Travelata Trip Review: A Cautionary Tale

Name: Travelata's Trip from Hell: A Cautionary Tale
Item: Travelata
Rating: 1
Author: kevinWard

Travelata's Trip from Hell: A Cautionary Tale

summarizeEditor's Summary

We booked a trip with Travelata in 2023, but things quickly took a turn for the worse. Their website was user-friendly at first, but the company's lack of transparency and poor customer service made our experience a total nightmare. The constant changes to our return flight schedule caused us a ton of stress, and we felt like we were just a number to them. If you're thinking of using Travelata, be aware of the potential pitfalls and make sure you read the fine print.

settingsSpecifications

KararKötü

Ulaşım1/10

Konaklama4/10

İletişim3/10

HizmetKalite2/10

Travelata's Trip from Hell: A Cautionary Tale

We'd been feeling burnt out and stressed, so my husband and I decided to take a much-needed break to the sea in 2023. We booked our trip in March, opting for a hotel package deal to lock in our dates and avoid last-minute prices. I'd researched and booked our trips for years, so navigating the tour aggregator website [link] was a breeze. The interface was super user-friendly, making it easy to compare hotels, read reviews, and book our flights.

We chose Turkey's Alanya as our destination and picked a hotel that fit our budget. To splurge a bit, we opted for a regular flight with Red Wings from Nizhny Novgorod to Antalya, which allowed us to spend a few extra hours in the hotel or at the beach before our group transfer to Alanya. Our return flight on June 22nd was initially set for 23:35, but that changed multiple times, causing us a lot of stress.

We received an SMS from Red Wings on April 12th informing us that our return flight had been cancelled. Travelata called us, offering to reschedule our flight to June 18th with a partial refund or June 25th with a full refund. We chose the latter, but not before paying for an extra three days in the hotel, which cost us 18,944 rubles.

Things took a turn for the worse when our Travelata manager contacted me on June 5th to inform me that our flight time had been changed again - this time from 23:35 to 01:05. I asked for a refund for the lost day, but they offered me a paltry 2,633 rubles, which was nowhere near the 6,314 rubles we'd paid for each day of our trip.

On June 13th, just a day before our flight, Red Wings sent us a text message informing us that our flight time had been changed from 05:40 to 09:15, pushing our arrival time at Antalya airport back by four hours. When we arrived, we were greeted by a different tour operator, Kilit Global, which was not mentioned in our contract. We had no idea who they were or how they were connected to our booking.

We spent hours waiting for the other flight to arrive and were stuck in the heat. Our hotel was the last stop on the tour, and we finally arrived at 7 pm, having wasted a whole day. To make matters worse, our hotel was not even at the shopping center we'd been promised. Kilit Global had misled us, and we felt ripped off.

When I returned, I lodged a complaint with Travelata, but their lawyers claimed they were in the right and not responsible for anything. They offered me a 3,000-ruble voucher for tours over 90,000 rubles by the end of the year, but I'm not interested in booking with them again. I'm still trying to process the whole ordeal and warn others about the potential pitfalls of working with Travelata.

What went wrong?

Our return flight was cancelled and rescheduled multiple times, causing us stress and inconvenience. Travelata's manager offered a paltry refund for the lost day, which was nowhere near the actual cost. We were greeted by a different tour operator, Kilit Global, which was not mentioned in our contract. We spent hours waiting for the other flight to arrive and were stuck in the heat. Our hotel was not even at the shopping center we'd been promised.

What can Travelata improve?

Communicate clearly and transparently with customers about flight changes and cancellations. Offer more reasonable refunds for lost days or inconvenience caused. Ensure that all tour operators and hotels are clearly mentioned in the contract. Provide better customer support and resolve issues promptly.

P.S. I just received a notification that my cashback reward through BackIt had been cancelled due to my booking being made too early. Let this be a warning to others - don't trust this company!

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What happens if my return flight schedule changes?

Unfortunately, Travelata's return flight schedule changed multiple times during our trip, causing us a ton of stress and anxiety. We were not notified of the changes until the last minute, and we had to scramble to make arrangements for our return journey.

How do I contact Travelata's customer service?

We tried to contact Travelata's customer service multiple times, but they didn't respond to our emails or phone calls. It's like they don't care about their customers or want to help them resolve any issues they may have.

Can I book and pay for my trip entirely online?

Yes, Travelata's website allows you to book and pay for your trip entirely online, which is a total convenience. However, be aware that you may not get any discounts or incentives for booking online.

What happens if I experience problems with my trip?

Unfortunately, we experienced a lot of problems with our trip, including changes to our return flight schedule and a lack of transparency from Travelata. If you experience any problems with your trip, be prepared to deal with a completely unhelpful and unresponsive customer service team.

Can I choose my own flights?

Yes, Travelata's website allows you to choose your own flights, which can be a cost-effective way to travel. However, be aware that you may not get any discounts or incentives for choosing your own flights.

What destinations does Travelata offer?

Travelata offers a wide range of destinations and travel options, so you're likely to find something that suits your needs. However, be aware that some of their destinations may not be as advertised, and you may experience problems with your trip.

How do I compare prices and find deals on flights and hotels?

Travelata's website allows you to compare prices and find deals on flights and hotels. However, be aware that some of their prices may not be accurate, and you may end up paying more than you expected.

What happens if I experience technical issues with the website?

Unfortunately, we experienced some technical issues with the website, including slow loading times and difficulties navigating the site. If you experience any technical issues, be prepared to deal with a completely unhelpful and unresponsive customer service team.

check_circlePros

•The tour aggregator website has a super user-friendly interface that makes it easy to compare hotels, read reviews, and book flights.
•You can book and pay for your trip entirely online, which is a total convenience.
•You have the option to choose your own flights, which can be a cost-effective way to travel.
•The website allows you to compare prices and find deals on flights and hotels.
•Travelata offers a wide range of destinations and travel options, so you're likely to find something that suits your needs.
•The website is easy to navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy.

cancelCons

•Travelata's customer service is basically non-existent, and they don't respond to emails or phone calls.
•The company is dishonest and doesn't provide accurate information about their services.
•They have a complete lack of empathy and don't care about the stress and inconvenience they cause their customers.
•The return flight schedule changed multiple times, causing us a ton of stress and anxiety.
•Travelata doesn't offer any discounts or incentives for customers who experience problems with their trips.
•The company is incompetent and doesn't have a clue about how to handle customer complaints.