THIS IS MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND IT MIGHT NOT REFLECT OTHERS EXPERIENCES DURING THE 8 MONTHS LOCKDOWN REVIEW
I traveled to a conference and a retreat in the Middle East and I found myself “stuck” in Dahab the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. All of my activities but yoga were canceled at the last minute due to Coronavirus…
REVIEWS AIRLINE AND TRAVEL SITES BELOW
AIRLINES
- IBERIA
2. EGYPT AIR Website
I purchased my ticket through EGYPT AIR’S website on February 18 2020 from Cairo to Amman Jordan. Late February I received the note from Queen Rania’s Academy canceling the conference until later notice (December that was again canceled). I communicated with Egypt AIR informing the cancellation from the Queen’s Academy and the Corona situation. I wanted to get a refund or a voucher to change the dates. They refused to do either one!. NEVER AGAIN I WILL BOOK WITH EGYPT AIR, they did not even honor an official note even though I booked my ticket with EGYPT AIR Site.
3. ROYAL AIR MAROC
I purchased my ticket with E-dreams Cairo to Madrid. I had to almost stalk Royal Air Maroc to answer my emails to receive a refund or a voucher. Many of my emails were not answered so I kept emailing for months. I have a voucher now to use on Royal Air Maroc with many limitations for its use. I probably will loose the funds once again
4. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
I received email communication that my flight was cancelled and to call Ethiopian airlines. I spent days trying to communicate with the airline and no answer. I had to make an international call to Ethiopia several times (I would get cut off) and they still did not have the communication straight. Some folks told me there was a flight while other ones did not know what was going on…unbelievable….after much fighting and finding out more information about the airline, I was able to receive a voucher….
Update: on November I was able to travel to Buenos Aires after 8 months in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. It is a long flight, the longest flight the happier I am, from Cairo-Addis Ababa-Sao Paulo-Buenos Aires. It was a pretty comfortable flight because the two seats right next to me were empty, yay!!! Many told me to fly on business but why spending all that money? the Ethiopian Airlines staff is so incredibly friendly and professional that I let all the headaches pass for now. Let’s hope that when I travel again in 2021 things go smoothly…
TRAVEL SITES
- Travel2Be
- E-Dreams
Trav2BE Online Travel SITE
I booked my international flight through Trav2BE online travel with a flight operated by Iberia airlines. Since March 24th I received emails from Iberia (airline from Spain) informing me the flight might have some changes. No information clarified if changes were cancellations, just uncertainty. I called the travel site for weeks (no less than 40 times) with no answer spending a lot of money on international calls. After several weeks, I received an email informing me that I can receive a voucher and no choice of a refund. Needless to say, I will not be using eDreams travel ever again.
E-DREAMS Online Travel
I purchased a one-way ticket from Cairo to Madrid with E-Dreams flying with ROYAL AIR MAROC for $339 USD. I called E-Dreams FOR OVER TWO MONTHS! to check on the status of my flight with no luck. E-Dreams help center did not work out either. I ended up with a voucher that I had to fight for with the airline. The online travel site never answered or offered a refund or a change for another flight to my destination. I HAD TO BUY A NEW FLIGHT.
HEALTH INSURANCE
- Hey Mondo
I am required to have receipts to send to the Health Insurance, however nobody, I mean nobody, will give you anything close to a receiptpiece in Dahab and mostly in Egypt. Lots of money lost. Sometimes you have to take your losses, this would be a no win battle and I have no energy going there now.
When the insurance policy expired, I decided to purchase the same travel insurance for another year. Whenever I had questions Mondo always replied in a professional matter. I had been way beyond disappointed in the past with Travel Nomads. I had purchased their insurance several times and when I really needed them, I was beyond disappointed. Travel Nomads is never an option for me again.
TraveL industry keep in mind that the people you are affecting are your customers. We, travelers, have great memory and have our own travel communities. We will book again according to our experiences.
