my mom and dad always wanted to take. They had no money when they were young, then dad got sick and died 3 months AFTER their 50th wedding anniversary.
Ireland is on my travel bucket list: I sure wish you would post SOMETHING about your trip...
I am reasonably fluent in Spanish and have been to Madrid and Barcelona before. Looking forward to it and hoping to have a positive travel post!
JanetK1943, (is that your birth year? - it's my mom's) this is the trip my mom and dad always wanted to take. They had no money when they were young, then dad got sick and died 3 months AFTER their 50th wedding anniversary.
Ireland is on my travel bucket list: I sure wish you would post SOMETHING about your trip...
