I am writing this to warn the travel community about the deceptive practices of Kingfisher Tours a "luxury" 8-day tour from Dubai (Dec 12th–20th), paying over $2,000 USD months in advance for 4 and 5-star accommodations.I didn't do many checks before booking as they were referred by friends, but when I see reviews now, many ppl have complained about similar issues. The Reality of the Service: Deliberate Misrepresentation: Despite paying for 5,4-star hotels, we were placed in budget guesthouses and 2-star lodges (e.g., One World Mirissa, Fort Edge Resort, and Viveka Hotel). This is a textbook "Bait and Switch" scheme. Negligent Planning: Even with a 3-month lead time, the operator failed to secure promised bookings (like the Winchester in Nuwara Eliya), offering excuses only after we arrived. Substandard Transport: The vehicle provided was not fit for a long-distance family tour. The Only Positive: I must note that our driver was good and professional throughout the trip. The Dishonesty & Stalling (December to March): The most frustrating part has been the lack of integrity. Mr. Ashik admitted in writing via WhatsApp that the hotels were not what we agreed upon and explicitly promised a refund to cover the massive price difference. However, he has spent the last four months (from December through to March) constantly postponing the payment with endless excuses. It is now clear that these were intentional delay tactics to avoid his financial obligations. He has since gone silent. Conclusion: This agency takes "Luxury" money and provides "Budget" services, then stalls for months to avoid refunding the difference. I have formally escalated this to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Tourist Police.
Dear madam, We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we take your feedback very seriously. However, we would like to respectfully clarify several important points to ensure an accurate understanding of the situation. First and foremost, this was not a scam in any form. You safely arrived in Sri Lanka, completed the full tour with our team, and all services—including accommodation, transportation, and guided support—were provided throughout your stay. During your travel period in December, Sri Lanka was experiencing severe weather conditions due to Cyclone Ditwah, including heavy floods and landslides in multiple regions. For your safety, we were required to make last-minute route and accommodation adjustments. These decisions were made solely to protect you and ensure the tour could continue without risk. Despite these challenges: * We upgraded your vehicle to a larger one to ensure a more comfortable long-distance journey. * Our team remained in constant contact with you, regularly checking if everything was satisfactory. * Your driver provided professional and dedicated service throughout the trip. At no point during the tour did you express dissatisfaction. In fact, until your final day, you indicated that everything was going well. Had any concerns been raised during the trip, we would have taken immediate action to further improve your experience. Regarding pricing and refunds: * The total package cost was $1,700 (not $2,000), which covered hotels, transport, fuel, driver accommodation, and all applicable local taxes. * While most services were delivered as agreed, we acknowledged that two of the originally planned 5-star hotels could not be provided due to the unforeseen circumstances. * As a gesture of goodwill, we offered a $200 refund for this difference, which was clearly communicated. We categorically reject the claim of deliberate misrepresentation or “bait and switch.” The adjustments made were due to unavoidable natural conditions, not intent to mislead. We are genuinely concerned about this review and its implications. As you have already escalated the matter to the relevant authorities, we welcome a formal review and are fully prepared to present all documentation, communication records, and evidence to support our position. We remain committed to transparency, fairness, and delivering quality service to all our guests, even under challenging circumstances. Thank you.
