Overseas Adventure Travel Consumer Reviews

MASSACHUSETTS -- My husband and I recently (June 2016) returned from a European vacation which included three segments in Italy offered and organized by Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT): Sicily (main trip) plus a pre-trip in Puglia and a post-trip in Calabria.

We were very satisfied with the OAT segments in terms of the itineraries, accommodations and content of the various days. But, we are very, very disappointed with the fact that OAT billed us an additional $800 for an “adjustment for Internal Flights”, apparently because we booked our own flights from the USA to and from Italy. This is despite the fact that OAT's pre-trip brochure stated clearly that Airfare is included for the flight from Puglia to Sicily, independent of how we got to Italy. We wrote and spoke to OAT representatives at length about this issue but they have refused to refund these fees, each time citing a different reason why they “had” to charge us these fees.

We doubt that we will ever use OAT again because of these added “hidden” fees. We advise anybody planning to use OAT as an organizer for their trip to carefully inquire about these additional fees for “airfare included” before they book a pre or post-trip. If you don't use their air booking services for the main trip, you will be ripped off. BUYER BEWARE. If you do use their flights, beware of poor departure and connection times. And don't buy their travel insurance. It's not very good.

THE WORST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE EVER. My mother was so upset by her customer experience that she told me in tears that she wanted to cancel the trip - a once-in-a-lifetime trip that she has been excited about for months. Numerous customer service agents told her that they were working on an issue and would get back to her, including supervisor ** - but none of them never did.

When I called to find out what had happened, I received the exact same treatment - I was transferred, told that people would call me back, and the issue was never addressed. When I asked to speak to the manager of the supervisors, I was told I could not speak to them.

It's the same experience you get from a mega corporation like Verizon or Capital One, except you are paying them thousands of dollars to guide you through a foreign country. Save yourself time, exasperation and money, and RUN to another agency. They don't care enough about their customers to even call them back, even when they are paying over $20,000 for the trip. Would you trust a company like this?

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- OAT now requires a signed agreement that gives them the right to do anything and you have the right to complain in vain. The tour guide for the Jewels of Bohemia May 3, 2014 to May 22, 2014, maybe be the reason for the NEW agreement. A racist, denigrated Roma at the memorial for the (Gypsies) Roma who died during the Holocaust.

Forcing people to walk hours 2 to 3 after a long day just to find an ATM and place to eat by lying saying the walk would be 15 minutes. Lost people, usually 2 or 3 out of a group of 14 because he only cared about himself and never turned around or walked slow enough for everyone to keep together. Also he hired the cheapest, smallest transportation available, making travel uncomfortable. Most of the Hotels were 2nd or 3rd class, but the prices were 1st class.

BOSTON, CALIFORNIA -- I have travelled with many other tour companies. What sold me about OAT was their itinerary for Vietnam. Don't get fooled by great itineraries.

1. Months after booking, I received a letter informing me that there were changes made to the itinerary. They removed a lot of the museums and excursions that were included in the price, without replacing any of these or reducing the price.

2. I booked my airfare with their travel department since I wanted to do a layover in Hong Kong. I paid for business class and all segments were booked in business. Then I get a phone call from the travel department (in October - the trip leaves 11/27/18) informing me that they made a mistake on the Hong Kong-Hanoi portion and had to change the flight to get me there earlier and with the other travelers. The travel agent neglected to inform me that I was now flying coach for this segment.

Called the company numerous times and was told that nothing could be done. I emailed corporate three times and have yet to hear back from them.

Their customer services is horrible. I am a seasoned traveller and have taken lots of tours with other companies and have never had this type of issue. Most companies are professional and if there is an issue, they return emails/calls and try to resolve it.

BUYER BEWARE!!!

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS -- Attention Travelers. Thinking about booking a trip with Overseas Adventure Travel or Grand Circle? Warning!!! Think twice and check them out on the Better Business Bureau. There record is filled with complaints including action taken by the office of Mass Attorney General.

My wife and I and two friends have recently returned from a 19 day trip to Kenya and Tazania. The trip was a disaster. The problems arose long before departure. Despite booking a year in advance the seating could very well have been the worst on the plane. At one point my wife and I were in different rows. All the seats were in the very back of the planes near the toilets with constant traffic and very cramped.

We tried in vain to change our travel bookings to things offered in the brochure (Upgrade to business and overnight stay in Amsterdam) We were told they were not available. They have since told us that these were the only seats available and seating was not there responsibility. This did not bode well for the remainder of the trip. After our extremely uncomfortable trip we arrived in Kenya with half our duffel bags missing. We got them a day later.

Then the real problems started. We were to spend 7 of the next 15 days traveling in cramped uncomfortable and aging vehicles. This was bad but not as bad as one disruptive individual who had us all believing that we somehow had mistakenly been booked on her private Safari. Without going to all the disturbing details I will say That this disruptive and most disagreeable member of our tour made for countless hours of frustration and anger preventing the four members of our group from enjoying a quite expensive trip. We were told at the outset that members of the two vehicles would be rotated daily so as to allow all to meet and become friends.

This never happened. We were always inn the same vehicle as the disruptor. On two occasions My wife and our friend left the group in tears because stress and tension. The women rooming with the disruptor was often in tears and did not even want to go to her room and at one point shared our room. We constantly complained to our group supervisor and requested he do something to ease the situation, which could have been made tolerable by moving people in vehicles.

When asked why this was not done we were told the other individuals did not want the disruptor in their vehicle and would not switch. We were stuck. Even the driver requested she not be allowed to sit behind him and was moved to the back of the vehicle were she cold yell her communications to the rest of the group.

Another disturbing point occurred that showed just how ill equipped or guide, an employee of OAT / Greand Circle, was in handling group problems. There were tented camps were one is not allowed to leave tents. We had an occasion when my wife and another group member were very ill perhaps food poisoning, and had been forced to stay in there tents during a group meeting at which we were first informed that leaving the tents after dark was not allowed due to the danger of animal encounter.

We would need a guard to travel to and from tent and lodge. The ill members knew nothing and darkness had already fallen. Our guide went on and on in his talk and despite my expressed concern did nothing to inform the other members in the tent. I became very angry with his lack of concern (danger real or not) I left the meeting and got a lodge guard and went to inform my wife and the other member. I could go on and on but the bottom line is the trip was long and uncomfortable, physically and mentally. It could all been easier had our guide been better equipped to handle group dynamics. He did nothing.

Believe me the details of this trip are far more expansive and could fill pages. When we returned home we tried to get some satisfaction from OAT / Grand Circle Co. And have been informed that the take no responsibility for our experience and were told they were oh so sorry that what happened put a damper on our trip. DAMPER!! Ruined a very expensive Vacation. Essentially, Customer Satisfaction is not in their business hand book. We are pursuing this complaint with the Office of Consumer Affairs.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- I was very disappointed with OAT. I've taken several trips and the trips are OK. However, their customer service is sorely lacking. They are inflexible and unresponsive. Avoid them!

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS -- OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL " no single supplement" come on, is really a shell game which I have figure out. They advertise no single supplement, but then offer couples a $1,500. to $2,000. credit to sign up. No. I repeat, no credit is offered to singles. HENCE, THERE REALLY IS A SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FEE. If they had a no single supplement policy, they would allow singles 1/2 of what they offer couples. Singles are paying a premium fee. DON'T BE FOOLED WITH A MISLEADING LYING POLICY. Am I the only one to figure out their shell game???

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- Because of COVID19 OAT cancelled our trip for which we had fully paid. They will not refund our money. They offered the same trip ‘some time next year'. When we paid for the trip, the cancellation Policy on their website said if OAT cancels the trip you get a full refund. Now they say they have changed the policy. We had bought trip insurance through them and all the insurer did was refund what we paid for the insurance. We've lost over $16,000 dollars. I think theft is a good word.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- OAT, the Tour Guide ** and the tour was excellent. There was nothing that could be improved upon. Well organized, educational & ** was the best tour guide any of us had ever had. I would highly recommended this tour, this tour guide & OAT.

In March 2011, I booked a December trip to Kenya and Tanzania with OAT after seeing that it was listed as travel & leisure magazines top travel companies in 2010. In Sept, OAT called to cancel my trip. I asked to have my deposit refunded, which they were reluctant to do... They asked me 5 times whether I wanted to book another trip instead. I told them I just wanted my money back because I might have to choose another destination instead, one where I wouldn't need a guided tour.

After thinking about it for a day, I decided that I still wanted to go to Africa and called them to ask about other trip dates. I was told that there was only 1 space available on a November trip and that they would not hold it for me. Then I was told that I would have to pay the current price ($300 more than my December trip, which was scheduled only 1 week after this November trip). I told them I shouldn't have to pay the difference since they were the ones who canceled my trip. Finally, after much discussion, the supervisor said they would match the price, but would not hold the November trip for me.

It took me 2 days to get approval from work for the new dates. When I called back, I was told that the November trip had filled up. I then asked them if they had any December trips in 2012 and they said it could cost $400 more. I know that often prices change from year to year so I didn't ask for a price match but I did ask if I could get a $100 discount for being inconvenienced and postponing my trip for an entire year. They told me no. It really seems like all they care about is getting as much money out of you as possible and not about customer service.