In November we were contracted with The Visitor Center about a summer 2008 family vacation to Maui, Hawaii. The vacation was to include 5 days in 3 Condos at the Vision Quest Mahana Resort in Kaanapali, Maui, Airfare for 10 to Maui, and rentals of 2 mini vans for the entire trip. We paid the full amount asked for the trip.
When ATA went down we contacted the Visitor Center about what they were going to do. They got new flights on Northwest Airlines and charged more money for the increased flight prices. On June 26 we paid the total amount of the trip including the additional airline price increases. I received 3 emails (3 family groups) from The Visitor Center that they had received and cleared all the remaining fees with Mastercard. They said I was fully paid up. They also said that I would receive an itinerary for our trip as early as 4 weeks, but no later than 1 week before he trip. Last week approximately 10 days before the trip I phoned The Visitor Center to inquire about the itinerary which had not come yet. I was told by the phone receptionist that it was their policy due to frequent changes not to send out an itinerary until one week before the trip.
On Monday, July 28 exactly one week before our trip I waited until 2 P.M. (Central time zone) to phone them and when I stated that we had still not received our itinerary, the receptionist replied that he would try to find it and get back to me. At 3:02 P.M. (Pacific Time) I received an email stating that due to the recent closures of airlines, The Visitor Center could no longer cover the additional cost and were closing down and laying off employees. They referred us to Blue Sky Tours.
I phoned Blue Sky and the representative said they had taken over our tour account and that The Visitor Center had transferred over to them only a $622.70 deposit ($244.70, $189.00 and $189.00) for the 3 groups in our party. I am looking for a full refund since we have paid all the fees and additional price increases and The Visitor Center has defaulted on our trip. We are talking about nearly $13,000. Since their default I have set up an alternate vacation within driving distance from our home, but nothing like Hawaii. My children and grandchildren were crushed about not going to Hawaii. I have been told that The Visitor Center is still advertising on the internet. I have contacted the Better Business Bureau and my credit card company. Please pass the word.
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