Holiday ****!!!

I won a trip to Mauritius (Round 3) on a raffle that Lize Botha posted on Destashilize Help Group on Facebook. During our whatsapp comms she tells me she's a travel agent and has access to many holiday specials etc. I sent her our passports to show her they were valid, and so that she can book the tickets. Because I only wanted to go in 10 - 17 Feb 2022, we waited until closer to the time to book the tickets. So early in January I made contact to book and confirm the trip. I had to use various methods of communication - messenger, whatsapp and email - because Lize was very slow at responding. And calls to her always went straight to voicemail but the mailbox was full.

By 21 January 2022 - I still had no confirmations or bookings of flights or accommodation. I was also in the process of booking another trip abroad for later this year, and had mentioned to my travel agent for that trip that I was due for Mauritius soon but was waiting for confirmation. She asked at which hotel and then said she was phoning them to confirm one of her clients' booking so she can confirm mine too if I wanted her to. Upon which I agreed. She called me back and told me that there was no booking. When I queried this with Lize, she told me that she would look into it. She was constantly promising me that she won't let me down.

By end of January 2022, there was still no booking confirmations for flights and accommodation. I was told by Lize that she is waiting for a 3rd party to book. I found this strange as she said she was a registered travel agent.

31 January 2022 I contacted, the admin of the raffle group to enquire as to whether Lize had another contact number because I was battling to get hold of her or get my booking confirmations. She assured me that Lize was registered and would not let me down.

1st of Feb Lize sends me one screenshot of a flight booking for myself only. She lets me know she is still waiting for my hubby's ticket to be issued. She also up until now tells me the accommodation is booked, but is waiting for proof of confirmation. My hubby phones the hotel in Mauritius - No booking!! We look on Air Mauritius with the flight number on the ticket she screenshotted. It's a one way ticket!! We get the run around from Lize. Then she gives a booking reference for the hotel, but a few days it's cancelled due to non payment. My hubby's plane ticket was also a one way ticket!

8 Feb - 2 days before our trip and still nothing is booked or confirmed. I have had my doubts and suspicions in January already but was hoping i was just being impatient. So I start scouting the internet and come across a post on Hello Peter that was loaded on 05/02/2022. It's exactly the same scenario that I've been faced with. So I ask Lize about it and she assures me it is a person who is causing defamation to her character. I ask the admin of the FB Raffle group whether this trip is a **** and she also assures me that Lize is a registered travel agent and will not let me down. I eventually send Lize a message to advise her that we will have a private investigator look into her and her admin of the raffle group. Admin of the group then sends me a message to never contact her again and blocks me off the raffle group.

I reach out to Joelle Levett, who posted on Hello Peter and tell her that I am also getting the runaround and my trip is due in 2 days. Only to be informed that there are more than a dozen other people who are experiencing the same deceit. Long story short, we didn't get to go to Mauritius. And after umpteenth promises to refund me the value of the trip, so that i can book it myself, Lize has only paid me out less than half. I am still waiting for the balance and empty promises of payment.

I would not recommend doing any business with this person or company. It will cause you sleepless nights, embarrassment and disappointment. This experience will suck the joy and excitement out of you in looking forward to a great holiday.