Driver/Guide (one person-"Host") makes all the difference and we did not have a good experience. "Johnnie Aloha" (yes, that is what our Host wanted to be called) met us at our hotel. We were late with the logistics of maneuvering a family and found him near the van putting out his cigarette. This would become a theme throughout the day - "we're done - where's the driver..."
Positives - vans very clean, we made our way around the island (main goal of the excursion), driver was very friendly to my son.
Negatives - Host would not stop talking about himself, would talk over us/mansplain (which was especially "fun" when he was saying "just ask any questions you want I'll answer them" and continue talking over and over about self), Host fumbled with technology saying he'd "ask Siri" for us while holding up the phone and pointing to it nearly running off the road while driving (multiple times), He took out a fence post on first stop while complaining about not needing backup cameras (ironic), he pointed out the year on EVERY bridge we crossed (honestly about the once thing we learned on this trip, but who cares that some rando bridge was made in 1987). Note the pictures I included (vs others deleted) for examples of the technology problems our host experienced.
We got ample time at Waimea Falls which was a main reason for booking but we basically got talked out of many of the other things we wanted to do and got pushed to the tour company's "tourist traps" (the coffee place, the macadamia nut "farm" and my "favorite" spot, the mediocre shrimp place where we were even herded at one point so driver could declare we were the ones he brought in for the store to see). Shrimp were cold and not very good.
One final note. Our Host stated over and over that he came in special for us to do this tour. He also told us (at least 6 times) to go on Trip Advisor and leave a 5 star review (even in a semi threatening manner at one point saying he was "James Bond" and had a license to kill). He stated if we did not leave 5 star reviews there was "no point so why bother." Sorry, I had to take the time and "bother" other people because this was NOT a positive experience and others need to know.
Ответ от хоста
Jun 2021
Aloha,
I'm sorry to hear that your experience wasn't perfect. Johnny usually drives for other tour companies and unfortunately brings some of the bad habits that he's learned there with him. Ironically his name is stored in my phone from the first time that I hired him as Johnny 5 Stars, the name that he referred to himself as. Johnny is not a regular driver for this company, and based on your review, even less so.