southeastern

I have to say any trip can turn sour but it doesn't mean the company is all bad. We had a Viking experience that wasn't the best but we are trying them again in December. Bad shampoo or someone getting what they consider a lesser cabin has no affect on us. There are good guides and bad, we have had both. Someone posted that on the Viking tour we are about to take that they didn't have chop sticks on the table and you had to ask for them. Really, Really that upset your trip? Another posted that they served lunch on the deck and had sandwiches one day. Another Really, that did you in? Most of the folks on this site offer excellent and wonderful help. I have learned so much from the positive people. When things don't go right, they point it out but it doesn't become a tragedy. Thank you all for the opened minded reviews, they have been a great help for us. Thank goodness there are many companies to choose from. No need for those ever to take a Grand Cirle, Oat or any tour for that matter. Happy travels and thank you all for posting excellent and helpful comments that provide us with knowledge.

nana02

I am an Inner Circle with GTC, have always loved my trips, but always traveled with a friend. I traveled to China and Australia with them and had a fabulous time. I am not a fussy individual, and while 5-star hotels are great, I'm not upset to be in a 4-star one. I am, however, looking to travel alone and have seen some interesting ads from G Adventures and Odessy. Can anyone tell me anything about these companies?

Thanks

justwishin

As I said, we have had several good trips with GTC that were good, but one where they seriously defaulted, even lied to us that the 'boats were on the river ready to host us', when the boats had not left their moorings all spring due to flooding. We then were forced to take a three week bus trip of eastern europe, a place I never wanted to see, and this was supposed to be a viable alternative, no announcement, no recompense, no chance to change plans or cancel. They had it all arranged, three busses in a row, all fitted with drivers and attendants, etc. We went some of the worst places, stayed at some real dumps, and made no explanation.
So be warned, when things go bad, they go very bad@@@

revbet

Just to add my two cents worth. I have traveled with GCT six times, once as single on a land tour. Probably the best rooms I had were as a single! That trip had about 10 singles and all our rooms were comparable to those in doubles albeit in one location they were smaller, but that makes sense to me since the rooms were for just one person.

No, everything doesn't always go perfectly on every GCT trip - or any trip for that matter. I used to travel with Tauck and had times when I was unhappy with some of those trips - and I paid a whole lot more. Personally, I prefer GCT - find I have more in common with the folks on those trips.

In terms of GCT responses to problems. We were in Paris at the end of a GCT river cruise when the Islandic volcano errupted. GCT provided us lodging & breakfast in the same hotel where we had been staying for 4 additional nights, at no cost, until we could fly out. This was provided whether or not we had trip insurance. We watched other people in the hotel being left high and dry by their tour group. Was certainly glad to be with GCT. On a recent trip to Sicily, two people ended up with serious health problems and our program director could not have done more to help them get the care they needed - one who had to fly home and one who was hospitalized for over a week.

As an aside - took an Eastern Europe tour (land) with GCT several years ago - LOVED the trip - fascinating to see life in that part of the world and to hear about their rise out of communism. Dregs? Hardly! Paris it was not - but would go back to visit in a heartbeat.

Gordonovitch

It always amuses me to see people complain about getting the worst rooms (compared to what you should ask). My wife and I are long since retired but spend our retirement time escorting tours for a local tour company (not OAT). In the course of the year, we do Cuba, Egypt, Greek Islands, Peru, Ecuador/Galapagos and Kenya. Every year there are always a couple of people who say they have been assigned the worst rooms. These people should not be travelling if they expect to get the best 100% of the time. The rooms are normally pre-assigned and, if they are not, they are randomly selected so you just have to take the good with the bad. Demands for consistently comfortable accommodations in developing countries is an unreasonable expectation. Sadly, many folks are travelling to simply say that they have crossed the destination off their bucket list and have absolutely no interest in the culture, just their own comfort.

NGail

nana02-
You asked about Odysseys Unlimited. We've done 5 trips with OAT over the last 7 years (and have another one booked) and one with OU about 3 years ago. It's similar to OAT, has a max group of 24, is slightly costlier and slightly higher end. No tipping which is a perk! They do charge a single-supplement, though.
We took them to Patagonia - we'd preferred their itinerary to OAT's. We thought their pace was slightly slower than OAT's. We had 22 in the group.
Very happy with them and would use them again depending upon itinerary/cost.

NGail

Whoops-
That OU trip was 2 years ago.

greenergrass

In all this chit chat about GCT/OAT, no one has mentioned their
really strong suit and that is the amazing fellow travelers on the tour. I've been on one GCT and four OAT with the latest in November, 12 to Peru with Amazon extension. I'm in fantastic
physical condition, but at the age of 77 I climbed the Inca ruins very carefully (falling is NOT an option) with my walking stick. Almost immediately I found one male member of the tour
in front of me and another behind looking out for me. They
were always offering a steady hand or arm on the really tricky
and steep parts. When I protested, one sweet guy just looked at me and said, "If I can do this at 77, I'll be dancing in
the streets." All my tours have had these great fellow travelers. This and terrific guides are why I keep traveling
with this company. All the rest is puffery.

mowmow

I've traveled a lot with OAT, as a single traveler, and I've never felt like I was given "bad rooms." In fact, my room in Istanbul had the most amazing view of the Blue Mosque, everyone came to visit me to see it!

On the boat portions, we randomly picked our cabins, in the Serengeti, we randomly picked our tent numbers, we arranged ourselves into the cars, etc. Some hotels were better than others, some rooms better. Once my room was awful, and the guide had me moved.

The only perk I ever noticed for the Inner Circle members during the trip was they get a cocktail and a pin and some recognition from the guide. Just like any other "frequent flyer" program. Nice thing, you can earn that status, too, and have serious fun doing so.

I've also enjoyed my fellow OAT travelers. They've been as great as the places I've been on some of my vacations.

Remgee

My wife and I have traveled with OAT twice: Safari Serengeti in 2010, and Machu Picchu/ Galapagos last month. Both were excellent from accommodations to guides to cultural experiences to food to travel arrangements. Never did singles get inferior rooms, and as stated in a previous post, boat cabin and tent assignments were luck of the draw for singles and couples. Never traveled Grand Circle and am not likely to since they tend to be larger tour groups with more traditional itineraries... not my style. The OAT adventure trips we've taken are 100% OAT tours-- not a middleman as someone has claimed. We will continue to use them for unique travel experiences we would not find elsewhere.

20eline11

I traveled Grand Circle in November 2011 on the Eastern Europe river cruise. I have no complaints or issues with any part of the trip. Each group had its own Program Director and bus to the dstant tour sites. The only deviation from the itinerary was a motor coach to the Black Sea BECAUSE the Danube River had an extremely low water level. Ths was not the fault of GCT. They were very accommodating. When cruising and the possibility of low water going to Budapest, every aspect of travel, accommodations, etc. was professionally handled. In the end the captain was able to cruise the boat and all land arrangements were cancelled. All travelers were intelligent and understanding regarding the water level. To show good faith GCT gave everyone one of the optional tours free of charge. If you had paid for the opt tour, your account was refunded the money. I would definitely travel the GCT again.

lorianns

I went on a land/air tour to S.E. Asia as a single. The single supplement was only $50 more than ppdo, and I had the same level of accommodations as the couples. In fact, the hotel we stayed at in Siem Reap is the most beautiful I have ever stayed at, and I'm a world traveler. I was only charged $50 because I requested a roommate and none was available. (The agent told me that, because the trip was limited to a certain number, and I was the last to book.) Having said that, I have to admit that I do not like traveling in a group and being herded from place to place, but the cost of the trip was so low that I didn't go on most excursions with them, but made my own arrangements. To the person who complained about the blind and incontinent people on the tour: shame on you. GCT is geared toward an older crowd. You should be glad that you weren't one of those people, and hopefully you won't be one day. Would you prefer GCT not to accept handicapped travelers? GCT may not be considered budget, but it's certainly reasonable. If you did your research about the ship, you'd know that GCT owns it and that it's not a luxury small ship.

Ozarksbill

My GCT report:

Just signed up as a satisfied customer for Nova Scotia and Maritime Provinces in August.

Previous trips: Land tours-Eastern Europe: Poland, Czech Rep, etc; Italy: Sorrento-Florence-Siena, etc; Greece: Athens-Rhodes-Crete; Scandinavia: Finland-Norway-Denmark-Sweden

River cruises- Holland & Belgium; Seine River-Normany to Paris; Elbe River-Prague to Hamburg.

Well directed. Reasonably priced. No complaints. Medical assistance needed once with insurance covering. Good memories. Any questions?

Bill in Boston

TandJ

Count us as very happy GCT/OAT customers. We've been using them since retiring in 2006. We're a mid 60s, married couple and travel both together or solo. Trips taken + booked thru 2013 (so far): (C = couple, S = solo; R = river (where its not apparent); L = land tour)

w/Grand Circle:

Great Rivers (C)
Russia; Moscow/Saint Petersburg (C-R)
Rhine/Mosel (C)
Grand River Cruise (C)
US Western Parks (C-L)
Costa Del Sol/Portugal (C-L)
Italy: Amalfi Coast (C-L)
Northern Italy (S-L)
France - Nice to Paris (C-R)
France - Seine, Paris to Honfleur (C-R)
ADD: GC arranged a highly discounted layover in Paris for us between the 2 French river trips we just completed this past March/April.

w/OAT:

Nepal/Tibet/Bhutan (S-L)
Iceland (S-L)
Australia/New Zealand/Tasmania (Dec '13) (S-L)

We have been extremely happy with GCT/OAT trips and look forward to many more. Safe travels to all .

annedowdle

I have taken 10 OAT tours and would rate all of them as excellent. I have also tried more expensive and less expensive tour companies, and none compared to the OAT quality. I have also gone on a few OAT trips as a single and my accommodations were as lovely as I had when sharing a double. I do not plan to use any company but OAT.

jacketwatch

Four of the last six posters are all new and their posts defending GC are their only posts on Fodors. Makes me wonder why. Shills? JM2C.

jacketwatch

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/grand_circle.html

janisj

jacketwatch: It happens on all the fodors boards. OAT/GCT must beg their customers to post glowing reviews. And they never come back to post again. I've noticed that sometimes the Fodors monitors delete the GCT/OAT shills.

This doesn't mean GCT doesn't provide good service/tours - Enough long-registered Fodorites have reported OK experiences. But I know me personally - I'd never take one simply because of the sleazy forum spamming.

They obviously don't realize their 'reviews' don't get the results they expect.

jacketwatch

I think you are spot on Janis. The odds of 4 brand new posters all commenting on one thread with their one and only posts are like me beating Michael Jordan in basketball. No way.

GCT does have their backers but also have many detractors as well.

Thank you.

TandJ

How does posting our experience merit the derogatory classification of being a "shill"? Because it doesn't comport with your viewpoints?

Travel, for most folks, does broaden the mind and expose one to being comfortable with differing cultures, attitudes, opinions and viewpoints. I politely suggest that you try to do more of it.