Has anyone used Go Ahead Tours for this trip ? Any comments ? Advice would be appreciated on any packaged tours taken from either Montreal, Toronto or Boston. Thanks.

No I havent but we did a 14 day trip to Egypt with OAT and loved every minute of it.


Carol

We recently returned from a 19 day tour of Egypt including a 4 day extension to Alexandria/ It was terrible. I would recommend using any other tour company unless your expectations are low you will be dissapointed. Some people on this forum are happy with this level of luxury, different strokes I guess.

I should have edited this post, I was referring to OAT. If you are seriously considering this company, I would be happy to provide specifics. It's really just a Grand Circle tour (pretty low end) on steroids, and not much steriod at that.

safarichuck, I am thinking about using OAT for Egypt, and was going to book tomorrow. It seemed like alot was included, and the groups are small.

What didn't you like about your tour? I need to know fast!

happy2travel,
I think you will get all of the information you need from my reply to the post "Egypt-quick question" just answered today.
Good Luck, Chuck

happy2travel. If you haven't traveled with OAT or GCT before, you can get a $50 per person discount by giving the member number of someone who has traveled with them before. If you need a member number, feel free to email me at [email protected].

We love traveling with OAT, and have booked their Australia tour for late September.

Thanks for the tip Sandy. I would need that reservation number quickly since I'm planning on booking today. I will email you now, but I will need that number pronto.

BTW, glad to know that you enjoy OAT.

happy2travel,
I guess you know that when someone refer you they get a $100.00 credit for each traveler they refer $200/couple) while you get a $50 credit. Just want to be sure that people understand that recommendations for OAT carry a benefit for the recommending individual. I would rather see things kept a bit more above board. While you do get a $50 credit you should understand that the referal is somewhat self-serving.
Cheers, Chuck

That's very true Chuck. Nevertheless, we were very happy to use someone's number when we booked our first OAT trip. There is a benefit for both people. And since we plan to continue to book OAT and GCT trips, we are very happy to get credits for future trips.

Sandy,
Nothing actually wrong with that but in all fairness you should make this known when offering your number. I see that you have done the same sort of thing numerous times past. Also, I cannot see how a recommendation can be considered impartial when there is a clear financial benefit to sponsor. Just my opinon of course but I like to know what is behind any recommendation.
Cheers, Chuck

Suggestion for anyone planning the Nile cruise - Travel north bound. Start at Aswan Dam & do the side trip to Abu Simbal. The temples get better and bigger as you travel towards Luxor.

FYI - I've traveled with both GCT & OAT several times and haven't found better value yet. The GCT Nile trip uses their own boat with cabins that are 220 sq ft. Even with 4 groups of 35 people traveling (4 buses), the schedules were rotated so as to not crowd any one place.

Chuck.

Lisa was well aware that there was a credit both for her and for me - useable only on GCT or OAT tours.

We wouldn't be traveling virtually exclusively with GCT and OAT if we didn't find them better than the competition. We had traveled extensively - on our own, with Globus, Insight, Pacific Delight, and Trafalgar - and we much prefer OAT and GCT both for value and the quality of the tour directors.

Good for you. You are still using this forum to derive a financial benefit from your recommendations and you are not indicating this benefit in your recommendations, at least not anywhere within the forum that I can find. The professional travel agents who participate on this forum make there relationship known, so should you.
Good luck

<<Nothing actually wrong with that but in all fairness you should make this known when offering your number.>>

I agree with Chuck on this. I've noticed the offer in a couple of threads and had the same thought. You should be up front about the $100 OAT/GCT credit that you'll get.

Luisah. I will definitely mention that in the future.

Maybe we should mention what type of traveler we are when we ask for suggestions. Me? I'm basically a 3-star kind of traveler. As long as the hotel is clean/convenient and the room temp and bed comfortable, I'm happy. But I know others aren't as picky as I am and still others want more luxury bang for their travel buck. I feel OAT's trip to Egypt is a 3- to 4-star

Maybe we should mention what type of traveler we are when we ask for suggestions. Me? I'm basically a 3-star kind of traveler. As long as the hotel is clean, convenient and the room temp and bed comfortable -- I'm happy. But I know others aren't as picky as I am and still others want more luxury bang for their travel buck.

I would, however, not dismiss a tour operator for not measuring up to my personal comfort level unless they are grossly negligent, completely disorganized or careless about their clients' safety. Having just returned from OAT's Alexandria and Eternal Nile trip, I feel their trip is a solid 3- to 4-star offering. No, you won't be staying at the #1 Four Seasons in Cairo, the Old Cataract in Aswan, or the Sonesta St. George in Luxor. Nor will your room have the best view (though the view in Aswan was the most beautiful I've ever seen even though we were staying at the 2-star New Cataract Hotel). My expectations are to be in a friendly small group, to have an expert Egyptologist guide, to have at least 3-star accommodations, to be safe, to have personal attention when needed, and to face minimal hassle with regard to luggage, lines, and transportation. I have to say, OAT didn't let me down.