You might think that whatever you have paid for the trip is good enough and rest of the things you can choose! Technically yes, practically not!
We got a message from the tour operator just day before the start of the tour that we need to take with us another $350 per person in cash (we didn't have a choice to cancel the tour then and claim refund), for covering different guided tours as part of the main tour, expenses on food, and compulsory service charge of $12 per person per day. Basically, in addition to mandatory gratuity ($36 for three days for a person), you have to pay $35 for 'in-depth guided tour of DC', which includes all free entry sites; $15 for 'guided tour of Watkins State Park'; $35 for 'in-depth guided tour of nightview of Niagra State Park (despite this, he made us left the park at 9.45 PM, when it was known to him that fireworks at the Park would begin at 9.50 PM- we came to know from other group about the timing of fireworks on that night) and $29 for 'in-depth guided tour during the maid of the mist tour', besides the compulsory entry fee wherever required. If you do not pay for the 'in-depth guided tours' and decide to take them on your own, you would be either dropped at city downtown or at hotel and not taken to the site! And this was actually done to one older couple (》60 years of age) at DC, who were with us in the tour!
That was not all! From the very first day, the guide was so arrogantly dominating and he misbehaved with many, even involving someone's nature call. He gelled well with only those who fell to his complete funding plan.
However, I am giving this a one star only to recognise that Niagra was mesmerising and so were other sites which we had visited!
Response from Host
Jul 2022
Dear Customer,
Thanks for reaching us. We highly value any feedback from customers. Regarding this case, we have already highlighted it and flagged it as a high priority. On behalf of Quality Control Department, please allow us to make following explanations:
As the tour has some optional attractions need to pay on the tour and meals fee is not included in the tour fee, so our guide will send customers a message one day before to remind some matters that need attention. Meanwhile, cash or electronic payment are both allowed. Of course, if you do not want to attend optional items, you can also not to pay for that.
What's the tour fee Include and not include are both clearly listed on the website, you can see the detail information under “What's Included” . You can also see all the optional attractions ticket price when you book the tour as it is clearly listed on the website.
If you do not choose to attend the Washington D.C. In-depth Tour, our tour guide will arrange you to have a rest or free activities around the Lincoln Memorial or Chinatown where there is a washroom and is safe.
About the State Park, as we are tour group and in order to make our customers have more better experience we optimize the itinerary of these attractions, so we have some extra cost than individual, meanwhile, all admission fees are open and transparent on the website.
The Niagara Falls Night Tour is from 8:15pm-9:45pm on that day, which matched the 90mins of the description of the itinerary, we are so sorry the firework is not belong to our itinerary and it was too late to stay longer to see the firework. We are so sorry for any inconvenience.
About the guide attitude, please accept our sincere apology. We will enhance the training of our tour guide and hope they could provide more professional and friendly service to our customer, hope you could give us a chance to improve our service.
We Hope the above explanations could help you and if there is anything we could assist with, please let us know.