Is Thrillophilia Legit? 9 Reasons Why It is Not a Legitimate and Trustworthy Site

Thrillophilia is a popular online platform specializing in curating and providing unique travel experiences across India and other parts of the world. Established in 2009 by Chitra Gurnani and Abhishek Daga, the company has aimed to redefine the travel genre by offering offbeat and adventurous tours, activities, and experiences. However, the quality they offer and the ongoing negative reviews make it far from being a legit and trustworthy site. 

How it Works:

Thrillophilia operates as an intermediary between local tour operators and travelers. It provides a comprehensive platform where tour operators can list their activities, and travelers can browse, compare, and book these activities based on their preferences. The website boasts many experiences, from city tours, trekking, adventure sports, wildlife safaris, and heritage walks.

The platform also provides detailed information on each activity, including the itinerary, the cost, the tour operator’s details, traveler reviews, and ratings. This feature is designed to help travelers decide about the activity they wish to book.

Thrillophilia has tried to position itself as a one-stop solution for travelers seeking unique and adventurous experiences beyond typical tourist attractions. However, it failed. While it has faced some criticism and negative reviews – like most businesses – it is essential to weigh both positive and negative aspects before concluding its legitimacy.

9 reasons why Thrillophilia is not a legitimate travel booking site

1. Lack of Transparency

Thrillophilia lacks transparency, making it the primary reason for its legitimacy. It could be due to several factors, such as inconsistent pricing, hidden charges, or inadequate tour information. Here’s an expanded view on these:

1. Inconsistent Pricing: Customers have noted discrepancies in the pricing of tours or activities listed on Thrillophilia’s platform. Prices vary widely for similar experiences, leading to confusion and a perception of inconsistency.
2. Hidden Charges: Another transparency issue could stem from hidden charges. Customers have found that the final price they have to pay is higher than what was initially listed due to additional taxes, booking fees, or other unexpected costs.
3. Inadequate Information: Lack of comprehensive information about the tours, accommodations, or itineraries could also impact transparency. For instance, if there are incidents where the change in the tour’s itinerary or the accommodation provided doesn’t match the description or photos. It leads to dissatisfaction among customers and a feeling of being misled.

To enhance transparency, travel booking sites like Thrillophilia should ensure accurate, clear, and comprehensive information about their offerings. They should detail any additional charges upfront and maintain consistency in their pricing. An explicit, easy-to-understand cancellation and refund policy can enhance transparency and build customer trust.

2. Poor Customer Service

Poor customer service can significantly impact a company’s reputation. In the context of a travel booking site like Thrillophilia, this has manifested in several ways:

1. Ineffective Communication: Customers might have needed help contacting the customer service team. However, proper support was not available at the right time. Issues included long wait times, slow email responses, or difficulties reaching a representative.
2. Delays in Response: Customers have experienced significant delays when resolving issues or getting answers to their queries. The response time is critical, especially in the travel industry, where issues are often time-sensitive.
3. Lack of Resolution: Some customers have reported that their issues needed to be adequately resolved, or they felt they could have been more satisfied with the solution provided by the customer service team. That might relate to cancellations, refunds, booking changes, or dissatisfaction with a tour or experience.
4. Impersonal Service: Another aspect was the need for personalized service. Customers feel like they are dealing with a large, impersonal entity, which can be frustrating when trying to resolve personal travel issues.

These issues can affect any company in the service industry and are not unique to Thrillophilia. Companies must invest in high-quality customer service to meet their customer’s needs and expectations effectively.

3. Negative Reviews for Europe, Dubai, Asia, and India Tours and Travel Packages

To comprehensively understand Thrillophilia’s performance, assessing reviews across a broad range of offerings is crucial. Here is an overview of negative reviews, 

Thrillophilia only gained negative reviews on Tripadvisor, Google reviews, and other platforms for tours and travel packages across Europe, Dubai, Asia, and India.

1. Misrepresentation of Packages: Customers reported that the actual tours didn’t match the descriptions or photos provided on the platform, causing disappointment.
2. Inadequate Customer Support: Travelers complained about needing more prompt customer support during their tours, especially during changes or problems with the tour.
3. Hidden Charges: Complaints about unexpected costs were not mentioned during the booking process.
4. Poor Quality Accommodations: Customers highlighted issues with the standard of accommodation provided, which needed to match their expectations based on the package details.
5. Issues with Local Tour Operators: Some complaints were about the local tour operators, focusing on unprofessional behavior, lack of punctuality, or issues with the transportation provided.
6. Inflexible Cancellation Policies: Travelers needed help with cancellations and refund policies that they felt needed to be more flexible and fair.

4. Frequent Cancellation Issues

Frequent cancellation issues were a significant pain point for customers when dealing with travel booking sites like Thrillophilia. These problems manifested in several ways:

1. Last-Minute Cancellations: One of the most common issues customers face is last-minute cancellations from the tour operator due to unforeseen circumstances, such as weather conditions or insufficient bookings. However, such cancellations can significantly disrupt travelers’ plans, especially if they need to be informed promptly.
2. Problems with Refund Process: Following a cancellation, whether initiated by the customer or the company, travelers encounter problems with the refund process. That included delays in receiving refunds, receiving less than the expected amount, or difficulty initiating the refund process.
3. Inflexible Cancellation Policy: Some customers found the company’s cancellation policy needs to be more flexible and fair. It involved strict timelines for cancellations, high cancellation fees, or non-refundable bookings.
4. Poor Communication: Another issue was poor communication surrounding cancellations. Customers needed more timely and transparent information about cancellations, changes to their booking, or the steps they needed to follow to get a refund.

5. Issues with Guides and Tour Operators

Issues with guides and tour operators can significantly impact a traveler’s experience. So why are Thrillophilia customers dissatisfied? Some of the common concerns were:

1. Unprofessional Behavior: Customers, experienced tour guides, or operators behaved unprofessionally or rudely. That ranged from not being punctual to being disrespectful towards tourists.
2. Lack of Proper Training: Some guides needed to be adequately trained or knowledgeable, leading to a lackluster tour experience. That includes being unable to explain the significance of sights, giving incorrect information, or not being able to communicate effectively in the language preferred by the tourists.
3. Poor Organization: Guides and operators needed to have organized the tours better, leading to delays, missed attractions, or unmet expectations. That could be due to a lack of planning or not adhering to the planned itinerary.
4. Safety Concerns: Safety is a significant issue, especially for adventure tours. Customers raised concerns when they felt the guide should have prioritized safety during activities or provided clear instructions.
5. Issues with Transportation or Accommodation: Guides and operators are typically responsible for coordinating logistics like transport and accommodation. If these aspects are well managed, it can positively impact the overall travel experience. However, it was not in the case of Thrillophilia, which raises another concern about its legitimacy.

6. Poor Health and Safety Concerns

In a travel context, poor attention to health and safety can lead to significant customer issues. For a company like Thrillophilia, any alleged negligence in this area has been a serious concern. Some of these problems were:

1. Lack of Safety Measures: Insufficient safety precautions can lead to injuries or accidents during adventure activities or tours. Travelers raised concerns and felt the guide should have prioritized safety during activities or provided clear instructions.
2. Substandard Accommodations: Cheap accommodations can sometimes compromise on cleanliness and safety standards. Incidents related to hygiene, such as pest infestations or lack of clean drinking water, can pose significant health risks to travelers.
3. Food Poisoning: Food served in some hotels might not be up to hygiene standards, potentially leading to food poisoning incidents. That has significantly ruined a traveler’s experience. 

7. Unacceptable Quality of Accommodations

The quality of accommodations can significantly impact a traveler’s overall experience. Customers had negative experiences with accommodations through Thrillophilia. Some of the issues were:

1. Poor Hygiene Standards: Customers complained about a lack of cleanliness in the accommodations. That included unclean bedding, bathrooms, common areas, or mold or pest infestations.
2. Misrepresentation of Accommodations: Accommodations did not match the descriptions or photos provided on the platform, leading to disappointment. For instance, a room was smaller and dirtier than advertised. Amenities were not provided.
3. Lack of Basic Amenities: Customers faced basic amenities like hot water, Wi-Fi, or air conditioning issues. Sometimes, these amenities need to be more functional or available as advertised.
4. Issues with Food: Whenever food was provided as part of the accommodation package, there were complaints about its quality, variety, or hygiene.
5. Poor Location or Accessibility: The accommodation location was inconvenient, far from significant attractions or transport links, or in a noisy or unsafe area.
6. Unresponsive Management or Staff: Customers also expressed dissatisfaction with how the accommodation staff or management handled their complaints or requests for assistance.

8. Misleading Itineraries

Misleading itineraries were a significant source of frustration for travelers. When booking through a travel company like Thrillophilia, customers expect clear, accurate information about their trip. If the reality doesn’t match the itinerary, some concerns about their legitimacy arise like:

1. False Advertising: Customers found that the experience didn’t match what was promised in the itinerary. That included skipped attractions, not provided activities, or experiences that were not as described.
2. Lack of Clarity: The itinerary might need to provide transparent information about what is included and what is not. For instance, customers might be surprised by hidden costs for certain activities, meals, or transport that they assumed were included.
3. Inaccurate Timeframes: The itinerary might need to reflect the time spent at each location or activity accurately. That could lead to rushed visits, long waits, or unexpected changes to the schedule.
4. Inflexible Itinerary: The itinerary might not allow flexibility for personal exploration or changes based on weather, local conditions, or customer preferences.
5. Insufficient Detail: The itinerary lacked essential details about the tour, such as difficulty levels of activities, recommended clothing or equipment, or necessary health and safety precautions.

9. Overpricing

Overpricing is a significant concern for customers and a problem in the travel industry, where there are often many variables and potential hidden costs. When considering a company like Thrillophilia, here are some legitimacy issues related to overpricing:

1. High Prices Compared to Competitors: Customers felt that the prices charged by the company are higher compared to similar offerings from other travel platforms or local providers.
2. Low Value for Money: Customers felt that the quality of the services, accommodations, or experiences must justify the price. That could be due to subpar guides, poor accommodation, lack of included activities, or other shortcomings.
3. Hidden Costs: One of the common concerns was hidden costs not included in the original price. That includes fees for certain activities, meals, transport, or other extras that customers assumed were included.
4. Non-Refundable Deposits or Cancellation Fees: Some companies might have strict cancellation policies that involve high fees or non-refundable deposits. That could make customers feel like they’re paying more than they should, especially if they need to cancel or change their plans.
5. Up-selling During the Tour: In some cases, guides or operators might try to sell additional activities, souvenirs, or services during the tour, which can pressure customers to spend more than they planned.

Conclusion

Travel is a significant investment of time, money, and anticipation, and choosing a trustworthy and reliable platform for planning and booking your trips is essential. Throughout this post, we’ve discussed some common issues that could lead someone to question the legitimacy of a travel company like Thrillophilia, from lack of transparency, poor customer service, misleading itineraries, and overpricing to concerns about the quality and safety of accommodations and tours. People don’t consider Thrillophilia as a legit and trustworthy travel booking site.

While these issues are based on general concerns that travelers might have, it’s crucial to remember that actual experiences can vary greatly. 

When planning your travels, always do your due diligence. Compare prices, read recent reviews, clarify what’s included and not, and communicate any specific concerns or requirements to the company before booking. It will help ensure you have a travel experience that meets your expectations and offers good value for your money. Safe travels!

Is Thrillophilia Legit? 9 Reasons Why It is Not a Legitimate and Trustworthy Site

Thrillophilia is a popular online platform specializing in curating and providing unique travel experiences across India and other parts of the world. Established in 2009 by Chitra Gurnani and Abhishek Daga, the company has aimed to redefine the travel genre by offering offbeat and adventurous tours, activities, and experiences. However, the quality they offer and the ongoing negative reviews make it far from being a legit and trustworthy site. 

How it Works:

Thrillophilia operates as an intermediary between local tour operators and travelers. It provides a comprehensive platform where tour operators can list their activities, and travelers can browse, compare, and book these activities based on their preferences. The website boasts many experiences, from city tours, trekking, adventure sports, wildlife safaris, and heritage walks.

The platform also provides detailed information on each activity, including the itinerary, the cost, the tour operator’s details, traveler reviews, and ratings. This feature is designed to help travelers decide about the activity they wish to book.

Thrillophilia has tried to position itself as a one-stop solution for travelers seeking unique and adventurous experiences beyond typical tourist attractions. However, it failed. While it has faced some criticism and negative reviews – like most businesses – it is essential to weigh both positive and negative aspects before concluding its legitimacy.

9 reasons why Thrillophilia is not a legitimate travel booking site

1. Lack of Transparency

Thrillophilia lacks transparency, making it the primary reason for its legitimacy. It could be due to several factors, such as inconsistent pricing, hidden charges, or inadequate tour information. Here’s an expanded view on these:

1. Inconsistent Pricing: Customers have noted discrepancies in the pricing of tours or activities listed on Thrillophilia’s platform. Prices vary widely for similar experiences, leading to confusion and a perception of inconsistency.
2. Hidden Charges: Another transparency issue could stem from hidden charges. Customers have found that the final price they have to pay is higher than what was initially listed due to additional taxes, booking fees, or other unexpected costs.
3. Inadequate Information: Lack of comprehensive information about the tours, accommodations, or itineraries could also impact transparency. For instance, if there are incidents where the change in the tour’s itinerary or the accommodation provided doesn’t match the description or photos. It leads to dissatisfaction among customers and a feeling of being misled.

To enhance transparency, travel booking sites like Thrillophilia should ensure accurate, clear, and comprehensive information about their offerings. They should detail any additional charges upfront and maintain consistency in their pricing. An explicit, easy-to-understand cancellation and refund policy can enhance transparency and build customer trust.

2. Poor Customer Service

Poor customer service can significantly impact a company’s reputation. In the context of a travel booking site like Thrillophilia, this has manifested in several ways:

1. Ineffective Communication: Customers might have needed help contacting the customer service team. However, proper support was not available at the right time. Issues included long wait times, slow email responses, or difficulties reaching a representative.
2. Delays in Response: Customers have experienced significant delays when resolving issues or getting answers to their queries. The response time is critical, especially in the travel industry, where issues are often time-sensitive.
3. Lack of Resolution: Some customers have reported that their issues needed to be adequately resolved, or they felt they could have been more satisfied with the solution provided by the customer service team. That might relate to cancellations, refunds, booking changes, or dissatisfaction with a tour or experience.
4. Impersonal Service: Another aspect was the need for personalized service. Customers feel like they are dealing with a large, impersonal entity, which can be frustrating when trying to resolve personal travel issues.

These issues can affect any company in the service industry and are not unique to Thrillophilia. Companies must invest in high-quality customer service to meet their customer’s needs and expectations effectively.

3. Negative Reviews for Europe, Dubai, Asia, and India Tours and Travel Packages

To comprehensively understand Thrillophilia’s performance, assessing reviews across a broad range of offerings is crucial. Here is an overview of negative reviews, 

Thrillophilia only gained negative reviews on Tripadvisor, Google reviews, and other platforms for tours and travel packages across Europe, Dubai, Asia, and India.

1. Misrepresentation of Packages: Customers reported that the actual tours didn’t match the descriptions or photos provided on the platform, causing disappointment.
2. Inadequate Customer Support: Travelers complained about needing more prompt customer support during their tours, especially during changes or problems with the tour.
3. Hidden Charges: Complaints about unexpected costs were not mentioned during the booking process.
4. Poor Quality Accommodations: Customers highlighted issues with the standard of accommodation provided, which needed to match their expectations based on the package details.
5. Issues with Local Tour Operators: Some complaints were about the local tour operators, focusing on unprofessional behavior, lack of punctuality, or issues with the transportation provided.
6. Inflexible Cancellation Policies: Travelers needed help with cancellations and refund policies that they felt needed to be more flexible and fair.

4. Frequent Cancellation Issues

Frequent cancellation issues were a significant pain point for customers when dealing with travel booking sites like Thrillophilia. These problems manifested in several ways:

1. Last-Minute Cancellations: One of the most common issues customers face is last-minute cancellations from the tour operator due to unforeseen circumstances, such as weather conditions or insufficient bookings. However, such cancellations can significantly disrupt travelers’ plans, especially if they need to be informed promptly.
2. Problems with Refund Process: Following a cancellation, whether initiated by the customer or the company, travelers encounter problems with the refund process. That included delays in receiving refunds, receiving less than the expected amount, or difficulty initiating the refund process.
3. Inflexible Cancellation Policy: Some customers found the company’s cancellation policy needs to be more flexible and fair. It involved strict timelines for cancellations, high cancellation fees, or non-refundable bookings.
4. Poor Communication: Another issue was poor communication surrounding cancellations. Customers needed more timely and transparent information about cancellations, changes to their booking, or the steps they needed to follow to get a refund.

5. Issues with Guides and Tour Operators

Issues with guides and tour operators can significantly impact a traveler’s experience. So why are Thrillophilia customers dissatisfied? Some of the common concerns were:

1. Unprofessional Behavior: Customers, experienced tour guides, or operators behaved unprofessionally or rudely. That ranged from not being punctual to being disrespectful towards tourists.
2. Lack of Proper Training: Some guides needed to be adequately trained or knowledgeable, leading to a lackluster tour experience. That includes being unable to explain the significance of sights, giving incorrect information, or not being able to communicate effectively in the language preferred by the tourists.
3. Poor Organization: Guides and operators needed to have organized the tours better, leading to delays, missed attractions, or unmet expectations. That could be due to a lack of planning or not adhering to the planned itinerary.
4. Safety Concerns: Safety is a significant issue, especially for adventure tours. Customers raised concerns when they felt the guide should have prioritized safety during activities or provided clear instructions.
5. Issues with Transportation or Accommodation: Guides and operators are typically responsible for coordinating logistics like transport and accommodation. If these aspects are well managed, it can positively impact the overall travel experience. However, it was not in the case of Thrillophilia, which raises another concern about its legitimacy.

6. Poor Health and Safety Concerns

In a travel context, poor attention to health and safety can lead to significant customer issues. For a company like Thrillophilia, any alleged negligence in this area has been a serious concern. Some of these problems were:

1. Lack of Safety Measures: Insufficient safety precautions can lead to injuries or accidents during adventure activities or tours. Travelers raised concerns and felt the guide should have prioritized safety during activities or provided clear instructions.
2. Substandard Accommodations: Cheap accommodations can sometimes compromise on cleanliness and safety standards. Incidents related to hygiene, such as pest infestations or lack of clean drinking water, can pose significant health risks to travelers.
3. Food Poisoning: Food served in some hotels might not be up to hygiene standards, potentially leading to food poisoning incidents. That has significantly ruined a traveler’s experience. 

7. Unacceptable Quality of Accommodations

The quality of accommodations can significantly impact a traveler’s overall experience. Customers had negative experiences with accommodations through Thrillophilia. Some of the issues were:

1. Poor Hygiene Standards: Customers complained about a lack of cleanliness in the accommodations. That included unclean bedding, bathrooms, common areas, or mold or pest infestations.
2. Misrepresentation of Accommodations: Accommodations did not match the descriptions or photos provided on the platform, leading to disappointment. For instance, a room was smaller and dirtier than advertised. Amenities were not provided.
3. Lack of Basic Amenities: Customers faced basic amenities like hot water, Wi-Fi, or air conditioning issues. Sometimes, these amenities need to be more functional or available as advertised.
4. Issues with Food: Whenever food was provided as part of the accommodation package, there were complaints about its quality, variety, or hygiene.
5. Poor Location or Accessibility: The accommodation location was inconvenient, far from significant attractions or transport links, or in a noisy or unsafe area.
6. Unresponsive Management or Staff: Customers also expressed dissatisfaction with how the accommodation staff or management handled their complaints or requests for assistance.

8. Misleading Itineraries

Misleading itineraries were a significant source of frustration for travelers. When booking through a travel company like Thrillophilia, customers expect clear, accurate information about their trip. If the reality doesn’t match the itinerary, some concerns about their legitimacy arise like:

1. False Advertising: Customers found that the experience didn’t match what was promised in the itinerary. That included skipped attractions, not provided activities, or experiences that were not as described.
2. Lack of Clarity: The itinerary might need to provide transparent information about what is included and what is not. For instance, customers might be surprised by hidden costs for certain activities, meals, or transport that they assumed were included.
3. Inaccurate Timeframes: The itinerary might need to reflect the time spent at each location or activity accurately. That could lead to rushed visits, long waits, or unexpected changes to the schedule.
4. Inflexible Itinerary: The itinerary might not allow flexibility for personal exploration or changes based on weather, local conditions, or customer preferences.
5. Insufficient Detail: The itinerary lacked essential details about the tour, such as difficulty levels of activities, recommended clothing or equipment, or necessary health and safety precautions.

9. Overpricing

Overpricing is a significant concern for customers and a problem in the travel industry, where there are often many variables and potential hidden costs. When considering a company like Thrillophilia, here are some legitimacy issues related to overpricing:

1. High Prices Compared to Competitors: Customers felt that the prices charged by the company are higher compared to similar offerings from other travel platforms or local providers.
2. Low Value for Money: Customers felt that the quality of the services, accommodations, or experiences must justify the price. That could be due to subpar guides, poor accommodation, lack of included activities, or other shortcomings.
3. Hidden Costs: One of the common concerns was hidden costs not included in the original price. That includes fees for certain activities, meals, transport, or other extras that customers assumed were included.
4. Non-Refundable Deposits or Cancellation Fees: Some companies might have strict cancellation policies that involve high fees or non-refundable deposits. That could make customers feel like they’re paying more than they should, especially if they need to cancel or change their plans.
5. Up-selling During the Tour: In some cases, guides or operators might try to sell additional activities, souvenirs, or services during the tour, which can pressure customers to spend more than they planned.

Conclusion

Travel is a significant investment of time, money, and anticipation, and choosing a trustworthy and reliable platform for planning and booking your trips is essential. Throughout this post, we’ve discussed some common issues that could lead someone to question the legitimacy of a travel company like Thrillophilia, from lack of transparency, poor customer service, misleading itineraries, and overpricing to concerns about the quality and safety of accommodations and tours. People don’t consider Thrillophilia as a legit and trustworthy travel booking site.

While these issues are based on general concerns that travelers might have, it’s crucial to remember that actual experiences can vary greatly. 

When planning your travels, always do your due diligence. Compare prices, read recent reviews, clarify what’s included and not, and communicate any specific concerns or requirements to the company before booking. It will help ensure you have a travel experience that meets your expectations and offers good value for your money. Safe travels!