KURT

I AM CONSIDERING T O TAKE A TRIP WITH ADVENTURE CENTER, EMERYVILLE, CA, AND WOULD APRECIATE TO GET ANY FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND THEIR TRIPS. <BR>THANKS AND BEST REGARDS <BR>KURT

SandyD1

Hi Kurt,
I booked a trip through the Adventure Center with one of their operators: Dragoman, for an overland safari trip to Tanzania and Kenya. I have no complaints about this company and very pleased with their services. They were reliable and I recieved everything as promised. My trip was with Dragoman, and I loved it. I am a 37 single female, and the people on my safari included folks aged 18-50 from all over the world, some who had even been travelling for months and we free spirits. I would not hestitate to travel with them again, and many people on our tour were repeat customers. Adventure Center specializes in overland or off the beaten path travels, and the operators they book for(Gecko, Dragoman, GAP) tend to support the local infrastructure. Your accommodations may be spartan in some instances, but they were always clean and safe and had wonderfully helpful locals to provide advice. I generally love to travel on my own, but this tour is really for people who don't like the dreaded &quot;tour group&quot; mentality, but a good option for travel in areas that might be more difficult on your own.

I would do further checking into the specific operator for more information (I think they all have websites). Please let me know if you have other specific questions. Happy travels. Sandy

AskOksana

Actually, Adventure Center offers other styles of trips that are not spartan, some are family, some are cultural, it depends upon which category of trip you use. They are very reputable &amp; if we go on safari to Africa, I would definitely book via them due to their social conscience, the variety of tours &amp; the type of client they attract.

Gpanda

Kurt-are you going to Asia? If so, it's very easy to arrange the trip on your own. If you want guides at the various locations, there are many recommendations available on this forum. We can suggest choices for locations, activities, hotels, etc. The great thing about asia is that for a very little amount of money, one can arrange an itinerary of one's own choosing. Doing so can avoid tourist group hotels and vene more importantly, one can see the sights at one's own pace. Spend a little more time here and alittle less there on a whim. It's great.

Kristina

Did anyone notice the original post is from 9 years ago???

Gpanda

Nope-some people are more deliberate than others. Perhaps, we can help Kurt make up his mind.

AskOksana

I think his computer may have a virus, per the date.

I don't think this forum is 9 years old.

He may be wanting a tour as he is traveling alone, Gpanda, you must remember that...

I did it in 1989... I did not want to go to SE Asia alone &amp; my galpal backed out (under pressure from her parentals who were paying for a big wedding for her), so I did Thailand via a HORRID tour... but I got to see Koh Phi Phi when there was one hostel &amp; one resort on the opposite/far side... on a day trip from Phuket, which I found touristy then.

Also, be aware that they go to places &amp; do overland safaris that no one else does at a reasonable budget.

djoycejones

I looked into one of their trips to Burma in October and am concerned it could be cancelled at the last minute due to lack of participation. I was told they need at least 4 people to make the trip go and could cancel the trip as late as 6 weeks before the departure date. By that time I would have a visa and airline tickets. How do other people handle the possibility of a trip being cancelled and what do they do?

thursdaysd

You can't generalize too much about Adventure Center tours as it is not a tour company. It is the US agent for various tour companies headquartered in the UK and OZ. A Dragoman trip would be different from a Gecko trip, even though both would be booked through Adventure Center. I used them back when they represented Intrepid, and had no problems dealing with them, but to make comparisons you need to know which underlying tour company you're talking about.

djoycejones - I mostly travel solo these days, but when I book tours I do it with companies that don't hold out the possibility of canceling at the last minute! There are plenty of options out there. And I traveled in Myanmar without a tour - I booked through www.myinttours.com.

janisj

AskOksana: The OP didn't have a virus that changes dates. I personally started posting to Fodors in 1998 so yes - this forum is more than 9 years old.

I have no idea why SandyD1 topped a <b>1999</b> thread (or how on earth she found it) - but I doubt KURT is still researching . . . . .

djoycejones

To Thursdaysd
The AdventureCenter tour I was looking at was with Peregrine. I was looking at a tour so I didn't need to carry so much cash in dollars since ATM and credit cards seem to be of no use in Burma. Thank you for the tour company suggestion. I will contact them. I have contacted Intrepid for a short trip into Laos but they didn't have anything in Burma.
djoycejones

thursdaysd

djoycejones - Intrepid has made a decision not to run tours to Myanmar while the current government remains in control. You're right, there are very, very few places that will take a credit card. I took US dollars, and Myint changed them in the market for me. Since I was staying in guest houses rather than hotels I didn't need so much.