Minnesota Travel Agent’s Mishaps Leave Travelers Stranded and Scrambling

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Multiple incidents involving Minnesota travel agent Monica Faulkner continue to unfold, escalating concerns among her clients.

Initially, a group of travelers were abandoned at a cruise port in March, claiming Faulkner failed to secure their booking despite having received payment. The situation worsened when another group of her clients arrived in Costa Rica only to discover they had no accommodations arranged. Additionally, a group planning to celebrate Mother’s Day in Aruba learned their trip was abruptly canceled.

On a recent Saturday, Faulkner escorted 71 clients to Costa Rica without securing lodging, despite full payment. She attempted a last-minute arrangement by contacting a local liaison to find available rentals such as condos and Airbnb locations.

One property owner in Costa Rica, perplexed by the situation, speculated an overbooking might have occurred and was willing to assist. However, she noted Faulkner’s distant behavior towards her own group. Faulkner then agreed to a two-night stay, providing her passport as a guarantee, but failed to fulfill her payment obligations and did not appear at the designated meeting spot.

Subsequently, Faulkner’s attempt to reclaim her passport without settling the debts led to further complications. The makeshift accommodations fell through when she did not pay, forcing some travelers to return home early while others had to pay additional fees to extend their stays.

The chaos extended to Aruba, where travelers discovered two weeks prior to departure that their accommodations were never booked, despite each having paid Faulkner at least $2,500. Communication with Faulkner ceased for some, as her phone number became inactive and she stopped responding on social media.

One client, Renee Pepper, faced similar communication issues. Meanwhile, travelers in Costa Rica who placed trust in Faulkner are now facing losses exceeding $10,000. Attempts to legally prevent Faulkner from leaving the country were unsuccessful, as she reportedly departed last Thursday.

To date, those scheduled for the Aruba trip have not received any refunds.

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