raagrich

[raagrich]

Day 2, Aug 6th 2018

Even if it means taking baby steps towards achieving your goals, do it! It is still a step towards your Goal! 

[raagrich]

Bharath International Travels/ Uniglobe BIT, Mysore - Not a pleasant experience. A Review

Thank You for taking time to go through my blog. My first posting is, unfortunately, an experience I have to post to educate people, to not fall into the trappings of a Travel Company, as the one mentioned above.

So, the story...

I was reached out by Mr. Murali from BIT (Bharath International Travels) on March 30th, 2018 promoting the ‘Himachal Deluxe package’ saying that this package was built for a a very short group of only 12 people and that is a Deluxe package, where in 3.5* hotel accommodation would be provided. I asked him to send across the Itinerary. The trip was scheduled for April 26th.

Upon reviewing the Itinerary, I noticed they had mentioned ‘Rohtang Pass’ in it, as a one-day sight-seeing location. I questioned him about the timing of it! He assured me that the Pass will be open and he went on to give me all the details about it; about how we are to book a separate vehicle and that the rates ranges from 4K-7K depending on season! I went to the Internet to do research and it was indicated at many places that the Pass is normally open beyond end of May! I brought back this information to him! He assured me again, that the Pass was open. #FirstWrongInformation

And, so, initial booking amount was sent across! And then came the first shocker! They played some drama about saying another party also paid money and they wanted to be also on board this package. So, to accommodate them, they increased the party size to 14! And, before you know it, the group size had already expanded to 18 people! #SecondWrongInformation

Later, he came back saying, to keep us all happy, they will be providing two Tempo Traveller for comfort of all. Besides, the terrain also would not be ideal for the big bus. #ThirdWrongInformation

Calls came for the balance amount to be transferred, which was paid promptly. Once, the amount was paid in full, requests for a call back was not prompt. And when they did call back, the reason for the delay was attributed to sending another party overseas, a training session etc etc. 

On April 23rd, a revised Itinerary was sent to include ‘Solang Valley or Rohtang Pass’. Upon calling Murali, he explained that people can choose to go to either Solang or Rohtang. Again, on this day also, no mention of #RohtangPass being closed was conveyed to any of us. #FourthWrongInformation

Finally the day came for us to travel, April 26th. We were received at the Chandigarh airport by the Tempo Traveller guys (outsourced to some company Mountain Mysteries) (#MoutainMysteries) . Our TT was clean and new and the driver, young, helpful and energetic (name, Banty; thats his spelling). 

The other TT sent was not the one the Travel agency had sent information about and it was old and rickety, The other 9 passengers travelling in it, complained about it and only the next day was it replaced. 

We had lunch in #PinjaraDhaba enroute Shimla and the food was delicious and owner friendly too! 

In Shimla, we were put up in Clarks Inn #AshianaRegency; decent hotel but construction was going on and it disturbed us, with the noise and dust! Food served at the Buffet was good and right! Rooms comfortable!

#Day2 We set off for Sight seeing but were delayed because the second TT had not arrived yet. One batch of TT had to move ahead and the second TT caught up later after about 4 hours. 

Evening showers messed up the program little bit and we could not visit the Grindlays Bank, Mosques,  and the Scandal Point. 

#Day3 Shimla to Manali. We were put up at #SnowRetreat. Close to the Shopping area and the Hidimba temple. One downside of this hotel is there are no elevators. With couple of Senior Citizens in our group, the Agency should have taken a step further and booked their rooms in the lower floor. We were all given top floor (3rd) and had to climb up and down for the meals and room. An issue was encountered with one of the Waiters and the Front Desk staff (being rude) which was resolved when the Owner was contacted. 

We enquired about the status of the #RohtangPass and was informed that it was closed and has not been opened at all. It probably will not open for couple of weeks. We were disappointed!

#Day4 Solang Valley excursion.

#Day5 Since #Rohtang was closed, we hired 2 Tata Sumos to take us to #Hamta Pass instead. The hired TT were left at the hotel idle and was utilized only in the evening by some ladies for some shopping. 

#Day 6 Before we headed out to Chandigarh, we stopped at the Manu temple and stopped at one of the Shawl outlets. Enroute, the second TT had some problem again; it was taken to the Service center, a driver changed also. The estimate to reach Chandigarh was incorrect and we checked into the hotel around 1 AM.

Enroute to Chandigarh, Murali calls up to find out about the trip and me, along with one co-passenger conveyed over the phone, that the group was disappointed with the #Rohtang being left out. 

#Day7. Had breakfast and checked out of the #HotelSwan at around 0930 to catch the flight back to #Blr.

Upon returning to #Blr, I brought up the issue with Murali again. He referred the issue to Mr. Syed who was to call me in 2 days. The call, as expected, did not come through. I called Mr. Manish Salian (#Salian), Owner and he listened to me that day only (Later on, we would not pick up my calls through the reception!). 

Later that evening, Mr. Syed calls me up and I had to repeat the whole ordeal and the real issue we have had with #Rohtang. Mr. Syed contacts #MountainMysteries, based in #HP and gets an email that it was shut down only during that time because of excessive snow. 

I contacted the HP Tourism Development Offices at Chandigarh, Delhi and Ahmedabad and got confirmation that the #Rohtang was not opened on those dates and that it has NEVER been opened since winter began. I forwarded those details to Mr Syed and Mr Manish via email, along with the Phone numbers requesting them to get the accurate information. No response for couple of days; reminders sent and then a standard response comes along saying, we have tried our best and that there is nothing more that can be done and that they rely on their travel partner in HP!

I escalated the issue to #Uniglobe. After about six reminders, Mr Andrew Harry connects me with Ms. Ritika Modi (#RitikaModi), VP for India Ops. It was a standard bureaucratic response from Ms. Modi as well. 

What upsets me to this day, is that Mr. Modi choose to merely connect me with the #BITMysore office via email and informs me that they have communicated to me everything. Both, #Uniglobe and #BharathInternationalTravels did not own the issue or take accountability for the same. Mr Manish chose to just ‘close’ the issue from their side. 

Agreed, the #Rohtang pass is highly unpredictable because of weather conditions. But why publish it in the first place when you would know, historically, it will not be open? #AmountsToCheating 

And second, to modify the itinerary, couple of days ahead and still not inform the passengers that the Pass is closed is just not acceptable. Just shows, how shady they work! #NotEthical

The competitor Travel agencies, specifically, note in the Itinerary that the Rohtang pass opens only after mid-May! I strongly believe these guys included it in the first place, to entice people like me and then send us off to a different place. 

Through this post, which will serve as a reminder for myself, I want to educate the folks on what to watch out for when dealing with #TravelAgents. Be wary, especially, when you are dealing with #BITMysore. I have communicated to them that I am never doing Business with Uniglobe or UniglobeBIT and will ensure my friends and family members do not do business them as well. 

I have saved all the communication from them in this regard and ready to publish that too. 

Best wishes and Godspeed!