18 Apr 2023
I have had a very poor experience with bookings on my trip to London through Tripadvisor and apparently Viator.
I booked a day trip to the Cotswolds (booking #996265569, confirmation # 1384268297) on Monday, April 17. This was with UK Stays and Adventures. The specific day in the online calendar was available, I paid with Visa, and received a confirmation number (attached below) and noted the entry on my Visa account which is still there. There also was a simultaneous trip booked to Windsor and the total Visa debit listed as ViatorTripadvisor US was $1,101.91 on 4/6/23.
I showed up at the designated departure area on Monday, having dedicated that day for the trip. No one showed up after my waiting an hour. I called the tour operator (+44 7931 576802) and he said that the day I had made reservations was actually full and someone should have let me know. My email and phone were available on the reservation and no one had contacted me by either. He said he would call me back, but never did.
That afternoon, I called him again and he told me again that he would call me but never did.
What incredible incompetence: website allowed an unavailable trip and sent confirmation, no one notified me despite having email/phone number, I wasted half a day, I called the tour director twice who said both times he would call and he never did.
The charges are still on my Visa and will be contested.
I expect more from Tripadvisor
Fred Kerns
Sent from my iPad