Ramada Plaza Resorts and how I REFUSED TO GET RIPPED OFF-WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED HELP FORT LAUDERDALE FLORIDA

HELLO ALL. I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS SAME EXACT TRIP THROUGH THIS COMAPNY. READING THESE MANY RIP OFF REPORTS HAD STARTLED ME. AND LIKE ALL OF YOU, I DO NOT HAVE 1300 DOLLARS TO BE GIVING AWAY TO A SCAM. I AM HERE TO HELP YOU KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK, HOW TO PREVENT FROM GETTING SCAMMED AND HOW TO GUARANTEE GETTING YOUR MONEY BACK.

OKAY, WELL I HAVE RECENLTY PURCHASED THIS TRIP. I DID NOT PURCHASE IT IN FULL RIGHT AWAY. REMEMBER, ANY COMPANY THAT CALLS YOU OVER THE PHONE RIGHT AWAY AND WANTS YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER- YOU NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER PAY IN FULL.ALWAYS TELL THEM THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE MONEY UPFRONT. THEY WILL THEN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A ONE TIME OFFER AND THAT YOU MUST PAY THE FIRST HALF OF THE TICKETS IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS PROMOTION. SO WHAT YOU THEN DO IS TELL THEM TO SET YOU UP ON A PAYPENT PLAN. IT WILL REQUIRE A DEPOSIT. BUT NOT A LARGE ONE. THEN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, IF A TRAGEDY OR SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM USING OR SELLING YOUR TRIP, YOU DIDNT LOOSE THAT MUCH MONEY. SO TELL THEM TO SEY UP A PAYMENT PLAN (USUALLY THEY'LL TELL YOU ITS FOR SIX MONTHS. NEXTLY, DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT AND I REPEAT, DO NOT GIVE THEM A CREDIT CARD. THAT IS TOO EASY FOR THEM TO RUN AWAY WITH YOUR MONEY. AND IF YOU AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASE, YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY WILL NOT CONSIDER IT A FRAUD. SO USE A DEBIT CARD FROM A BANK THAT HAS A MAJOR CREDIT CARD LOGO. THAT WAY YOUR BANK WILL HAVE REPORTS OF EVERY TRANSACTION THAT RAMADA TAKES FROM YOU.

SO THAT IS THE FIRST STEP. NEXTLY, WHEN YOU CALL TO BOOK, THERE ARE SOME MAJOR QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO ASK. OF YOU DONT ASK, IT IS YOUR FAULT. DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING. AND SINCE WHEN IS EVERYONE BELIEVING AN ADVERTISEMENT, SALES PITCH OR BROCHURE. THIS IS NOT A DISNEY RESORT. AND YOU SHOULD THERE ARE NEVER ANY DEFINATES WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO I REPEAT, DO NOT ASSUME. HERE IS WHAT YOU ASK WHEN YOU CALL:

THE FIRST THING IS TO ASK TO A CUSTOMER SALES SPECIALIST. THEY KNOW MORE THAN THE REGULAR SALES PERSON. THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE TRIP THEMSELVES, ARE USUALLY IN A LOUD CALL CENTER AND SOMETIMES CANT EVEN SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH. SO DONT BOTHER TALKING TO THEM
WHEN YOU ARE CONNECTED TO YOUR CARE SPECIALIST, MAKE SURE YOU GET THIER NAME. EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE THIER REAL NAME, YOU NEED THAT, ALSO THIER PHONE EXTENSION IN CASE YOU NEED TO CALL BACK OR GET CUT OFF.

HERE IS WHAT YOU ASK THEM:

"I READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON THE BACK AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT AND HOW MUCH WILL I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING ON MY OWN WHEN I GET TO THIS TRIP"
thier answer should be that they dont cover the hotel taxes which are about 7-12 dollars a day. The cruise requires a passenger fee of $19.95 a person. and they are not responsible for any tolls, tips or personal accrued charges.

"ON THE BOAT TRIP, AND HOTELS, WHAT AMMENITIES AM I GURANTEED?"

they should tell you a whole synopsis of the boat and hotels. make sure that they gurantee that. and if one thing is missing, you are entitled to a refund.
"HOW FAR IS MY HOTEL IN FORT LAUDERDAL FROM THE BEACH AND WHAT IS THE MAILING ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER TO IT?"
they should tell you how many miles it is from the beach, and that they also have a beach front property (in Pompano, which isnt far) that you could upgrade to. when you get the mailing address and phone number, also search it online to make sure it is in an ideal spot for you. and get the phone number to call the hotel to once again confirm what the hotel has to offer. NOTE: when you reserve this trip, you have to request the amount of beds tou want or they will put you in a standard double bed. and for most of you that are traveling on your honeymoon or anniversaries, i doubt you need two beds.
"ON THE CRUISE, WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY TRIP AND WHAT ISNT?"

they should tell you first to NOT TIP. This trip pays your gratuities. So if you tip the luggage carries, servers etc, you are paying them dowble. I dont care how much they stare at you or tell you tips are appreciated, you tell them you already did. DO NOT TIP. Next, every area of the boat is included. Ask them is thier any repairs on the boat that you should know about (such as the main pool, library, arcade etc. being "under construction") And do know this: ALCOHOL is not included. You pay for all alcoholic beverages. one more thing: DO NOT GIVE ANYONE ON THE BOAT YOUR CREDIT CARD OR CREDIT CARD NUMBER. You should already have cash on you if you choose to gamble or drink. Do not allow them to TAB you. You have know way of kowing how much things cost and if they are charging you properly. Please be smart and dont give anyone on this entire leg of your trip your card numbers.

"WHAT TOUR PRESENTATIONS AM I REQUIRED TO GO TO? WHEN, WHERE AND HOW LONG WILL THEY BE?"

they should respond to this by telling you that you are required to go to only ONE tour presentation. If you sign up in the lobby for additional tours (like the ones for las vagas etc) then that is your choice. You are not required to attend additional tours. The tour will be on the second day of your trip in fort lauderdale. It is not on the site as the hotel. there is a shuttle that you can take (but i wouldnt recommend taking it because there is not set time when it will return

the tour is only 90-120 minutes long. Once again, do not give out any credit card numbers. after the close of that presentation, they will ask who is interested and want to know more. At this point it is up to you to decide if you want to stay or go. I would recommend you leave after that because if you say you are interested and you pay a $20 deposit for the resrt of the tour, that is your fault. you are now touring under that company's rules, not ramadas. So dont go. besides that, they could keep you for hours on end. Also, only one person has to go. Do not drag your husband or entire family with you. Go by yourself. And try going in the morning so you have the rest of the day. After the tour, you will then be given the information you need in order to dock the boat.
"IN BAHAMAS, HOW LONG WILL I BE THERE AND WHAT AM I ENTITLED TO DO?"

they cannot say exactly how long you will be there but they should give you a time frame that you can plan around. when you board the trip, try talking to the captain or another shipman and see what the schedule is. if your captain docks out late, find out if you will be compensated for that lost time.

when you arrive in Nassau, you have free reign. Try haveing something planned before you get there. do not agree to go scuba diving or anything else with a native who doesnt have a company. And again, do not give them any money. you are responsible for the time you spend in Nassau. have a loose itenerary for what you would like to do. if you plan on any activities, go through a company and already have it booked. you wouldnt want to spend all day looking for something to do. or if you'd like, just shop and swim. you only have one day.
but rememeber, what you spend in bahamas is up to you. no one else.

"WHERE IS MY HOTEL IN ORLANDO, HOW FAR IS IT FROM DISNEY WORLD, WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS LEG OF THE TRIP?"
Here make sure once again, they give you the address of the hotel so you can mapquest where it is. It is off a major highway and about 5 miles from disney. in this leg of the trip you get the tickets for the voucher you sent in for disney or universal studios. you get the ammenities of the hotel. if you do not have a rental car, the hotel only goes to one park. not to all parks. you will have to go to another disney shuttle to get around if you plan on using the shuttles. But there are plenty there to not need to drive anywhere. there are no tour presentations during this leg of the trip.
"I OR A FAMILY MEMBER IS IN THE ARMED FORCES, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A MILITARY EMERGENCY OR DEPLOYMENT THAT PREVENTS ME FROM TAKING THE TRIP AT THAT TIME, AND CAN I GET A REFUND?"

my husband is in the military and this was an important question we needed to know the answer to. first, the should extend the span of your trip to another 18 months. if you are deployed during the time you were supposed to take your trip, they can freeze those plans (you might be charged a fee depending on how soon you canceles) and you will be guaranteed that you can still travel when you or member returns. they usually dont ask for orders to prove this. but have that for your records just in case. But there is no refund for military personel. You can only postpone the trip or sell it.

"RENTAL CAR INFORMATION?"

listen to me when i tell you this::::::DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, RENT A CAR THROUGH THEM. PLEASE DO IT ON YOUR OWN YOU WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. PLUS YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE 7 DAY MINIMUM, THE TAXES AND DEPOSITS LIKE ALAMO HAS. BOOK A RENTAL CAR FROM A COMPANY YOU TRUST AND ONE THE IS LOCATED AT THE AIRPORT. IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF STRESS. ALAMO RIPS YOU OFF BECAUSE THEY KNOW YOU ARE COMING IN THROUGH RAMADA PLAZA RESORTS. THEY CAN ALSO CHARGE FREELY WHAT THEY WANT, MAKE YOU LEAVE LARDE DEPOSITS AND EVEN FILL UP YOUR OWN TANK! SO DO NOT BOOK THROUGH THEM. TELL YOU AGENT THAT YOU WILL BE DRIVING OR GETTING YOUR OWN VEHICLE.

"I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING THIS TRIP AND IT BEING TO MY EXPECTATIONS. WHAT SATISFACTION AM I GUARANTEED?"
this is the most important part. which is what i did to ensure myself and my money. When you ask this very important question, they should tell you that they will send you a signed 100% guaranteed refund if for ANY reason you are dissatisfied. this is all you will need in case anything goes wrong. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, PAY YOUR TRIP IN FULL UNTIL YOU GET THIS IN THE MAIL. AFTER YOU RECIEVE THIS, THEN FINALIZE YOUR TRIP AND TRAVEL KNOWING THAT IF YOU ARE STILL UNHAPPY, YOU JUST TOOK A TRIP FOR FREE!!!

WELL THIS IS ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A REBUTTLE AND I WILL RESPOND. I HOPE THIS HELPS ELIMINATE SOME OF YOU GETTING RIPPED OFF. AND REMEMBER, DONT ASSUME AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS. THANKS
*i am not nor ever were an employee of this company. consumer reporter only.

Kyleia
El Paso, Texas
U.S.A.

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