I booked a group tour to North East (tour code- VARI110611, booking no. 7747, dt, 3.6.11). Ms. Shalini Rai was SOTC representative at
Delhi Office who completed all formalities. The information I was given is as follows:
Its a group tour wherein 8 people have already booked so you will get services of guide throughout the tour.
Only TATA Sumo ply in that area which are necessarily non AC so you will get the same vehicle.
Since its a group departure, you cannot choose hotels but the hotels arranged by SOTC are definitely 3 or 4 star hotels in your schedule.
All meals are included in the tour cost. Now here comes the tail of poorest service given by your company.
This was not a group tour. We were the only one and there was no
guide. Upon speaking to Shalini, she said she has no control over this
as others might have cancelled. I spoke to SOTC customer care, who
gave me cell number of Ms Asmita. I spoke to her and she said she will
return call in 15 minutes after speaking to appropriate person. She
did not return call even after one hour. I spoke to her again and she
said She spoke to Shalini and she (Shalini) was to call you back
immediately. Again I spoke to Shalini who said we have already spoken
about this in the morning so there is no point.
- TATA Sumo was the lowest class of vehicles plying in that area.
There were INNOVA, TAVERA and several other type of vehicles. When I
told this to Shalini, she said it is not possible and all these must
be private vehicles. When I told her I can take a pic and mail it to
her, she said she will check. In the afternoon, she changed her stand
saying we promised TATA Sumo in the tour and the same has been
provided. That was really mean of her to change her words which she
maintained till morning of 9th June.
- The group departure never proved to be a group departure but the
hotels... OMG, the worst I have stayed in so far. At Kalimpong, Tres
is a 12 room hotel, God knows how it will be a 3-4 star hotel. They
give you a buffet dinner but there is no buffet in fact. The waiter
comes and you ask him what is there in Buffet, he will happily tell
you its mix veg and a Paneer vegetable with Roti. no soup or salad or
raita. Ask him about dessert, you are offered Saunf!!! I am yet to
find a star rated hotel without a bar how come Tres does not have a
bar.
Ttakshang at Gangtok although not a 3 star still was the best this
tour could offer.
Pelling I preferred not to visit due to poorly planned tour courtesy
SOTC as we were to drive every day in hilly terrain for 4-6 hrs. In
order to take a break, we skipped Pelling and increased one day each
at Gangtok and Darjeeling. We got no refund for cancellation of room
at Peeling and the journey but we paid extra for the hotels we stayed
in.
The Gymkhana at Darjeeling is again a very low class back packers
place. the ambience, furniture, arrangement is soooo cheap, I cannot
describe. I of course have some pictures which I can happily send you
if you wish so. I am unable to understand, if SOTC had planned 3-4 star
hotels, why even at Darjeeling, a 4 star hotel could not be arranged?
- All meals included! How am I supposed to come back to my hotel from
a site seeing tour to have lunch in hotel? If lunch cannot be
provided, why to claim so?
Nathula pass was not in the schedule whereas people go to Gangtok to
visit this place. what is worse is the day for Gangtok is a Monday and
Nathula pass is closed on monday and tuesday.
If someone is ready to give a patient hearing, I am ready to come to
SOTC office or call SOTC but the staff must be senior enough and not
just working as a cheap tour operator we can find all across the city
in Delhi.
Last, I do not intend to use SOTC in future not going to recommend
anyone. As a matter of protest, I shall keep my Facebook status as
"SOTC is the worst" for 3 days.
