More than 70 women attending Younique Ventures' July "Goddess Refresh Experience" in the South of France say the retreat was cut short after a last-minute aircraft change, forcing them to arrange their own travel and accommodations. Attendees say the company promised refunds and reimbursements within 60 days, but many claim they have not received payments and have had trouble contacting the agency. Separately, a customer who paid nearly $30,000 for an Australia–Fiji trip filed a police report after not receiving confirmations; the Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating. Younique says it offered refunds for unused portions and planned to update travelers by Oct. 2.
More Than 70 Women Say Maryland Travel Company Cut France Retreat Short; Refunds Still Pending
The Australia and Fiji trip followed complaints from more than 70 women who attended Younique Ventures’ July retreat in the South of France (AFP/Getty)
More than 70 women who attended Younique Ventures' July "Goddess Refresh Experience" in the South of France say the Maryland-based travel operator cut the retreat short after a last-minute aircraft change, leaving attendees to arrange their own onward travel and lodging. Travelers say the company promised refunds and reimbursements within 60 days, but many report they have not yet received payments and have struggled to get responses from the agency.
What Happened During the July Retreat
Attendees who spoke with WUSA9 say the multi-day women-only retreat was shortened by four days after organizers informed the group that a flight disruption made the planned itinerary impossible to continue. Travelers reported that remaining hotel rooms, activities and group arrangements were cancelled or unavailable, forcing many to find flights or accommodations on their own.
"The trip is ending here," recalled attendee Dell Sibury quoting organizer Kendra Brown. "At that point, the room erupted with different emotions."
Refunds, Reimbursements and Communication Issues
Travelers say Younique Ventures promised refunds for the unused portions of the retreat and reimbursement for reasonable, unexpected travel costs within 60 days. The company posted a statement on Facebook acknowledging a last-minute aircraft change and saying it chose to refund unused trip portions and reimburse reasonable travel-home costs for customers who did not continue individually. Younique also said a high number of chargebacks hindered its ability to meet the 60-day target.
There were reportedly complaints from more than 70 women who attended Younique Ventures' July retreat in the South of France (AFP/Getty)
Several attendees, however, say the 60-day window has passed without receiving refunds or clear communication about timelines for reimbursement. Some customers report difficulty reaching the company by phone and email.
Separate Allegation: Australia–Fiji Booking
Separately, a traveler who says she paid nearly $30,000 for an Australia-and-Fiji package scheduled to begin Oct. 18 filed a police report after she had not received flight or hotel confirmations and said Younique Ventures stopped responding to her attempts to contact the company. The Charles County Sheriff's Office confirmed it received a report alleging possible fraud and said it is investigating.
Company Response
Younique Ventures said it prioritized keeping the group together rather than separating travelers across different flights and that it offered refunds and reimbursements as a gesture of good faith. The company told customers it was "working to provide the best options for them to use their travel credit" and said it would provide an update to affected travelers by Friday, Oct. 2. The Independent contacted Younique Ventures for comment.
What Travelers Should Do
If you were affected, keep records of receipts and correspondence, consider filing chargebacks with your card issuer if appropriate, and contact local authorities if you believe you were defrauded. Travelers may also wish to consult consumer protection resources or a lawyer for additional options.
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