Reply from Happening Travel ClubMar 23, 2026
Dear Barbara,
First, we are deeply distressed with your review of a trip you have not even traveled on for our 501(c)(3) nonprofit travel club. We would like to kindly remind you that we are not a traditional travel agency, and we do not plan trips in the same way a commercial agency would. Our trips are designed to support and raise funds for other 501(c)(3) nonprofit charities.
Second, in your 1-star review, you mentioned that you made reservations for an April departure, while your friends booked the March 30 Sarasota trip, which is a different departure. Unfortunately, this means you were never scheduled to travel together, as the bookings were made for separate dates. We understand how this could be frustrating, but we are unable to take responsibility for bookings made on different travel dates.
Third, the March 30 departure has been fully booked and closed for quite some time. As a result, we were unable to move your reservation to that date due to lack of availability. That said, we would like to acknowledge that we should have communicated this more clearly and earlier in the process. This was an oversight on our part, and we sincerely apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.
Again, we are disappointed that we have not met your expectations. If you would prefer to cancel your April trip, we would be happy to provide a full refund. It is possible that our nonprofit travel model may not align with your needs, and we completely understand. There are several excellent commercial travel providers in The Villages that may be a better fit. For day trips and overnight tours, we recommend Workman Transportation and Lamers, and for cruises, AAA and Expedia—each of which offers a more traditional travel experience.
We hope this provides better clarity on what The Happening Travel Club represents and the unique role we serve as a nonprofit organization.
Sincerely,
Darren Loli
Happening Travel Club
