Subject: [Tweeters] Problems with Focus on Nature Tours
Date: Mar 9 13:32:07 2011
From: Pete Fahey - peterfahey at comcast.net


I first met Armas Hill in July 1975. I found a previously reported
White-winged Tern at the Chincoteague NWR, and Hill happened by. He is 10-15
years my junior, and did not seem very savvy about birds at the time, but
was grateful that I pointed out the bird. He then went about reporting that
he had "found" the bird. I knew he was a charlatan then, and apparently he
has become even worse. I quit taking NJ Pelagic trips when he started
running them. Avoid FONT at all cost.



Pete Fahey

Issaquah, WA





From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Marcia
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 1:18 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Problems with Focus on Nature Tours



Unfortunately we didn't know about the previous warnings about the tour
company "Focus on Nature Tours, Inc." (FONT) run by Armas Hill of
Wilmington, Delaware.



Here is a summary of some of the difficulties we experienced on the FONT
Costa Rica birding trip January 30 - February 15, 2011.

. Trip leader, Armas Hill, failed to meet up with group until the
morning of the third day;

. Day 4: Armas routed the group via rough back-roads with which he
was unfamiliar; upon arriving at the destination city, group had to wait
while he went searching for accommodations - he was apparently denied credit
card authorization at the first two hotels to which we were taken;

. Day 6: all-day river trip was cancelled when Armas could not pay
for the tickets;

. Day 7: Armas was unable to pay the hotel bill for previous three
nights or the driver from day 4; he was detained by the hotel, police were
called; group left for next destination without Armas who said he would
rejoin us when money was deposited to his account; had to find our own
accommodations;

. Day 9: Armas arrived early afternoon saying he received payment
for a future trip, so he now had the finances to continue;

. Days 9 - 16: trip resumed however the itinerary and accommodations
kept changing from pretrip documentation; it was difficult to keep contacts
at home up-to-date on whereabouts; we refused a scheduled overnight trip
into Panama when Armas divulged it was illegal to take his rental car across
the border.

Apparently the State of Delaware, Department of Justice has a file on Armas
Hill and his company and I will be adding to the complaints.

Marcia Farquhar
Victoria, B.C.
birdingtour.review at gmail.com