GAP Adventures
Jan 17th, 2005 | 06:56 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 666
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GAP Adventures
Message: My husband and I have been looking for travel deals and have run into quite a few offerings by GAP Adventures. If you have traveled previously with this company, would you mind sharing your experience(s). Thanks in advance....
Mar 17th, 2005 | 08:53 AM
#4
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 195
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Retired_teacher,
I was curious about your post because I too was also attracted to GAP Adventures' relatively low prices. In my case, I was looking for a trip to Antarctica. I guess I will reconsider going with them now.
Anyway, I see that you are planning a trip to Machu Picchu and I want to recommend the company I used in 2002 to you. My husband and I went with Texas-based Tambo Tours and had an amazing time (www.tambotours.com, I have better luck loading the site with Netscape than Internet Explorer). If you do a search on this board, you'll find several posts about it as well. I called up Chris, the owner, and told him what we wanted to do and how much we wanted to spend. He came back with a suggested itinerary well within our budget.
Hope this helps.
I was curious about your post because I too was also attracted to GAP Adventures' relatively low prices. In my case, I was looking for a trip to Antarctica. I guess I will reconsider going with them now.
Anyway, I see that you are planning a trip to Machu Picchu and I want to recommend the company I used in 2002 to you. My husband and I went with Texas-based Tambo Tours and had an amazing time (www.tambotours.com, I have better luck loading the site with Netscape than Internet Explorer). If you do a search on this board, you'll find several posts about it as well. I called up Chris, the owner, and told him what we wanted to do and how much we wanted to spend. He came back with a suggested itinerary well within our budget.
Hope this helps.
Mar 17th, 2005 | 09:46 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
Retired-Teacher,
I second ngodeia's suggestion for Tambo Tours. We've booked our upcoming trip this May for two weeks in Peru through Chris at Tambo Tours. He seems very easy to work with, very flexible, and has adjusted our excursions to include a couple of extra days here and there, ending with a few days in Lima on our own. (we're fans of museums and there are a few good ones to visit in Lima)
I think the thing I like most in dealing with this company is that each excursion is independent of the other, so each could be booked in whatever order works best for your interests. At least that's how we've arranged it. We usually don't take extended or organized tours since there's always one who seems obnoxious or disatisfied, and one who always keeps others waiting. With Tambo's excursions those occasions, if any, will be short lived. At least that's what we're hoping. Anyway, we're pleased with our planning so far with this company. Kathy
I second ngodeia's suggestion for Tambo Tours. We've booked our upcoming trip this May for two weeks in Peru through Chris at Tambo Tours. He seems very easy to work with, very flexible, and has adjusted our excursions to include a couple of extra days here and there, ending with a few days in Lima on our own. (we're fans of museums and there are a few good ones to visit in Lima)
I think the thing I like most in dealing with this company is that each excursion is independent of the other, so each could be booked in whatever order works best for your interests. At least that's how we've arranged it. We usually don't take extended or organized tours since there's always one who seems obnoxious or disatisfied, and one who always keeps others waiting. With Tambo's excursions those occasions, if any, will be short lived. At least that's what we're hoping. Anyway, we're pleased with our planning so far with this company. Kathy
Mar 17th, 2005 | 10:38 AM
#6
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Kathy,
I totally agree with you about Tambo Tours' flexibility.
I had the same concern as you do with group size. But, on our trip, most of the "tours" consisted of us and one other couple. There was only one time when we were in a larger group of maybe 15. One guy was not too happy with the lunch, but the guide handled it very well. It did not spoil the trip for us at all.
My understanding with Tambo Tours' arrangement is Chris doesn't have fixed scheduled departures or itineraries, and my husband and I just happened to have a very similar (but not exactly the same) itinerary as this other couple, so we ended up on the same "tour" a lot. Other than that, my husband and I had plenty of free time to explore our interests on our own.
Not sure if you are going to Peru for the first time and if you are going to Machu Picchu, but I would recommend spending a night at the Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu. Waking up and seeing the ruins through the morning mist was unforgettable.
I totally agree with you about Tambo Tours' flexibility.
I had the same concern as you do with group size. But, on our trip, most of the "tours" consisted of us and one other couple. There was only one time when we were in a larger group of maybe 15. One guy was not too happy with the lunch, but the guide handled it very well. It did not spoil the trip for us at all.
My understanding with Tambo Tours' arrangement is Chris doesn't have fixed scheduled departures or itineraries, and my husband and I just happened to have a very similar (but not exactly the same) itinerary as this other couple, so we ended up on the same "tour" a lot. Other than that, my husband and I had plenty of free time to explore our interests on our own.
Not sure if you are going to Peru for the first time and if you are going to Machu Picchu, but I would recommend spending a night at the Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu. Waking up and seeing the ruins through the morning mist was unforgettable.
Mar 19th, 2005 | 12:21 PM
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 666
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Good suggestions, guess I should have posted under a different heading originally on the Latin American forum....... Oh well, a little older, a little wiser and no money down on a tour with GAP Adventure! \
/ Thanks fodorites, I love you guys!
/ Thanks fodorites, I love you guys!
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Mar 20th, 2005 | 03:27 PM
#8
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Sorry if this reply is too late to be useful, but-
I travelled with GAP to Peru and Bolivia in the fall and had a fabulous trip. I'm planning to take one of their Central America trips next year. I was impressed with both the day to day things and the way they handled problems, like a woman who suffered really severe altitude sickness and a man whose arrival was delayed by a hurricane. I wouldn't argue with the horror story posted by gwp above, but I've spoken with a few people who have taken the GAP Galapagos tours, and all seemed quite pleased. I researched the company pretty thoroughly online before booking and read almost entirely good things.
I travelled with GAP to Peru and Bolivia in the fall and had a fabulous trip. I'm planning to take one of their Central America trips next year. I was impressed with both the day to day things and the way they handled problems, like a woman who suffered really severe altitude sickness and a man whose arrival was delayed by a hurricane. I wouldn't argue with the horror story posted by gwp above, but I've spoken with a few people who have taken the GAP Galapagos tours, and all seemed quite pleased. I researched the company pretty thoroughly online before booking and read almost entirely good things.
