Nov 06, 2016 10:04 PM
6451 Views
(Updated Nov 29, 2016 10:53 PM)
I found here 98% of the people have given 4 to 5 star rating to Andaman tour. But I had a nightmare trip to Andaman.
Going to Andaman on a package was a dream since decade. This time we planned for Andaman. While researching about packages, we found package rates for groups were substantially low. We discussed with our mega families of brothers. We totaled up to 10. Then a website called Hellotravel recommended two travel agents - one having office at Calcutta and the other having office Chennai and Portblair. The fellow having office at chennai and portblair was very sweet to talk and sent a very detailed ittenery - the travel agent is AGW TRAVELS - owned by Srikoti Sanjeev. He insisted minimum of 16 pax and cost of 29750/- per head inclusive of air fair from bangalore to portblair, 3 star hotels for 6 nights and 7 days.
To make 16 pax, we informed some of our friends which resulted in 22 people including 5 children.
To take the responsibility of 22 people amount of Rs. 634000/- that too with an unknown travel agent with only recommendation of Hellotravel, we decided to pay first for air fare, once confirmed, remaining amount.
He was very sweet to agree for first only air fare estimated at 14500/- per head round trip. He himself suggested pay 80% and 20% can be paid just before starting the trip. sounded very nice.
after payment of air fare, he started changing his tone. He started yelling, season is pickingup, air fare is going up, hotels are becoming expensive, etc., etc. but never refused the committed package, used to fall behind to get amount remitted to his account. after getting 80% of the amount, he demanded increase in the price, and mutually agreed for increase of rs. 500/-. we made full payment and requested for revised itinery as the day of arrival and departure had some activity and the flight timings do not permit. But the fellow gave excuses of bad internet, mobile services in Andaman and firstly, his wife had a fracture and medical complication, hospitalization, then death of his father and rituals to be attended. ultimately no revised itinerary was provided to us.
on the decided day(28th oct) we boarded the flight, reached portblair by 5.40 pm. Sun had already set. His agent at portblair took us from airport to HOTEL SAHARA instead of Hotel North Reef. This hotel is a very ordinary one just like a hostel. We refused to check in. After much discussion and arguments, we agreed to spend one night and alternate decent hotel next day.
we took dinner on our own spending even though it was part of the package and the hotel we went for dinner was ok. The agent accommodated us there for 3 days but told the reception that bills will be settled by us.
There after it was total mess. The fellow sanjeev used talk nonsense on the phone. His agent though soft fellow, used to avoid meeting us, We were put at portblair all the six nights. Hardly covered 25% of what was promised to see. Only transport and entry tickets were arranged. We had to shell down for all the food expenses. Hotel bill was mounting. the agent at portblair was confronted and asked to give a breakdown of all the expenses. He could explain only to the extent of of 1, 04, 160/- to wards expenses other than hotel and food. Air fare amounted to 4, 19, 401/- as per the tickets sent by AGW Tours. Difference was was 1, 10, 439/-, demanded to be refund. For 3 days, the local agent was avoiding us and giving reason that he is yet to get remaining amount from AGW. 4th day we cought hold of him and confronted for payment. Things started heating up then onward. False allegation, calling me an agent who organised these people etc., etc., Myself, my brother and sister in law had to skip several places to talk, negotiate, meet the local agent etc., The tour organised by the local fellow was also hardly anything of promised one since every day the tour to begin from portblair instead of night stays at Havlock, Niel, Rangat.
The penultimate day arrived under terrible tension. We took it for ourselves as we did not want our children and other who joined us to suffer the way we were suffering. The AGW fellow Mr. Srikoti Sanjeev wen contacted in the morning said will refund 40, 000/- by afternoon. Afternoon, the local agent said he could give only 30, 0000/-. on contacting Sanjeev, he threatened to cancell the return air ticket. We contacted, the air lines(GOAIR) which confirmed that the booking agent can cancell the ticket. We thought it wise to lodge a police complaint and went to Aberdeen police station. The incharge one Mr Pandey took phone no.s of the agents, spoke to local fellow by station land line, and to the chennai fellow by our mobile, was smiling while talking to him, and told us that air ticket will not by cancelled by them, gave judgement that they will refund Rs. 20, 000/-. "No complaint will be entertained" was the last words told and vanished from his seat. we came out of the station feeling hurt.We were hungry took some rotis at a hotel. Then I felt we must lodge a protest and struck to me to go the internet parlor to find ways.
I went to an internet parlor and started googling. I found andaman police website which had welcoming slogan to "lodge complaint, send complaints by e mail for immediat redressal". I tried to lodge complaint through the complaint portal by creating login id, wasted 90 minitues and failed(Most user unfriendly portal). Then took the mail ids of DGP, DIG, and Aberdeen station, posted my complaint. But till date no response from the Andaman Police despite my reminders.
Luckily, the local travel agent agreed to send transport for reaching airport on the last day. reached bangalore on 3rd Nov.
In the course of these rigmaroles, I understood, Huge amount of cheating takes place. More than 50% of the spending by tourists on activities like scooba, snoorkling, hotels are paid as kickbacks to the agents. Fake air tickets with correct PNR no. is given to travellers. The tickets contain air fare twice what is actually charged. The police are corrupt and yield to the travel agents. Tourists are pushed to helpless situations to compromise once they are on the island.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE FOR US WAS NOT LESS THAN A NIGHTMARE!
