My husband and I had an amazing experience on an airboat in Miami several years ago, and were excited to take our children on one for the first time. Unfortunately, I wish we hadn't chosen this company to do so.
First of all (as many other reviewers have mentioned), the staff was incredibly rude. The woman at the ticket desk was brusque, nasty, and couldn't be bothered to answer any questions. Then, though there was hardly anybody there and boats aplenty, we ended up waiting nearly an hour in the hot sun to board a boat (they clearly didn't want to make any more effort than was absolutely necessary, so they waited until they had enough people to completely fill one boat rather than just running two—even though we could have taken two complete "tours" in the time we were waiting with our small children).
Lastly, we did not see a SINGLE alligator. Not one. The tour guide waited until we were out in the open water to tell us (repeatedly) that gator sightings in the summer are rare because of the heat. Well why in the world didn't anybody mention that BEFORE we bought our tickets, drove two hours, and wasted our time??? If you advertise that you take customers to see alligators in the wild, it is your obligation to be honest about the fact that you are far less likely to see anything in the summer, and then let people make their own decisions about whether they want to bother.
The cherry on this rotten sundae was that even when we got off the boat, hoping we could salvage our kids' experience with the live animal show, there was no live animal show! They just didn't bother doing it, again with no warning. The whole thing was dishonest and disappointing, and we definitely won't be back. I recommend trying another company.
Réponse de l'hôte
Jul 2022
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review. Although we do have many boats, we are quite busy at this time of year and even with a full staff, wait times may be extended due to weather holds. We advertise as an eco-tour and while our captains try their best to find alligators and wildlife on the airboat tour, it is not always possible. We have animal presentations that are scheduled throughout the day and you certainly should have had the opportunity to touch a baby alligator and speak with our animal handlers. We are so sorry your experience did not meet your expectations.