1
/5
(Written 2 months ago)
It is alright but not worth it. I booked a 6 days private tour at the very last minute and reached out to the agency since I saw good ratings online. The agent was very responsive. On my arrival after (Read More) I paid, I have not heard of him for the entire stay, not even once to check on me. The tour description by itself is great.
However, I think it is not worth it
1. I expected to get a guide but instead I got a driver. I had to hire a guide separately whenever needed. You can not call it a tour when it is more like transport services
2. The part which I hated the most is that they force you to their partners shops (which they call a free tour), like a spice garden, wood carving place, gems shop. They barely take 5 minutes to explain and then show you their shop to buy overpriced goods.
3. The price for entrance tickets at every single activity described in their tour is excluded from the tour price, which was not clear before I booked. When I asked the list of prices, the agent sent me inflated prices which really got me mad, like 110$ for jeep safari, 90$ for whale watching. A quick look on the internet showed more reasonable prices. When I mention I will look for other options, the agent tried to scare me saying they will then have to come pick me up at the hotel as their car is not insured to drive in national parks, which was a lie as I finally decided to go with them and their car drove all the way at the entrance of the park. Also when they saw I was not buying from them, all of a sudden prices lowered, still with a premium as compared to other options. Unfortunately this behavior breaks the trust from start when you understand you're a money-machine and the only objective through all the visit is to make you pay fee with premium (for their commission) rather than your travel experience. On the last day, I was brought to their partner, who tricked me to pay 35$ for a boat tour. On my arrival he quickly hide the coupon showing 30$. Luckily I read on the internet that you can negotiate and get it at 20$. He would not budge and go angry. I crossed the street and went to another place. They gave me an amazing tour for 22$, I was all by myself on a boat while I would see boats with 25 ppl crammed on it who paid 35$ each. Such a delightful moment.
Bottom line: too expensive, not a tour but transport service, you're not guided but pushed to their partners for buying, you're barely advised through your trip.