Honeymoon a travel nightmare for couple

Synopsis: An Atlanta-area couple thought they had purchased the perfect honeymoon package in Punta Cana, complete with a luxury suite that had both an indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi for two, plus all-inclusive room service. But their dream getaway turned into a nightmare. This article examines what went wrong and their use of a travel agent affiliated with YourTravelBiz.com, which was sued in August by the California attorney general for allegedly operating a "gigantic pyramid scheme." The honeymooners got a full refund after I started asking questions. Honeymoon with hitches a heartache for couple

Comments

[John Frenaye]

This is one of the unfortunate side effects of dealing with a an amateur. A legitimate agent would have known the status of the resort and made arrangements before this honeymoon turned to hell. The only unavoidable thing is the luggage loss by Delta--and I think that losing luggage is in their mission statement.

If you are looking for more info on YTB and other MLM/Card Mill travel companies, please read my blog at
http://notravelmlms.blogspot.com

[Kate Holmes]

There have been countless incidents like this because YTB has no standards. The YTB "agent" in this case took no responsibility and blamed Travel Impressions instead. These people have no business being in the travel industry.

[Tom Eisch]

The above comments from John Frenaye and Kate Holmes are typical of the traditional travel agent community who love to slam YTB, but continue to overlook countless problems traditional travel agents have caused consumers.

There have been numerous incidents over the past few years where unsrupulous "traditional" agents have committed fraud by running off with consumer's money. The traditional industry's market share continues to diminish while YTB's market share increases.

It is unfortunate that this couple had a bad experience. John Frenaye spends a large part of his day on the internet looking for ways to discredit YTB. It was not surprising that he was the first on the scene commenting about the hardship of this couple. Just like an ambulance-chasing attorney, John always finds a way to promote his blog, which is a daily anti-YTB diatribe.

YTB has grown from a small company in 2001 to the 26th largest travel company in the U.S. (up from #35 in 2006) The traditional travel agent industry does not like the "new kid on the block" because YTB is hurting their market share.

To learn the real facts about YTB, a publically-traded company, to to www.ytb.com or www.thefactsaboutytb.com

Both sites will give you accurate information about YTB. Not biased innuendo from a disgrunted traditional travel agent . . . an agent who continues to chase problems with YTB but conveniently overlooks continual problems within his own ranks.

[John Frenaye]

Tom..so you feel that because I present my opinions and thoughts on MLM and YTB that my site is not factual or reliable.

Yet the site by the company that is being sued for being an illegal pyramid scheme is?

One needs to even question why YTB has had to create a site called "The Facts About YTB" in the first place.

I am all about people making a free choice, but I am also saying to do your homework. You cannot listen to what YTB or the Reps or RTAs tell you because the facts and figures typically do not support their statements. I am also not saying that you need to follow my advice as gospel either. But I am presenting the other side of the story.

If you want to look more into it, I suggest you look at the SEC filings for financial info (I have links on my blog) and also with the BBB (also links on my blog) and check with some local media to see about how well the RTAs treat their clients (also links on my blog).

Certainly I woudl not rely on two websites that obviously have a bias and much to gain by convincing you to join.

On the other hand, I have nothing to gain. I enjoy my profession and am proud of it. I am disheartened that YTB has infiltrated it and is putting untrained people out on the street like MacVicar to pretend to be professional travel agents. When that happens, trips get fouled up--ask the WIlliams'.

I am glad you are keeping tabs on the amount of time I spend on YTB.

[Amber]

Mr. Frenaye and Ms. Holmes both suggest that if the couple had made their reservation with a traditional travel agent they could have avoided such problems and I have to disagree. I have been booking my own travel on-line for several years however a few years back my mother purchased a trip to Jamaica for me and my husband. This trip was purchased through a traditional agent. We stayed at Sandal's in Ocho Rios, which was very nice until the hurricaine! The problem occured when we were sent to the airport, being told that our flight was leaving as scheduled. After spending about 12 hours in the airport Air Jamaica finally admitted that we would not be flying out and sent us to stay at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort. This resort was very dirty, and I would not recommend it to anyone! It took 3 days before we were able to fly home, each day being told to meet in the lobby with our bags and then told there were no flights available until the next day. In the meantime I ran up a $1000 phone bill trying to keep my mother up to date on when we would be returning, she was watching our children for us. During this whole time I was never able to get in touch with our so-called travel agent! The international number listed on our paperwork would not go through? Once returning home I contacted this agency to see if they could assist us in getting a reimbursement of the expenses incurred due to Air Jamaica's inability to give us a straight answer when we would be returning, and was left on my own to deal with the airline. My question is why pay the extra money for professional services that aren't available when you really need them?

[John Frenaye]

There is a difference between a Category 5 hurricane that pelts the island and the story highlighted in Alison's column.

From your comment on my blog I assume you are talking about Hurricane Ivan. I am also not sure why you were sent to the airport in the first place unless you insisted. Sandals knew the airport was closed and woudl be for several days and kept all guests in their resorts at no charge until CONFIRMED flights were available. It is possible you insisted that you had to leave (thinking that you were somehow different than the other several hundred thousand on the island) and got stuck in Mobay when the roads back to Ochi became impassable.

However, you did get a free replacement vacation out of it did you not?

[Maui Weddings]

Feeling really nice after reading your blogs and all the comments. Thanks for creating such a wonderful post.

[Punta Cana vacation]

Oh, that's so sad. You should check backgrounds of those agents who you're paying. You're newlyweds and you don't deserve scam. Good luck on your couple life.

-carl