<![CDATA[Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Travel Tips & Trip Ideas]]> https://www.fodors.com/community/ en Sat, 16 May 2026 04:18:58 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.fodors.com/community/images/mobile/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Travel Tips & Trip Ideas]]> https://www.fodors.com/community/ Travel Jacket https://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-and-trip-ideas/travel-jacket-1735460/ Sun, 03 May 2026 12:18:22 GMT I need a water repellent travel jacket. You know the one, it goes everywhere and does everything. what color? what length? what style? do... I need a water repellent travel jacket. You know the one, it goes everywhere and does everything.

what color?
what length?
what style?
do you have? If you were purchasing something new, what would you change?

Thanks ]]> goingthere2 https://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-and-trip-ideas/travel-jacket-1735460/ Compression packing bags https://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-and-trip-ideas/compression-packing-bags-1735450/ Fri, 01 May 2026 16:41:05 GMT I just bought two of these and I'm a little puzzled.
What is the theory behind this method of saving space?
These are the ones I bought--one medium and one large, but so far it looks only like I will be adding more weight without gaining more space...
Do you put your clothing in the part with the mesh?
And yes, I should have investigated this more before I ordered them.


]]> ekscrunchy https://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-and-trip-ideas/compression-packing-bags-1735450/ Bait and Switch: Overseas Adventure Travel https://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-and-trip-ideas/bait-and-switch-overseas-adventure-travel-1735442/ Fri, 01 May 2026 00:25:28 GMT BUYER BEWARE! We have traveled as a family (parents, 13 and 14 yo) with many other private and group tours with no complaints. These trips ranged... BUYER BEWARE!

We have traveled as a family (parents, 13 and 14 yo) with many other private and group tours with no complaints. These trips ranged from $8k to $18k, without airfare. These companies were able to find air fare to our request. The entire process was hassle/glitch free and the tours were well organized.

Our experience with Overseas Adventure Travel (Grand Circle Travel) was the exact opposite. Firstly, they require minors to have an email address to e-sign OAT’s terms and conditions. Our minor children do not have emails so those had to be sent by USPS. Why would any company expect 13 and 14 year old kids to accept terms and conditions? Strange indeed!

For airfare we requested two 1st class and two economy seats. The agent said that the first 6 hour flight had no 1st or business class seats. We were skeptical but expected professional experience was being considered. We found later that the agent was wrong. We should have backed out then but wanted to give OAT a chance.

So after we paid our down payment to lock in our quoted price (trip + airfare) the agent called the next week and said that we owe more money because our airfare went up. We voiced our concern about the competence of their agents and convoluted registration process and asked for a $1000 credit for such a confusing process and for all the time we waited on the phone for answers to questions we’ve never had to ask from any other tour company.

OAT agreed to credit us $1000 and we intended to pay the balance of the trip once the credit posted. The credit never appeared and were told to call back next week. This happened for 3 weeks in a row before they said we were not going to receive the credit they agreed to.

The most heinous and criminal part of OAT is their travel insurance through Trip Mate. We paid over $7,000 for useless travel insurance because were told by OAT agents that we could cancel for ANY reason. Today we received notice that our claim for reimbursement was DENIED!

OAT maybe running a “bait and switch” operation. We were lured in by a small “discount”, ran through a convoluted registration process, increased our airfare price after we paid a deposit, then denied us a refund that is guaranteed by their affiliated insurance.

OAT and its sister company (Grand Circle Travel) must be investigated for running a bait and switch operation and taking advantage of others. Trust pilot (80% negative reviews) shows many other peoples’ stories that have been duped, in manners similar to ours, by these companies! OAT responses to the multitude of complaints are canned and nothing more than lip service vomit. ]]> bikbik4231 https://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-and-trip-ideas/bait-and-switch-overseas-adventure-travel-1735442/