Ripped Off: My China Travel Nightmare
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Be Warned! I Strongly Advise Against Choosing This Tourism Company!!
Hangzhou Xingrun Tourism Co., Ltd.I urgently want to make this warning known, as Hangzhou Xingrun Tourism Co., Ltd. is a definite trip pitfall.
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On April 19th, we happily booked a journey with them to Hangzhou, intended to start on May 1 and last until May 4.
- Background Info: The days starting from May 1st are part of China's May Day Labor Holiday, equivalent to your public holidays, during which everything is crowded and hotels and tickets are particularly hard to come by.
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At the time, their salesperson spoke very persuasively, saying something like "If you consult today, you can book today, with special discounts to boot!" We believed them and took action, booking seats for two people resolutely.
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However, here is where the bad news comes in, yesterday being our day before departure! They delivered the following message: "Oops, the seats are full, no more space for you two, and the hotels are also very tight."
- Hearing that sentence was like seeing my world collapse! We had placed all our trust in them, not booking any alternative accommodation ourselves.
- Additionally, at this point, even if we sought to find other accommodations, prices increase dramatically, and many options have become unavailable!
- Furthermore, switching to a different travel group? Same story: steep price hikes!
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What infuriated me most was their attitude! It was a complete contrast to when they were trying to get us to reserve: instead, they'd become harsh and impatient, unwilling to have productive communication.
- Enraged indeed, I couldn't eat dinner nor get restful sleep after all!
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What's more, they haven't refunded our deposit either, which is unquestionably deception! We will persist in lodging complaints until there's compensation provided both financially and psychologically!
️ Important Reminder for Travelers:- When they're using "special deals on same day booking" as a gimmick, do please be wary.
- Sometimes, it's merely their way of pushing you to pay sooner rather than later. Don't rush into decisions; compare multiple destinations first.
- During major public holidays in China (like the Labour Day holiday or National Day holiday), early reservations for accommodation and transportation are paramount!
- There are indeed overwhelmingly large numbers of people around then. If searching last minute, it'd either cost an outrageous amount or you simply won't manage to secure anything.
- A few days before departure, it's crucial to confirm all details related to seating, accommodation, and arrangements thoroughly with your tour operator.
- While it may seem a burdensome process, re-affirming everything offers an added level of security.
- You should ideally keep records of all forms of communication, payment proof etc.
- In the event of trouble, these could be used to validate claims for rights protection.
- Should you encounter suspicion with regard to the reliability of one tour agency, or sense changes in their attitude, try swiftly switching to another one.
- Trustworthiness holds the greatest value of all!
In hope that my experience enlightens you all to avoid the same pitfalls. Stay well and enjoy safe travels!
#Hangzhou #HangzhouTourism #TravelTips #OnlineFraudWarning #HonestyIsKey #SuzhouHangzhouTravel -
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Feel free to call 12345 to file a complaint.
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The contract should only be signed upon arrival. Otherwise, I'm definitely going to sue them. I'm so furious my head is spinning!
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I booked with them too. After seeing your post, I tried to get a refund, but they're ignoring me. I've already reported it to 12345.
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Personally, I think it's more reliable to book trips through established platforms. It's easier to get help or assert your rights if issues come up.
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Signing contracts on arrival? That's a scam nine times out of ten.
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Well, I signed my contract on arrival in Yunnan last year and didn't have any issues.
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Oh, she arranged my trip too, and it was genuinely great! They even threw in a complimentary hotel night extension.
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I booked through her, and overall, the trip was pretty good. Definitely book in advance, especially for May Day, as vehicles run out. A few friends of mine tried to go last minute, but all the tours from Hangzhou were fully booked and they had to cancel because there was no transportation available.
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I booked with them too. Even the deposit receipt with the company seal looks exactly the same. Is it called Xinglan?
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Sweetie, it's not Xinglan. Mine was with a company called Xingrun.
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It sounds like your initial discussions were quite vague. Personally, I believe that before any deposit is paid, every single detail needs to be laid out crystal clear. This includes the vehicle type and price, accommodation costs, hotel names, whether meals are included, and the complete itinerary. A firm agreement must be reached beforehand, with no objections from either side, before the tourist pays the deposit and the driver or company accepts it. It should also clearly state when the remaining balance is due. Some operators demand full payment upon arrival, whereas I always settle the balance after the trip is completely finished! So, it really feels like these details weren't made clear in your case. You absolutely must be more careful next time!
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A 100 deposit? That's clearly a scam! How are they supposed to book hotels, transportation, and attraction tickets with just 100?
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What would I possibly gain from faking this picture???
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Honestly, it's hard to avoid these types. They're likely just customer service agents operating across different platforms, taking orders. They could easily pull a fast one and then disappear by switching accounts. What probably happened is you booked, but then May Day got so popular that no local travel agencies were willing or able to pick up your booking.