Based on many threads here and the first-hand recommendations of two friends that have used Gracy for setting up travel for safaris, I decided to have them book my travel and arrange meet-n-greet services for my first safari next year in Zim.

Both of the personal recommendations I received were to work with Shawn Kennedy; so a few weeks ago I left a message on her voicemail giving some details and requesting a contact. It was on a Friday afternoon and I really didn't expect to hear back until the following week. So, after I hung up I sent Shawn a detailed email. After a week and no contact, I left another voicemail - still no return call or email. A few days later I spoke with the receptionist and left another message. The receptionist put me on hold and went over to Shawn's desk (this was the Friday before the holiday weekend and she said Shawn had gone home, but was still sending emails) and indicated that she had seen some paperwork with my name on it, so it appeared Shawn was at least doing some background work.

It has been over three weeks now and I have yet to be contacted. I was hoping to use FF miles for the flights and indicated that on the voicemail and the email; maybe this had something to do with the lack of response. Maybe I wasn't going to spend as much as some, but based on others' experiences the lack of professionalism is surprising. There may be a very reasonable explanation for this; I don't know what may be going on Shawn's life or in the business, and if I hadn't seen so many recommendations I might have just let it go, but I thought others might be served by sharing my experience.

Give Kathi Klimes a PM...she posts here

Gracy is not what it used to be.

Steve Turner also posts here regularly
http://www.travelwithguns.com/

405wcf

We have used Elane Porteous for years.

African Odyssey 1 305 271 1878

I have hunted Africa twice in the past eighteen months. Kathi handled everything well (both trips), and maintained contact with me right up to my departure date. She also contacted me a day or so after I got back to get some feedback.

Highly recommend her and Afton House if you overnight in Jo-Berg.

Rich
DRSS

Sorry about your bad experience. Shawn and Debbie flawlessly handled all airline and hotel bookings for my friends and me last July and August on a trip to Tanzania. One air line booking was out of Mexico City and I left from Orlando. Everything worked. I'd use them again. I don't understand why you are having problems.

We had a departure date change out of Arusha and reservations were made and confirmed by email from the hotel and the Amsterdam bookings also came off perfectly.

Also, this was not the first time I have used them. Tanzania in 2006 worked out well, too.

After a bad experience with Custom travel in 2008, I gave Kathi a try in 2009. Having had no problems with that trip, I never thought twice about trying anyone else out. After two E-mails and one phone conversation in early 2010, she never did get back to me regarding my 2010 plans. I have now tried Steve Turner.

I guess this just goes to show that no one is flawless.

+ 2 or more? for Kathi...

I used Susan at Gracy for years, even before she was at Gracy, but when she retired I just could not get the same service. Switched to Kathi last year and service has been excellent.

No plans to retire anytime soon Kathi?

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
Sorry about your bad experience. Shawn and Debbie flawlessly handled all airline and hotel bookings for my friends and me last July and August on a trip to Tanzania. One air line booking was out of Mexico City and I left from Orlando. Everything worked. I'd use them again. I don't understand why you are having problems.

We had a departure date change out of Arusha and reservations were made and confirmed by email from the hotel and the Amsterdam bookings also came off perfectly.

Also, this was not the first time I have used them. Tanzania in 2006 worked out well, too.

Did you use mileage?

I can vouch for Steve Turner when he was with Gracy Travel. He went out of his way to make sure everything went smoothly !!!

I have made several international flights with FF miles and did them myself. Although not with firearms. However, after 9 international trips (7 booked myself and one of those was with gun and ammo to Africa), I had no problems with any trip I booked on my own. Eight of those trips required in country flights (foreign airline), seven of which I booked myself. I know that is not for everyone, but I found it works best for me. Then at 2:00 am on a Sunday when your agent is not available, you will be much more familiar with the process.

Be sure to make copies of your airlines requirements for traveling with firearms and ammo and TSA requirements and don't forget to take them with you. Also have them easily accessible when you arrive at the airport. Good luck.

same here. haven't paid a travel agent their pound of flesh for arranging a freq. flier ticket in 10 years( 8 first and business tickets to Africa, Central Am. and the South Pacific). approx savings-$2500 plus. my total time- less than 4 hours.

quote:

Originally posted by 405wcf:
Gracy is not what it used to be.

Steve Turner also posts here regularly
http://www.travelwithguns.com/

405wcf

+1
When Steve Turner was with Gracy, he helped me with the not so happy chore of cancelling a trip and getting my FF miles back on my account.

This year, on his own, he met me personally at the DSC show as soon as I'd booked my trip with the outfitter and wrote down the tentative arrangements. He answered the phone every time I called him, which I realize isn't always humanly possible, but he did for me this year before and during my trip. I will use him again.

Antlers,

Sorry your not happy with Gracy Travel but I've had far too many positive expereinces with them to think your dealings with them are anything more than the exception rather than the rule. I'm not saying in a perfect world that you should not be able to leave a message and get a timely response but I've found being persistent with the phone calls really pays off. If you don't get a response keep calling until you do.

Mark

"...just keep calling until you get an answer..."?

Kathi has answered the phone every time I called her. Emails were returned within half an hour of sending. Besides, I like visiting with her and her husband at SCI Reno every year. They are dedicated African hunters, just like us.

Rich
DRSS

I booked travel this past week and I was pleased as usual. No problems.

My deal came together fast and I needed ticket confirmation in a hurry. When my e-mail was not responded to within an hour or so, I called for Shawn, held a few minutes, talked to her, and made my arrangements.

It was clear they are really busy right now. Clearly, they have to answer the phone when it rings. This means your e-mail / voicemail does not get responded to until they're off the phone. If you want fast service, call them. If Shawn's on the phone, just hold a few minutes.

Kathi, Kathi, Kathi....the best!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Antlers,

Sorry your not happy with Gracy Travel but I've had far too many positive expereinces with them to think your dealings with them are anything more than the exception rather than the rule. I'm not saying in a perfect world that you should not be able to leave a message and get a timely response but I've found being persistent with the phone calls really pays off. If you don't get a response keep calling until you do.

Mark

Mark, I thought 3 phone calls and an email in three weeks was being persistent.

I wasn't suggesting that my experience was the rule, the testimonials here would support the argument that it's is not. However, it was my experience and it was not a good one. I thought others in my shoes should know that Gracy isn't all that.

It was not my intent to trash them; I've been busy before and not returned calls or emails. I was just surprised based on all I'd read here. My expectations were too high, that's all.

CaptMike: What was your bad experience with Custom Travel in 2008 and with whom?

Antlers,
I'd say that 3 phone calls and an email would be persistent. I can only guess that there wasn't enough money in the deal for the travel agent.

You'd think at least an email or V/M telling you they couldn't help would be in order?
Seems a common courtesy to me?

My one and only experience with Gracy a few years ago for an African trip was far from satisfactory...

quote:

Use Enough Gun

Our connecting flight from O'hare to Dulles was cancelled yet our agent, Debbie, did not make us aware of that. Without my wife calling ahead, we would have flown from Milwaukee to O'hare and been stuck there.

Subsequent conversations with the airline made us aware that this cancellation happened far enough in advance that had our agent been on the ball, she could have re-booked us through another city. Because Custom made the reservations, the cancellation notice went to the agent rather than straight to us.

Because we lost a day of our trip we were able to make arrangements with the PH to stay an additional day or two. Debbie was of no help in that respect either and it was the PH's wife and my buddies wife who spent many hours on the phone getting our flights changed.

To clarify, other than one phone call from Kathi explaining that she was on vacation, she never contacted me again, despite another E-mail.

I have never been of the opinion that I need to chase and beg people to take my money. That is when I contacted Steve Turner who has answered the phone or E-mail each and every time I have tried to correspond with him.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Antlers,
I'd say that 3 phone calls and an email would be persistent. I can only guess that there wasn't enough money in the deal for the travel agent.

You'd think at least an email or V/M telling you they couldn't help would be in order?
Seems a common courtesy to me?

...see Rusty, that was my take. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:
I don't know what may be going on Shawn's life or in the business, and if I hadn't seen so many recommendations I might have just let it go, but I thought others might be served by sharing my experience.

I had a very similar experience with Shawn although she did help book some flights (she must have made money off that part but not so much on the other stuff she said she would help with). Anyways, once the flights were paid for she refused to answer voice messages and emails. Even stopped at the booth in Reno and she said she was working on the other stuff but she wouldn't answer anything afterwards. Their business must be darn good that they can just ignore customers. I would have understood a quick email saying that she fell flat on the other stuff she thought she could help on but just to be ignored is insulting. I won't be calling Gracy again.

Why use a travel agent at all????
The internet has a wide selection of flights you can book.
I found them to be the same price or even my last trip $500 cheaper.
No problem contacting the Afton for them to pick you up. Also all the gun info is on line. My trip last month was quick and easy in Joberg and then on to Windhoek. Not sure what they can do you cant do. I have booked trips to Tanzania Zim Namibia SA. Good luck just my feeling
Larry

My experience has been just the opposite. I have always found Shawn to be very responsive.

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
Why use a travel agent at all????
Larry

Case in point.

You're in Cameroon. The Cam Airlines (AIR SOMETIME) plane does not show up. When it finally arrives, it is 24 hours late. You've missed every connection between Garoua, Cameroon and home sweet home. Noone speaks English. Nothing there works like it does here. You cannot find anyone who can even sell you a ticket.

What do you do? You pick up the satellite phone and call an agent in the USA.

Been there, done that. I still don't know what we would have done without a US based travel agent.

I have a trip to SA booked through Gracy in July. Shawn has been very prompt in all our dealings. This is my third trip with Gracy and I have no complaints.

Rob

I too have not had good luck with Gracy travel of recent. I started in November making contact for a trip that had four of us in first class using FF for an April trip. We had heard there were going to be new fees and taxes levied in December. The fees ended up being +$1,000.00 per ticket for lack of promptness, + $2,400.00 for the extra tickets we had to buy from our homes to Dallas the new origination point. We did get a range of dates that was too long for the trip planed but it was explained it is tough to get four on the same flight. So…that is what it was going to be we would live with it. When asked to confirm the itinerary which we were working off we found out the reservations had not been made. Now it is February. To her credit Debi herself picked up where another agent had fallen down and spent the weekend making reservations. But the time table had to be stretched even further when we got the final reservations adding another 6 days to the trip. This forced me to either cancel the entire trip or bite the bullet and spend additional $$$$$$ in more activities to eat up the extra time. I chose the latter. We were traveling with the in- laws on a once in a life time trip for them. Canceling was not really an option. Debi also did not charge me the fee for using FF miles. However, I will try another travel agent in the future.

My experience has been that no one is perfect. For every travel agent, booking agent, PH, brand of boots, rifle, or cartridge praised on AR, there are one or more people who have had a problem with the same.

Sometimes persistence and establishing a relationship with the person helps. You may also learn more about a person or the maker of a product when something goes wrong -- how do they address or rectify it?

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Antlers,

Sorry your not happy with Gracy Travel but I've had far too many positive expereinces with them to think your dealings with them are anything more than the exception rather than the rule. I'm not saying in a perfect world that you should not be able to leave a message and get a timely response but I've found being persistent with the phone calls really pays off. If you don't get a response keep calling until you do.

Mark

True that there have been many positive reports about them.

But, any business that requires ME to be persistant to get an answer from them, is not going to get my business in the future.

There are many choices the hunter has, and anyone in business who sleeps on the job should be made aware of it.

In any service industry, if you do not get service, then you need to go elsewhere.

And you need to tell the service provider what you are doing and why you are doing it.

And you also need to share your experience with other potential customers.

What is so difficult about a return email or phone call?

Where I come from, it's common courtesy.

Seems to be enough "issues" with Gracy Travel to look elsewhere.

OK, this is not a complicated question. Can I have a show of hands. Who has booked with Gracy and have used only frequent flier miles. This is simply a question born of my own curiosity based on a short personal experience.

Will
That is a good example but the agent still needs to call the airline. I guess I would just take my cell phone and call the airline also.
Oh cell service well I can not believe how many areas have cell service and computer access. I Have been in Zim , Tanzinia , Caprivi and many places in between and had service. Can't believe in the bush people that had no food but had cell phones crazy. But again to each his own
Larry

A couple of things. First using an agent like Kathi, Doug Turner, Gracy etc that specialize in Africa travel and travel with guns is just the prudent thing to do. They just provide services and information that you can't get otherwise. As Will suggested when the crap hits the fan who would you call? Travelocity???

Antlers,

Sorry you took offense and I'm still sorry you didn't get the service you thought you deserved. My point was not to mount an attack on you at all. I just wanted to make it clear to the other posters that in my expereince service is quite good with Gracy and I always use Shawn. I'm inpatient and if I call and can't get an answer to my question I just call until I do. I've never felt Gracy blew me off but that they were busy and if I wanted an answer quickly I was going to have be pro active.

Frstbit,

I have used Gracy for mileage travel and it was a goat rope involving myself, Sadie and two clients. We didn't have enough miles, had do get miles from others, we bought miles and it was just a mess but Shawn straighted it out and got us from Cody to JNB without a hitch.

Mark

Frostbit--

I used Gracy in 2007 for a trip to Namibia with United miles. There was a flat fee for thier services and I had excellent communication, including a couple airline-imposed changes in itinerary. Just one person's experience, but I plan to do the same again next year when I travel to Zim.

Mark, I didn't realize you had gone into inpatient. Best of luck taking the cure.

What is Kathi's phone number?


Dutch