We've really enjoyed our trip. Specially, for our tour guides, they were all very helpful and accommodating.
We all would like to acknowledge your drivers and tour guides. They were so helpful and kind, specially Kumiko who went way beyond our expectations helped us all the way till we were inside the bullet train. Thank you to you too Kate for all your help and patience answering all our questions back and forth. Itinerary was excellent.
Here is my feedback on the trip. Overall, I was pleased how the trip went. There were things beyond our control, such as the weather but it was what it was. Under normal circumstances, getting a taxi from the hotel to the station in Toyama would have been simple. But the snow/weather situation made it simply difficult, if not impossible at that time. We appreciated your bending over backwards to help us get a ride from the hotel to the station. And Yuki Hashimoto was a very friendly and helpful person. You, as our travel consultant, were on the top of pretty much everything. Your explanation prior to the trip was excellent. I would rate you a solid "5".
- Command of English: "4"
- Knowledge of Subject: "4.5"
- Ability to explain: again, in English: "4"
- Attitude: "5"
- Flexibility: "5"; he tried hard to please us and brought us to places that were not included in the itinerary, skipping a few that we were not or less interested in.
Drivers and cars:
Overall, I would rate them at "4.5"
The room at the first hotel in Sapporo, Hotel Grand Mercure, was spacious and great. The breakfast was excellent. However, they don't serve any other meals besides breakfast and the location of the hotel was isolated, the closest restaurant is some 1.5miles away. And that made us requested a different hotel in the second part of our stay in Sapporo. The room in the second hotel was smallish but we made it do but there are a lot of eating places around there within walking distance, even in the snow.
In general the hotels were fine and I would rate them at a "4.5".
Sights or Activities
As I mentioned early on, our interest is more nature and wildlife. I even ask you to include the cruise on ice breaker in Rausu where we could see eagles in action rather than just drift ice sight seeing. And we definitely enjoyed that part a lot. And I got a lot of excellent pictures of eagles during that. The lodging at Washi No Yado was basic and we knew that upfront but the resulting images of Blakiston's fish owls I took from that place were rewarding. The 2 places for the snow cranes in Tsurui were only okay and not their natural habitat. The last time I was there, we went to a river where cranes actually roosted. Although it was early in the morning, it was worth visiting. We didn't go to the Zoo but instead we went to a fox ranch/farm and that was worth while switching. Yes, there are not wild but they lived freely inside a big caged compound and they act semi naturally. The conditions to get to the monkey park were tough because it was snowing heavily all the time. But it was worth the visit.
Meals: I would rate the included meals at "4".
Public transportation: pretty much only flights "4.5"
Hi Joanna
Argentina went well.
Iguazú we enjoyed very much. Forget ponchos. Just get wet!! As expected mosquitoes were an issue but we had our repellents. Enjoyed the sun. Guides and driver were awesome. The dreaded time to cross the border was not as bad as guid and driver knew how to go about and bypass the locals line.
Bariloche was so beautiful. Enjoyed the new year countdown there. Plan to see Patagonia some other trip.
Buenos Aires is a beautiful city but guess could be maintained better. It was a disadvantage to go around Christmas holiday as everything was closed. Kids did not like that they were as they love walking about cities.
Hope this helps. Also we had a flight delay and change getting there. But that was delta airlines fault.
Thanks. Janet
Patrice, Jackie, Cheryl and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Japan. The tours you set up for us, will leave lasting memories. We really enjoyed the tea ceremony. Our guide Yuki was informative, humorous, a good driver and he spoke English very well. Thank you for working with me, to give me and my friends a trip that we will remember for a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Jay Shepherd
Our trip is ended and we all came home today. It was a successful tour regardless a few mishaps. We all had a good time there. Thanks for your assistance all along.
