Travel Troubles

Here’s what happens when things go wrong for travelers on the road, in the air, at hotels, and in vacation rentals.

The Travel Troubles category at Consumer Rescue is a collection of real-life stories about travelers who’ve encountered unexpected issues during their adventures. Each tale is dramatic but is a cautionary example, offering valuable lessons and practical advice.

The Travel Troubles section is meant to educate and empower travelers, helping them avoid similar issues and know what to do when things go wrong.

Travelers who encounter a problem they can’t resolve on their own should ask for help from our advocacy team. Our direct mediation service is fast, friendly, and always free!

Getting charged for rental car repairs, getting hit with false damage charges

I’m being charged $1,979 for rental car repairs, but someone else wrecked the vehicle!

July 21, 2025July 21, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

A steady stream of complaints from consumers charged for rental car repairs flows into the Consumer Rescue helpline each week. Most of these rental car customers are sure someone else caused the damage they’re being asked to pay for. Unfortunately, many of the bewildered travelers have no proof to support their assertion.

Then there’s Avis customer Emma B.

Emma’s was one of the strangest car rental complaints I’ve ever received. Given that I’ve investigated thousands of unusual cases during my decade of work in Consumer Advocacy Land, that speaks volumes.

An Airbnb host in Bloomington charges guest for damage she didn't cause, Airbnb problems, Airbnb host scams, vacation rental shenanigans

An Airbnb host billed us $790 for damage 3 weeks after we left the vacation rental

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

An Airbnb host sent Janet Reel a surprise $790 damage bill… three weeks after checking out of her vacation rental. Reel says she left the property in perfect condition and considers the accusation outrageous.

Turo rental gone wrong, fraudulent car repair bill, pre-existing damages to a vehicle, Consumer Rescue guidance and direct help, consumer advocates, Consumer Rescue, Michelle Couch-Friedman can help

I got hit with a fraudulent $640 car repair bill after a Turo rental!

July 19, 2025June 23, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Fraudulent repair bills aren’t just sent to customers of traditional rental car companies. Heidi Schiller found this out recently after a 24-hour car-sharing experience with Turo. Her vehicle host, Ken, acknowledged multiple pre-existing scratches on his Tesla before Heidi took the wheel.

Ken assured his renter that the damage to the car wasn’t her problem to worry about. So Heidi didn’t worry. That is, until a few days later when Turo sent her a $640 repair bill for the vehicle.

Nashville vacation rental problem, 1-night in Tennessee. $1000 travel fiasco

Help! Our 1 night vacation rental ended with a $1000 charge for a new bed

July 8, 2025June 9, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

A vacation rental management company in Nashville charged guests $1,000 for damaging a mattress after a one-night stay. Even more frustrating, the agency told the shocked travelers it didn’t need proof that they had caused the damage.

Can our advocacy team come to the rescue of these consumers?

Let’s find out.

Timeshare chaos in Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, blue sky and sea,

My timeshare company offered a $2,500 buyback but never paid me!

June 8, 2025May 31, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

You’ve probably heard about the couple jailed in Mexico after filing numerous credit card chargebacks over timeshare fees. They reversed nearly $120,000 in charges from their timeshare company and advised others how to do it too.

Publicly.

The couple gave their awful exit advice on a Facebook group for disgruntled timeshare owners. However, they weren’t the only ones lurking in that community.

Passenger says Frontier Airlines denied boarding to him by mistake, Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines denied boarding to my family. How much are we owed?

May 31, 2025May 12, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

A Frontier Airlines passenger says his family was wrongly denied boarding their recent flight and he’s demanding compensation. But what really happened, and does the airline owe him anything?

Let’s find out.

This travel insurance mistake cost me $11,000, Can anyone help me?

Here’s an $11,504 travel insurance mistake you won’t want to make

May 7, 2025May 7, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Travelers beware: Sometimes a travel insurance mistake isn’t fixable – no matter how much money is at stake. But what about this one?

American Airlines aircraft change, AA agent promises refund and gives travel credit, American Airlines airplanes

American Airlines promised me an $18,349 refund. Why did I get flight credit?

April 28, 2025April 27, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Several weeks before her family’s American Airlines flight to Portugal, Ashley Macus learned there had been an aircraft change. That switch left the family of six without the assigned seats together Macus had confirmed months earlier. Most disturbingly, her two little boys, ages 7 and 8, no longer had any seats at all.

UTOvacation offered trips to Beijing for $494 per person, Colorful house in Beijing

Is UTOvacation a scam tour operator? This ex-customer says “yes!”

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

UTOvacation sold Shih (Richard) Liu and his wife a once-in-a-lifetime trip to China and Japan. But Liu, like many other customers of this particular tour operator, now says he’s the victim of a scam. Nearly a year after collecting full payment from the Lius, the company changed the contract and added new fees.

The couple maintains that the tour operator pulled this bait and switch without any notification or follow-up. But worse than that deception was what UTOvacation did next – also without informing the couple.

LA Wildfires, Residents flee to Airbnb rentals, illegal Airbnb rental problems, Evicted from Airbnb rental

We were evicted from an illegal Airbnb rental! Aren’t we owed a refund?

March 30, 2025March 29, 2025 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

The recent LA wildfires temporarily displaced Rahul Kapur’s family and pets from their home. The Kapurs temporarily relocated to an Airbnb rental in nearby Marina Del Rey. They reserved the unit for two weeks and hoped to return home after their stay. But as the fires continued to burn, it became clear that wouldn’t be possible.

They were displaced again when that apartment wasn’t available beyond the original contract. However, the good news came when an Airbnb rental in the same condominium became available. The family migrated to the new unit and settled in.

Kapur and his family are still reeling from what happened next.

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