Review: Solo Trip to Australia, Fiji, New Zealand & Tahiti, Great Barrier Reef

Review by traveler

Janice Q.

1.26.2019

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Australia

Fiji

New Zealand

Tahiti

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

I chose this travel company because I was going to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji and thought a travel agency with that name would know how to give me a qualitative trip. For nearly $25k, I got mostly 3-star hotels that needed renovations (when told I was getting 4 to 4.5 quality hotels) tour guides who were surly (one would not pick me up just 1 1/2 from my hotel; another asked me to walk up 3 blocks and a steep hill because he either didn't know how to maneuver the hill as he was new or as he said he would have to go around the block), unreliable or no transfers (I was told all transfers were included), crowded, even nightmarish tours (the Great Barrier Reef was the most disappointing as I shared this once in a lifetime experience with over 400 people on a platform that was too crowded and hot and this area of the reef was covered with a grey film and little sea life except many jellyfish), and unavailability of contacts (for many reasons but told mostly due to time difference and holidays). I would recommend staying away from this vendor if you want a qualitative and relaxing travel experience. I had to turn lemons into lemonade more times than not.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

My conversations with people in the areas of travel.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

Do more research into travel agents to find those who could be more reliable and interested in getting to know me and what I wanted. Make sure ny agent was more accessible and attentive. I didn't feel my agent had much tine to spend with me even though I was spending $25k on this trip.

Travel Company Comments:

Thank you for submitting your review. We are disappointed you did not feel your booking experience with us was a positive one as we always strive to provide our clients with the trip of a lifetime, our average client review rating is 4.79* out of 5* over 600 reviews, so naturally we were shocked and extremely dismayed to receive your 1* review.

The consultant for your trip customized an exciting and complex itinerary of 31 nights to include Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, both the North & South Islands of New Zealand, Australia - Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney, Ayers Rock, Port Douglas and concluding in Fiji. As a sole traveler covering the cost for all the accommodations and transfers and having daily tours included, the itinerary including all international, domestic and internal US flights from your East Coast US airport totaled $24,400. Within the itinerary was 18 flights, 31 nights accommodation that ranged in standard of mainly 4* hotels - which included overwater bungalows in Tahiti & Bora Bora and 4.5* accommodation in Sydney over New Years Eve, as well as an Island resort in Fiji including meals each day. All of your airport transfers were included as outlined on your itinerary, the transfers not included were of the specific tours that do not provide them - like the Sydney Opera House or Sydney BridgeClimb or when a tour did not pick up from your specific hotel and and the closest nearby location was clearly outlined on the itinerary. We are disappointed you did not enjoy your time at the Great Barrier Reef, the Cairns & Port Douglas region had encountered inclement weather in early January which resulted in cancellations of the reef tours some days - this coupled with the peak holiday period did result in your particular tour being busier than usual.

With regards to contact for assistance whilst on your trip, we discussed before departure and your documents outlined that our local Sydney, Auckland, Tahiti & Fiji affiliate offices were available to you in real time on your time zone whilst traveling. Regardless of it being the holidays season each office has an out of hours support line and the only days the Aspire office was closed was 25 December and 01 January. Regardless, whilst on your trip you did not contact any of the local offices nor the Aspire office, if you had, we would have been available to assist you immediately.

I am sorry to hear you did not feel like your agent was attentive to your needs. Rest assured, as we had discussed your concerns regarding transfers and breakfasts prior to departure your itinerary was thoroughly reviewed in detail by Aspire Down Under management and we ensured we took the time to clearly outline with you all the information for your trip with regards to local office support, transfer details and ensured breakfast was included daily. We are disappointed you do not feel you received good value for your trip, the destinations you visited are not inexpensive locations and you traveled in the peak December and January season when costs are at a premium, the locations very busy and celebrating New Year's Eve in Sydney and at the Sydney Opera House are once in a lifetime premium experiences.

Thank you for sharing your concerns and feedback with us as it assists us in improving our services for the future. We strive to create trips of a lifetime and could not be more disappointed that we did not meet your expectations.

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