Dream turns to dust thanks to Holiday Swindler
Gerhard Van den Berg had been planning his dream vacation for months and had saved up the money to make it a reality.
He had researched numerous hotels and destinations before settling on the Cinnamon Velifushi Hotel in the Maldives.
The hotel’s stunning location and luxurious amenities seemed like the perfect place to celebrate his milestone birthday.
However, his excitement quickly turned to disappointment when he discovered that Priority Escapes, the travel agency he had booked through, had allegedly taken off with his hard-earned money.
Van den Berg claims that he had paid the agency R115 000 for his seven-day, all-inclusive stay at the hotel.
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“I couldn’t believe it when I found out that the travel agency had disappeared with my money,” Van den Berg said.
“I had been looking forward to this vacation for so long, and now it feels like it was all for nothing.”
Van den Berg is not alone in his predicament. Several other customers have also come forward, claiming that Priority Escapes has taken their money without providing the promised travel services.
The agency’s website is no longer active, and their phone lines have been disconnected.
“I feel betrayed and cheated,” said another customer who had booked a honeymoon trip through the agency.
“We had saved up for months to have the perfect honeymoon, and now it feels like our dreams have been shattered.”
The South African Police Service has confirmed that they are investigating the allegations against Priority Escapes.
They have urged anyone who has been affected by the agency’s alleged fraudulent activities to come forward and provide any relevant information.
In the meantime, Van den Berg and the other affected customers are left to deal with the financial and emotional aftermath of their ruined vacations.