I booked a 9 day Dubai package tour with Skyland Tourism (ST), 3star hotel, airtickets & wife’s visa. ST booked Delmon Palace Hotel (DPH) but 12 hours later I read poor reviews for DPH and asked ST to change, even if it cost extra. Costly alternatives were offered, so I booked my own 4star hotel, good reviews, cheaper than DPH. I was reminded that DPH had a no-refund policy, even if the booking was 5 weeks ahead. I had to cancel the 2nd hotel & stay at DPH.
Re-checking, the tours amounted to 2½ days & 6½ days free time. ST agreed to add a few extra trips, at a cost, and sent a new itinerary, flight details, my wife’s Visa and delayed air ticket.
At Colombo airport we found that my wife had a valid air ticket but my son and I did not, although ST had confirmed it by itinerary. Emirates computer found no air tickets for us and we had to buy new ones. At the check in desk, our son with less than 6 months left on his passport, was told that he couldn’t travel, but my wife and I could. We cancelled the new tickets and went home. We had paid ST for a 9 day package holiday, hotel, 1 air ticket and visa, none of which could be refunded.
My wife drove to Emirates Colombo office to be told that ST had booked tickets for my son & I but on a later flight, not the same as my wife. The time of this flight was not the same as the ST itinerary. Stupid!
Our son stayed home with relatives so that my wife & I could fly on the late night flight to Dubai & at 2.30am we arrived at DPH to loud music, clouds of cigarette smoke and goodtime girls. Our 7th floor room could still feel the music. Not the sort of hotel for a wife.
9.30am we were picked up for a ½day city tour. No guide, just a driver who pointed out things as we went, but did stop for some photos. At 2pm we arrived at Dubai Mall for the Burj Khalifa trip.
I was sick in the night and, dissatisfied with DPH & ST, we cut our holiday and returned home after 2 days.
