ABD cancelled our trip, What are my real options???

[carpenta]

..........and it is now those vendors who don't cancel that I mostly seek out today. It is too difficult to schedule vacations in the family and too costly to throw money away on air fare charges cause by their decision to cancel A FULLY BOOKED TRIP!

 

[Rapunzellover]

..........and it is now those vendors who don't cancel that I mostly seek out today. It is too difficult to schedule vacations in the family and too costly to throw money away on air fare charges cause by their decision to cancel A FULLY BOOKED TRIP!

Amen. I totally agree with this. You got screwed. Canceling a full trip is inexcusable. I was just pointing out what was told to me and explaining that ABD has covered its butt in its contract. I was certainly not condoning the policies. You should've gotten your refund.

As you and CalFan state, guaranteed departure is so necessary, and there is no good reason why Disney can't provide it. This and their sliding costs suck. I continue to use them only because I'm dissatisfied with other itineraries for the locations I'm visiting. I find what I want from another company, and I'm out. No blind loyalty here. I think ABD's genius is putting good itineraries together. But they're greedy and sometimes sloppy. It's a shame.

Did you purchase air through ABD on your trip, btw?

 

[Jess_S]

It says very clearly? Nope. It says nothing of the sort. It says it will cover "reasonable" cancelation fees. Not the same as a complete refund, and reasonable is quite up to debate. It also says that they will attempt to rebook and that the reimbursement is if they cannot rebook you. It says nothing about if they can rebook but you choose not to be rebooked.

Example. ABD cancels. Air isn't through them. I say, "screw it. No trip." What can ABD do to get me my air fare back? Nothing. They are not attached to the reservation.
Another example: ABD cancels. Air isn't through them. You say, "Screw it, I'll use Tauck." ABD says, "okay, you are choosing to keep your air, as far as we know, so we don't have to cover your change fees when you rebook with Tauck." And of course that's the only thing they can do because until you book with Tauck you aren't changing your air. And naturally, since you moved on to another vendor when ABD could have rebooked or reserved (for next year) your trip, ABD isn't to blame for you incurring those change fees. You could have avoided them by rebooking with ABD or reserving for next year.

Look, this sucks, but I have yet to see that any other vendor would handle a cancelation differently. Sure, some have better insurance policies, and a lot of other vendors simply don't cancel, but still....

And which vendor is getting a class action suit? And what did they do wrong with cancelations? Cause I'm sure it wasn't this.

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this because otherwise we're going to wind up discussing canons of contract construction and that won't be interesting to anyone but me.

OP, I hope that you will update us on what happens.

 

[acndis]

I know this has been said before but I would really encourage you to keep your original dates and do this trip on your own. We were also going to book this ABD but could not find a time that worked for us. We booked it on our own (we are only going to DC for 7 days) and I am spending about $600 per person on tours/lodging (I got free airfare, lots of Military Discounts on Hotel/Tours). With the savings, you could do another ABD later when it is more convenient.

I have been firmly in the ABD camp for years but after a more challenging group experience this past trip, we have been rethinking group travel a bit. ABD has taught me a lot about planning and though it is much easier to leave the work to them, DC is pretty easy to navigate. Go and have a great time and think about ABD for a future trip!

 

[carpenta]

Acndis "Thank you for your families service to our country". Rapunzellover I booked my airfare outside ABD because of my usage of miles and money which ABD does not get into.

 

[Rapunzellover]

carpenta- ugh, so unfortunate about your air. Which adventure was it that had the full trip canceled, btw? I was discussing this issue with an ABD vactionista today, as we going over some trip issues for my bookings this summer. She hadn't heard of any full trips canceled, this year. The only one she could think of was that had ever been canceled was a Galapagos trip that was full but canceled cause the vendor decided to refurbish the ship. This may be the source of many of ABD's problems: using outside vendors.

 

[OhanaCuz]

We almost never pay for our air. We use airline miles to help make an already expensive trip more affordable, so we would never book our air through ABD. With miles, there is a fee that airlines charge to get the miles redeposited into your account, so all of the miles used aren't at risk, but it would still leave a really bad taste in my mouth to have to pay even $150 or $200 a person to get my miles back.

I was really nervous about having used points to buy the airfare before our ABD. I wasn't sure how it would work if the trip ended up getting cancelled.

 

[ohanafamily]

My apologies for not answering everyone... Please repost if I missed you...

Did they have any explanation for why they accepted your final payment for a trip that had been cancelled? I'd really love to hear their explanation for *that*!

Sayhello

Evidently, they need 12 to make the trip, and we were the only ones on this trip... BTW, are you a travel agent| you seem well versed in Travel Legalese...

If they cancelled your trip and you are out monies, I feel they should cover and make you whole. Including covering costs on airfare for your ABD that you booked.

Did you have trip insurance?

The "Vacationistas" want to do right by us, and they will refund our money as soon as we decide. I booked Air myself, so they will probably pay for the change fees, nothing else.

If I were you, I would go to Washington DC on my own, and book a good local guide. It sounds like there should be some really good ones who should be free.

That may very well be what we do; We could shift our trip and do one 2 weeks later, but I can't get the middle week off work, so I would have an extra round trip home. My daughter wants to blow off the ABD and take a week long Disney cruise... but again, this is he expensive booking season.

Most trip insurance will not cover cancellation of your trip by the provider, because they *do* expect the provider to make you whole.

It would be different for *default* of the provider, ie, if they went out of business. But ABD obviously doesn't fall into that category.

Sayhello

We had trip insurance and they will refund the premium because it won't cover this scenario.

It would cover the airfare. Just the same as if you were to cancel the trip. Yet turn the page and the operator cancel it. Depends on the insurance.

Yet. It does not sound as if they are working with the airfare as Disney should.

About all I can expect if I don't rebook ABD is the $200 per person change fee...

Get your refund and, following the ABD itinerary, plan your own trip to DC for the same dates. Stay in a great hotel. Use public transportation and taxis, sign up for tours, see the sights, and most likely you’ll save half the cost.

We wanted a turnkey trip, if we decided to do it ourselves, we would adjust the Itinerary; maybe a night in NYC and a show... I've always wanted to see Wicked on Broadway...

My concern is transfers; we have 4 people, and I am nt a small person... and then there is Uber...

 

[sayhello]

Evidently, they need 12 to make the trip, and we were the only ones on this trip... BTW, are you a travel agent| you seem well versed in Travel Legalese...

Um, no, I'm not a travel agent. I just do a LOT of research on travel and trip insurance and that sort of thing...

We had trip insurance and they will refund the premium because it won't cover this scenario.

That makes sense to me. At least they're refunding the premium!

Sayhello

 

[Aelin1977]

I have been firmly in the ABD camp for years but after a more challenging group experience this past trip, we have been rethinking group travel a bit.

Can I ask what made it a more challenging experience? What happened to make you rethink group travel?

 

[acndis]

Can I ask what made it a more challenging experience? What happened to make you rethink group travel?

I think we have had the wonderful luck to be in perfect groups on our other ABD tours. This last one had more people who were 'unhappy' and it did influence the experience. Since our son is now 10, we can plan more things on our own and that we are ready to do that. It was nothing horrible with the last trip. We just kind of took it as a sign that it is maybe time to try something new.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I think we have had the wonderful luck to be in perfect groups on our other ABD tours. This last one had more people who were 'unhappy' and it did influence the experience. Since our son is now 10, we can plan more things on our own and that we are ready to do that. It was nothing horrible with the last trip. We just kind of took it as a sign that it is maybe time to try something new.

I completely understand.

We had a family on one of our trips where the mother constantly complained about everything to everyone. For example, she tried to hire a private coach on one of the days to go to a site that ABD didn't cover (on a day with a full ABD itinerary) and get everyone in the group to share the cost, because SHE thought it was a better option (no one agreed).

She also complained incessantly that the tour should have started in another city (where the airport was located) because there were "so many historic sites / important things to see there".

The rooms were never good enough / big enough for her family. The food was "mediocre". It was incessant and annoying.

Funny enough (or not) her husband was nice and very quiet.

The guides knew how unhappy she was (as did everyone on the trip), so they spent a lot of time with her family placating her (which took away from the rest of the group). This was also the trip where we had a very ill gentleman (it may have been his last vacation with his wife) on the tour, so the guides really had their hands full.

This was definitely one of the experiences with ABD that made me start to think more and more about private travel. It is hard to enjoy a vacation when someone is always complaining IMHO.

 

[sayhello]

I completely understand.

We had a family on one of our trips where the mother constantly complained about everything to everyone. For example, she tried to hire a private coach on one of the days to go to a site that ABD didn't cover (on a day with a full ABD itinerary) and get everyone in the group to share the cost, because SHE thought it was a better option (no one agreed).

She also complained incessantly that the tour should have started in another city (where the airport was located) because there were "so many historic sites / important things to see there".

The rooms were never good enough / big enough for her family. The food was "mediocre". It was incessant and annoying.

Funny enough (or not) her husband was nice and very quiet.

The guides knew how unhappy she was (as did everyone on the trip), so they spent a lot of time with her family placating her (which took away from the rest of the group). This was also the trip where we had a very ill gentleman (it may have been his last vacation with his wife) on the tour, so the guides really had their hands full.

This was definitely one of the experiences with ABD that made me start to think more and more about private travel. It is hard to enjoy a vacation when someone is always complaining IMHO.

Things like that are my nightmares!

We had a woman on my first ABD that feigned an injury so that she could sue ABD (she supposedly stumbled getting on the bus and injured herself). She was dismayed to be informed by the Guides that she'd signed a waiver indicating ABD wasn't responsible for things like that. So then she wanted the information for the company for the local guide so she could sue him. They wouldn't give it to her. She spent the whole trip trying to get something for nothing out of ABD. I found out from a woman on the trip who knew her (they did not book together, the jerk booked the trip after she'd heard the other woman had booked it). The other woman said she'd scammed the Canadian government for a year's worth of disability pay, so it seemed like a pattern with her. I saw her running a couple of days later, so the limp didn't seem to be real... But luckily, I've not encountered too many other jerks like that on ABDs.

I guess that is one of the inherent dangers of group travel though. I've been very lucky so far.

Sayhello

 

[Jess_S]

OP, I'm glad that you are getting your refund of out of pocket costs. As they say, all's well that ends almost sort of okay.

I think I need to stay out of this thread from now until after our first ABD in June. We've never done group travel before, and the main reason was fear of being stuck with unpleasant people. Now that worry is front and center in my mind. (The lawsuit scammer would be okay to travel with though. I think DH and I would find that funny).

 

[sayhello]

OP, I'm glad that you are getting your refund of out of pocket costs. As they say, all's well that ends almost sort of okay.

I think I need to stay out of this thread from now until after our first ABD in June. We've never done group travel before, and the main reason was fear of being stuck with unpleasant people. Now that worry is front and center in my mind. (The lawsuit scammer would be okay to travel with though. I think DH and I would find that funny).

I've done 9 ABD's, and the scammer was the only person out of all those trips I actually disliked. There have been a couple here & there who thought they were the most special, and deserved more attention from the Guides than everyone else, but the Guides are great at spreading the attention around. I've found *most* people that take ABDs seem to be a really great caliber of traveler.

Sayhello

 

[Chirple]

I think I need to stay out of this thread from now until after our first ABD in June. We've never done group travel before, and the main reason was fear of being stuck with unpleasant people. Now that worry is front and center in my mind. (The lawsuit scammer would be okay to travel with though. I think DH and I would find that funny).

We've only completed one ABD, but we have been on 12 DCL cruises and have taken numerous group excursions. While we didn't have to interact with these people once on the ship (so we had an opportunity to distance ourselves), there was one woman in particular who was really unpleasant. It was our second cruise in 2007, and I was recovering from a broken ankle. I was wearing a boot and had crutches so we took an open-air vehicle tour of St. Thomas. Since we were one of the last two in the vehicle, my husband and I sat in separate rows. I ended up sitting with a family (parents and two young children) next to the father while the mother sat at the other end of the row. I clearly had difficulty getting on and off this vehicle (small steps) and had to put my crutches under my feet. When we got to one of our scenic stops, the mother demanded of the husband that she wanted pictures of the family there. He said to her, "I think we have enough pictures." She insisted that they needed more photos so he looked at me and apologized, knowing that it was a struggle for me to exit the bus. I made it off, and she just pushed herself past me.

Rude and entitled people are everywhere; you have to let their nonsense roll off your back.

 

[Jess_S]

I've done 9 ABD's, and the scammer was the only person out of all those trips I actually disliked. There have been a couple here & there who thought they were the most special, and deserved more attention from the Guides than everyone else, but the Guides are great at spreading the attention around. I've found *most* people that take ABDs seem to be a really great caliber of traveler.

Sayhello

Were it not for these boards, I would never have considered booking a group tour. I assumed that if the folks who post here are representative of who travels with ABD, then we would probably get a good group.

Hopefully we won't be the "special" guests in our group. I told my 5 year old that the Adventure Guides were there to make sure the kids had a good time, and I think he now expects constant entertainment.

Rude and entitled people are everywhere; you have to let their nonsense roll off your back.

This is a good point. We've done many vacations where we were part of a group for some period of time and we have never had another traveler negatively influence our trip to any significant degree.

 

[sayhello]

Were it not for these boards, I would never have considered booking a group tour. I assumed that if the folks who post here are representative of who travels with ABD, then we would probably get a good group.

Hopefully we won't be the "special" guests in our group. I told my 5 year old that the Adventure Guides were there to make sure the kids had a good time, and I think he now expects constant entertainment.

Whenever I make a statement like I did, about "some people" a little voice inside me says "OMG, I hope *I'M* not that person!! "

Sayhello

 

[Rapunzellover]

I travel solo and constantly work to make sure I'm a good traveler/group member, not getting on anyone's nerves. I honestly don't understand folks who go on fancy trips to exotic locations and do nothing but complain. Not only is it a bad attitude, but it smacks of no self-awareness.

You have to decide to have a good time when you travel. Be determined to have fun. Heck, I broke a tooth in in a fall in Milan, and despite the tears streaming down my face from embarassment/shock, I was ready to keep going cause it was time to see DiVinci's The Last Supper.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why don’t you just plan this trip yourself? DC and Philadelphia are very easy to visit without a tour group and you will probably save a fortune.