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What travelers are saying
"Kensington Tours is a vendor with nasty, pushy old school sales tactics and sketchy opaque pricing to get you fleeced in my opinion, read on !
Kensington Tours pre-charged my Amex Centurian card a staggering $85,985.00. for 6 nights without international airfares in one cost-opaque invoice. This consisted of a simple assembly of 9 hotel room nights in 3 locations, 6 in-country economy flights, 3 airport pickup/drop offs, a 2 day 'tour' and a 1-day expedition on a small boat. It was so bad we declined the 2nd tour day and boat trip.
The full retail cost of the trip, which would include profits to Kensington Tours, is estimated at $30,140.47 versus their invoice of $ 85,985.00. That is a staggering overcharge of $54,859.43. see details below.
The experience should have been amazing for this amount of money, but the cost was so egregious for the average to low quality of the tours, flights, boat, and cheap or kerb-side restaurants and food establishments I decided to assemble the full retail price for these activities by speaking directly with all the major vendors. These are mostly time-specific cost comparisons on the days we were there. Both hotel general managers informed me the costs were about the same as on the previous days for the day extensions they quoted. i.e. peak season pricing.
The full retail costs I've assembled would include any tour outfits profits on the hotel, airfare and lunch as they buy wholesale. It should be a close season-specific estimate. This was verified by a call from Kensington Tours Director of Asia sales who confirmed she couldn't reveal room prices because they have contracts with the hotels for discounts over retail.
Kensington Tours provided near zero value, I also didn't get the typical additional hotel $ benefits, comped amenities and prestige of direct Centurion bookings, instead the reservations showed as a lowly Kensington Tours operator booking.
Kensington Tours unilaterally declares their sales brochure is a de facto contract agreement without either attaching the contract doc to my knowledge or getting a counter signature, i.e. it's not a contract and would never hold up. They attempt to hide behind 'private discount contracts' with hotels and insinuated to me costs were 3x reality
The comped me back $30,000.00 because I have some leverage, it should have been $55,000.00. I'm still considering whether to file a quick suit, they'll eat at least the balance defending against me in attorney fees. I'll see if I can be bothered to do that.
I probably will, to let others know to be careful and not use an outfit like this. Hopefully save folks their hard earned money.
My bottom line, Kensington Tours is a disgrace run the other way.
Paolo T
Here are the cost details:
#1 HOTEL : CHANG MAI : FOUR SEASONS 3 BEDROOM VILLA
RATE: THB 179,250 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT X 2 (2 NIGHT STAY)
COST USD: $10,262.06
COMMENTS: PRICE FROM HOTEL
#2 HOTEL : KRABI : PHULAY BAY
ROOM 1 VILLA
RATE: THB 63,000 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT x3
COST USD: $5,409.18
COMMENTS: PRICE FROM HOTEL
ROOM 2 VILLA
RATE: THB 78,500 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT x3
COST USD: $6,741.18
COMMENTS: PRICE FROM HOTEL
#3 BOAT : PRIVATE SPEEDBOAT FULL DAY
RATE: THB 36,251 FOR 3 PERSONS INCLUSIVE 17%
COST USD: $1,034.93
COMMENTS: TRIP DECLINED. PRICE FROM BOAT VENDOR
#4 THAILAND IN COUNTRY FLIGHTS
BANGKOK AIRPORT TO CHIANG MAI
RATE: $211.40 USD PER TICKET ECONOMY x3 $634.20 + TAX
COST USD: $634.20
PRICE FROM CARRIER
CHANG MAI TO KRABI
RATE: $256.00 USD PER TICKET ECONOMY x3 $768.00 + TAX
COST USD: $756.00
PRICE FROM CARRIER
KRABI TO BANGKOK AIRPORT
RATE: $195.80 USD PER TICKET ECONOMY x3 $587.40 + TAX
COST USD: $587.40
PRICE FROM CARRIER
#5 KENSINGTON TOURS : ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL SERVICES
ROUND TRIP TRANSPORT FROM AIRPORT TO HOTELS
ESTIMATED COST PER TRIP: $150 x6 ($900)
INEXPENSIVE TRIPS + LUNCH
ESTIMATED COST PER TRIP $500 x2 ($1,000) NO PRIVATE TOURS
#6 MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL BANGKOK
DELUXE 2 BEDROOM SUITE
RATE: THB 98,600 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT x1
COST USD: $2,815.52 (ONLINE ESTIMATE)
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $30,140.47
KENSINGTON ESTIMATED COST 80% $24,112.37
KENSINGTON COST PROFIT 20% $6,028.09
KENSINGTON TOURS AMOUNT CHARGED TO CUSTOMER:
$85,000.00
COST DIFFERENCE: $54,859.43"
