I booked a trip with Exotic Journeys. In their terms and conditions it is stated that I would receive all but my depost back from them if I cancelled at least 64 days prior. I Emailed, phoned, and FedExed my cancellation. Their response was that the entire amount I paid was non refundable. This trip was even cancelled by them! They refuse to send me back the money and have now threatened me with a lawsuit if I post the true facts of my dealings with them! I would avoid booking anything with this company.
Review of Chicago-based tour company “Exotic Journeys”
I am writing about my experience with Chicago-based Exotic Journeys to inform potential customers that are thinking of booking a trip with this tour company. This is my review of the company and its customer service. And based on my experience, I would not recommend booking travel with Exotic Journeys.
I am the spouse of a California travel agent. We booked a 20-day familiarization tour in India & Nepal with Exotic Journeys, which included business class airfare for both of us. We were supposed to travel in April 2016 and I paid Exotic Journeys, in full, in February 2016 using our VISA credit card.
Here is what happened and what went wrong:
Paperwork: I was repeatedly told that we would receive all documents for the trip -- including airline e-tickets -- in an overnight-shipment three weeks prior to the departure date. The only “tour document” that I ever received was a one-page unsigned/unauthorized emailed "tour exchange voucher" for the land portion (including intra-India air), which included some major errors. This document (received 10 days before we were supposed to depart) did not contain a valid voucher. Further, under “International airline tickets” it stated “none!”
Flights: We contracted for round‐trip International Business Class airfare and economy airfare within India and to/from Nepal. We asked numerous times (via phone and email) for the airline e-tickets and never received them. Four-days before we were supposed to depart, I had still not received the e-tickets. Finally at 5:30pm PST on April 12 the Exotic Journeys CEO told us that the e-tickets could now be purchased for us by Exotic Journeys, for an April 16th Los Angeles departure. Three days to prepare for a 20-day trip to Asia is not appropriate or reasonable, so I had to decline.
Customer Service: When I contacted Exotic Journeys to request a refund of the money I paid in full, I was informed that per the contract our payments were non‐refundable and the next steps might involve their attorneys.
Dispute handled by Credit Card Company: When Exotic Journeys refused my demand for a refund I contacted Chase/VISA. Based on our dispute, they did their own investigation and concluded that we should be refunded the money. And we have received a full reimbursement from Chase/VISA. (I don’t know who actually “paid” the refund, Chase/VISA or Exotic Journeys, but I hope that it was Exotic Journeys! Here is why -- if Exotic Journeys didn’t reimburse Chase/VISA, then they received a large, unearned, profit, because they spent very little on our behalf.)
Conclusion: Based on my experience, I would not recommend booking a tour with Chicago-based Exotic Journeys.
Exotic Journeys International Reviews
I booked a trip with Exotic Journeys. In their terms and conditions it is stated that I would receive all but my depost back from them if I cancelled at least 64 days prior. I Emailed, phoned, and FedExed my cancellation. Their response was that the entire amount I paid was non refundable. This trip was even cancelled by them! They refuse to send me back the money and have now threatened me with a lawsuit if I post the true facts of my dealings with them! I would avoid booking anything with this company.
Review of Chicago-based tour company “Exotic Journeys”
I am writing about my experience with Chicago-based Exotic Journeys to inform potential customers that are thinking of booking a trip with this tour company. This is my review of the company and its customer service. And based on my experience, I would not recommend booking travel with Exotic Journeys.
I am the spouse of a California travel agent. We booked a 20-day familiarization tour in India & Nepal with Exotic Journeys, which included business class airfare for both of us. We were supposed to travel in April 2016 and I paid Exotic Journeys, in full, in February 2016 using our VISA credit card.
Here is what happened and what went wrong:
Paperwork: I was repeatedly told that we would receive all documents for the trip -- including airline e-tickets -- in an overnight-shipment three weeks prior to the departure date. The only “tour document” that I ever received was a one-page unsigned/unauthorized emailed "tour exchange voucher" for the land portion (including intra-India air), which included some major errors. This document (received 10 days before we were supposed to depart) did not contain a valid voucher. Further, under “International airline tickets” it stated “none!”
Flights: We contracted for round‐trip International Business Class airfare and economy airfare within India and to/from Nepal. We asked numerous times (via phone and email) for the airline e-tickets and never received them. Four-days before we were supposed to depart, I had still not received the e-tickets. Finally at 5:30pm PST on April 12 the Exotic Journeys CEO told us that the e-tickets could now be purchased for us by Exotic Journeys, for an April 16th Los Angeles departure. Three days to prepare for a 20-day trip to Asia is not appropriate or reasonable, so I had to decline.
Customer Service: When I contacted Exotic Journeys to request a refund of the money I paid in full, I was informed that per the contract our payments were non‐refundable and the next steps might involve their attorneys.
Dispute handled by Credit Card Company: When Exotic Journeys refused my demand for a refund I contacted Chase/VISA. Based on our dispute, they did their own investigation and concluded that we should be refunded the money. And we have received a full reimbursement from Chase/VISA. (I don’t know who actually “paid” the refund, Chase/VISA or Exotic Journeys, but I hope that it was Exotic Journeys! Here is why -- if Exotic Journeys didn’t reimburse Chase/VISA, then they received a large, unearned, profit, because they spent very little on our behalf.)
Conclusion: Based on my experience, I would not recommend booking a tour with Chicago-based Exotic Journeys.