Not worthy
Gudivada Ramesh
(Hyderabad)
(Written on 07 May, 2025)
What's Good: To begin, I would like to acknowledge the positive aspects of my experience with Travelocat, as I want to ensure my review is balanced and fair. Thank you, Travelocat, for providin (Read More)g the following positive elements during our trip:
1. Accommodation: The company arranged decent accommodation, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay throughout our trip with nice view points. (Mountain Apple Inn at Manali and Sakoon Villa at Shimla)
2. Transportation: The vehicle provided was in excellent condition, making our daily commute smooth and convenient.
3. Customer Service: I must commend their responsiveness. Regardless of the time, the team was quick to reply to any inquiries, showing their commitment to customer support.
What's Not Good: Before I begin, I want to make it clear that this review is not written out of personal grudge or bitterness. My sole intention is to share an honest account of our experience in the hope that it helps at least one couple avoid the disappointment we went through. Choosing the right travel agency is crucial, especially for something as special as a honeymoon—and I sincerely hope this feedback helps someone make a more informed decision.
As with any organization, there are always two sides—strengths and areas for improvement. Unfortunately, in my experience with this company, the drawbacks significantly outweighed the benefits. I would estimate that only about 20–25% of the experience was positive, while the remaining 75–80% was disappointing.
I’m sharing my honest feedback regarding my recent 5-day, 4-night honeymoon trip to Manali, organized by Travelocat (Delhi to Delhi). This review is not intended to gain anything in return; my only hope is that it helps at least one other traveler avoid a similar experience. I know firsthand the frustration and regret that come with placing your trust—and money—in the wrong hands.
One of the most concerning aspects of this experience is how the company maintains such a high rating on Google. Based on what I encountered, it’s hard to believe those ratings reflect genuine customer experiences. It raises the question of whether the reviews are being influenced internally or through external paid review services.
Now, moving on to the cons—which, unfortunately, far outweighed the positives in our experience:
1. Lack of Agency Involvement After Arrival: One of the main reasons people choose a travel agency is for local guidance and to avoid potential exploitation in unfamiliar places. Sadly, that assurance was completely absent from our trip. After arriving in Delhi, the agency had no further involvement, simply handing us off to a driver. We ended up losing a significant amount of money to local vendors, many of whom seemed to be in collaboration with the driver. We were pressured into unnecessary purchases with little to no room for alternatives. This was extremely disheartening.
2. Driver Experience and Itinerary Gaps: While the assigned driver was polite, he failed to follow the itinerary properly. He frequently skipped locations, citing travel fatigue, and we ended up visiting only about 50–60% of the places mentioned in our original plan. He offered no insights or guidance about any of the destinations—just dropped us off and left. This completely diminished the purpose of a guided trip, and I’ll attach the original itinerary for reference.
3. Poor Food Quality: The morning breakfast and evening dinners included in our package were below standard at both hotels. For South Indian travelers especially, the food was almost inedible. Even when we were willing to pay for better options—like basic Chinese dishes in Shimla—the hotel staff denied our request. This reflects a lack of flexibility and customer consideration.
4. Candlelight Dinner Disappointment: The so-called "candlelight dinner" included in the package turned out to be laughable. A candle placed in a bowl with some rice flour on a standard table was the full extent of the arrangement. It lacked any sense of occasion or romance. I’ll share photos to help others avoid falling for this add-on.
5. Waste of Time in Shimla: We had two days each planned for Manali and Shimla. Regrettably, Shimla felt like a complete waste of time. The driver dropped us at Kufri and left us at the mercy of local operators who coerced us into buying expensive packages with no alternative options. After Kufri, we were supposed to visit key sites like Christ Church and Mall Road, but the driver skipped them and took us directly to the hotel. In effect, we saw only Kufri during our entire stay in Shimla.
6. Misleading Information About Hot Air Balloon Ride: One of the main reasons we chose this package was the hot air balloon experience in Kullu—a dream activity for our honeymoon. We were assured of its availability by the sales team and even given pricing details. But upon reaching Kullu, the driver informed us that it wasn’t ballooning season. This was deeply disappointing and felt like a serious oversight or, worse, a deliberate misrepresentation.
7. Unnecessary Delays During Return Travel: On our way back to Delhi from Shimla, we left early with plans to explore India Gate on our own. However, the driver stopped for over an hour and a half, claiming he was meeting a friend. A similar incident occurred earlier in Shimla as well. These unnecessary delays were unprofessional and disrupted our schedule.
I have several more points of dissatisfaction, but I understand this has already become a lengthy review. I'm not sure how many people will read it in full—but if even one couple avoids the regret we experienced by reading this, I’ll consider it worthwhile.
In short, choosing this agency for what should have been our first memorable journey as a couple turned out to be a major disappointment. This review is not written out of anger, but from a genuine desire to prevent others from going through the same disheartening experience.
If you’ve read this far, thank you sincerely for your time and patience.
TravelOcat replied
(08 May, 2025)
Dear Guest,
First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and honest account of your experience. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that your honeymoon trip did not me
(Read More)et expectations. A honeymoon should be one of the most joyful and memorable journeys of a couple’s life, and we regret that we fell short in delivering that for you.
At TravelOcat, we aim to provide dependable and delightful travel experiences. It's clear from your feedback that several aspects of your trip did not reflect the standards we strive for. Please allow us to address some of the concerns you raised:
1. Lack of On-Ground Support: We apologize for the limited involvement after your arrival. Our goal is always to ensure seamless support throughout the journey, and we’re investigating why that didn’t happen in your case.
2. Driver Conduct and Itinerary Deviations: We take itinerary adherence seriously. Any driver not respecting schedules or skipping key points will face corrective action. This is not the experience we intend for our guests.
3. Food & Special Arrangements: We're sorry that the meals and the candlelight dinner fell short of expectations. We've flagged this with our hotel partners to improve quality and presentation, especially for couples on romantic getaways.
4. Hot Air Balloon Miscommunication: If you were promised an activity that wasn’t available due to seasonal limitations, we sincerely apologize. Accurate information is critical, and our sales team is being retrained to avoid such lapses.
5. Vendor Pressure and Delays: We strongly oppose any kind of pressure selling or misuse of guest time by our drivers or local vendors. These issues are now under internal review.
Your feedback is not only noted—it’s valued. We would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you personally and explore how we can make things right, even if retrospectively. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or call us directly at +91 78100 50005.
Thank you once again for bringing this to our attention. We’re committed to learning from this and doing better for every future traveler.