Be careful what travel agency you use
Contributors to this thread:International
From: Brock
16-Aug-12
Unfortunately I used Gracy Travel agency to book my flights to and from South Africa. We were moved to a different flight in April but Gracy NEVER notified us. The did send a final itinery with the changed flight but sent us tickets with the old flight. I thought the tickets were correct so we missed the flight. Gracy did nothing to help us that day or after we got back. I will NEVER use them again and will tell everyone how sorry their service was. Three months before our flight leaves they received notice of the change and they couldn't spend 1 second informing me? Once they have your money they don't care about you.
From: Stekewood
16-Aug-12
That sucks! I can't understand why anyone would use a travel agent these days. It's so easy and convenient to book everything on line and not have to deal with a middle man.
From: Bigpizzaman
16-Aug-12
Stekewood X2
From: prezboys
16-Aug-12
I had a similar issue with Custom Travel. Now a days you can book just as well on your own.
From: wild1
16-Aug-12
I always book my own travel arrangements, but having said that, if you're traving internationl with connecting flights (and using different airlines for connections), booking on your own is almost impossible. Agents have access to the Sabre system, which makes the entire process possible - but they're also supposed to be at your service for paying them.
From: Bowfreak
16-Aug-12
I booked with an agent and it was nearly $300 cheaper than I could book the same flight myself. The agent had a handful of promotional seats or something as a fellow bowsiter called later and they no longer had the offer.
From: Mudslinger
16-Aug-12
I used Lori Ginn with Travel Express to book our flights for Sept and I have been very, very happy with the service.
From: Brock
16-Aug-12
I am certainly not saying all travel agencies are bad. I was commenting that I had a really bad experience with Gracy. No notice we were changed to another flight. I worked with Doug Grey. What I am trying to do is warn people that their tickets and everything can be wrong-check everything for yourself as Gracy won't.
Also, the day we missed the flight the person working at the counter helped us NOT Gracy travel. Good luck to everyone and be careful.
From: Brock
16-Aug-12
From: Buffalo1
16-Aug-12
On both of my African adventures I have used Annelise DuBose. Neil Summers introduced me to her in 2008. On my first conversation with her I asked her did she know anything about South Africa. She told me she was from there. At that point, I got in the backseat and let her drive.
She was originally with Gracey Travel, but now owns her own company. She is very professional and prompt with return calls. She has always gotten the best deals and rates for me. She is also very knowledge of travel to other continents if that is where your travels are taking you.
Also, her mother owns Afton House in Joburg. That also helps in getting reservations there.
Annelise DuBose Areva Travel Boerne, TX
1-877-215-4761 1-210-568-9603 [email protected]
From: Brock
17-Aug-12
Buffalo1-Thank you for the information. we spent a number of days at the Afton House and love the folks there. I will certainly call her in the future!
From: jp
25-Aug-12
I used travel express, Lori Ginn. Notified me of changes and kept me informed. Very happy with the service.
From: bghunter
26-Aug-12
Used Lori Ginn with our first trip to africa (not the last hopefully). Her and her husband Troy own a hunting consultant business. They are great people and really looked after us on our trip and did a great job booking our flights to SA.
From: elknuts2
31-Aug-12
Annelise DuBose, Gracy Travel (sorry Brock, most people have great experience with them) and Steve Turner of Travels with Guns are all good agents.
My next trip, I'll probably use Steve Turner and end up staying overnight at Afton House.
From: BIGHORN
04-Sep-12
I used my niece's travel agency and she set up all kinds of extra side trips for us while in Frankfurt. Didn't have to go through JoBerg when we went to Namibia. On the second trip with had to land in JoBerg because that is where we were picked up.
From: Bud Meadows
20-Jul-13
I too used Lori Ginn and was VERY pleased with her service and attention to detail.
From: MeanMachine
21-Jul-13
I think Gracy Travel has too much business. I tried setting up a trip with them for myself and two other hunters to South Africa in November of last year for a trip in August of 2013 but had to call and follow up with them for a simple quote. I was not even called or emailed a simple quote. We were going with Gracy based on a friends recommendation but they never came through for our group. I ended up booking with Lori at Travel Express and got great customer service up to this point. She even changed our flights after Delta messed up our connection with no charges. When we get back I'll give feedback.
From: Dale06
24-Oct-24
Thanks for the heads up on Gracy.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
26-Oct-24
This thread is from 2012!
From: t-roy
26-Oct-24
I saw that too, Ken. FWIW…..We used Gracy in 2015, and had a great experience with them.
