terrible trip terrible company - Page 2

dontuseEltour · #11 02-03-2003, 07:42 AM

Eddy,
Maybe we were just unlucky with our 5 hour coach trip to Paradise Island. They may have many happy customer, however, none of them were on the trip to Paradise Island with us last Thursday! The point is, when things go wrong you get to see how professional a customer oriented company really is. El Tours could not care less about us or whether we enjoyed our experience with them. They had our money and they were going to keep it, regardless of how they screwed up.

As for causing ourselves grief. Our grief was last Thursday and Friday morning dealing with el'Tours. We enjoyed the rest of Friday and most of Saturday on the beach at Sosua relaxing on the last hours of our stay in the DR. We don't want anyone else to have to go through the same thing with el'Tour which is the reason for posting our experience.

Nicki Strobel (Terry' wife)

ps. We got bumped to business class on the flight back...now that's the way to travel!

PJT · #12 02-03-2003, 08:41 AM

Terry, I'm sorry about your unfortunate experience. El Tours must be made aware they are getting some "bad press" so that they can respond, as Robert said "so we can get both sides of the story". Usually, if the heat is turned up enough the situation can be remedied.

Also, Hillbilly, you are a stand-up guy. Regards, PJT

Timex · #13 02-03-2003, 09:08 AM

Nicki, Terry.

After reading HB's Generous offer, I'll add that, if you guys take another trip to the DR, (within the next 12 months) I'll send the $ 280. Western Union, right to your door.( befor you leave.)

HB

You remind me of a guy I met in Main.
2nd year in the Navy, I was assigned to a sub, in overhaul, Portsmouth, NH. My Girlfriend and I were up at Moose Head Lake.
She took the car (POS Ford) to go for some groceries. 4 hours later, she came back, and tells me.......

I broke down in front of this old guys house. He came out and tried to get the car going again, and couldn't. So he called a tow truck, took me to the gas station, gave me the $ 50, for the tow, and another $ 20. for gas ( Not her fault, the gas gauge didn't work)
Me a young buck from NY.
Thinking, Yeah right!!!!, in the back of my mind.
We drove back to this guys house, and a guy about 70 years old answer’s the door. Says Hi, to her and invites us in for coffee.
I listened to him confirm everything she said, and paid him back the $ 70. he lent my girl. And told him, He had changed a lot of my opinions about people in general.

You got a brother up there??

Tim H.

Eddy · #14 02-03-2003, 10:35 AM

I agree that things should have been taken care of. Did you go to El Tours office on the main highway towards Cabarete (Left hand side, just before the car wash)? They are the only one's who can make the decision. If yes, I'm really surprised that they didn't even at least offer you another tour (Free) to compensate.

JOHNNY HONDA · #15 02-03-2003, 01:28 PM

Dontuseeltours
Man you hit the Jackpot whether you know it or not H.B. IS ISLAND FAMOUS FOR HIS HOSPITALITY,
Get your ass back here pronto
J.H.

dontuseEltour · #16 02-04-2003, 10:05 AM

Johnny Honda
We do feel very honored and fortunate at the hospitality HB extended to us, THANKS HB, ....and your from NJ too....say no more. I'm in no rush to get back to DR, but I've learned to never say never!! As my husband said before, we may take you up on it one day.

Timex,
WOW....thanks for the offer. But....it really isn't about the money, it's about being treated fairly and professionally by a company that screwed up.

Eddy
Yes, we went to the main office. I sat for over 45 minutes trying to reason with Daniela (I think that was her name). I had her call her boss too and the answer was still NO, they would not work with us on it! They didn't care! Five or us were flying out saturday, so there was no way for us to reschedule, the Monster Truck Safari Trip. Two of our party were staying an extra week, so they were able to reschedule. I also stopped in the sales office in Sosua Friday morning and explained the whole situation to Koenraad (he sold us the tickets). He called the main office for us and was told "we already told them NO yesterday". Koenraad told me to stop by his office again Saturday before we left, which I did, but the sales office was closed and we had a flight to catch.

So....there ends the saga....unless el'Tours chooses to respond in anyway to these posts.

Thanks guys
Nicki S.

ps. We always check out bulletin boards before we travel....and this is one of the best!! A great group of members!

WendyPavo · #17 02-04-2003, 03:17 PM

Nicki and Terry -
It's such a shame to hear that your experiences have caused you to make such a rash decision about never returning to the DR. I truley hope that all of these postings have encouraged you to change you mind!!
With a little guidance from this Message Board I think that a repeat vacation could prove to best one of the best of your life.
My first visit to the DR was at 5-star resort in Puerto Plata, and my excursions were with the best tour operators on the island ...... both were so impressive that when I returned to the US I blew off a very promising education at a "top tier" Law School, sold everything I owned, and moved to the DR.
I think that if you too had a chance to experience the right places and the right people, you would find yourself ecstatically happy with both the culture and the generous service mentality of the Dominicans.

dontuseEltour · #18 02-04-2003, 05:38 PM

Wendy i was extremally impressed with the service i got in the DR and have not tried to put people off visiting there just this one tour company (ELTOUR). Had i seen a post like this before i traveled i wouldn't have used them.
We were not slamming monster as they told us it was okay with them to cancel to me that is being proffesional,the problemn was they didn't have our money Eltour did.
Another example would be LOBO he works with the association renting chairs at the beach a great guy making a living to keep his family, i was so impressed with his service that a large bag of kids clothing we had taken with us will be being used by his family also pen- crayons and the like.
I can see why you would move there but i still can not understand why a tour company would treat it's clients so badly.
Terry Strobel Andover NJ

mkohn · #19 02-04-2003, 08:14 PM

Hey,
Sorry 'bout the tour company. There are jerks all over the world. And then there is Lobo. We rented chairs from Lobo when we were at the beach in Sosua. Same man? Too bad we got there so late. Well, I'm sure he'd rented out the chairs earlier that day, so being there only a couple of hours, at least he got the rent money.
mk

WendyPavo · #20 02-04-2003, 08:38 PM

Unfortunately, as in all countries, there are in-fact a small fraction of Dominicans that look at tourists and see $$$$$$. Their sole concern is with making the sale and collecting your money. And they can afford to have this mentality because they know that 1) they'll never see you again, and 2) it's highly unlikely that tourists will be able to resort to effective legal recourse ... in other words, they know that they can rip you off and get away with it.
It's just a sad fact of human life.