Business ProfileforEducational Travel Services Inc

This company stole thousands of dollars from ********************* families. $3,825.00 from us. Do not trust this company. I have yet to hear from them on a refund and I snail mailed them 6/15/21.Caution!!! I would have left a "0" rating if that would have been an option.

Dear Better Business Bureau and *********************,11/01/2021These kinds of complaints are so frustrating. You are outright lying and yet it still shows up when futures families go to the BBB. Even during Covid, our complaint rate is less than 1%. I am very proud how my staff have handled families during this Covid nightmare. We have stolen NOTHING from you. We were able to recoup some funds on your behalf and can offer some refund. The non-refundable cost for the Astoria trip is $1516.59. Your refund of $2233.41 has been mailed. The **** Terms and Conditions contract must be signed by the parent/guardian, and they cannot proceed to sign the contract without first clicking on the cancellation policy acknowledging that it has been read. The Terms and Conditions Contract was signed by all Astoria participants. Our first choice for all travelers is that they can reschedule to alternate dates. This is the best way to get maximum value for the funds paid and to experience and enjoy the trip. We are sorry this will not work for your school district. It is unfortunate that the district made such a drastic decision. Thousands of Astoria families have traveled on our tours the past 30 years with amazing memories made. Covid was devastating to our industry, but travel will return safely soon. It is a shame your Superintendent shut the trip down for future years. We have been asked why a full refund is not possible. Please keep in mind that when registering for a tour, you have purchased both a product and a service. It is important to understand that there is a difference between individual and group reservations. The tour **** had prepared for your student was a package comprised of hundreds of elements of both products and services. As a company policy we do not provide any financial breakdowns to participants.The ******** family signed a cancellation policy at registration for your review but here is a summary of dates.If cancellation is postmarked: 90+ days prior to departure, amount paid will be refunded less $300.00*89 to 60 days prior to departure, amount paid will be refunded, less $400*59 to 31 days prior to departure, amount paid will be refunded, less $500*30 days or less prior to departure, 100% of the trip cost is nonrefundable*LESS the cost for any nonrefundable tickets and fees purchased for the participant **** has been in business since ****. We provide an enriching and educational travel experience that enhances the student's understanding of the world around them. The services are geared to students in junior high and high school. In an average year, several thousand students travel with ****. Those students have received fabulous and unique educational travel journeys over the last three decades which they will remember for the rest of their lives. ****'s reputation is such that **** is sought out by teachers, school department heads, and schools to provide a unique, memorable, safe, and secure travel experience. We have a stellar reputation and have worked with schools in both Oregon and Washington. **** provides experienced tour planners who understand the requirements of student travel. Typically, **** is approached by an educator/school leader who wishes to set up a school trip. **** develops a price for that trip which covers travel expenses, lodgings, restaurants, tours, motor coach travel, and of course ****s overhead and profit, without which **** could not remain in business. There is then usually a presentation at the school regarding the trip, and then the parents go online to book the trip, a process that includes agreeing to the clear cancellation policy. In essence, **** takes in the money from the clients, spends time and resources setting up all the various aspects of the trip, sends the clients money to the various vendors who provide the best economical service, and then remain on call throughout the trip to handle any additional matters that come up so that the trip comes off as smoothly and professionally as possible. The child gets a safe trip with often a familiar teacher/leader to see various desirable locations with a group of their peers, many of whom are school mates, a lifetime memory. But it is important to understand, once the clients money is sent out to the vendors, the refund of that money is almost always outside of ****s control, particularly the closer it gets to the trip and when there is a worldwide pandemic which particularly affects the travel and hospitality industries. As additional background, **** starts planning for some group travel between 16 to 18 months before they receive firm commitments from schools because many schools have a history of booking the same general type of tours every year. **** plans these trips in advance to assure safe and secure travel and is based on the schools history of selecting specific tours. **** expends resources consisting of rent, utilities, employee salaries, supplies etc. in order to plan these trips that do not take place for 16 to 18 months.Prior to the pandemic, **** had received two complaints in the last 35 years of business.We are extremely well regarded by students, teachers, schools, and parents. It is mostunfortunate that our integrity and business ethics have now been impugned by a few individuals who have demonstrated that they do not understand how the travel industry operates. At the end of it all. I still believe in the same dream my parents had all those years ago. And my desire continues to be for student travel to return. What we do changes lives. And we remain hopeful. This summer we had 5% of a normal years number of students traveling. It is a start. And I personally cannot wait to get on that plane and help those 5% have an adventure worth remembering. It is our hope that your student will be among those we get to travel with. However, for those who have already canceled from the trip, and/or those who no longer choose to have their student tour with us, we understand and wish you well. Sincerely, *******************, ****************************** ****