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!

An all-inclusive resort without anything included? Can Consumer Rescue fix this problem?

Help! Why is my all-inclusive resort missing the most important part?

November 30, 2022November 16, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Sara Hernadez recently found something critical missing from the all-inclusive resort she booked on Priceline: the inclusive part. After booking the Sheraton Buganvilias All-Inclusive Resort in Puerto Vallarta, she received a confirmation for the Sheraton Buganvilias Convention Center. Her rate included a room — but nothing more.

Now Sara wants Priceline to confirm her reservation for an all-inclusive vacation, as advertised. So why is the company blaming the problem on her?

This traveler let her e-visa expire and then flew to India-- no what?

How an expired tourist visa ended in a terrible travel nightmare

February 10, 2023November 8, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

If you land in a foreign country with an expired tourist visa, you’ll likely be in for a nightmare experience. Just ask Sarita Charan.

United Airlines convinces a passenger to cancel flight.

If United Airlines convinces you to cancel your flight, can it keep your money?

June 5, 2024November 5, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

If an airline convinces you to cancel your flight during a pandemic, does it get to keep your money? That’s what Lon Allan wants to know.

United Airlines marked this passenger as a no-show and canceled her return flight, but she was not a no-show!

Why did United Airlines call me a no-show and cancel my return flight?

March 6, 2024November 3, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Bernadine Fong has a strange story to tell. United Airlines called her a no-show for a flight to San Francisco that she flew. As a result, when she tried to fly back home, the airline informed a stunned Bernadine that it had canceled her return flight.

Can we figure out what’s going on here?

This rental car went missing after it was towed. Now what?

My rental car was towed after an accident — now it’s missing!

May 22, 2024November 1, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Traveling through the mountains of Colorado at dusk during a snowstorm, Annoris Perez suddenly lost control of her rental car. She was shaken but unharmed. The vehicle? Not so lucky. The rental car was towed from the accident scene, and she assumed she was no longer responsible for it.

She was wrong.

Weeks later, when the rental company called asking for its missing vehicle, Annoris found out just how wrong. Now, she needs our team’s help to determine what happened to her rental car after the driver towed it away.

Franchise hotel adds some fake charges to this traveler's bill.

This hotel just hit me with $500 in fake charges. Help!

February 5, 2024October 31, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

Could a hotel charge you for fake damage long after you’ve checked out? By the looks of our advocacy team’s files, it seems so.

Imagine this. You’re suffering from a terminal illness and hope to experience some adventures while you’re still able to enjoy them. But then, the COVID pandemic comes along and throws a wrench into your plans. After nearly a year of waiting, things seem to be subsiding, so you take off for a short vacation with your family. Unfortunately, an opportunistic hotel manager has been waiting, too — for unsuspecting guests to hit with hefty fake charges.

What would you do if it happened to you? Give up, or fight back?

If you’re Sherry LaSalle, you choose to fight back — with help from our consumer advocacy team.

This Las Vegas Airbnb rental was a bust! Snake eyes! Awful vacation rental and illegal.

My Las Vegas Airbnb rental was a gamble I lost. Can you help?

December 4, 2023October 29, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

When Mary Scholtz planned a trip to Las Vegas, she was not anticipating that her biggest gamble would be on her Airbnb rental. Unfortunately, this thoroughly unsatisfactory illegal Airbnb rental was anything but a winner, and now Mary wants a complete refund. Can we help?

Thieves stole this passenger's passport before the cruise in Venice and it caused her to miss the voyage.

A thief stole my passport, and I missed my cruise! Will insurance cover this?

August 21, 2024October 27, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

If a thief clobbers you and steals your passport, causing you to miss your cruise, shouldn’t insurance cover your loss?

How did an Airbnb hacker take a vacation using someone else's credit card?

An Airbnb hacker took a vacation using my money! Can you help me?

February 12, 2024October 26, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

An Airbnb hacker spent a month in Malaysia using Laura Ward’s name, account, and stored credit card. Now, after a failed chargeback, Laura wants to know how this happened and why she’s being held responsible.

expired green card problems, travel nightmare, detained in Mexico

This is how an expired green card created her worst travel nightmare

August 27, 2023October 25, 2022 by Michelle Couch-Friedman

What’s the worst nightmare that could happen if you land in Mexico with expired travel documents? Kush Kanna’s wife recently found out in a most unpleasant way. She thought she was heading for a relaxing tropical vacation in Costa Rica with her family. Instead, she ended up detained in Mexico after authorities rejected her expired green card and Indian passport.

Now Kush wants to know who will pay for this awful travel nightmare.

Hint: He isn’t going to like the answer.

If you’re about to travel internationally, take heed. Customs and immigration agents abroad will not overlook expiration dates on your travel documents, so you shouldn’t either.

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