How a San Diego girl’s dream journey became a nightmare – NBC 7 San Diego

San Diego resident Blanca Nieto would not miss an opportunity to journey.

“For 30 years, I’ve been traveling all around the world,” Nieto stated, including that she’s been to locations like Spain, Paris, London and Switzerland.

But this journey was very particular.

“I wished to take my son for his birthday and [my] granddaughter,” she stated.

While scrolling on social media, she noticed what she thought was an awesome deal from an organization referred to as Blue Travel Group. It was a 12-day journey to Europe that included flights and motels. 

“They had a very nice trip supposedly to south of Spain, like Sevilla and Granada. That’s why they caught my attention: the price and the places,” Nieto stated.

She made 5 funds for a complete of $7,394 for 3 folks.

According to her itinerary, Nieto, her son and granddaughter have been alleged to fly from Los Angeles to Madrid on Dec 28.

About per week earlier than her flight, Nieto requested her assistant to name the airline to pay for his or her baggage. To their shock, their names weren’t on the flight.

Nieto stated she referred to as her journey agent at Blue Travel Group, who advised her the corporate modified her flight and that it could ship her the brand new data.

For days, Nieto stated she tried to achieve Blue Travel Group. With no luck and getting determined, on Dec. 27 — in the future earlier than her journey — Nieto dialed from a distinct quantity. To her shock, her journey agent answered.

“They said, ‘You’re going to travel by the 30th,’ and I say, ‘I’m ready.’ The 30th was almost around the corner, and nothing happened,” Nieto stated.

“She was very upset because we had to change some of the dates at the beginning of the trip,” stated Elder Salazar, proprietor of Blue Travel Group.

Salazar blames Nieto for not taking the journey.

“We by no means acquired a affirmation, e mail, or name saying, ‘Yes, I accepted these adjustments,'” he stated.

But Nieto confirmed us a WhatsApp message, during which she accepted the change on Dec. 27.

Nieto ended up taking Blue Travel Group to small claims court docket earlier this 12 months and received, however she hasn’t acquired any funds from the corporate.

NBC 7 Responds requested Salazar if he’s planning on paying Nieto the cash he owes her, to which he stated, “Yes, of course, but she has to file a form.” Nieto stated she hasn’t acquired any types to fill out.

Nieto will not be the one Blue Travel Group shopper who has seen their European journey crushed. After paying $3,499 for a visit in October of final 12 months, Maria Palacio stated Blue Travel Group left her deserted in Milan.

“My dream trip turned into a nightmare,” Miami resident Palacio stated.

She stated after they arrived in Milan, that they had no resort rooms, solely a message from Blue Travel Group that operational points have been stopping the corporate from paying for the rooms.

Palacio stated she paid her personal solution to get to their closing vacation spot in Barcelona, the place she was in a position to fly house.

“They provide you with a kind to fill out and wait 90 days for a refund,” stated Palacio, who advised NBC 7 Responds she by no means acquired a response.

After we requested Salazar about Palacio’s request, he supplied her a journey credit score — one thing she advised us she’s not concerned about.

Maria has filed a criticism with the California Attorney General’s Office, which regulates sellers of journey. The lawyer basic’s workplace advised NBC 7 Responds in an e mail: To defend its integrity, we’re unable to touch upon and even to substantiate or deny, potential or ongoing investigations.

NBC 7 Responds was in a position to verify with the California Franchise Tax Board that it suspended the corporate’s registration in May resulting from not submitting tax returns.

The state of Delaware, the place the corporate was included as BTG Travel, advised NBC 7 Responds that the “entity is void” and owes about $188,000 in taxes. Salazar stated they’re engaged on paying these.

We requested Salazar if he’s taking cash from purchasers and never planning their journeys. “No, by no means. Every shopper or case needs to be investigated as a result of it isn’t similar to, ‘Pay us, and overlook about BTG Travel, and we’ll by no means name you once more,'” Salazar responded.

Nieto stated she’s going to preserve discovering methods to get her a refund and regrets not doing her due diligence earlier than sending cash to Blue Travel Group.

“I’ll be more careful what I do on social media,” she stated.

Here’s what to do earlier than reserving with a journey company:

• Check critiques: In this case, Blue Travel Group has an alert on its BBB web page, which was added after Nieto and Palacio booked their journeys.
• Pay along with your bank card: That means, should you run into hassle, you possibly can dispute the cost.
•  Search for registration: Travel businesses must be registered with the state attorney general’s office. You can seek for the corporate on its website.

 NBC 7 Responds discovered three different small claims circumstances Blue Travel Group misplaced in Los Angeles County.

The court docket system is one other place we are able to all search when deciding whether or not handy over 1000’s of {dollars} to an organization.