Yeah, I'm familiar with that sort of thing, - my fiancee and I refer to that as "being timeshare'd" (i.e., you take what seems to be a very good offer, but then you wind up getting trapped in a very aggressive sales pitch). Actually part of our convo for this trip included - "Nobody would really buy a timeshare in Turkey, right?!"

Actually of everything I've seen, the paypal is the most troubling. If they start requesting payments by wire or etc, that'd push it straight over the edge.

But given that they are a one trick pony, maybe they did get a big stack of K fares (or some other set of deals) that makes it sort of possible at $1k, and are actually hoping for those who buy that rate promote them in the future?

I will have to really keep a watch on this whole operation. As I said in my other posts, if this turns into "Eh, not so nice accommodations, not so nice food, flaky tour guide", I can live with that. I have had tour guides spin some pretty big whoppers on me, but I can look up things online in this day and age.

"We took your $1K but oops that week is not available, but now this week in December is available... oh no wait well that fell through we are trying to find a new schedule... actually we have dates now in March but there is a $500 upcharge... oops that fell through too... Oh we are unable to process cancellations..." - that is what I am afraid of.

Of course you should beware, but it's not necessarily a scam. There are many very, very cheap packages to Turkey (certainly from Europe, not sure about prices from the U.S.), and, as others have said, November is off-season, and the accommodation is likely mediocre.

That said, it could be a very nice cheap vacation if you have low expectations. For comparison, check other reputable, mainstream package sellers and you will see low prices.

For example, I just did a random search on Expedia.com, New York to Antalya on 11/07-14, and found a flight + hotel + breakfast package for $1,350 per person (for two people) at the Hillside Su, a very nice hotel at which I have stayed. There are some nominally four-star options as low as $1,034. Flights on TK (BA + AA codeshare for parts) over and TK + BA return.

Rightly so. You should also be concerned if the carrier is not named as you could find yourself on some one-plane outfit of dubious reliability. If you're willing to outright lose your money and/or spend a night or two in an airport, go ahead. Otherwise well, caveat emptor.

That's the voice of someone who really wants this deal to be legit and is trying to overlook the huge, screaming warning signs. Would you buy a $25 iPad? Or a $10 suit with free necktie?

I presume your fiancee's parents are somewhere north of 40-45 years old and perhaps past the stage where they want to camp in airports for days, argue with tour operators, be berated into buying rugs they don't want, stay in one-star s#$thole hotels, have all their plans collapse, etc.

I would say this is a surefire way to either lose all your money or be suckered / pressured into forking over 3x / 4x more once you get there.

Exactly my thought.

Your primary concern about this "deal" seems to be the risk of being taken for a ride. Even if this is a completely legitimate offer, the lack of a history of reports (either good or bad) about this company should automatically make it a no-go for you.

Otherwise, why are you giving this deal any consideration at all?

My fiancee and her parents. If they were unsure and asking me, I'd advise a pass. But that's not how it is. It's more of a "we're all going and we'd like you to go with us".

I was hoping for some real evidence that it was a scam (or that it was not), and we have not found any either way. If I found such evidence I could present it as reason for them not to go for it.

I guess we'll see when the April/etc people start reporting in. If this is a glorified shakedown we'll be hearing about it well before November.

To me this is not a $25 iPad - that would be equivalent to paying a 20th of what I expected. Instead this is more like a $250 or $300 iPad (the "price ratio" being part of what I was trying to confirm with this thread). If the downside is that said iPad winds up being refurbished - or perhaps the case is all scuffed up, or the screen has a scratch... eh. I got what I paid for.

Of course the other half of what I'm asking is what sort of "scratches" I might expect. If those scratches are smallish hotels with cold breakfasts... I can deal with it.

After a bit more checking it seems the flights are on Turkish Airlines 777 with a change in Istanbul, so my dire warning seems unwarranted. The ground portion looks like it's run by CKB Travel and all the reviews of that company appear positive.

You should go otherwise you'll likely be in the doghouse, and you can always reserve the right to say I told you so. ;)

As Peter Greenberg would Say
 

As Peter Greenberg would say "If its too good to be true then its not worth pursuing".

If you really wanted to pursue this is what i would do:


First I would Google American European Tours and see what you find. Check out their BBB listing if they got a good rating call them and ask for references and see what they say.

Read the Terms and Conditions. Is the airfare really from JFK? Too many times what can happen is you arrive at JFK and they say "Sorry we don't show you on the flight". Or the travel agent forgot to protect you on the flights and at the hotels.

The tour guide could be their 19 year old drunk college student Nephew who could pickpocket rich Americans. They could lure you in and commit a crime. Unlike with Rick Steves or Colette Tours they are bonded and hire the best. I would pay more for a longer tour and one that is safe.

The hotels are really 3 star standards. Anyone could post pictures of 5 star hotels and give you 3 star hotels. Ask for the Hotel names. You need to ask specific questions like what food is included, quality of food. They could take you to their Cousin's restaurant that is poor failed to pass the Turkey National Health Department Inspection and you got really sick they can give the food free to the tour operators (nepotism) and pocket the money and then forward the charges to you. The same can go for the hotel. They can say we have 4/5 star hotels that have been rated by their Aunt and Uncle but not rated by the government.

Is the tour agency bonded? Are they registered with the US IATA. Are the Turkey tour guides bonded? How about the bus and driver? What if they are using their Cousins 1970 Volvo Bus that has been in the shop 10 times over the past month? You would be stuck in a small town for hours as there would be no backup bus.

BTW 2 days are spent traveling so in theory you only have 5 days+jetlag. The flight from JFK is around 10 hours.

In my opinion 7 days is way too short and they will have 10 hour+days.

If it all checks out purchase with your Credit Card and buy Travel Insurance.

Peter Greenberg would err on being careful. I have found some amazing deals for cruises but I booked with a travel agent that got great reviews on Cruise Critic.com.

Good luck and I hope it works out.

info About AET.
 

Ok If you have go to the trip Advisor page you will see that I have posted there as well.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ny-Turkey.html

I do not work for the company but i wish some one who did would clear things up.

As i said on Trip Advisor.

I have a friend went on this trip she does not want be bombarded with questions. So I said i would write what know. with a little help from her. She and her family was on one of the first trips in January 2012. They received the offer from Catholic New York. They had a great time. All I know is that they received the trip for the advertised price. Plus an additional $299.00 for the cultrual package plus (i think that is what she called it.) It included the fees for access and dinner as well.. maybe someting else but i am not sure. -- sorry :confused:

I just went to there web page http://www.my-ae-travel.com/cms/index.php/ and looked at thier offered trip.

As for the question of hotels this page list the hotels used during the trips.
http://www.my-ae-travel.com/cms/index.php/7-travels/8

and yes it gives links to the hotels themselves so you can look. some look really nice. I might have to consider this offer.. looking more closely.

here it is the hotel in Istanbul http://www.istanbulroyalhotel.com

I am not sure why people are so quick to judge. But if you really have questions why not just send them an email. [email protected]

BTW, if you go to the references, i just saw that she either sent them a reference or posted it herself. .. I am suprised. Need to talk to her. :)

http://www.my-ae-travel.com/cms/index.php/references

hope this helps some.. I will try my best to answer and question people have but since i have not been i am not sure i can answer them all .

Cash

:rolleyes:

Since this was cashj's first post on here and on trip advisor it looks a bit fishy. The constant posting of links (i.e. advertising) also doesn't look quite right. The last comment on trip advisor is from a member who has posts since 2010 but still this looks too dodgy to my eyes.

Personally I would be paying a bit more for a trip through expedia.

it looks like a scam now ;)

I really do not work for the company
 

All of you that think i am a scam.. to bad for you. I really do not work for this company. If you really want to know. I am a system adminstrator for a Telecoms company.

Most of you are correct. There is not alot of information about the company. It does appear to be a new company in the US.

However, I feel sorry for you people, to have no trust or faith in others. Man must be tough to be you.

As for posting the links. (ie, Advertising.) No.. i can just read which i guess most of you can not. It always suprises me that people that post on sites in comments that do nothing but complain or whin that they can not find any information. ( About hotels, food..etc) well it was all on there web page you just needed to take the time and stop crying.

This is also the same problem we have in our country. If the people of this great country would learn to take some time ard research, read, and understand about the problems this country faces, I would wager that there would not be so many problems.

Just like i now expect to get a lot of hate now dure to what i have said.

As for this being my only time posting.. I nomally do not. Mainly because i have nothing to say about a topic. So i have always been only a visitor of the web page and others. In this case like the case at Trip Advisor. I did and do have some first hand knowlege about the Topic. (well not really first hand but second hand) So i registered and posted my information. Take it or leave it. I could care less. But i hate beening called something i am not. Even if it was just alluded too.

Cash

Hi everyone,

My name is Ala, and I am American European Travel’s marketing specialist. Thank you for all your comments; hopefully I can clarify some of your concerns.
Most people seem to be concerned about our offer being “too good to be true” (some people mentioned some possible hidden charges), and the lack of existing information online about our company.

1. The price we offer on the flyers you may have received is an off-season price (November through April). We are able to offer this low price due to having many bookings. There are no hidden charges: the price includes everything listed on the flyer—roundtrip airfare, airport pickup, 4 and 5 star accommodations, breakfast and lunch, and intercity bus transportation. There is an additional charge for those traveling from Chicago or Washington D.C. (as described on the flyer). The only additional (and OPTIONAL) charge applies to those who wish to purchase our “Culture Plus Package” ($299/person which is paid at the destination to the local tour guide), which includes all dinners, entry fees to museums and historical sites, and guiding within those places.

2. There is not yet a large amount of info on our company online, mainly because we started operating in the U.S. in the summer of 2011. After having success with our Turkey tours from Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries for several years, we decide to expand to the U.S. We cooperate CKB travel, our partners in Antalya, Turkey, who have been successful in this business for many years. We are periodically posting comment and videos from our customers on our website: http://www.my-ae-travel.com/cms/index.php/references.

The user “danielonn” asked the most meaningful questions in this forum, here are the answers:
• The departure is from JFK, ORD, or IAD.
• All the hotels are 4 and 5 stars local standard, which also corresponds to international standard. The hotel in Istanbul does not have a swimming pool, however all the other hotels do as well as Turkish baths. I have been on this tour twice and certainly enjoyed the accommodations.
• We are not bonded with IATA, since we do not issue the airplane tickets
• The advertised tour is for 9 days/7 nights (approximately 10 hours flight)
• Payment methods: American European Travel accepts credit cards (American Express, Visa, Master, and Discovery). The company also offers additional payment methods as check, wire transfer, PayPal.

To user “StatusJon”: according to our policy the tour operator can cancel the tour if the minimum number of participants is not reached. We lowered the minimum number of participants from 20 to 9. Right now we have multiple groups for each departure date in November, so no cancelation from our side can occur.

We have a call center (800 753 0465) open Monday through Sunday from 9am to 6pm EST ready to answer any other questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you, and we encourage our existing customers to share their experiences here!

CKBTravel-

Welcome to FlyerTalk :)