The tour itinerary was appealing but the non stop added stops at candy shops, ice cream parlors, jelly/jam booths, donut stores… was a bit excessive. We would have preferred stops at actual areas of interest rather than feeling like we were being coaxed into becoming diabetics.
We encountered some rain during our tour while stopping at some of scheduled stops. It turned out that the van driver had rain jackets in the back of the van but didn’t offer them until the 3rd rainy stop and a very rainy outdoor lunch. By that time everyone was very soaked. It was raining during our lunch time. The van driver said that normally lunch is spent at a picnic spot. He said he called in a favor at a local art boutique to allow us to eat lunch in a covered area. Well…… there were covered areas at this location but those were not offered to us, we were offered outdoor tables barely covered by umbrellas with our feet in inch deep puddles and rain running down our backs as the umbrellas didn’t cover the entire table area. Yet 3 feet away was an ample sized outdoor tented table/chair area that we were not offered.
The most disappointing experience of the trip was the tour guide Neil. There were 12 passengers in our van- 5 different family groups from all over. Everyone was super nice. As the tour was happening there was chatter amongst the families themselves, amongst other families getting to know one another. This was all in a very respectful low volume tone. As the family seated in the front row of the van we were extra aware of our volume and we kept our chatter minimal. As the guide was pointing sights out we were actively engaged and eager to see/learn about them. Just like all other members of the tour that were talking ‘how cool’, ‘look at that’…… we were too. Neil turned around on several occasions and rudely asked us not to speak, that he couldn’t concentrate and we should switch with another family. Every one was chatting, nobody was being disrespectful, no one was loud or over powering Neil’s voice in the microphone and no-one was talking about things other than the actual tour sights and being an active participant in the moment. If Neil can’t drive a van and be a tour guide at the same time then he has definitely chosen the wrong profession.
This was a huge damper on our day…. thus tour was an expensive purchase and an experience we were all looking very forward to. We left very disappointed. We were prepared to tip 20% and choose not to. His rudeness to us also resulted in other members of the tour to decide not to tip either.
Ответ от хоста
Mar 2025
Aloha,
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback, and we’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. Our goal is always to provide an engaging, enjoyable, and well-balanced tour for all our guests.
Our itineraries do include a mix of scenic, cultural, and local stops, including small businesses that offer a taste of authentic Hawaiian treats. However, we understand that preferences vary, and we regret that you felt there were too many food stops. We always strive to create a well-rounded experience and will take your input into consideration when evaluating our itineraries.
Regarding the rain jackets, we sincerely apologize for the delay in offering them. Our guides aim to anticipate guest needs, and we regret that this was not handled sooner. Additionally, we appreciate your feedback on the lunch stop and will review how we can better accommodate guests during unexpected weather conditions.
As for your interaction with Neil, we take guest concerns very seriously. Our guides are trained to create a welcoming and informative experience, and we’re sorry if you felt that his approach was not as accommodating as it should have been. We will address this with him directly to ensure all guests feel valued and respected throughout the tour.
We regret that your experience was not what you had hoped for, and we sincerely appreciate your feedback as it helps us continue to improve. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to us directly.