"I felt safe while I was on the tour. The beauty there was worth the trip. It was much more expensive than we had planned. Tips are included in the prices which we were not told. Other things were a little fishy and I don't like not having freedom and distance to cities. good time. Will do it differently next time. "
"My Grandson and I took the tour to Italy December 29 thru Jan 6. The tour was set up very nice.
We thought it would be a good idea to give ideas in each city for the best places to eat. We had a tough time finding good places to eat.
We the best tour guide that was with us during to trip. The local tour guides in Venius and Florence were great. Lots of history and laughs. Needed more time to see the the sights.
Our local tour guide in Rome should not be giving another tour. She was more interested in how Rome was built and not the wonderful places we should be enjoying. The worst was we had three hours to see the Vatican City and she talked for 1 1/2 hours before taking us into the Chapel and St Peters. She was all about her education of building the city. Not many happy people . Many left the group and went on their own.
Please never schedule two hours to catch your next flight. We sat on tarmac for one hour and it took 1 1/2 hours for luggage to show up and go through customs. We were not happy with staying in Atlanta. Hate that airport...
Other than a few not so pleasent things our trip was great, We will us Go Ahead again.
When I traveled to Australia we had a larger carryon. This one was not good at all.
And where is the 2017 catalog?"
“Hi Diane, We’re so glad you enjoyed your time in Italy, and we’re thrilled that you plan to take another Go Ahead tour! It’s great to know that you were impressed with your Tour Director, as well as most of your local guides. However, we regret that one of your local guides, as well as the Vatican optional, did not meet your expectations. The Vatican is visited by millions of tourists each year (roughly 25,000 per day); therefore, Vatican security must strictly regulate who is coming in, how they proceed inside, etc. The local guides who are certified to work at the Vatican are given very specific guidelines, in terms of how they are to lead their groups through the area. Unfortunately, this means that there isn’t much flexibility for travelers. We do apologize that this caused you frustration. However, we are obligated to comply with all the regulations at each site we visit. Regarding your transfer concern, our Travel Team follows legal transfer time guidelines provided by the airlines. Unfortunately, these guidelines are not always spot-on because air travel is impacted by so many factors and things can change very quickly. We are sorry you were unhappy with your stop in Atlanta. Unfortunately, your home airport is not a large hub and therefore offers fewer connections, which is what limited your options. We wish we had control over these matters, but Go Ahead and the airlines are entirely separate entities. In terms of our most recent catalog, it was mailed out in January, so you should have received it by now. Since it appears that you haven’t, we went ahead and requested that a new one be sent out to you shortly. We do apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for taking the time to review your tour, Diane. We can’t wait to see where you’ll no next!”
"I think this was one of the best trips I have ever been on with GoAhead. Tour Director Ilidy was fantastic, group was awesome and then you add in all the charm and beauty of Christmas and the lights, it was amazing. Everyone should go on the extra A Walk Behind the Iron Curtain, it certainaly was an eye opener. Budapest was spectacular as usual, Vienna seemed a bit toned down this year but still beautiful, Prague was such a high-light. Weather was cold so layers were very important and still was chilled. Thank you GoAhead for this tour. "
“Hi Linda! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed this tour! Experiencing these iconic cities during such a festive time provides unique cultural insight and charm. We’re glad you came away from the optional, ‘A Walk Behind the Iron Curtain,’ with a fresh perspective of the turbulent time in the history of Budapest. That is certainly an optional not to be missed! You’re right that it’s smart to pack in layers – great advice for future travelers. Thank you for choosing Go Ahead, Linda. We look forward to your next adventure with us later this year!”
"I became aware of Go Ahead through a review in the LA Times of the Grand Tour of Turkey.
I took my first trip with Go Ahead in 2010, and just returned from my latest trip in December.
The quality of the travel experience is always great, from Vienna to Machu Picchu.
An important feature of touring to me is learning about the culture and history of the destination. The Tour Directors with Go Ahead excel in teaching, which greatly adds to the travel experience.
I have never taken a tour in which I didn't make a new friend. The groups have always been great fun loving, adventurous people.
What's not to love?"
“Hi Lori! We’re so glad you appreciate the educational aspect of our tours, as education is at the heart of what we do. It sounds like the Tour Directors you’ve had in the past did a great job of bringing the various destinations to life, and we’re happy to hear it. We pride ourselves in having the best travel team around! We’ll be sure to share your kind comments with them. It’s also wonderful to know that you’ve made friends on all your tours. Making connections with other travelers is one of the many things we love about group travel. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience, Lori. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go next!”
"I retired in June 2016 after 50 years as an educator. My first "bucket list" item was provided by people who worked with me... a trip to beautiful Costa Rica. This was a lifelong dream and my first travel experience with a tour group. All I can say is AMAZING ADVENTURE! From Rafa the amazing tour guide, to Hecter the gracious driver, to elegant hotels, fabulous meals, and dynamic excursions... this 70-year-old traveler was mesmerized by the entire journey. The majesty and glory of the rainforest, readily accessible services, biodiversity (Toucans, sloths, crocodiles, monkey, iguanas, herons, coati, and on and on), in addition to lovely tour group members this was a 'trip of a lifetime.' And yes... I did climb the volcano to the 5500 level and zip lined at 3000 feet. I will definitely book with Go Ahead again... Australia... Italy... Africa... Europe... I want to see it all. As a single, elderly, first-time traveler... Go Ahead made my adventure delightful."
“Hi Judith! As a company that values education, we want to congratulate you on your 50 years of teaching and shaping the futures of your students. Fifty years is a truly remarkable accomplishment! We’re glad to see that retirement is treating you well and that you were able to check off the first item on your bucket list, Costa Rica. We’re delighted to learn that you were mesmerized by the beauty all around you, and we’re thrilled that you opted to try zip-lining. Zip-lining is such a fantastic way to experience the rain forest, and it also provides a very unique bird’s eye view. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Judith. We love that you’re ready to see more of the world, and we can’t wait to hit the road with you again!”
"THIS OUR SECOND GO AHEAD TOUR AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED. FROM BOOKING THROUGH DEPARTING, WE HAD A GREAT TIME. MEETING OUR TOUR GUIDE SABRA WAS VERY EASY. SHE WAS GREAT!!! OUR FIRST STOP WAS PALERMO, AND WE LIKED OUR ROOMS AND AREA. WE VISITED THREE CHURCHES AND THE MOSAICS WERE BEAUTIFUL! GO AHEAD GIVES YOU FREE DAYS TO EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN AND WE DID. WE VISITED THE CATACOMBS AND WENT TO THE OPERA. THE FOOD WAS REALLY GOOD AND SO WAS THE VINO! THE NEXT STOP WAS AGRIGENTO WHICH WAS ONLY FOR ONE NIGHT AND IT WAS ALONG THE SEA. IT RAINED BUT WE HAD MADE THE BEST OF IT. WE VISITED THE GREEK AND ROMAN RUINS WHICH WERE AMAZING! NEXT, WE WENT TO SIRACUSA AND VISITED A VILLA THAT WAS UNEARTHED AND BEAUTIFUL AND ALSO THE GREEK AND ROMAN THEATERS. WE ALSO WENT TO A PUPPET SHOW AND WERE VERY SURPRISED WITH THE COSTUMES. THEY WERE AWESOME! OUR LAST STOP WAS TAORMINA AND IT WAS OUR FAVORITE. OUR HOTEL OVERLOOKED THE WATER AND WAS BREATHTAKING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT! WE SAW A GREEK THEATER AND DID A LOT OF SHOPPING! WE HATED TO SAY GOODBYE! OUR GROUP WAS GREAT AND VERY FRIENDLY. OUR TOUR GUIDE WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND VERY ACCOMMODATING. WE WILL BE USING GO AHEAD FOR OUR NEXT ADVENTURE FOR SURE."
“Hi James! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed exploring Sicily! It’s great to know that, from the time of booking until your return home, you had a good experience with our team, including your Tour Director. It’s also wonderful to hear that you appreciated the various stops on the itinerary, as our Product Development team strives to design thoughtful and fascinating travel experiences. Between the good Italian vino, the ancient historical sites, and the breathtaking natural beauty of the island, there’s a lot to love about this trip! We’re also glad you enjoyed the company of your friendly group members. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, James. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go next!”
"We tried something new never ever thinking it will be our best experience ever our group was amazing our tour director was the best ."
“Hi Marvin! We're thrilled that this tour was your best experience ever! Thanks for sharing that. We hope to welcome you on tour again!”
"We have taken two tours with Go Ahead, one to Australia, NZ and Figi and then this year we took the Grand Tour of Europe. We like traveling with a knowledgeable travel guide who takes care of all the planning and logistics of traveling. Both of our travel guides were excellent and you left the tour feeling as though you had made a new friend. The add on excursions are great and all arrangements are made for you. The hotels are all very nice and breakfast is always included along with many dinners. They are very good at working with you if you need to make any changes, different airport etc. We will not hesitate to use Go Ahead for future travel. "
“Hi Lawrence! It’s wonderful to know that you were satisfied with your past Go Ahead tours! We love taking care of the details, so that you can relax and enjoy your destination. We appreciate your feedback on your accommodations, as well as your experience with our Customer Service team. We’re also delighted to learn that you grew close with your Tour Directors and that you found them to be helpful and knowledgeable. We certainly feel very fortunate to work with such amazing folks! Thank you for taking the time to share a review. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go next!”
"In October 2016, My wife and I went on a 24 day trip of a lifetime to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. We landed in Melbourne (pronounced Melbin) and spent 3 days exploring the city. Next we flew to Alice Springs for a trip to see Uluru (Ayers rock). I was surprised that it was over 100 degrees F, but still tolerable. We went to a kangaroo sanctuary and got to hold a baby kangaroo. Next we flew to Cairns (pronounced Cans) via Sydney. There we took a trip to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel. We then flew to Sydney to see the Sydney Opera house and the Harbor Bridge. We also did an interesting pub crawl that included a historical story about each micro brewery pub that we visited. From Sydney we flew to Christ Church New Zealand (South Island). Our tour group broke up into smaller groups and that night we had dinner with family in Christ Church. We talk about life there vs in the US, politics and the earthquake that hit there in 2012. New Zealand is a very beautiful country and Queensland (next stop) was extraordinarily scenic. Our hotel was on a glacial lake that was crystal clear and 1100 ft deep. Next we flew to the North Island (New Zealand). The North and South islands differ in that the South Island is glacial in origin and the North Island is volcanic in origin making for a striking difference in scenery. We visited the Hobbit Shire from the Lord of the Rings movies and the Hobbit movies while on the North island. We stayed in Auckland and took many side trips while based there. We had the same tour guide for Australia and New Zealand which helped keep continuity with the trip. We next flew to Fiji ( Denarau island). This part of the trip, unfortunately, I was least happy with. Our tour guide was sick and was not available part of the time. We stayed in the resort area and since the guide was not around we could not ask basic questions such as how to go to town, was it safe to do so? What is there to do there? etc. Also, I was not happy with the beach there. It was sandy followed by a muddy bottom and was not a viable place to snorkel. The resort and pools were beautiful but the beach was disappointing.
Overall it was a good trip well worth the price. All said and done we took 13 air flights to get there and back home again. "
“Hi William! Thank you so much for your thorough review. We’re glad you were able to speak with a member of our Quality Control team about your experience. It sounds like there was no shortage of fascinating things to see and do! You certainly chose to visit a magnificent region of the world. We appreciate your feedback on your time in Fiji, and we regret that certain aspects of it didn’t meet your expectations. We’re glad you were able to discuss this in detail with our Quality Control team member, and we have communicated your feedback to our team internally. If you have any other questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 1-800-597-0350. Again, thank you for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you on tour again!”
"Our recent Spain trip was our third with Go Ahead. Two adult tours and one youth tour (Kenya/Tanzania safari). My wife and I highly recommend Go Ahead because of their excellent customer service, interesting and enjoyable itineraries, and reasonable cost. TAll fees are known up front which we really appreciate. Mostly, the accommodations are very good four star hotels. OccAsionally, we get clunker which is the only reason we rated them four instead of five stars overall. But, considering how little time you spend in your hotel , it's a fairly minor issue. We will definitely book with Go Ahead in the future."
“Dear Judith, Thank you so much for recommending Go Ahead. It means a lot to know that you feel we provide excellent customer service and enjoyable itineraries at a great value. We appreciate your feedback on the accommodations you’ve experienced on this tour and others. Although we’re happy that you enjoyed most of your hotels, we regret that a few did not quite meet your expectations. We will be sure to share your valuable comments with our Operations team, as we are always using customer feedback to improve our tours. Thank you for taking the time to write a review and recommend Go Ahead. We look forward to exploring more of the world with you!”
"I enjoyed traveling with Go Ahead the guides were wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly.,
The hotels were clean and the staff were helpful. And the people I met became friends. "
“Hi Trudy! We're thrilled that you enjoyed your time on tour. It's also great to know that you made some friends throughout your journey. The personal connections we make on tour are so special! Thank you for taking the time to review your trip. We hope to welcome you on tour again.”
"Our tour guide Paz was phenomenal. She was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, not to mention an excellent tour guide and overall wonderful person. All of her recommendations were great, from Aqua de Valencia, to restaurants and everything in between. "
“Hi Patricia! We’re delighted to learn that your Tour Director’s expertise and welcoming personality enriched your experience. It’s also great to hear that she provided you with wonderful tips and suggestions throughout your trip. We will be sure to share your feedback with her. See you on your next tour in 2017!”
"I can't stop talking about it and showing friends and relatives pictures of the most wonderful tour. Marcellus as the most gracious and so informative of every place we visited. I will definitely go back again and maybe explore other tours. Loved it !!!!!"
“Hi Gloria! Thank you for telling your friends and family about Go Ahead. We’re so glad to learn that your Tour Director enhanced your experience through his expertise and assistance. We will be sure to let him know. We look forward to welcoming you on tour again!”
"What a great experience I had travelling with GoAhead Tours! Everything was planned for me, from my flight, my seat in the plane, Even the hotel was picked for my stay and my room! I did not have to worry about anything! When we changed from one hotel to another, our suitcases were taken care of! Our meals were well selected, our sight seeing was all planned ahead, our coach and driver(s) were so friendly and provided great service! Our tour guide...cannot say enough about her and the others who assisted! All in all, I highly recommend GoAhead Tours for all your travels! "
“Hi Jeannette! We’re glad to learn that your journey was seamless and worry-free. We love to take care of the details so that you can relax and take in your new surroundings! We appreciate the feedback on your trip, as well as your Tour Director. We’re happy to hear that her services and company added value to your experience! Thank you for recommending Go Ahead, Jeannette. We hope to welcome you on tour again.”
"Tour was nice except for the painful bus trip going in and out of Yosemite to go to our hotel on a trip in excess of 2 hours. The hotel was very inconvenient and was the worst hotel we ever stayed in. The bus trip took away from our time within the park. We were unable to see Ansel Adams and the Native American museum . We are disappointed that we did NOT see the famous sequoias."
“Dear Maureen, Thank you for speaking with a member of our Quality Control team this afternoon. We are glad that overall you enjoyed your Grand Tour of California, but we regret that your time in Yosemite did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your feedback on your hotel for those two nights, and we will be sure to share it with our Operations team for further review. We are also sorry to learn that there were a couple things you would have liked to have seen, which were not included in the itinerary. There is so much to see and do in the great state of California, and it can be challenging to fit it all in 10 days, which is why we greatly appreciate the customer feedback we receive because we use it to improve our tours. Thank you for making it possible for us to do that! Again, we're glad that overall you enjoyed your time in California, and we're pleased you were able to share some additional feedback with one of our team members. We hope to welcome you on tour again!”
A rep from Go Ahead Tours, EFGoAheadTours, has responded:
“Dear Shannon, We’re glad you felt safe on tour and that you enjoyed the natural beauty of the country. However, we regret to learn that there were a few things which didn’t meet your expectations. A member of our Quality Control team has reached out to learn more about your experience. If you would like to speak with a team member, please give us a call back at 1-800-597-0350 Monday through Friday from 9am-5:30pm EST. We take customer feedback very seriously, and we thank you for taking the time to provide it. We hope to hear from you, as well as to welcome you on tour again.”