Bamboo (Closed) Avaliações 

Interested in joining any class action lawsuit that might be opened. Five in my travel group - trip booked in 2021, postponed to 2022, then postponed again to 2023. Now out a lot of money.

I received an email today stating that this company is closed because of, 1. Covid:

During covid - "Without government support, we stepped in to financially support those who needed it most, in some cases simply to feed their families and survive."

So they are telling us that they were still supporting charities, during covid, with our money?

"Reopening the Bamboo tours has been especially difficult as we have had two-plus years of customers wanting to travel as soon as possible"

So, they still took our money for tours which they were already aware they may not be able to honour?

"Despite the above and the frustrating challenges we faced, we had formulated a plan"

So they intentionally let us book tours and pay them our money? Deception springs to mind.

Finally they claim that:

"there is a small group of individuals who were not prepared to wait, and their actions and online influence have broken us, which impacts us all."

Has anyone else been made aware of this before now?
How did they break them when people were still booking and paying for trips?
Did anyone else receive an explanation of what was going on behind the scenes?

Bamboo claim they were victims of online abuse aimed at their staff, family and customers and they have had "no choice but to explore legal action against said individuals."

I sympathise and agree that they should not be subjected to online abuse but what I don't understand why they then say:

"What this means is our sales have not been at the level they needed to be to ensure the future survival of Bamboo"

How does online abuse impact sales?
We were all still paying for tours as they were still being advertised!

As to a refund they say:

"In short, a refund is not possible, given the reasons we have outlined in the original email. Bamboo no longer operates and has been forced to close."

So, I asked - where has all our money gone?

They then throw a "force majeure," into the mix!

I'm sorry but their explanation for closing does not include "any event which is beyond our reasonable control or the reasonable control of the supplier of the service(s) in question, including without limitation; war, threat of war, riot or civil commotion, fire, strike, industrial dispute, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, flood, epidemic or pandemic illness, and all similar events."

Does it?

They say:

"In this instance, where we have been forced to close beyond our control amounts to a force majeure event."

I am sorry but I believe something else is going on. Surely a company that has taken thousands of pounds & dollars from people all over the world wouldn't close down because of some online bullying?

There is either more to this than meets the eye OR, they have scammed us all and we need to fight them?
Just my opinion.

'force majeure'

They have cancelled my trip to Peru as they have stopped traiding. They have have refused to give me my money back which they have had since 2020

I’m in the UK and have been scammed out of my hard earned money for a trip to Bali which has been cancelled 3 times. They say they are closed now with thousands of pounds of peoples money. Not sure how to try and get my money back now not sure if ATOL can help? I’m angry and feel stupid for being an idiot. I believe in karma though. Anyone able to set up a Facebook page where we can share our experience of this also stop them setting up again under another name?

Ive actually googled their terms and conditions and it says if they cancel it they will refund, and the no refund policy was only if we cancelled which we have not, bamboo has, so yes they should be refunding everyone or their administrators should be in contact soon with the next steps they can't just close and keep everyone's money its totally wrong.

I received an e mail this morning stating that the was now ‘closed’ not gone into liquidation like Thomas Cooke. They have had my money for two years due to covid . My trip cost £1800 and now I find Bamboo will not refund. Why ? Are they using all our monies to cover their law suits . I am seriously pissed.

I’m out over $2k because of these fraudsters. They’re thieves, plain and simple! People are traveling all over the world right now so the COVID excuse is just that…a lame excuse. If anyone is organizing a class action lawsuit, please contact me.
REFUND OUR MONEY BAMBOO!!!!

Welp, not sure what to say, but I am now screwed out of $4734 :( since this company had notified me today that they are closing for good!!
During the pandemic I had came across FB advertising for this company and fell in love with the 'Give back' mission, so in Oct 2020 I booked (and paid in full $1247) my first trip to Bali in Sept 2021!! I was so excited that in Jan 2021 I booked (and paid in full $1497) a 2nd trip to India in Jan 2023. I even talked my travel buddy into buying the India trip too (she paid in full also).
On March 1, 2021 I saw advertisements for $995 trips in 2024, so I paid for 2 IN FULL AGAIN!!
Bamboo contacts me stating that there was an additional $250 Covid charge for Bali trips in 2021, I decided to postpone my trip to Oct 2023.
My India trip (flights booked & paid for) is supposed to be in 2 months, and last night I find out that the Company is closing. Today by email, I find out that I'm not getting ANY refund!! My credit card company can't do anything because it has been so long.

If anyone sets up a class action suit, please let me know!! kimderstine gmail

we are out 6000$, three weeks ago they sent an email saying our trip was postponed again, ok I get that. Then a week later saying they sent that email in error and the trip WAS a go, so booked flights and now i get the email they closed their doors and no refunds! that 6000$$$$$$ that might be pocket change to them but to me thats not money i have to just throw away. bamboo, MARK, COLIN do the right thing!!! CC company cannot help, anyone going into a legal suit please let me know! Paws2claws at hotmail dot ca

How on earth are these sharletons allowed with keeping all this money people have paid and then have the gall to say no refunds.. terms and conditions apply...surely there is something we can do...any ideas out there...

This is incredibly heartbreaking! My friends and I have paid in full almost $5000 for a trip that Bamboo is refusing to refund. I get it, they’ve close the company. But to keep the money that we paid in good faith without providing the service they promised is stealing. Terrible reviews can’t hurt them anymore than they already have but I imagine the reviews will still pour in, as the people that owned bamboo have stolen our money. I am interested in creating a class action lawsuit. I’m looking into it and 100% intend on proceeding. What a horrible way to treat the very people who trusted you, Bamboo. Shame on you Mark and Colin, owners and thieves of the company previously known as Bamboo.

The tours are a MUST if you are travelling, even if you've been to that place before. Great way to see the gems and spots that tourists might skip or forget and they are so organized!

They took my money and kept postponing my trip which is fine, I understood because of covid. But now they are closing permanently and refusing to give anyone their money back. It is pure theft!

I received an email October 30th, 2022 stating that the company is closing. I have 2 trips paid in full so I emailed asking if they will be refunding. They replied saying they will not be refunding anyone and they sent the "terms and conditions" which say NOTHING about not refunding or keeping people's money. It states that they reserve the right to "cancel" tours with a minimum of 2 months notice but that's it. They have stated they are in a legal battle with some clients due to abusive behaviour and are being forced to close (plus with covid). Ok I understand you have issues but how is that my problem. I will be pursuing further if they don't provide a refund for my 2 trips!

Two tours with Bamboo were great! Costa Rica and Thailand. So great I booked two more Peru and one voucher for further travel. Peru was cancelled during the pandemic and the voucher is for 2024.
Bamboo requires that all bookings must be insured via their Provider Chubb Insurance. I purchased the insurance on all my bookings.
Has anyone looked into this. There is cancellation insurance up to $8000 on each trip.
I’m sad that Bamboo was forced to close but I can see how it happened. I do not believe it was their intention to defraud anyone. The pandemic has been horrible but a business owner I can tell you it was devastating.

Colin, Mark can you guide us in this insurance claim??

I’d give it a zero. Scammed out of about $5k for two trips they kept postponing and now they’ve closed up shop! I think all these reviews from people claiming to have taken trips are false!

I just returned from the Bamboo Vietnam tour and had a fabulous time. Tuan and Jane were outstanding guides who rearranged things as needed and certainly ensured that we had a great experience. It was wonderful to work with a local family and to learn so much about this interesting country.

We scheduled our full tour with one of their local contacts, and it was the best decision we ever made. Best of all, the cost was half than booking through Airbnb or PinJoyet. Thank you so much for asking!

I’ve had an amazing experience in Vietnam with the guides Tuan and Jane. Their expertise in knowing what we would find interesting and enjoyable about their country was exemplary. They both had all our best interests at heart. Our project was well thought out and went very smoothly, and we all felt such joy in helping. Tuan told us lots of history about Vietnam and it was very interesting. The hotels we stayed in were amazing and our Halong Bay cruise was fantastic. I will always recommend Bamboo, and I will definitely be travelling with this company again.

So have arrived back home and back to reality 😥. Vietnam has won my heart and I'll be back. Our guides Tuan & Jane always there for anyones needs. Showing us the real Vietnam was the highlight. The community project we worked on was well organised and a fantastic experience.