I’m Aananya Desair, and for the past 7 years I’ve been writing about travel. Since then, I’ve heard a lot of stories from tourists about trips that went horribly wrong and trips that went really well. I try to give helpful travel tips so that other people can avoid problems and get the most out of their trips as a travel writer. Read below about “How a Travel Agent Ruined a Mehsana Couple’s American Dream.
This article will tell you a story about a couple from Mehsana whose American dream trip turned into a nightmare because of things that a dishonest travel agent did.
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About the Couple Meet
This is Sanjay and Priya. They are married and from Mehsana. They are in their late 30s. The job of Sanjay is a bookkeeper, and the job of Priya is a school teacher. They have two little kids. Like many Indian middle-class families, they’ve always wanted to visit the U.S. and see famous places like the Grand Canyon, Times Square, and Hollywood.
These people had been saving money for years so they could finally take their American dream vacation. They were excited and eager, so they went to a local travel service called Raj Travels to make the plans.
The Dishonest Dealings of the Travel Agent
Rajesh, the owner of Raj Travels, seemed friendly and willing to help at first. He came up with an exciting 8-night plan that included many of the places Sanjay and Priya really wanted to see. Since the price was good for them, they gladly gave Rajesh a 50% deposit to hold their hotel rooms and flights.
That’s where things went wrong, though.
As the trip date got closer, Sanjay started asking Rajesh for their electronic flight tickets and hotel passes. Rajesh kept putting things off and giving reasons. He said the proofs would be late, but to believe him, everything was already set up.
With only two weeks to go, Sanjay and Priya checked with the flight office and hotels on their own. They were shocked to find that Rajesh had not booked anything! Everything was a lie. Also, the cost of flights had doubled, and all the motels were full.
Their dream of living in America was broken. Rajesh yelled at Sanjay and Priya instead of admitting he was wrong. They didn’t trust him, so he blamed them. Now, though, it was painfully clear that the ticket agent had taken their money and lied to them on purpose.
Putting the Pieces Together
It was terrible for Sanjay and Priya. It was a bad start to their long-awaited trip. As they thought about this wrong, they also began to make plans for what to do next. Since their original plans have changed, could they change their American dream trip with the money they still had?
As an American travel writer, I would have told them to focus on just one or two places on their trip instead of trying to fit eight into a short time. They could spend a week in New York City and see things like Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and the Empire State Building.
If they want to see nature wonders, they could also have an amazing trip by going to the Grand Canyon and other national parks in that area. The key is to narrow your attention so that you don’t get too tired or spend too much. For Sanjay and Priya, the trip could still take them to parts of America they’ve always dreamed of seeing, even if it doesn’t include everything on their original American dream schedule.
As for the dishonest travel agent Rajesh, Sanjay and Priya chose to go to court to get their money back and stop other tourists from being scammed in the same way. As long as they kept going and told the truth, they thought justice would be done.
Lessons All Travelers Can Learn
What happened to Sanjay and Priya was very bad, but it can teach all of us tourists a lesson:
- Do a lot of research on travel companies before choosing one. Don’t just pick the first one that comes up on Google. Before you decide who to trust with your trip plans, read reviews from other people and complaints on social media.
- Check all of your reservations several weeks ahead of time. Don’t believe a travel planner when they say that your flights, hotels, and other plans are set. To be sure, look at the vouchers and receipts in person. Also, check directly with the sellers.
- Think about getting travel insurance. If your plans change or get canceled, or something else goes wrong, travel insurance can help you get your money back so your trip isn’t ruined. You can get basic insurance for less than 5% of the cost of your trip most of the time.
- Don’t put down too much of a deposit—if you put down 50% or more of the total trip cost up front, you’re giving that person your money. Instead, start with smaller amounts of 15-20%, especially if you are a new seller.
- Prepare for the worst. No matter how well you plan, things can go wrong. Make a Plan B of places to stay or things to see in case your first plans don’t work out. Being flexible can help you save holidays.
To Sum Up
My goal as a travel writer is always to teach and give people the tools they need to travel smart. Even though what happened to Sanjay and Priya is an unusual case, we can all learn from it and be safer tourists. Sanjay and Priya, I hope that your changed American dream trip is still full of wonderful memories. And maybe the dishonest Rajesh will be punished by the law so he doesn’t hurt other tourists. I hope you like reading “How a Travel Agent Ruined a Mehsana Couple’s American Dream”.
Sophie Turner is the adventure travel writer behind AdventureTravelFam.com. With over 10 years of experience in travel writing and a Master’s degree in Tourism Management, Sophie shares her expertise in exploring unique destinations and providing family-friendly travel tips. Follow her adventures on Instagram @adventure_travelfamily.
