Avoid Travel-Italy
 

We had rented a villa through Travel-Italy, which is a Columbia, MO agent for Cuendet, the large Swiss-Italian agency, scheduled for September 29 through October 6. We have paid them in full - over $600. We decided yesterday that we would postpone the trip until April, 2002, so I called them today to reschedule - not to ask for my money back, but to apply what we've paid. Unfortunately, both Travel-Italy and Cuendet are taking full advantage of the current situation, and are only returning 10%, yes 10%, of the fee! In fairness, I will say that their cancellation policy indeed states that changes made within 29 days will incur 90% of the fee. However, numerous other hotels, tour groups and members of the travel industry the world over are showing their compassion by bending their cancellation/rescheduling rules - I guess neither Travel-Italy nor Cuendet need or care for repeat business. <BR> <BR>Can anyone recommend an ethical villa rental agent with whom we can book our trip in April? <BR>

thanks for the warning. they are one of the companies my husband and i were looking at to rent through in Tuscany next fall. i'm sorry you had problems with them.

can't give you any advice. <BR>But, one would think giving the unique situation this is, the companies would make an exception! <BR> <BR>I will contact them and let them know I will not be using their services when I book for my big 50 B-day trip. <BR>Not that they will really care, but it will make a statement, that will satisfy me. <BR> <BR>I used www.italianitineraries.com when we booked our rome apt. <BR>and a friend , who rented the same apt. used <BR>www.belvedere-italia.com <BR>I can not vouch they are "ethical" but , they are another source. <BR>Goodluck!

Rene, <BR>I am very sorry this happened to you. This is really the height of unscrupulous business dealings, if ever I've heard of it. <BR> <BR>Rex, one of the regulars on this board, is due to leave soon for Italy with some other Fodorites and said the company from whom they've rented their Italian villa, rentvillas.com, has been helpful, sympathetic & trustworthy during this time of global travel crisis. They were willing to refund, from what I understand, the deposit placed on the villa if the group did not feel comfortable traveling or was unable to due to any governmental edicts. <BR>Best Wishes, <BR>BC

DON"T AVOID TRAVEL-ITALY.COM <BR> <BR>I am a travel agent and have worked with Travel-Italy.com for years. They are a great company to work with. I have NEVER had any problems with them and this situation is no different. <BR> <BR>They refunded my clients in full for hotels and tours that were within the cancellation period. They also waived all cancel fees without question. <BR> <BR>I have always been impressed with the quality of hotels and their great customer service. <BR> <BR>You would be a fool not to book with them.

I'm surprised at how many people think that they deserve to get out of previously agreed upon travel arangements. This is the livlihood of many people.There is nothing unethical about a business enforcing written cancellation policy.I have seen on the street and heard of money being donated to victims families of the WTC. Well, the airlines and the travel industry are as much victims as anyone else.Have you heard about the lay-offs going on in the airline industry right now?Be reasonable, as everyone likes to point out with their whiney poor-me attitude "this terrorist attack is going to affect everyone in the country." "Life will never be the same again"

Rene, <BR> <BR>I am so sorry this has occurred. I was reading today's Frommer's newsletter, and it seems that that hotels, tour groups and car rental companies are following the lead of the airlines. In general the airlines seem to be most flexible up to the date of September 25th for full refunds, full credits and change of dates. But, outside the 25th of September, it seems that it is business as usual. <BR> <BR>My only suggestion is to contest the charge with your credit card company. <BR> <BR>Good-luck, <BR> <BR>Leslie

I am sorry that this has happened to you also. People often forget that the NYC terrorist attack really does affect everyone in the country--actually everyone in the world--including travel agents and airlines. I will be surprised if there are many travel agencies left in business after all of this. <BR> <BR>I do have to say that I booked a trip with Travel-Italy.com last year and they were an absolute joy to work with. I hope that everyone does not take heed in "avoid travel-italy". I think every company has bad experiences. Terrorism attacks just adds to it. We need to remember that everyone is suffering and maybe this travel agency is too. <BR>

Thank you for all comments, kind and unkind. I wish to point out that I did not ask for a refund, but only made a reasonable request to change the reservations to a future, specific date. At no point was I loud or angry with Travel-Italy. And to the second Amy, the $600 is now donated to the travel industry. <BR> <BR>I'm looking at rentvillas.com for next year's trip.

To leslie: <BR>What a difference some thinking does. <BR>You have no credibility.

FYI <BR> <BR>Rentvillas.com is a Cuendet representative too. Good luck getting any better response from them, they will have the same agreement.

Sorry but in my opinion companies that have heartless and unbending policies do not deserve to stay in business. I cannot control many things in this world but I can to some extent decide who to give my money. Companies that offend me will just have to survive without my help.

Rene, <BR>I am sorry you are so unhappy. I'm glad you will be going to Italy in April and have not sworn off travel all together. <BR>I have used travel italy in 1999 and also this January. In 1999 I rented a villa in Tuscany from them. I experienced no problems and they were very helpful. I will be going to Italy next spring and I will be using them again.

I am the Customer Service Manager for Travel-Italy.com. I would like to say upfront, we have already waived tens of thousands of dollars of cancellation fees, hotel expenses and villa rentals to many clients that were forced to cancel the trips they have been planning for months. <BR> <BR>The airlines have been extremely cooperative with clients who want to cancel, but that cannot last forever. They will soon be charging the normal penalties as many smaller companies are forced to do now. We don’t have support from our federal government as the airlines do. We are small and have been greatly damaged by this, but are trying to do our best to keep all of our clients happy. <BR> <BR>We have been in constant correspondence with Cuendet since the beginning of this tragedy and we are fighting for our clients. We pay Cuendet prior to the clients’ arrival, therefore the bills have been paid and the money is not ours to refund. <BR> <BR>We are also re-evaluating whether we want to continue to work with a company that is so un-bending in the wake of an event that has touched so many people all over the world. <BR> <BR>I would invite anyone who is interested to send an email to me directly and I would be happy to provide a list of references including clients and agents who have booked and cancelled with Travel-Italy.com. <BR>

Wow...I would never EXPECT to get out of an agreement such as this. Point well made that even the airlines are not extending their offers past Sept 25 and for full refunds the period ends 9/18. <BR> <BR>I believe Rex said his reps were waiving their 20% commission because the primary villa renatl company was unable to offer any breaks. Not 100% refund. (And he found this laudable!) If I too am mis-quoting you Rex, I apologize. <BR> <BR>I can't believe your airline has allowed you to re-book for April 2002 without a change fee...which airline is that? <BR> <BR>There are plenty of travel service providers to warn people about for GOOD reasons. Rene's posting strikes me as childish and petty.

hey Think, are you one of those stalkers that likes to follow posters into other threads and continue to harrass them over old threads?

To Kerri Rae Bruns: <BR>Bravo/a!!!!! <BR> <BR>I, as a paying customer am impressed to see that the interested has responded to the above complaint. <BR>I, being a lurker here, may have been pursuaded to not use your company after having read the complaint. <BR>However, upon seeing that you have not ignored this complaint and are brave enough to try to explain your side here on the forum, it makes me believe you are honest and try to do your best. <BR>Kudos to you!

Few hotels require more than a 24 hours notice to cancel a reservation without penalty. The better model are the cruise ships. I doubt that any of them will give you a full refund merely because you decide not to go.

Dar Renee: I don't see why you are blaming this travel agency for not refunding your money; it is YOUR fault. Why should the travel company take a loss because you don't want to travel?? It would be different if you coulnd't travel because all planes were grounded. You are CHOOSING not to go on holiday. Put yourself in the other party's shoes. What if your boss said, "Im not paying you next week. But, instead, I'll pay you in April."? You have to remember that travel agencies are businesses, not soup kitchens. They exist to make a profit. Also, remember that the travel business employs millions of people. Because you are jittery about traveling, you are endangering people's livlihoods. I am ready to book a trip to Poland in November, which I think will aid in our economy staying strong. This is just my perspective on things. Good Luck, JG

John G <BR> <BR>THANK YOU!!!! I work in the travel business and it is nice to know that there are still rational, caring people out there. I am glad to hear that this crisis is not stopping you from living your everyday life. While it is a tragedy, it is something that we must overcome. <BR>I think we all find it a little too easy to put the blame on someone else. Especially when we know we were in the wrong. <BR>D