I made the mistake of ordering my vacation to Orlando through Expedia and didn't want other people to be taken in as well. Our entire trip was paid for in full several months before we left.
To begin with our flight to Orlando from Philadelphia was delayed several hours. We arrived in Orlando to approach the Hertz counter and retrieve our Mid size vehicle that we had booked. I was informed that we needed to pay another $10 per day to upgrade to a larger car, a Toyota Camry. I'm sorry but is that a midsize car? What the heck were they going to give me a skate? Then I was told we had to pay another $10 per day to allow my husband to drive as I booked the reservation. I told them to put the reservation in his name because I had no plans on driving and they said to rebook the reservation we would have no car as they were overbooked. We were fully at their mercy and had to pay whatever they requested, yikes.
Upon arrival at the hotel we booked, we were informed that our room had been given to someone else. The only room that was available was FULL of smoke and I had booked a non-smoking room which was plainly visible on the hotel reservation form. My daughter has asthma and couldn't possibly sleep there, even the security guard said HE couldn't sleep there and he smoked. I sat outside on the phone with Expedia for over an hour and they stated they were trying to find another hotel, the more expensive ones had rooms but they didn't even try with those!
They finally came back on the line and said all of the hotels in the area were fully booked, that we could sleep in our car for the night and they would promise us a room for tomorrow and the rest of our trip. Another hour later (now this was after 3 in the morning), the hotel took pity on us and put us in one of their other hotels quite a distance from Disney where our hopper passes were good.
We then proceeded to Disney's Magic Kingdom which was completely shut down on Tuesday due to the excessive amount of travelers within the park. There just wasn't room for anyone else. Then we went to Epcot which was closed to anyone other than people staying at Disney resorts at 9 pm. They gave special bracelets to those people. Didn't we pay the same amount for our hopper passes?
It was so busy we didn't even get any use out of our hopper passes on the last day.
We then proceeded to the airport for our return flights. American Airlines put my husband and I next to a man who I swear has S.A.R.S. And my daughters were placed several rows ahead of us. Our flight was once again delayed and to add to the luxury, upon arrival in Boston we had to collect our own bags as American Airlines and Air Tran have no agreement to handle transfers of bags. I was coughed on through the flight and just came down with whatever this guy had. Shouldn't the flights not allow people who are actively sick on board?
We arrived in Boston and waited for over TWO hours at baggage claim for our bags which came off the belt ripped to pieces. We then walked well over a mile to the other terminal for Air Tran (which is called by numerous people the airport ghetto) and were frisked up and down as our tickets showed we were one way passengers.
Our flight in Boston was delayed (oh what a surprise) and we had the opportunity of getting to know other customers who had dealt with expedia. They were all writing letters as well!
Oh, I wrote to both Expedia and Hertz and have only heard from Hertz who backed up their statements with (A Toyota Camry is considered a full size vehicle and due to the huge amount of partners cohabitating and driving their vehicles they simply have to charge the excess amounts for insurance purposes). I looked for myself on their website and found that a Taurus is listed as a midsize car! A Camry is smaller than a Taurus isn't it? I was charged by expedia $46.25 per day as part of the package deal add $20 more and it's a balance of $66.25 per day. I could have had the Taurus for $45.95!
I will never again use Expedia or Hertz car rental! Buyer beware and book your own flights. Try to stay on the same airline both ways or be prepared for a dehumanizing frisking which includes feeling out the underwires of your bra!
Tammy
Tafton, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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