Re: Travel & Booking Websites : Experiences, Queries etc. Sharing my experience with Make my Trip
On 28th November 2017, my friend and myself were to start our drive from Kolkata to Delhi in my Dzire AGS (AMT) Diesel. The plan was to leave Kolkata at 5 AM, stop over at Varanasi. 29th Nov start from Varanasi at 6 AM and stop over at Greater Noida (I would spend the night at my Uncle's place, my friend would proceed by bus / taxi / auto to his residence at Civil Lines, Delhi). 30th November, I would depart Greater Noida for my parents residence at Dwarka.
With recommendations from regulars (Tbhpians and non Tbhpians), the most appropriate hotel was and I say is Hotel Kaushik. Did the booking through makemytrip.com, on 19th November, got a confirmation sms and email, hence was pretty confident, the booking part was settled.
Through Saskar (fellow Bhpian), I obtained the mobile number of the manager of Hotel Kaushik. On 20th I called him, just to reconfirm our reservation. To my horror, he told me that the entire hotel was booked for a marriage party and that he had informed the same to all his online hotel portal partners. Makemytrip did not inform me of this development.
20/11 I immediately called up the call center, the agent told me that he shall revert back to me, even after 24 hours no response.
21/11 No response from MMT. I called again, assigned to a different agent, repeated my story, she told me she shall get back, this time I said "I have all the time in the world, I shall hold on till I get a solution". She kept me on hold for about 5 mins, then told me a senior agent has been assigned to handle my case, the senior agent is in touch with Hotel Kaushik and shall get back to me. She gave me the name of the senior agent. I waited the whole day, no called from the so called senior agent.
22/11 The senior agent calls me and apologies for the goof up, but tries to give me a very good news that they have upgraded our booking to Hotel Hindustan International (a 4* property), with complimentary buffet breakfast. The breakfast would be of no use to us as we intended to depart by 6 AM. I had already seen this hotel's location on google maps, it was way into the heart of Varanasi. We needed a place bang on the highway (intended to check in by 7 PM, freshen up, have dinner and leave the next day by 6 AM). With no other option, I had to agree to this option.
27/11 All set to leave tomorrow morning. Casually I checked my booking on MMT, to my utter horror, I see that my booking for Hotel Hindustan International had been cancelled! Immediately called up the call center, the agent was very helpful and assured me that the reservation was valid. I told him to send a confirmation email, which he did. Uff tension till the last moment.
In order to approach the hotel, we followed google maps with directed us into Mughalsarai from the highway. It took us 1 hr 45 mins to reach the hotel from the highway, having reached the hotel at 6.45 PM. Traffic was really horrible. Check in was smooth. It took a good lot of haggling with the manager to make sure they pack us a decent breakfast spread.
No doubt, the hotel was good, but the experience with MMT was really bad.
On the return journey, contacted the manager of Hotel Kaushik, transferred Rs 950 by paytm (non ac room).
For all those traveling on the Etawah Kolkata route, the best stay option is Hotel Kaushik. The food there is fantastic. Rooms though basic are good for a night.
Hotel Kaushik's Manager Yogesh - +91 9452631237 (same number is used to receive paytm payment).
Thumbs down MMT, I have lost confidence in your services. |