Direct Travel - Toronto - North York, Ontario

Aga I.

The Review You Need To Read.

I have given this company 3 stars based on my experience with Maria Karmiris
First off, note that travel agencies add additional fees to the cost of your trip. It kinda makes sense cause they do a lot of work which I now realize. In my case, I would have been happier if Maria had told me out right that I am paying for her services as part of the total price per person cause why charge me $19 for an infant when it’s free? Also, for my package I later find out that a child under 12years in a 2 bedroom room, hotel only option is free but yet again I am being charged. To be clear, I understand the little extra charges of $19 or $29 cause she is doing a lot of work but I like to just be aware.

Let’s talk customer service, my first conversation with Maria was bitter sweet. She made me feel very at ease that I could rely on her even with silly questions but yet spoke sternly like my mum does when I am being bad. lol hence why it’s bitter sweet cause a lot of people wouldn’t mind I guess. I took most of our calls on speaker so I could ask the people around me if I was crazy or if she sounded stern and they said yeah she did but it’s okay to be stern when working this type of jobs cause you tend to do a lot of work and people sometimes don’t even book. So bear that in mind.

As regards the company as a whole, they seem to be very busy booking a lot of trips cause I didn’t understand why I asked Maria to refer me to her colleague who’s covering her on vacation and she told me that’s there’s no one available. It made me think, if it was an emergency would I get the same response? Maybe not but I guess we’ll never know.

Let’s talk booking. I made up my mind that it is what it is and I was going to book. She told me I had 7 days to make the deposit and would help me with flyers and everything. I emailed her right away with the details I wanted on the flyer and she doesn’t respond with a flyer or anything. I follow up a few days in with a phone call and she tells me that their flyer team is swamped and can’t make the flyer she had promised to make. Bear in mind I have only about 4 days remaining for my 60 guests to make their deposits. I was so thankful that I knew she might not deliver and I had already done my own email to my guests. She goes on to say she’ll do an email and I should send her the details, I am like you already have the details lol.
So I decline and say let’s keep pushing, how would this work? No response again via email.
I am like it’s cool, they are busy. My guests starts to call and email her with their questions as advised by Maria and she doesn’t respond or is confused and the whole thing was just a mess.

So with a heavy heart, I had to path ways and do the work myself. In pure honesty, the work of planning a trip for more than 10 people is not fun and I too would charge for my labour. So, feel free to use this travel agency but just bear these in mind and I too hope that after they read my honest review they do better and allow future clients enjoy the beautiful work they do.

Matt G.

Jane planned my wife and I's honey moon to Indonesia (Bali) and there was not ONE detail left out. Every ride, transfer, hotel was planned and organized to a T. Her first hand knowledge was second to none! She also planned our trip to Jamaica at an All inclusive. I Having someone to contact directly is much better than being a number on a website!

wilson Y.

Sandie - Exceptional travel planner - friendly | fast | knowledgeable | value-add

We found Sandie on a travel reviewer site for Four Season Maui. They recommended to book through Sandie as they had great experience with her and she would be able to get us great deals.

Sandie responsed very quickly and offered a much better deal I got online. She kindly helped us contacted the hotel and transfered my reservation to her deal. She managed to get us complimentary breakfast, room upgrade, and resort credits. What impressed me the most is that she took care of my request nicely even I already booked online. She also got us the extra $100 off per our stay.

Upon arrival, we were treated like a VIP ( on top of FS already excellent services) as we booked through Sandie.

We like the room so much that we wanted to extend our stay for few more days. A quick email to Sandie and it's taken care of right the way. That was Sunday!

We been to Maui many times and I always booked the trip by myself as I enjoy the experience. But Sandie provides much more value and joy, I would definitely have Sandie to take care of our future vacations 🙂

Thank you Sandie!

Wilson and family.

Gai G.

these are only a few of the comments I received from one of their agents regarding privacy issues where all travelling companions could view my birth date.
"do you realize you called me at home. (only # I had)I was just out of the shower and hit on me. I apologize by my husband was angry with me getting a call at home when I was not working I did not have the file at home. You were just so angry. I apologize and will try and rectify tomorrow or Monday. I am not so young myself and look much much younger Married to a man ten years younger and would never get that mad over my age. I am sorry I am not on call 24 hours a day like a doctor or real estate agent. I took the real estate course and decided that I did not want to be on call 24 hours a day. I am not in business for the money. I could retire tomorrow. " I did call Sunwing and Vision Travel to rectify this and they told me there was nothing they could do. after another tirade of e mails I stated that under the Canadian Privacy Act I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS COULD NOT BE RECTIFIED" was never changed Without prejudice I will be forwarding all e mails to try to rectify this matter for other travellers.

Agni C. S.

Best Travel experiences using Maria K. as my Travel Advisor. Can't wait for our next Trip!!

Archin

I have been trying to reach the service plus direct travel for over 2 weeks. I've sent emails, left messages and called the reception to let them know I am trying to contact them but no matter what I do, they never call me back.

Douglas P.

Great Team who are highly talented and care deeply for their clients.

Lynda S.

Fantastic team of knowledgeable travel advisors