Planning overseas adventure travel for 2024? You might want to think twice before booking with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). Based on a recent customer experience, what initially seemed like a bargain turned into a costly and frustrating ordeal, leaving a once-loyal customer feeling cheated and warning others to steer clear. This review details a problematic experience with trip cancellations and refunds, highlighting why OAT might not be the reliable choice for your overseas adventures in 2024.
The customer had initially booked a Jordan/Egypt/Cyprus trip, which was already a replacement for a previously planned Israel/Egypt/Jordan itinerary. An Athens post-trip extension was also added to this booking. When OAT cancelled the main trip, the customer was offered a reschedule to December 2024, reverting to the Israel/Egypt/Jordan itinerary, with price protection. Despite the itinerary change, the discounted price made it seem like a reasonable alternative for future overseas adventure travel. However, the situation quickly deteriorated when it came to the Athens post-trip.
Having paid over $2,000 for the Athens extension, the customer was informed of a refund for this portion since it was no longer available due to the cancellation of the main trip. They were initially told the refund would take 30-45 days. After multiple follow-up calls to OAT, they received repeated assurances that the refund was being processed. However, day 45 arrived with no refund in sight.
Upon contacting OAT again, the customer spent over an hour on the phone, only to be initially told that a processing error had occurred, but the refund would be issued, again with a 30-45 day processing time. Escalating the issue to a supervisor led to a complete reversal. The supervisor stated that no refund was due for the Athens post-trip. The reasoning was that since the customer declined a West Bank post-trip option (offered as a replacement for the original replacement trip), they were not entitled to the Athens refund, despite having paid for a service that was cancelled by OAT.
This experience culminated in the customer feeling that they had effectively donated over $2,000 to OAT, describing the situation as a bait and switch tactic. Despite initial promises of a refund, the supervisor’s stance indicated a complete disregard for prior assurances, with a focus instead on “retraining” employees to avoid offering refunds in similar situations in the future. This account serves as a stark warning for anyone considering overseas adventure travel in 2024 with OAT. The seemingly attractive prices may come with hidden risks and unreliable customer service, potentially turning your dream adventure into a financial and emotional disappointment. It’s crucial to consider these potential pitfalls before entrusting your travel plans and money to OAT for your overseas adventure travel in 2024.
