Celtis87

My wife and I scheduled a rail and drive trip in Western Canada through Vacationsbyrail.com, which was supposed to begin on a Wednesday. It was to be a wonderful opportunity to get some really nice photos. Even bought a new lens for the trip. The Saturday before (that’s 4 days before) I tested positive for COVID. I contacted VBR, not to cancel, but to request that we postpone our trip until we’re both medically cleared to travel. I have a letter from my physician attesting to my diagnosis with COVID. We knew there was a no refunds policy, but we were very disappointed when VBR told us we were SOL. My getting COVID is not their problem. They would do nothing for us. I have trip insurance through my credit card, so that’s not the point. Apparently, this group would be fine with someone in this situation deciding they couldn’t afford to eat thousands of dollars and getting on the Rocky Mountaineer train anyway, thereby exposing everyone on that train to COVID. I would never do that, since I take this pandemic seriously. So, I just want make as many people as I can aware of the policy requiring payment in full three months before the trip and no recourse for the curveballs life throws at you. Who knows what your fellow passengers aren’t telling you? BUYER BEWARE. I know, first world problems, but wrong is wrong. Regards, Art

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Very sorry to hear that you are sick. I wish you a speedy uneventful recovery. Forgive me but I have to ask. The no refunds policy of the travel company was made clear up front, correct? You knowingly accepted the their terms and booked the trip. I'm not saying that the travel company has a good policy or bad policy only stating that they presented the terms of doing business and you accepted the terms going in. Am I missing something here?

Celtis87

It was very clear. That is why I didn’t ask for a refund. I asked to postpone the trip. Airlines have non-refundable fares, but you can postpone your flight and pay the difference in fare for the rebooked flight.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Seems like you have travel options, some with more flexibility than others. Maybe consider planes going forward?

Celtis87

Whatever I do won’t be through Vacations By Rail.

TonyF Loc: Bradenton, FL

Keep us posted on how the insurance works with your cc. I always buy travel insurance, had to use it a couple of times and never had a problem. Interested to see how the cc handles it.

Celtis87

Will do. Thanks for checking in. What bothers me most is 2/3 of the money went for hotel rooms, local tours, and a car rental, all of which would have been cancel-able had I made the reservations myself. Money grab.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Yes, this tour company's approach sucks. Yes, they made their policy clear. Money grab? No.
Bad business policy and customer service-YES. Thanks for the heads-up.

Celtis87

You don’t think they canceled the hotels, tours, and car rentals and just kept the money, giving me no option to reschedule and pushing it off on the trip insurance company?

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Actually no.
You were part of a group. And travel companies book and pay for their 'group's accommodations and most services in advance as well.
Now if they were a really good company, and they were fully booked for your trip..and they were able to fill in from a waiting list; then, if it were me, I would offer a credit against a future trip. Don't know if this actually happens anyway. Or, I may offer a partial credit (not refund) for some costs that may not have been incurred.
Now, I am sure you read their Terms and Conditions. See relevant sections attached.
This is why you have/buy TRAVEL INSURANCE.
A good company story...
We booked Tauck for Russia Trip October 2020-in September 2019. Deposits paid. Travel Insurance through Tauck.
Covid hit. We did not travel. Tauck refunded deposit, except for Travel Insurance for 2. Just booked Tauck trip for October 2024. They credited our Travel Insurance (from 3-4 years ago) against our trip cost.
Now that's customer service and appreciation.

kjfishman Loc: Fulton MO

We always get Travel Insurance when we take trips like that. We had to use it for a Viking Europe River Cruise we had planned. Had to cancel due to a serious health issue that came out of nowhere.

Celtis87

We have travel insurance. Our plan wasn’t to cancel, just to postpone. The intransigence of their position, when most of the expense was in hotel rooms and car rental, was particularly infuriating. I never asked to cancel.

Rascal gene

We were shafted by globus when they sold us the tour it was level one physically, when time for final payment it was level 3 , they refused to refund, we charged back the credit card but lost the trip insurance $600.00. Fee.

Rascal gene

Have your credit card company charge back the charges, if they will.