| Address: | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
I am from Singapore. I booked a customized tour package with Thomas cook Chennai(Adyar branch) for Europe. I told them that i need all the travel related documents including train tickets in Europe, hotel stay before i apply for Visa. In the first call, someone called Dinoh Gurumoorthy from Thomas cook promised that everything can be done in 4 days. I first contacted them on Jul 29th and i received all the documents finally after so much arguments on September 8th. I had to literally chase them for getting my train tickets before my VISA appointment date. Aruna Priya(Dinoh's manager. thats what she told me) from Thomascook told us that Visa doesn't need Train tickets where as VISA office here in Singapore asks for one. What is the issue for thomas cook to issue my train tickets as requested by VISA office even after i paid the full amount incurred for the tour very very early.Looks like even after i paid the full amount they want to safegaurad their money until VISA is approved. Doesn't this sound so cheap?
ArunaPriya boasted that Thomas cook is an experienced company and they know everything but I don't find a professionalism and experience in any of their services. I sent them around 70 emails and 'n' number of phone calls from Singapore. They never called me even once also and never replied my emails on time even though I paid the total cost (full amount) of the trip the next day they sent the invoice.
The travel agents and their manager seem to lack knowledge in arranging Europe tours. They only talk a lot but I could see nothing in action. I asked for a hotel in Switzerland and Dinoh said there is no availability for my dates. I was able to book the hotel by myself by directly contacting the hotel in the next few hours. I asked them not to book any activities after 6 pm and they booked a Gondola tour in Venice by 7.30 pm which I missed to notice at first since the itinerary was a long one.
They suddenly changed plan for Milan to Venice travel dates (due to local festival for which i agreed) for which they forgot to extend the hotel booking and I am left with no room for 1 day from morning till evening. They could have arranged for late checkout the next day but didn't do it and didn't inform us also. When enquired about this a week later, she blamed on my husband that he is reacting too late and didn't inform about this earlier. Looks like their staff needs coaching from customers on how to book hotel co-ordinated with tour / flight timing.
Nothing happened as promised. I regret so much on choosing Thomas cook to plan my travel. I myself could have planned in better way. I didn't find time to organize everything so I sought their help but I was left with lack of peace of mind. I would never recommend this company to anyone. They will literally make your tour experience a horrible one. Was this information helpful? | 
