Mike, an agent, of Open Bus Tours was selling us from one of their kiosks in Hollywood located in front of a souvenir shop. He showed us the map of the bus route. Told us it is a really good deal to buy the ticket from them now as the original price was $50/pp online, here we only paid $25/pp. (Although I knew he lied as the online ticket was only $35/pp but I thought it was still a good deal.) Mike even confirmed that we can get off the bus earlier at Rodeo Dr. So we bought the tickets for the 10:30am departure.
We arrived at the pickup point early hope to get the best seats in the Open-Top bus. However, we were wrong. Few minutes prior to the scheduled departure time, we were asked to follow someone to another location - Hollywood Land Tours. Where there were few people waiting for the tours as well. Then, after few more minutes, all the people were waiting there were asked to follow another guy to another location - TMZ tours. There, total of 17 people including us. We boarded to a much bigger bus, open windows but 'NOT' open-top, and started our 1 hr 45 mins celebrity home tour.
By the time we noticed we were heading back to the pick up spot, we wondered how come we didn't go to Rodeo Dr so we checked with our driver. He then said this bus was oversize and not allowed to go to Rodeo Dr. If we want to go there, we should not get on this bus.
We went back to speak to Mike at Big Bus Tours. He said we should have told the driver that we want to get off 'for' Rodeo Drive as the Beverly Hill sign was just one street next to Rodeo.
What a Scam!! We purchased the ticket because of the "Certificate of Excellence" of Trip Advisor. But we were sold twice - first to Hollywood Land Tour, then to TMZ Tour. We were told it will cruise Rodeo Drive. And they put us on a bus that don't even go there!!!
TripAdvisor should withdraw their "Certificate of Excellence" as this is NOT an honest company.
P.S. why a big fuss of open-top bus - most of the homes are on the hill, you could not see nothing with a bus roof!!