We just completed a 10 day trip to Ethiopia, It was amazing. We were a little worried about safety but it was needless. The trip was well planned and great. Ethiopia touched our hearts and stirred our souls. The stone churches in Lalibela were awe inspiring and a must see in your life. The castles in Gondar and the tribes in Omo valley were fascinating. Be prepare for heat in the south. Our tour guide, Chris, was the best guide we have had. His passion and understanding for the country was great. He made the trip wonderful. Everything went smoothly and everyone was friendly and accommodating. We didn’t want to leave! We did take an extra day and did a city tour of Addis Ababa. It was also great. Don’t miss this cosmopolitan and interesting city. Make sure to visit the museum. Lucy is there! It was a absolutely fantastic tour and time. Go to Ethiopia, you won’t regret it!
My family just returned from a trip throughout Peru. While our guides were amazing and knowledgeable, we were greeted with a new face daily. This became a problem because many times we didn’t know our schedules until the morning of. The most egregious of examples would be our arrival at Cuzco. Our guide dropped us off at around 5:00 pm and informed us we would know by 7:00 pm our plans for the next day (which was our bus and train transfer to Machu Picchu, the whole reason for the trip). We were informed at around 8:00 pm that there would be a meeting in the hotel lobby with our next guide at 9:00. Not a big deal but we did just get off the bus after spending 10 hours on it with stops. 9:30 came and went and the guide notified the front desk worker via text that we would need to be down in the lobby for our bus at 4:10 am, in 6 hours! Not a big deal for an adult but for the children on the trip this is a problem. We went back up to our room and fell asleep until 10:20 pm to which we were woken up by a telephone call to tell us we would actually need to get down to the lobby at 4:50am. This really put a damper on a day that, while it turned out to be a wonderful life changing experience, could have been better by receiving proper communication and frankly proper effort put in by a company we paid a substantial amount of money to. We won’t be using this service in the future.
This trip was a total disappointment. Upon arrival in Istanbul, we were told by the transport company who was to take us to our hotel that Exoticca had not paid them & that transportation could not be provided. It was finally straightened out & we were eventually taken to the hotel. No one at the hotel to greet us, no one to talk about the upcoming tour & no apologies from Exoticca The major problem with this tour was that it was run by Euroriente NOT Exoticca. This company is a huge provider of tours in Turkey & they are about quantity not quality. Most of our time was spent on a tour bus. Food stops were very rarely at nice cafes to enjoy local cuisine. They were at gas station rest stops. We were continuously taken to places that tried to sell us goods…carpets, jewelry, leather goods, Turkish delights, ceramics. We got to our hotel at 7 in the evening & up on the bus by 7 am. We were at the Agean & Mediterranean and never stopped in a town to enjoy. Just a short tour of ruins and then back on the bus. The best tour I took was thru Airbnb experience as I had an extra day in Istanbul Save your money and do not take a tour of Turkey thru Exoticca. Our fellow passengers on this tour felt the same way & many of us had travelled with Exoticca to other destinations. Every one of us felt this tour was terrible and we would never travel with Exoticca again I would recommend a different travel company to Turkey.
Basic city tours provided by Exotica were good overall. However, the guides were not fluent in the English language. Another fact to note was that individuals had to book many extra excursions to fill their day to enjoy each country. The additional excursions were much more expensive bought from Exotic then if you buy them through the tour guide directly. A big drawback for Exotica was that we were on our own the entire time. Their was No welcome meeting, gathering or dinner to introduce us to our guide or give us an introduction to the country. We met other Exotic travelers on different tours and some were in our hotel and others were at different hotels. It would be nice if we traveled as a group and stayed at the same hotel(s) since we did travel on most of the tours together. We spent at least one hour before each tour picking up passengers from other hotels and in Argentina the bus driver/ guide( Exotica) would not drop us off back at the hotel where we were picked up but had 3 dedicated drop off stops where people would have to take a taxi back to their hotel.
We just returned from the trip from Madrid to Barcelona. Our accommodations and tours were very good. Our guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Octavio was our guide for 4 days, and we enjoyed our time with him. My feelings of the trip are mixed. We saw many things we likely would not have found on our own. However, I feel we were over scheduled with not enough time to see things or shop along the way. We were hurried along to stay on time. For example, when we were in Valencia at the biggest market in all of Europe, we were given 20 minutes to shop. There were many more hours spent on the bus than I expected, and meals at truck stop sort of places along the way. Also, considering the many hours on the bus, there was no bathroom facility on the bus. While the brochure mentioned we would arrive at a town with time to shop or check out restaurants, it was too late when we got there to see or do anything. The value of the trip was very good and well worth what we paid. More free time or opportunities to take a break during a tour would have made the trip more enjoyable.
We picked the Superior package for Greece and I had read reviews regarding issues with trip and poor customer service. Well I experienced it for myself. The first hotel we got to in Athens was in a shady area with homeless people and drug addicts lurking outside… we were told we had an upgraded room and given keys to a tiny room with a small bed and a window with a wall outside. When I went to front desk I was given a tour of two rooms, one a normal holiday inn type of room for an additional 25 Euros and an executive suite for an additional 100 Euros. I picked the room for a total of 50 Euros for two nights. Told them I would want the same room when we returned after a night of traveling and was charged the additional 25 Euros. Everyone in our group was given the same room as us for no cost. We were also asked to pay 25 Euros again when we returned after few days of touring and this time we refused to pay and the hotel staff was rude. Rest of the rooms in other places were average and ok. I requested Exoticca to issue a refund of 75 Euros we paid for three nights for an average basic room even though we picked ‘Superior’ package. Shady shady shady.
My husband and I returned from Portugal and it was simply amazing. We are so grateful we booked through Exoticca! Everything was well planned and structured for time. You will have people in your group who may not be respectful and care about time and be late and say well I paid for this trip but do not realize that the others have paid just as well. I lose my patience with those types of people. Antoine our guide was fabulous and and very transparent about everything, it is people who chose not to listen or care about time! Overall the experience itself with Exoticca was amazing and my husband and I stayed extra days in Lisbon and were able to navigate by ourselves due to the great tours by Antoine. We have already booked our next adventure with Exoticca!!
We recently did Portugal trip with Exottica, we started our trip with open mind not really knowing what to expect. Exottica team did such an organized trip that they set themselves a class apart from day one. From organized pick up from airport to hotel and the pick ups everyday was outstanding, our tour guide was so well informed- Eduardo santo- he kept the entire trip lively giving us valuable information about the place and engaging us in meaningful conversation and making us feel comfortable the entire trip . Every location we stopped was well thought of and planned. We also had ample time to explore the place on our own. Overall an excellent experience and I would recommend !!
Very disappointed in this agency. First of all we couldn’t upgrade to another class and were not told until after we made payment. Once we landed in Rome we were told our car service was in traffic and would be late. After waiting for 90 minutes we were told the car service was not coming and we would have to catch a cab. Unacceptable!!! All three hotels were crappy and far away from everything. We tried calling your agency and couldn’t get anyone which is ridiculous, someone should be available 24 hours a day as unexpected things happen and the clients should be able to reach you. We requested private transportation and each time only received it once every other time we shared car service with other passengers. Again unacceptable! We paid for private car serviced and we should have received it. We will never use your service again and will definitely not recommend your agency!!
We took 23 days tour of South America. We have never used Exoticca before and we were not sure what to expect. Our trip was outstanding.! All the hotels and accommodations were wonderful. The representative of the company always was waiting for us at the airport. They took us to the hotel and picked us up for all the excursions. I could not be happier with their services and how reliable they are. I was always contacted by a representative from each country and they gave me an itinerary when we meet and explained everything. One time we had a plane cancellation and Exoticca did a great job accommodating us with a different plane and free lunch at the airport. We will definitely will use Exoticca again.
I just got back from Italy. We went to Rome, Florence and Venice. The hotel in Rome was kind of far from everything and was a three star hotel. The hotel in Florence was also three stars. The hotel in Venice was a four star hotel. It was across from the train station to Venice. They all provided breakfast in the mornings, which was very nice. The trip was organized and we had lots to do. We had different guides who knew much about what they were showing us and it was enjoyable. in Rome we had to take a taxi a lot. It would’ve been nicer if there was a shuttle or a bus to take us places. Altogether, we had so much fun and I would take another trip with the company again. The price was reasonable too.
We had a wonderful time, hotels were good, staff was great, the guides - Andre, was excellent, he joined on 11/9 due to personal reasons but Exxotica arranged two different guides , 11/7 was Matthew and 11/8 we had a Nunu both were great people, knowledgeable, friendly people! We learned the Portuguese culture, life style! Only problem we had with the Portugal airline, they were very strict with their luggage policy, this is a international travel, at least one bag they should give free for check in , if not free then should charge minimum of $50. Their charge was 117 one way, this was ridiculous and taking advantage of the travelers! We would recommend others certainly also we would consider Exoticca for ourselves in future
Loved the trip to Italy, starting in Rome and ending in Venice. 3 hotels, 2 pretty nice w/comfortable beds and very good breakfast. The 3rd was outside Venice and ok but not great. No a/c, wifi wouldn’t work, apathetic staff. Beds were fine and breakfast was good so still not bad. The optional excursions and stops in quaint little towns along the way were fabulous! Tons of walking and fast paced on the guided tours that were so informative and our guide Lisa (Lee-za) made the whole trip seamless, took amazing care of our group! If you need something after booking it takes some time to get through to Exoticca, but we would definitely use them again.
This was a totally different experience then my Egypt trip. The company that Exoticca subcontracted out to handle this trip in Greece, Akron Travel, was pretty bad. There was very little communication or poor communication. You would just get dropped off and informed about things later or had to figure it out yourself. The accommodations in Athens were not even comfort. Santorini was the best because it was centrally located. Mykonos was a nice hotel but it was very far from town and the cab rides were $25 each way. We still had a good time and met some fabulous people, but we’re very disappointed in many things that transpired on our trip. I would not recommend this trip through Exoticca try another company!
We recently retired and have a bucket list of adventures to check off. We looked at Perú, for Machu Picchu, through Exoticca and Ecuador for the Galápagos came up also. Since we were flying all that way for one why not do both. The trip was amazing and flawless on Exottica’s part. Excellent guides, who were passionate about their country, in every area that we visited. Met other travelers who were on the same tour, who had booked previous trips with Exoticca, that gave us information on other places to visit. We would defined book through Exoticca again! Thank You Exoticca Dennis and Margaret
This company did an amazing job. They did all the planning and organizing. It was very rushed and the groups were big, but that’s not a bad thing. We made some amazing friends I know I’ll stay in contact with for years to come. The places we went were true treasures, the people were so kind and explained everything in great detail. And then we got stuck, but Exoticca took care of everything and got us home with little delay. Just a terrific company that knows how to gets travelers to the sites. I’ve recommended this company to all my traveling friends.
I had to cancel my trip due to a broken hip. When my trip was booked last year I was assured that I would either receive a 100% refund or the amount paid would be held for another planned trip. To my surprise, that is not what is going to happen and Exoticca gets to keep my money. Sorry doesn’t cut it when you work hard to save money to spend in your retirement. I will NEVER book with this company again. It only took over 1 1/2 hours on hold before I could finally speak to someone. Think really hard before you book with this company. Apparently you cannot trust the agents that book your trip because I always pay extra for insurance that didn’t appear on my reservation. My mistake for not double checking. I gave the agent the benefit of the doubt that he was competent.
It was a great experience to travel to Turkey and visit all the historical places with our guide everything was so organized and made us feel special. We loved shopping in Turkey and bargains everywhere we visited the bazaars and couldn’t believe my eyes of how many people were there. The weather was cloudy and rainy most of the time for the first week of may but did not stop us from having fun. Most of our hotels were amazing and some were not. Overall we loved our trip and learned a lot about Turkey we had a great time. Thank you❤️
Over all trip was very well organized all hotels were nice except Ramsey Hilton Hotel was good but rooms were outdated I mean really out dated faucet handles falling a part they had moved us second day to newly renovated room because our room had lizard and new room was very nice but my friend had same old room but the hotel was very nice location was perfect other hotels were amazing and their affiliates planet travel was amazing service was outstanding overall I would go with exoticaa again
Overall a great experience! However a few things I would have changed. On St Patrick’s Day, a viewing of a parade would have been perfect. We saw the Cliffs that morning and were supposed to go to into limerick. We skipped all together. So disappointed that we missed festivities on one of Irelands most popular days. Second, In cork I would like the option to go to Blarney for an up charge. We stayed in Corks city centre for 3 hours and nothing to do. Those 3 hours could have been viewing Blarney Castle. Other than that the tour was great! Tour guide Stephen was personable and our bus driver Jerry was amazing also!
I booked an Egypt package last December. It felt like a bait and switch service. The hotels that were promised in the city at the time of booking were switched at the last minute to hotels near the airports which were very far from the city center. Many phone calls to their did not resolve the issue. Also the very long day trip to the pyramids did not allow for a lunch break. Instead the travel guide allotted to us took us to one of his friends for the camel rides which we ended paying triple of what other visitors paid. We paid US $120 per person per ride. And he constantly harassed for more tips. The trip to Luxor was much better organized but felt a bit rushed. I certainly wouldn’t use this company again.
By far this was a well planned and well executed trip by Exoticca . We were very happy , the hotels were great , no delays and the guide was very nice and helped us all to the best of his ability . He had lots of great stories from the medieval times to keep us engrossed while we enjoyed the views as the bus rolled to open breathtaking landscapes .on every turn . Thank you and we fully recommend you guys and plan to take another trip next year . Cheers !
Overall it was a great experience, but there is definitely room for improvement. I wish we could have visited more hotels especially in Santorini especially being a popular tourist destination. The Apollo hotel definitely needs to be removed from the itinerary , water needs to be provided to the travel agents and more spare time to do things as we know our clients better than anyone else. Also, the time to do this Fam needs to be changed from April to May right before the high season.
We loved the country, but feel the experience would have better having a tour coordinator with our group of 5. Many things may have been out of control due the busy season , like being able to have someone meet us daily to go over for example the length of the transportation, what to expect and assistance with restaurant choices. Even though we did not speak Spanish, most of the time we did well, but made sure our small group was together
Poor communication prior to the trip. Had to wait over an hour most times trying to ask a simple question. Put in for call back and no one ever does. First day in Dublin the bus never picked us up at the airport to take us to the hotel. We had the overnight flight and we’re exhausted and we waited 2 hours for the bus. The 16 of us had to pay for 4 Ubers to get to our hotel. Our bus driver Sean was fabulous and went out of his way to help me as I got sick and had to be taken to the hospital on route from Cork to Dublin. Our guide John was also helpful in my horrible situation but as a tour guide he needs more polishing.
I will spend the rest of my life riding bad reviews for this company. They did not warn me that not having a visa to enter Vietnam, was tantamount to canceling the trip. I flew my own way to Chicago only to be nine entry into Vietnam and I had to fly back home. I wasted $5000 of my hard earn money for nothing. I will never forgive them for this as they say it was my fault. I’m sorry I have watched other comments and I’ve seen it. Lots of people have had the same problem, I saw one gentleman that his middle name was spelled wrong, and he was not allowed entry. There was no credit offered no way to get my money back. It was just too bad. This is a terrible company. Do not book a trip with them.
We just finished a tour of Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Enjoyed the stunning beauty of south America including Iguazú fall and Patagonia National Parks. We enjoyed the flexibility of time of transportation and flexible in site seeing arrangement. Our flight in to Rio was late and had to stay in Bogota for a day, the airline arranged hotel and ride back to airport with meals covered. As we have a flexible day im Rio so we were rearranged the city tour for the next day. We enjoyed the trip very much!
First off I would like to say we are very happy with our overall trip. We had never used your services before and read some reviews. We interacted with several of you tours and many had the same positive reviews I would like to share a few constructive criticisms 1. The Maybe hotel in Cusco should be removed from your list. The rooms were very small for 2 people. We had no room for luggage. The accommodations overall were lacking. 2. The bus trip to Tena needs to schedule more rest stops. Their were older folks and women onboard. Stops should be 2 hours apart and announced. 3. Guides in San Cristabal should tell travelers to keep the return paperwork. Many of us scrambled at the airport to find out return part. We thought it was simply a receipt and had packed it away. Fortunately nobody had trashed it.
Our first time booking with Exoticca & it did not disappoint. It was super well organized we got to experience the best of Italy & we will forever be thankful for such a wonderful experience our guide was also so wonderful on recommending local spots to enjoy delicious food. Thank you for setting the bar for our future trips, will be definitely recommend to all my friends & family.
I had to cancel our trip to S America due to cancer treatments and they canceled the wrong trip they canceled a trip I had booked to Greece in September. They would not change my reservation plus they would not refund my deposits on either trip. If almost impossible to reach a real person on the phone you have to wait for days for someone to email you back regarding issues. I will never use this company again. I love to travel and usually book 2-3 overseas trips per year and have never had issues with other companies Customer be aware!
What an amazing adventure we had! Aside from the beauty and the activities we were so pleased by the expertise of everyone involved. From pre trip through the entire holiday, all the transfers were seamless, the accommodations were superb, and the third parties who were guides snd drivers were pleasant and so knowledgeable. I will recommend Exoticca to anyone planning a trip. -Kathryn Elespuru
I just arrived home after enjoying Portugal. The tour was perfect. Our guide Eduardo was knowledgeable and entertaining. We learned language, history, and cultural. Eduardo knew the best places to eat whether it was dinner or pastries. This was my first bus tour and I enjoyed it immensely. I have been singing Exoticca’s tours since returning home.I definitely will be looking for another tour.
I just came back from my amazing trip to Jordan, booked it with Exotica, i was not sure what to expect, it was my first trip with them, wow! I am very impress, other than the 3 star hotel Ibis in Amman, the rest of the trip from beginning to end, was amazing!! Specially our tour guide Fahad (Jag) Exotica took great care of me starting at the airport. Exotica will be my travel agency from now on.
Had a wonderful experienced with this company. Everything was well planned, information and direction was super helpful. Tour guide was good but some may need a little more training. Our tour guide was sweet but they tend to rush us. Great experienced overall. Would definitely book again. Until again…kanpai!
Hotels were too far from city centers!! Hotels were just ok. Our tour guide was friendly and helpful but did not give us any information at all of the areas we visited!! He just sat and rode with us but did not share any information or histories of the areas at all!! Was very disappointed with this due to our Exotica tour to Portugal Anton was a wealth of knowledge on that trip! I was expecting the same informative tour guide. That is why I booked with Exotica again. Also no meet and greet in the beginning.
I am so pleased and happy about this trip. Everything was beyond my expectations. South Africa is a beautiful country. The people are beautiful and respectful. The hotels are clean 4 stars , the food are sumptuous, Michelin stars restaurants. I’m so glad I went with my friends. It was an amazing experience. Exoticca has the best deals and Very organized .
I booked the 9 day tour to Egypt March 2024 and it was fantastic. I especially loved the 3 day Nile River Cruise. Our tour director was Michael Saad and I have to say he was spectacular!!! You must ask for him when booking an Egypt tour. So knowledgeable and funny!! Hot air balloon ride is a must also. Book now!! I’m planning my next tour now to Peru!! I can hardly wait!! ❤️❤️🎶🎶🎉
What you advertise, you do not give , change at last moment, luxury hotels and cruise ships where bad they were 31/2 star hotel and 2 star cruise ships food was fair service was below average. Bus was old broke down half way whole axil just broke, luckily no one got injured. Mike system was bad sounds were not heard
I have to give an excellent review on my recent trip to Egypt and Nile cruise. Everything was as advertised! Never once did I feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. The food and accommodation was top notch! I would highly recommend this trip and exotica to anyone! I traveled as a single visitor and it was the best vacation ever!!!!
Our guided trip through Portugal was better than we expected. Our guide Eduardo was exceptional, with knowledge beyond our expectations. It was a wonderful experience. Great accommodations, comfortable bus tour, lots to see and do. I highly recommend this trip. Eduardo, thank you for a wonderful guided tour. Excellent.
Wonderful Trip! I was not sure if I would like a group tour style of travel, but everything was perfect. Our guide, David, was very knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions. We will book another tour in the near future.
Was an amazing trip of a lifetime. Was nervous about being a solo traveler but shouldn’t have. Fellow travelers were welcoming. A little snafu by Exoticca on arrival but it was sorted in a few hours and the rest of the trip was exciting, informative about the history and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ experience!
This app is very good for a vacation with Exoticca as it will track day to day activities , flight information, hotels, and transfer vouchers. Some vouchers had multiple listings upon downloading and printing for hotel transfers and some had incomplete day tour information causing confusion among destination drivers and destination tour operators that Exoticca supervised.
From picking up in the airport all way home fantastic experience our guide Mohamed very knowledgeable friendly polite and funny very helpful in our needs Same for the drivers will recommend excoticca travel did a great job
I just completed the 9-10 day Ancient Eternal Cities tour and it was magnificent! As well as getting to know a wonderful small group of new people who where phenomenal, our tour would not have been as amazing, if it were not for our tour guide - Tabata. Tabata managed a large group of 30 different personalities with ease. She makes it look easy but I know it is not. The city of Rome, the Vatican and the Basilica were just stunning! It was a lifetime experience I will never forget!! Thank you Tabata!! You are the best!!
We had a great time in Greece. The views were phenomenal. Suggest doing a private tour of Santorini. Well worth the money. The monasteries were unbearable yet be ready to hike up what seems like 500 stairs. Do wish the itineraries had times on them before we left to do better planning.
Our 10-day tour throughout Morocco was a truly magical adventure. Our primary guide was like one of the family and other guides in 3 different cities provided great insight into culture and local manufacturing crafts. The night in tents at edge of the Sahara was an event to climax majesty of the tour.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who made possible my wonderful experience in Peru! Everyone in the Condor agency in Peru were very gracious and extremely helpful. It was great planned and we enjoy it very much. Great service. O felt VIP treated! Thank you!👏👏
Was very excited to go on a “trip of a lifetime “ to Africa. Even though we were confirmed at hotels/resorts, found out that could change at your destination. They said they were equivalent but, no, they sure weren’t. I paid in full, expecting to get what I was told was confirmed and did not. Would I chance it again? No.
The hotel and food arrangements are extremely poor. I was told that if I paid extra, I would get a better hotel. I paid the extra amount, but this turned out to be false. The tour schedule was not designed with the guest's comfort in mind. The timing was very inconvenient, and my family and I suffered as a result. There are 23 people in my group, and I'm certain they all had a similar experience.
Extraordinary travel made simple! Download the Exoticca App, a companion for Exoticca travelers. Your journey starts the moment you book a trip with Exoticca: • See the status of your trip from booking to completion • Be prepared with regular updates on essential trip documents and handy useful information in the countdown to your departure date • Access all your travel documents instantly, from itineraries to flight details and much more • You’re in control: check all elements of your trip, such as passport details, flight schedules, travel requirements and hotel accommodation at any time Stay in the know, on the go: • The Exoticca App keeps track of your daily activities whilst you’re away, so you’ll always know what’s next on your itinerary • No Wi-Fi? No worries! The Exoticca App works offline, so you can stay up to date without costly roaming charges or Wi-Fi • From meeting points to transfer times and internal flights • A helping hand is just a few taps away with our 24/7 trip assistance, available through the app by telephone or WhatsApp About Exoticca: Exoticca is an online travel agency dedicated to putting the world within your reach! Our team of expert travel crafters create affordable handmade package vacations to more than 50 destinations around the world. Each of our itineraries is designed to ensure you have an unforgettable experience, wherever you travel! Follow us around the world: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exoticca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExoticcaUS Twitter: https://twitter.com/Exoticca Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/exoticcaES Need help? Contact us: https://www.exoticca.com/us/contact
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