Oklahoma Family Warns Others Of Booking Advertised Vacations

An Oklahoma City family is feeling scammed after trying to book an advertised vacation through a well-known travel service.

The vacation advertisement fax, with the TripAdvisor logo, that Don Thompson's wife got at work seemed to have perfect timing.

Next month, the couple's Air Force reservist son returns home.

"We were having this family vacation to celebrate is return," Thompson said.

The Thompson family bought the $99 per person vacation package.

The total price after some fees was $900 and it was non-refundable.

But when the Thompsons went to book the vacation at the resort of their choice in the Dominican Republic, they were told something else.

"There will be an additional fee of $5,250," Thompson said about the additional resort fees.

The Thompsons tried to book another resort.

"We can get that one too for additional $5,250," Thompson said he was told.

They got the same fee when they tried to book a resort in Mexico.

News 9 called the number listed on the fax.

A representative claiming to be with TripAdvisor’s cooperate travel division told News 9 there would be an additional resort fee of $99 per person for the trip advertised on the flier. News 9 was also told the initial price of $99 was now $149.

When News 9 asked how the Thompsons could be asked to pay an additional fee of more than $5,000, News 9 was put on hold and eventually the representative hung up.

"You can't get them to call back," Thompson said, who wants to warn others about the fax.

The family doesn’t expect to get their $900 back, but they have booked another vacation on their own.