Scam Warning : Raheem Residency, Alleppey, Kerala

Saracina

A single female traveller, I stayed at Raheem Residency, Alleppey, for one night, February 17 to18. I asked the hotel to organize a three day houseboat trip for me. I specifically asked for a luxurious boat operated by the most upmarket company. The hotel offered me a trip in a new boat by Rainbow Cruise for the price of RS 9.703,- per night, RS 29.109, in total. ( about 530,- Euro ) I agreed.
On February 18 at around 11.30 am a hotel representative who had previously introduced himself as one of the owners of the hotel transferred me to the harbor in his car. The boat that was waiting for me however was not as expected, but run-down, rather dirty, smelly and with obvious damage. I was disappointed and asked to see another boat. The hotel rep assured me this boat was the best on the market and that I would find no better. I went into the tourist information office in order to make my own inquiries. The hotel rep first tried to prevent me from entering the office, but than followed me and interfered in local language. When I asked the lady at the information desk for the names of leading luxurious boat companies she suggested Rainbow Cruise and the hotel rep said "Yes, that is the company we have booked with. " We went back to the boat. At that time it was past 12 am and most houseboats had already departed. I was not able to hire another boat. Also I was exhausted and the hotel rep put increasing pressure on me to hire the boat he had reserved. On the boat I payed him the requested 29.109,- RS, partly in Euro and partly in RS. While I was busy calculating the exchange rate, a 100 Euro note disappeared from an envelope on the table. I noticed only minutes after the hotel rep had left.
I had to wait for two hours for the boat to depart. I spent three nights on the boat, but did not enjoy my trip. The boat was smelly and had an engine problem. When I met the boat owner I asked him for his card and inquired how much his boat trips usually sold for. It turned out he had no association with Rainbow Cruise. He admitted that the hotel had grossly overcharged me. Several travel agents who I later showed images to confirmed the boat was not in good condition and would normally sell for less than half of what I had been charged.
February 21 in Cochin, I phoned Raheem Residency to complain and to demand half of my money back. The rep of Raheem Residency refused and insisted he had charged me the correct price. He offered to forward my complaint to Rainbow Cruise. I replied that I was aware of the fact that the boat he sold me was not run by Rainbow Cruise and that I was cheated by the company and the price. I also asked if he had any knowledge of the whereabouts of a 100 Euro note that went missing during the payment transaction. He shouted "F*** off ! " and put the phone down on me.

I have since forwarded the story and relating documents to the Government of Kerala who are in the process of investigating the matter. I cannot recommend this hotel to other travellers.

Saracina

Please view images of the boat in the member galleries.

shere

Important lesson learned. If the boat was not up to scratch you should have walked away instead of getting suckered into paying over the money.

Saracina

I know, I know, but I was extremely tired after a sleepless night at bug infested Raheem Residency and the weasel bullied me into paying him for the boat. I don't normally expect to be cheated by a four star hotel, but there is always a first time....

fleminw

You can see all the complaints and it’s credibility of it from the ladies long email which totally untrue and unfair after she continuously enjoyed all the services what she selected by seeing with her own eyes and taken enough time and freedom to do so. She was told to call us anytime if she dislike the boat or the services offered and we assured the balance will be refunded (visiting card given) . But what she did is carry on with the satisfied boat and enjoyed the trip for 3 nights and 1 day after checked out she telephoned and demanding the refund after completely enjoyed the services without any trouble.
Then she forwarded the story and relating documents to the Government of Kerala tourism authority for investigating the matter and there was investigation made and they found no irregularities or cheating on this matter. But she told us that she is a professional photographer and made lots of Pictures between her houseboat tour and enjoyed her time, Now we seems she is a professional trickster too to make this as an issue to get the money back after utilised the complete trip without any complaints. After all she is trying to tarnish our valuable services and trust which thousands of tourist had for last five years.

Mod Note: We do not allow members of the tourist industry to be members of IndiaMike.com, therefore we cannot allow your account to remain open. However, it would be very unfair to delete this post, which will stand as an answer to the opening post.

The case has been put and answered.

We will not accept any further posts on the matter

ebby

You have to be careful of such hotels & their goons wherever you travel. They spoil the name of the country and its people as they are out to exploit the ignorance of the tourists and make money. You should have cut out when you smelt something fishy !

ColinT

Saracina, it looks like you have a reply straight from the hotel itself (fleminw).