Oct 04, 2009 08:28 PM
9510 Views
I had an occassion to travel to Australia and New Zealand with Cox & Kings in Apr - May 2009. While the countries are beautiful, the conduct of the tour operator especially the manager was distasteful to say the least. I visited Australia after New Zealand and there was no one to receive us at Brisbane airport at night. We spent from our pockets to reach the hotel 2 hours away.
The operators sited number of reasons thereafter on why they were not supposed to receive us. None convincing! The managers (there were three of them), when contacted expressed inability to be of any help. The Senior manager, conducting the tour had not visited the places we were supposed to see. Hence she could not provide correct information and that resulted in either the tourists missing sites, especially older ones or you camme back in the evening with the feeling that the trip of the day was a waste.
Besides, one had to face such words from the manager, like when we told her that she was supposed to help us and we had taken the trip after seeing the reputation of Cox & Kings, she replied ' I would not like to insult your judgement and that you have selected this yourself'. Her parting gift to us was that she gave us incomplete information regarding the visit to Sydney tower and when we (my wife and self) came down from its visit the three managers alongwith the rest of tourists had left for the 'Show Boat ride' leaving us to reach the Sydney wharf of our own. When we reached the wharf the boat had left that place and we missed the show. The manager thereafter said she had done her bit and could not do anything more.
When I forwarded my complaint on this issue stating that I should be refunded the amount, the legal eagles of Cox & Kings beautifully replied that it was all my fault as per their inquiries (the manager's statement). Thereafter all my queries have fallen to deaf ears.
So the tour operator who has received the best performance award two years back has shown its performance. I would not recommend them, not because of the itinerary, but that they do not value a customer and it shows. If I have gone to the extent of contacting the CEO of the agency with this complaint, I must be having a genuine grievance. But no reply has been received from him either.
Thanx
Kunal
