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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,320
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,320 |
A week ago, because of an upcoming trip to AFRICA for a friend and me, I wrote to Gracy Travel about their services. Up until then, I had heard nothing but good about their services. Now, a week after contacting two different members on their staff contact list, I still have not heard SHXXT from them. This really pisses me off. If they are too busy, tell me when they will reply, if they don't want my business, tell me. I'll go somewhere else. Being ignored really irks me. Can you tell? I mean, this is AFRICA ! This isn't flying to Texas or somewhere else in the 50 states. Come on Gracy. Get with it and either live up to your name or get out of the business. Whew, that rant makes me feel a whole lot better. Can anybody get Gracy on the stick?
Last edited by Rolly; 06/23/14.
Rolly
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 11,518 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 11,518 Likes: 3 |
I think the problem is you wrote to them.
This is the 21st century. Most such communications are done via calling them on the phone. That way you can interact with them and get the best discussion going.
Also, that ensures the person you "wrote" to is still there, or that another handles your request.
Don't blame me. I voted for Trump.
Democrats would burn this country to the ground, if they could rule over the ashes.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,515 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,515 Likes: 1 |
Telephone or email...otherwise book passage on an ocean liner.
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 902
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 902 |
Gracy or Travel with Guns? Two different companies.
Winchester rifles and Swarovski scopes.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 28,172
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 28,172 |
Steve Turner was my Go-To guy at Gracy. He left and spun off Travel With Guns as a division of Total Travel. Have you contacted him yet? http://www.travelwithguns.com/about-us.html
Hunt with Class and Classics
Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray
Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary”
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 728 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 728 Likes: 2 |
Rolly
Call Gracy travel and ask to speak to Christy, she is there firearms specialist.
"Sorry don't get it done, Dude" John Wayne 1959
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,737 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,737 Likes: 1 |
I had the same problem. I emailed them quite some time back. Never heard from them. Now I am wheels up July 19th and not sure how it's going to go.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 60 |
I used Steve at Travel with Guns for my upcoming trip. Everything went well, hopefully the actual travel will be the same.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,581
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
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Call on phone with specifics. Writing is like tire kicking.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
Agreed on the writing, yet he should still have some kind of response. If the OP is P.O.ed at Gracy, theres lots of other good ones out there�
( Though Ive always used Gracy and am a loyal fan)
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 340
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 340 |
I am a novice traveler and Steve Turner TWG makes things easy. Always returns calls and email. The travel packet he sends gives step by step instructions from your front door and back again. Gun permits layovers what ever is planned out to the second. It has always seemed his services are a bargain.
"He is one of the Legion lost."
"You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat- catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family."
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Posts: 728 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 728 Likes: 2 |
Rolly I am not sure about your issues that you are having with Gracy travel. Your posting leaves many important information out in trying to assist you. Who did you book your airline ticket through, or did you book your self or use another travel company? How will you be letting the airlines know you will be traveling with gun's? That is one reason you book your airline travel with a pro gun travel agency. They do both airline booking and gun permits if they are able to. Zimbabwe - Tanzania - Mozambique - Zambia - Namibia all require different gun permits. Plus if you stay in one country and then fly the next day to another country you will need multiple country gun permits. Gracy will need some information from you. The best way to work with them is a phone call and then follow up by e mail. They would need from you notarized copy's' of your 4457 and your passport information pages. At the very minimum to begin the permit process. They also will need your letter of invite and airline flight information. To see what countries you will need gun permits for. Your posting does not indicate the route you are taking to Africa or the country you will be going through or to. Will you be flying through any European countries as you will need gun permits for those countries also. All gun permit takes time to process early, however for some countries you have do the paper work yourself at customs your self. I always go with a filled out firearms copy for the countries that i will be traveling through, located in my carry on, just in case of airline issues or flight delays. Having gun permits pre filled out in triplicate, has made my gun permitting flow easy. Other countries require copies of your passport photo for your gun permit, again i carry about 6 copies along with me at all times. I have used Gracy 3 times and they have been exceptional in handling airline reservations, gun permits, motel reservations and meet and greet. The only thing i had to do was provide my information in a set period of time. If issues came up They called me or e-mailed me and any issues were taken care of at that time. However using Gracy travel in South Africa will not help you in Zimbabwe as you will need to do you gun permit in person. Debbie's e mail is debbie gracytravel.com and her Phone number is 800-299-8558 or 210-698-2611 If Debbie is not in ask to speak to Shawn Kennedy or Christy. A week ago, because of an upcoming trip to AFRICA for a friend and me, I wrote to Gracy Travel about their services. Up until then, I had heard nothing but good about their services. Now, a week after contacting two different members on their staff contact list, I still have not heard SHXXT from them. This really pisses me off. If they are too busy, tell me when they will reply, if they don't want my business, tell me. I'll go somewhere else. Being ignored really irks me. Can you tell? I mean, this is AFRICA ! This isn't flying to Texas or somewhere else in the 50 states. Come on Gracy. Get with it and either live up to your name or get out of the business. Whew, that rant makes me feel a whole lot better. Can anybody get Gracy on the stick?
"Sorry don't get it done, Dude" John Wayne 1959
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,014
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,014 |
Seems like all travel agencies are hit or miss. Gracey set up my first safari and they were great. Emailed them (multiple times) for my next 2 safaris and never heard back from them. I don't bother with them anymore.
I am continually astounded at how quickly people make up their minds on little evidence or none at all. Jack O'Connor
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,790 Likes: 11 |
Steve Turner has done great work for us. One trip he helped us plan was a fairly complex family (five of us) trip to Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. We started the detailed discussions over lunch together, he, my wife and I, FTF in Leon Springs. All went exceedingly well. Call him and have a great trip.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,320
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,320 |
I contacted Gracy via their web page contact list using the e-mail, not snail mail. I am going to SA but do not have specific dates yet. I was planing on using Gracy for the travel direct to SA from the USA but was waiting to hear from them about advice. But......since I haven't heard from either of the two I wrote to ( one had a last name of Gracy, by the way). I am going to go another route.
Last edited by Rolly; 06/24/14.
Rolly
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Joined: Jun 2014
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34 |
Ive tried to patronize Gracy twice, but just couldn't get the accommodation that i wanted. I did all the arrangements myself and saved big bucks and got the schedule that i wanted. Many have had great service with Gracy, but I didn't. It is possible to DIY and get great schedules and accommodations.
Haven't decided on one yet
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,207 Likes: 26
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,207 Likes: 26 |
358winner,
This is slightly off-topic. While it is possible to do the arrangements yourself and have fine trip, the greatest value of a travel agent is when something goes wrong, such as a delayed flight.
Have seen that more than once, and when you're in a foreign country trying to rearrange airline schedules or even just get through gun registration. Some trips go as planned, but when something goes wrong a good travel agent can fix stuff, even in another country.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
Yep. Steve at Gracy fixed stuff for us�repeatedly�.
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 34 |
358winner,
This is slightly off-topic. While it is possible to do the arrangements yourself and have fine trip, the greatest value of a travel agent is when something goes wrong, such as a delayed flight.
Have seen that more than once, and when you're in a foreign country trying to rearrange airline schedules or even just get through gun registration. Some trips go as planned, but when something goes wrong a good travel agent can fix stuff, even in another country. You are totally right. That's why I have friends at Air 2000.
Haven't decided on one yet
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,207 Likes: 26
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,207 Likes: 26 |
Have also seen and heard of Gracy solve other problems more serious than ours.
A few years ago some friends were hunting in Tanzania, and upon landing in Arusha were watching the baggage carts heading for the terminal while waiting to get off their 747. They didn't see their gun cases on the cart, and the plane was scheduled to head onward to Dar Es Salaam, which would screw up their safari. They'd paid for international service on their cell phones, so called Gracy. The local Gracy rep was in the airport, ready to greet them, and greased everything, delaying the plane until their gun cases were unloaded. That's not supposed to be possible, but it happened, and they are firm believers.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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