MaeT

Hi - Has anyone used either for a trip to Morocco? If so, can you comment on the accomodations they chose? I've read poor reviews of 2 of their hotels in Casablanca and Marrakesh and would love to find out if those were flukes or if others have had similar experiences with the rest of the hotels on the trips? Also, any other comments on Intrepid or GAP? I'm interested in tnem because I'd love to have some of the planning details taken care of rather than plan everything myself. Plus, the idea of meeting other travelers is appealing and both companies seem to attract a younger target (I'm in my early 30s). Many thanks!

althom1122

Can't comment on Morocco, but I took their Central Europe trip and found it to be well organized with an easy-going leader and a fun (and yes, younger than most tours) group of travelers. The hotels were pretty basic, but suited our needs. They did handle the logistics well, and you have a lot of free time with them, which we enjoyed.

althom1122

I'm referring to Intrepid. The two are somehow sister companies. We actually signed up with Gap, but the tour we were on ended up being run by Intrepid. Mostly Australians in our group.

MyDogKyle

We went to India with Intrepid a few years ago and thought they were great. Our group was small (10 people), and everyone was fairly used to being independent so we often divided up and went our separate ways for part of the day. I thought it was a great way to travel in a challenging part of the world... independence when we wanted it, but things like arranging lodging, figuring out public transportation, etc. were taken care of for us. Our guide was great, and she really became a good friend by the end of the trip. I always tell people that I felt like our Intrepid trip was visiting a friend who lives in India, rather than being guided around in a tour group. Ages in our group ranged from 25 to 55, with most of us in our 30s and 40s. We're in our mid-30s, so we felt like it was a good group for us.

SusanInToronto

I was also curious about this. Morocco is my list of places to visit, and I was kind of interested in a tour - Intrepid looked like it might be the right type of tour. We'd be at the high end of age range, I think (late 50's to 60), but it seems like it might be ok. Now, if I can just get the time off to go to all the places I want to visit - oh yeah, the $ also might be helpful

atravelynn

Isn't what MyDogKyle described the way Intrepid markets itself and designs its trips? I always thought of them as providing logistics, but not daily guidance. Just what MyDogKyle experienced. I also thought there were not many other companies with that approach.

massagediva

I've used Intrepid in India,Australia and Southeast Asia(Cambodia,Vietnam,Thailand.)In May I'll be travelling in Egypt and Jordan with them.The hotels can be basic,but the experiences have been great.I'm in my mid forties,and have had people in their twenties in my trip all the way to one or two around the age of seventy.If you're looking for more deluxe hotels,try one of their "Comfort" trips. The value is incredible and the approach terrific.

MyDogKyle

(Sorry, not to hijack, but...)

Massagediva, it would be great if you want to post some information about your Intrepid Egypt/Jordan trip when you get back. We're hoping to take that trip later on this year, life permitting...

MaeT, for our Intrepid Rajasthan trip, we thought they did a good job of alternating very basic hotels in some locations with some really neat palace hotels on others. This was on an "Original" style trip.

MaeT

Thanks for all of your comments everyone. I'm still on the fence. I love the idea of the way the Intrepid/GAP trips are organized and don't mind cleanbasic hotels, but I just don't want to stay anywhere unclean. Too bad they don't let you book your own accomodation.

atravelynn

MaeT,

If Intrepid booked disgusting dives, then people wouldn't use their services again and they'd lose their reputation.

In some of those locations, in the price range you are looking at, a wee bit of dirt might be the status quo.

If you ended up with a completely unacceptable room, you could complain vehemently and refuse to stay in it and even (as a last resort) offer to pay more for a different place that one night. My friend and I did that once on a group trip when the room we were given was crawling with about 50 big cockroaches. We ended getting upgraded at no extra cost. This was not with Intrepid.

WhitePelican

I like the lack of regimentation with Intrepid/Gap trips, e.g., not all meals are taken as a group and plenty of free time. However, I understand from the literature that one must carry a backpack, and luggage with wheels is not acceptable. That's a problem for a traveler with lots of photo equipment. Did those of you who traveled with Intrepid/Gap find everyone carrying a true backpack or is there some flexibility around luggage?

MyDogKyle

I can absolutely say that none of the hotels Intrepid booked for us in (in northern India) were disgusting dives or dirty in any way. In a three-week trip, we had one place that didn't have hot water, but no big deal. I really did not feel like we were roughing it, and had expected it to be much more "backpacker style" than it was. All the hotels were clean, well-located (usually in the center of town and walking distance to everything) and very friendly. Some of our hotels were absolutely gorgeous and far exceeded our expectations. (The only place we saw roaches was on the train from Agra to Delhi.) Again, my trip was their "Original" style, so I imagine you'd be roughing it a bit more on a "Basix" trip.

As for the question about luggage, on my trip there were a mix of duffel bags and backpacks. No one had a rolling, hard-sided suitcase. Several of us (including me) brought a wheeled bag that converted to a backpack, and that was a great solution. I wheeled it everywhere except when we needed to go up and down a lot of stairs in the train stations. Yes, you do have to carry your own bags on this trip, and it helps to have something tough and soft-sided that can cram into the bottom of a bus or be tied onto the roof. My friend who traveled with us is a professional photographer, and he used a rolling camera backpack which he carried on his lap during the bumpy bus rides. He had a lot of equipment with him, and didn't have any trouble with it.

SusanInToronto

This was interesting. I didn't realize you had to carry a backpack. I guess that lets me out if I can't haul my bag with wheels. It doesn't convert to a backpack, and I've got no interest in buying a backpack or a bag that converts to one. Too bad - I never take tours, but the kind of tour offered by Intrepid sounds like the kind I'd like to take.

WhitePelican

Thanks for the photo-equipment- carrying information, MyDogKyle. So your pro photographer friend wheeled the camera equipment and carried a pack with clothes,etc., on his back when moving around?

I, too, have used a wheeled duffle that converts to a backpack: I found it awkward and heavy on my back. Maybe I just take too much stuff!

I have also used a wheeled duffle and a smallish backpack with camera equipment. That's great for most trips, but I can't see hauling that wheeled duffle up steep train station steps.

Intrepid's "Comfort" trips might be worth checking out, Susan. I think there's a minimal use of public transport and you might get away with a wheeled duffle. I notice Intrepid is starting to offer Comfort photo trips. Those trips must make accommodation for those of us hauling long lenses, various camera bodies and so on.

althom1122

I took a wheeled suitcase (carry-on size) and no one said a word - it was a non-issue. I think the key thing is you have to be able to manage it on your own - you stay in some places where there aren't porters available. Also, a large suitcase would not be appropriate in some situations. A couple of times we were in large vans for a day and if everyone had large suitcases, it would have been a problem. Since mine was just a 22-inch, it was no big deal - it was smaller than some of the backpacks!

MyDogKyle

I agree with the last post -- I don't think Intrepid's guideline is really about the wheels-or-no-wheels thing or trying to make anyone buy a backpack, but it's more about cautioning people that they'll have to carry their own luggage when necessary and get it onto and off of public transportation (depending on the trip and type of transportation used). Also, our bags were sometimes tied to the top of a bus or van, so having hard-sided luggage would have been more difficult in those conditions. But really it's mostly about packing as light and small as possible.

The biggest luggage problem our group had is that some people were avid shoppers, and they ended up with multiple extra tote bags full of stuff to lug on and off the trains -- at one point near the end of our trip in a big train station with lots of stairs, our guide made them hire porters to help, since they were slowing the rest of us down and she was afraid we might miss our train.

WhitePelican, my photographer friend had his wheeled camera bag and a medium size backpack for his clothes, and then his wife had a larger wheeled duffle with her things and some of his. We had to bring sleeping bags for the desert, so we all just tied those to the outside of our luggage with stretch cords.

WhitePelican

Very helpful replies, althom 1122 and MyDogKyle: thanks. The format of Intrepid trips is so appealing since they are unlike most tours--and if one is traveling alone, it is wonderful to have most of the logistics attended to and to have some company.

I think I'd be okay with a medium wheeled duffle for clothes and some photo stuff and then a not-too-big backpack for the main photo equipment.I travel in that way on many trips and manage on my own when porters aren't available. Thank goodness, I'm not much of a shopper!

massagediva

I have to say,I have stayed in some pretty dumpy hotels(dirty,shabby)on Intrepid(original) trips,so in all honesty,you should be prepared for that.It really varies from place to place.The reason they recommend a backpack is that they want to make it very clear that you're responsible for carrying your own luggage and want you to be as mobile as possible!What you use is up to you,just be sure you'll be able to navigate all kinds of terrain with ease.On some days you may have some help getting from point a to point b,but others you may be covering some ground on your own steam.

althom1122

I AM a shopper, so I (forgot to mention) also took a foldup duffle, which I proceeded to fill over the two weeks. Again, it was no problem - you just have to be able to manage on your own.

WhitePelican

Dirty. . .shabby. . . and especially the former doesn't sound good, massagediva! On the other hand, the prices are incredibly low, so one couldn't expect much.

What I'm wondering now is whether their "Comfort" trips are significantly better, i.e., if the guest houses, hotels are at least clean. Anyone traveled on or know of someone who has been on a Comfort trip?