Traveling To The U.K. Troubles. Need Opinions.?

Question

I had signed up for a trip with a group I'm a part of earlier in the year. I have to come up with $2700 PLUS spending money. We'd be traveling to the U.K. and I would really like to go but I'm not so sure anymore. When I had first signed up the person telling us all the information on it said it would be no more that $2000. Then, later on I found out the price raised to $2500. And now it is nearly $3000 which is a lot of money for me. I'm fourteen and I'm trying to get a part time job but not a lot of places are willing to hire me especially since school is starting soon. I will need at least $4000 including spending money but since I don't have a job, it's going to be very difficult.

The trip would be summer '09 so I don't have very much time to obtain this money. And, we have to pay the $2700 monthly, little by little and if I pull out of the trip, I can't get my money back. So far, I've already paid $290 off. That's not very much so if I pull out, it's not that big of a deal. But then just last week I worked at a concession stand at a raceway for three days earning $360 total. But they had given our checks (the people in my group were also working there) to the person in charge who was to put it towards the trip. So if I pull out, I don't get that money that I had earned.

So what I'm asking is for your opinions. If you were in my spot, being a fourteen year old girl who is trying to get a job to go on a trip of her lifetime, would you do it? Or pull out? Please, honest answers are needed.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Did you  or your parents sign any document agreeing the price? Were you quoted a price in writing at the beginning and was there any small print saying this could change? If so there should have been some option to pull out by you if this happened. If you didnt sign anything and have not proper agreement, I would get out now and try arguing to get your money back.

Answer 2

What kind of trip is it? If it is a school trip, then I would say pull out now and take the loss. ( by the way, I bet that they are just keeping your money) Do you have a signed contract with the organizer that says that their is no refund? If your parents signed it, you lost the money, if not you cannot sign it as a minor and demand your money back or take it to small claims court. I am a travel agent of 40 years and have never held a deposit for this far in advance, but I know a lot of want-a-be travel organizers take advantage of the youth groups. I have never changed a price on a group either, as I lock the airfares when I book the group and buy the hotels in euros, so I don't get affected by exchange.. In your future travels only use an ASTA travel agent. Also, take the information that you have to an agent in your area and they may give you some advise.

Answer 3

Dude go! Youll have the time of your life, the UK is so much fun man seriously. Way better than anything!

Answer 4

I am sorry but to me it sounds a bit dodgy. If I were you I (sadly) forget about the money that was paid already, keep saving my money and look for other travel agents that offer similar trips.