Imagine booking a luxurious all-expenses-paid vacation for a fraction of the usual cost. Sounds too good to be true, right? That’s what many people think when they first hear about Super Travel.
But is this travel booking service the real deal or a scam? Let’s dive in and uncover the truth about this controversial platform.
What is Super Travel?
Super Travel is an online platform that promises to help you book amazing vacations at heavily discounted prices. Through their proprietary travel hacking techniques and connections with travel suppliers, they claim to secure incredible deals on flights, hotels, cruises, and more.
But how exactly do they do it? And is it legal?
Super Travel’s main selling point is their ability to get you drastically cheaper rates on travel compared to booking directly or through other sites. They achieve this through a variety of methods:
- Last-minute bookings: Scooping up unsold rooms/seats at the very last minute for rock-bottom prices.
- Negotiating directly with suppliers: Leveraging their large customer base to negotiate bulk discounts hotels and airlines may not offer publicly.
- Exploiting pricing errors: Identifying and capitalizing on mistakes in pricing algorithms before they are corrected.
- Travel reward hacking: Utilizing rewards programs, points, and creative routing strategies to maximize value.
While some of these tactics are relatively standard in the travel industry, others operate in a ethical gray area. The big question is: are Super Travel’s methods entirely legitimate and above-board?
How Does Super Travel Work?
Let’s illustrate Super Travel’s approach with an example:
Say a 5-star hotel in Maui has 20 empty rooms for tonight. They’d normally charge $500 per night but at the last minute, they’d rather get something than nothing. Super Travel swoops in and books all 20 rooms at a heavily discounted rate of $150 per night.
They then sell those rooms to their customers for $250 per night – a deep discount from the regular rate but still marking up the price they paid. Both the hotel and Super Travel make out better than having empty rooms.
This is a simplified example, but it shows the general strategy Super Travel employs. By capitalizing on hotels’ unsold inventory at the last minute, being savvy negotiators, and exploiting pricing mistakes or loopholes, they claim to routinely secure travel bookings at 50-80% below the usual retail rates.
But herein lies the controversy – some argue Super Travel’s tactics violate contracts, take unfair advantage of suppliers, and are potentially unethical or even illegal in some cases. We’ll dig deeper into those issues in a bit.
Case Study: The $99 Penthouse Suite
To better understand how Super Travel does what it does, let’s look at an actual case study reported by a satisfied customer:
“I was booking a weekend trip to New Orleans for my wife’s birthday. I found Super Travel offered a suite at a 4-star French Quarter hotel for $99 per night. I couldn’t believe it – the exact same room was $499 on every other travel site.
Since it was a last-minute booking for that coming weekend, I took a chance based on the great reviews. Sure enough, I show up and check into the recently renovated 1,000 sq ft penthouse suite with a private balcony overlooking the city. I paid just $300 total including fees/taxes for something that should have cost $1,500-2,000!
The hotel was clearly trying to fill the high-end room at the last minute instead of it sitting empty. Super Travel snagged it for a song then sold it to me at a deep discount. It ended up being a fantastic deal and luxurious experience far beyond what I ever could have afforded.”
Stories like this help explain how Super Travel seems to consistently get such incredible deals and the type of huge savings some customers experience. But it also raises some flags about the reliability and ethics of the service.
User Reviews and Complaints
To assess Super Travel’s legitimacy, it’s crucial to look at what actual users and customers are saying about their service. The reviews are decidedly mixed:
Positive Reviews:
Many users rave about the incredible travel deals they snagged through Super Travel:
- “I booked a 5-night stay at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun for $600 total! The same trip was $1800 everywhere else I looked.”
- “No-frills but we got round-trip flights to Europe for $200 per person. Booking with Super Travel let us take that dream vacation.”
Users frequently praise Super Travel’s steeply discounted prices as the main benefit.
Negative Reviews:
On the flip side, there are many complaints and reports of negative experiences:
- Hidden fees not disclosed upfront
- Nonresponsive and poor customer service
- Bookings being canceled or changed at the last minute
- Overbooking and not being able to honor reservations
- Difficulty getting refunds or resolving issues
A concerning number of users allege deceptive practices, though Super Travel claims to resolve issues on a case-by-case basis.
Overall Rating:
Looking at aggregate user reviews on trusted sites like TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Super Travel receives mediocre overall ratings:
- TrustPilot: 3.2/5 (based on over 4,000 reviews)
- BBB Rating: C+ (with over 500 complaints closed in the last 3 years)
So while many customers are thrilled about the deals they got, a significant portion was not satisfied with the service and had problems with their bookings.
Typical Customer Complaints:
Some of the most common customer complaints found in reviews include:
- Hidden resort fees, taxes, and other mandatory charges added at the last minute
- Hotels claiming overbookings and not honoring reservations
- Unhelpful customer support reps and issues getting refunds
- Advertised hotels/flights being swapped for lower quality alternatives
One disgruntled reviewer shared their experience:
“Super Travel sold me a nonstop roundtrip flight to Hawaii for $300. But when I arrived at the airport they had switched me to a one-stop flight on a budget airline. When I complained they refused to make it right or refund me. Never again.”
Stories like these highlight the risks of using an opaque third-party service that doesn’t always deliver on promises. It’s a gamble for customers.
Is Super Travel Legal and Trustworthy?
Ultimately, the biggest question is whether Super Travel operates in a fully legal and ethical manner that consumers can trust. There are credible arguments on both sides:
Reasons It May Be Legitimate:
- Super Travel is a registered business and travel agency based in Nevada.
- They work directly with many major travel suppliers – including airlines, hotel chains, and booking platforms.
- They claim to abide by all industry regulations and follow all applicable laws.
- Their methods may be aggressive but utilize common industry tactics like last-minute bookings, negotiating group rates, etc.
Reasons to Be Skeptical:
- Some of their methods (exploiting pricing mistakes, skirting supplier contracts, overbooking) may violate legal agreements and supplier terms.
- There are constant allegations of deceptive marketing, hidden fees, and dishonest practices by some customers.
- Their reliance on last-minute deal-chasing could make bookings unreliable and prone to cancellations.
- Their position as a third-party middleman makes the customer experience more tenuous.
It’s a complex issue without clear answers. But it does highlight why you need to be an educated and cautious consumer when dealing with a controversial service like Super Travel.
Weighing The Pros and Cons:
So what should a savvy traveler make of all this? On one hand, the enticing discounts offered by Super Travel could save you thousands on your next vacation.
| Pros of Using Super Travel |
| Potential for 50-80% savings on travel |
| Access to deals and rates you can’t find elsewhere |
| Able to book luxury trips and accommodations normally out of budget |
But you have to balance that against the very real risks of things going wrong:
| Cons of Using Super Travel |
| Hidden fees and surprises can negate savings |
| Unreliable bookings and third-party issues |
| Poor customer service if problems arise |
| Potential for unethical or illegal business practices |
It ultimately comes down to how risk-averse you are as a traveler and how much you value peace of mind during the booking and travel experience. For some, the savings are worth the uncertainty. For others, an unpredictable third-party broker is an absolute no-go.
FAQ’s
Is SuperTravel a legitimate online travel agency?
Yes, SuperTravel is a legitimate online travel agency that has been in business for over 15 years. They are registered in the UK.
Can I communicate directly with the hotel after booking through SuperTravel?
No, you cannot communicate directly with the hotel after booking through SuperTravel. All communication regarding your reservation needs to go through SuperTravel’s customer service.
Why should I consider booking through SuperTravel despite the risks?
Potentially lower prices than booking direct. Convenience of comparing rates from multiple hotels in one place. Ability to bundle flights, hotels, activities into one booking.
How can I minimize the risks of booking through SuperTravel?
Read cancellation policies carefully. Consider travel insurance. Make sure important details like names/dates are correct on reservation. Keep proof of booking and contact in case of issues.
What do user reviews and feedback say about SuperTravel?
Reviews are generally positive, praising convenience and customer service. Some complaints about non-refundable rates and difficulty changing reservations.
What are Trustpilot reviews for SuperTravel like?
Trustpilot gives SuperTravel a 3.5/5 star rating based on over 7,000 reviews. Most praise customer service but some complaints about inflexible cancellation policies.
What are some common customer complaints and concerns about SuperTravel?
Difficulty cancelling or changing reservations. Rates being non-refundable. Communication issues if problems arise with booked hotels/activities.
Have there been any legal actions or scam allegations against SuperTravel?
No major legal issues or scam reports have been found against SuperTravel. They appear to be a legitimate online travel agency.
Is super travel and snap travel the same?
No, SuperTravel and SnapTravel are separate companies. SnapTravel is also a legitimate online travel agency based in the US.
What company is super travel?
SuperTravel is an online travel agency brand owned by STA Travel Group, which has headquarters in London, UK.
What is the old name for super travel?
SuperTravel has always been called SuperTravel since it was founded in 2004. It does not appear to have had any previous name.
Conclusion Summary
In the end, travelers will have to weigh the potential savings against the risks and unknowns of using a service like Super Travel.
My recommendation is to do thorough research, read both positive and negative reviews closely, and make sure you understand their terms, policies, and limitations before booking. It may be worth it for certain types of trips, but there are no guarantees.
Ultimately, you’ll have to make an informed personal decision about whether you want to take a chance with Super Travel for your next vacation booking. Travel smart and be a savvy consumer.
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