I typed in the website Rick provides in his book for purchasing tickets. I did not realize that I was taken to a different site. I booked two tickets including the Palacios Nazaries- cost 234.00. I thought that sounded very expensive, but there seemed to be few reservations remaining, so I went ahead. Non-refundable tickets.
When I got the tickets, I realized it was a tour company. I called my credit card company (within 5 minutes of doing this booking.) Now I have to wait to open a dispute. The official site tickets were 25% of what I paid. I am writing this more as a beware to others. I hope I can get this sorted out. (For a credit card with the fees I pay, I would hope so!)
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
11503 posts
So sorry. I hope you get help from the card. I got taken on Prado tix. This seems to be pretty rampant in Spain.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17735 posts
So sorry to hear that this happened to you. :O(
Just curious, was the tour company that you were taken in by Walker Tours, per chance? I'm asking as, if so, you are in unfortunate company where that business is concerned: there have been a number of prior forum threads about that one. They cleverly design their websites look 'official' so those previous threads have warned the nice folks here to be especially careful when googling up a ticketing/tour site. Any which come up and includes "By Walker" in their header (or anywhere else in their text) are to be avoided.
There are likely some other sellers which should be avoided but Walker is the one I've seen the most complaints about. Just an example:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/thewalkertours.com
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9854 posts
I am very sorry that this happened. These shadow websites seem far more prevalent these days. However, don’t be upset if your dispute doesn’t go through at your credit card. The company is selling what you agreed to buy from them. In the end, you did agree to this purchase. Fraud and buyers remorse are two different things.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
The company is Al-Andalus Tours. But you don't get that name until after you purchase. They do work to make their site look like the official one (and I typed in the official site-- only to end up with this "shadow" site.)
Posted by
new york
967 posts
Next time you want to buy tickets to an attraction, Google for "xxxxxx. official ticket site."
I tried this and the first one that popped up was the official site:
Posted by
Virginia
660 posts
Do the tickets you bought include a guided tour? The website stated it was guided. If it is then I think $234 is not bad price. If its only tickets then I’m sorry about that.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
No- it is not for a guided tour
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16345 posts
I'm so sorry you got taken! When I started reading I had the same thought as Kate and wondered if it was Walker Tours. I've even gotten on that site accidentally for the Orsay Museum in Paris and I am literally on that website once a week or so! I have no idea how that happened as I have the official website bookmarked on that laptop as well as being a frequent visitor. I only noticed as the ticket price was 3X as high as the normal cost.
Crazy how these shadow sites invade!
Posted by
TX
3250 posts
I too am sorry that this happened to you.
I got bilked out of $759 when I went to a fake aa.com site. The merchant did refund $450.00. but Citi favored the merchant when it came to the over $300 balance because I had accepted goods and services.
This sort of problem is happening more and more and we will be hearing about this more and more.
Thank you for making forum aware. I will be interested in what the final outcome will be.