TripADeal Reviews

Very good itinerary, good hotels, comfortable bus and a very competent tour director. We were very disappointed to find that on arrival at our Tokyo hotel at 7.00am, we were unable to check in until 3.00pm. This was after a very long journey from Perth that included a 5 hour stopover in Sydney followed by an overnight flight to Tokyo. The hotel didn't even have a lobby with seating where we could wait. We asked if we could pay extra to check in early but were told no.

Overall, we found China to be a great country to visit. We really enjoyed the country. However, the common theme from the guides, particularly Sabrina in Beijing, was a hard sell on the so called optional tours. It came to the point that we were told if we didn’t participate in the optional tours we could sit on the bus while the optional tour proceeded and then take the journey home to the hotel. This left a rather bad impression on us. These tours were advertised as optional and we went to great lengths researching every one of them and choosing the ones we found of interest to do on the tour before our departure. To basically be told that there was no choice was, at best, very poor corporate practice. Sam, the guide in Xi’an, started the script of pushing the optional tours but backed off when the majority elected not to take a tour after a long day travelling and touring. Serena, in Shanghai, was more accommodating and did send parties home in paid private transport when optional tours were not selected. Unfortunately though the hard sell by all guides felt rather guilt driven into either taking the tours or going back to sit in your hotel room. This was particularly not the case for us and some of our best experiences in China were done in our own free time. The cruise was really good, but unfortunately, the five star rating was not a match to the food served on board. We would have imagined that a five star cruise would not need to push upgrades for both rooms and meals, which was the case on this tour. The highlight was Guilin, the tour guide, Jessica, was informative and pleasant and did not push the agenda of having to do optional tours during the stay. Overall, after many enjoyable tours with Trip a Deal, this may be our last. Unfortunately, the advertising did not reflect our experience, as it once did.

China! What an amazing country and we were able to see so much of the country! We loved everything about the trip! So relaxing and fun! We loved learning about the history from the tour guides. Our hotels were excellent and in great locations.

IGood guide good itinerary Highlight visiting country areas & clear view of Mt Fuji & cherry tres blossoming

Our first ever TripaDeal was also our first ever group tour, having previously made our own itineraries and arrangements when travelling. We had some hesitation about group travel, but were delighted with our group (size 20) who shared good humour, friendliness, flexibility and concern for each other. The itinerary was wonderful, on-the-go, but not not frenetic. Guides were game-changers. Ours were Huy, Joe and Toan in Viet Nam and Baboon and Mr San in Cambodia/Kampuchea. Each time you'd think this person is great, I don't want to change, and then a new person would come along with a new personality, new approach and genuinely local knowledge. Couldn't fault any of them - all so very good in individual ways! We also had opportunities of additional extra local options beyond TripaDeal's that were suggested/organised by our guides, great value, and well worthwhile. The itinerary was a great mix of the historically significant and important with the picturesque and fun. While the group dynamic will always be an unknown, we were the novices with this way of travelling among a majority of repeat/return TripaDealer's, so there's something in this model that clearly brings together relatively like-minded people and brings them back for more. Communication was appropriate throughout. Airlines ok. We had a variation to our originally advertised itinerary because of the Cambodia/Thai conflict which was clearly beyond the control of Tripa Deal, but the adjustment was well managed. Really happy to recommend.

Most of the experiences on this trip were excellent. Highlights included Kyoto by the sea, Meiji Shrine, views of Mt. Fuji, the scenic train ride through the hills, the thousands of torii gates, and the traditional tea ceremony. All of the accommodations were very comfortable, and breakfast options offered a great variety of food. A special mention goes to our tour director, Leslie, who was absolutely fantastic and made the entire experience even more enjoyable.

I liked the smaller size group travel. 20 people is a good size. Hotels were great although the mattresses were rock hard all apart from one of the hotels (Phnom Penh). The guides were all great too.

The boat trip on Ha Long Bay was definitely a highlight. The first day was a bit disorganised - our paperwork waiting at the hotel said a 8am pick up in the lobby - didnt get on the bus for the city tour until 9.45am - due to new regulations the bus wasnt allowed in the city until 9am - paperwork should have been updated. Some of the included meals were ordinary and tasteless. Hotel breakfast in Cowbung (sorry not sure how to spell it) was terrible - only catered to locals tastes no western options available - only seasonal fruit. Lack of communication for our pickup for our optional water puppet show. Told to wait in lobby at 5.30pm - another group had to pick us up eventually as noone else from our group went. Dropped us and we met up with another group- no apology for the stress caused. Tour guide (Hiep) was amazing and very organised. All up we loved this Mountain Discovery Tour.

Top marks to Trip-A-Deal for a fantastic, well organised, well paced holiday. Highlights are definitely the quality of the hotels, the knowledge of the tour guides and the organisation of hotel rooms and baggage, just amazing. There was very little for us to worry about as everything was relayed to us well as per pick up times, meeting places and day planning. The bus transport was excellent with a full 40 seater bus dedicated to our group of 16, it made it very comfortable. A really enjoyable trip.

Our trip to Japan was memorable, with breathtaking scenery and incredible cultural sites at every stop. That said, the pace of the trip felt quite rushed. We often spent many hours on the bus before arriving at each site, and by the time we got there, we were already feeling tired. While we appreciated how much we were able to see, the limited time at each location made it hard to fully take everything in and enjoy the experience. The tour guide was fantastic! At times, the hotels were too far from our bus stop.

the boat cruise

Dont call that boat 4 star. Its 3 despite excellent staff

Our guide Phillip, was excellent. Very personable, knowledgeable, and read the group well. He made long travel days enjoyable with anecdotes and interesting facts. He went out of his way on more than one occasion to help members on the tour with all sorts of requests. He is a passionate tour guide, sincere in his approach and eager to make sure everyone was accommodated and had a good time.

Halong Bay disappointing , not a traditional Junk, it never moved from its mooring. I was there 10 years ago and it was brilliant Mekong River, below my expectations the itinerary was average at best. Had border crossing trouble in Cambodia with my passport they advised me it was damaged which it wasn’t all they wanted was some corruption money. I will only do another Trip A Deal holiday if the flights are direct to the start location and no stop overs. This was a common theme with our group of 20 as we spent far too much time in airports waiting for connecting flights.

Loved all the locations we visted, highlights were MT Fuji and Hiroshima Musuem.

Loved the country, the itinerary was full on with some very long enjoyable days. The guide was pretty good except he had a tendency to get off the bus and move away quickly with part of the group and start talking, consequently half the group missed out on descriptions of things. When we book a trip you query food allergies etc but you do not pass on to the Airlines simply things like Gluten Intolerance. I cannot find any way to notify the airline myself. Most tour companies pass on this basic and important information. Will Trip a Deal implement this change as we have more trips booked and are looking at others with your company. Thank you.

Well organised trip with great tour guides who took care of the group and made hotel check-in/out easy. Did the tour with a great group of people who bonded quickly. Hotels were out of the the cities but to be expected for the costs of the trip. Optional add-ons were many which basically you had to do since hotels were out of the way or somewhat remote. Stayed in one hotel without any heating due to government regulations.

From the moment we arrived to departure, I cannot fault the organisation and the amazing tour guides. The trip was well planned and we saw the most amazing sights. It was very busy, not a lot of rest time.. but that how we prefer our holidays. We did the 13 day extension Vietnam holiday and I have fallen in love with the country and the Vietnam people. We will definitely be heading back. I cannot highly recommended Trip a Deal enough. I was able to pay off my holiday over 12 months - as a single mum this made a holiday for our family possible. And the communication and correspondence leading up to our trip was amazing. Thank you so much. This holiday has been my favourite holiday to date.

Enjoyed the whole experience,my wife loved the deers,I enjoyed trip to mt Fuji,but taken all round every thing was great. Surgestions for improvement buses park to far from hotels and attractions,need to park closer as there is to much walking, Very good tour guide and exceptional bus driver.

China tour was very well organised, the tour leaders in general were very good especially King, Bruce (not Lee) and Maggie. The only tarnish was the last two days where we felt that Michael was trying to extract as much money from the group as possible through optional tours, the biggest disappointment was if you didn't take the optional tour you were basically left on your own to find your way around or back to your hotel. Overall the experience was worth it.

Everything went according to programme, which was very busy for us older folk. The tour guides were excellent led off by King and well supported by Simon, Bruce and Alice. They are very helpful and knowledgeable. The hotels were outstanding and we lucked in with a suite and oversized room on two occasions but all the hotels were excellent with exceptional breakfasts. Perhaps our only gripe is the amount of shopping that was pushed on us and the pressure to provide tips to the tour guides and purchase optional tours. We would much prefer to know the total cost of our tours without options but understand your method allows the impression that the deal is cheap when it actually costs what it should cost once the extras are added. We lost the last day of our tour because our pre-booked flights home booked by Trip a Deal meant we had to leave the tour early. We would have loved to enjoy the final day with a ride on the magnatrain and the outdoor markets.

We loved our adventure, would have been better if we were able to spend a little more time on the historic content of our trip and not so much time spent at places like the jade factory Everyone on our group seemed to be of the same mindset. All in all we had a great time our accommodation was great and all our our guide were very attentive and always tried to accommodate our needs we are looking forward to our London trip in June Cheers Millie

Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors excellent tour guides

It was my first and worst trip with Trip a deal. Really bad expo with the china airline, cancellation and No vegetarian food provided although it was requested due to the cancellation of original flight. Very dissatisfied and a long journey through china a long haul in the middle of the night. uncertain forwarding connection and no clear communication from trip a deal. I had to call 4-5 times on my expense to communicate. Had to pay for cab both ways to return home to catch the flight the next day. Very disappointed. Still haven’t got the reimbursement ( $105) The tour conductor was very difficult to understand. Language was a problem. Which was frustrating. One day of trip to Mt fuji was missed. The other bus conductor was somuch better in communication.

The trip was good on the whole apart from the ferry night. We had 39 on tour and were divided into two groups I was in group 1 and one of three singles who were allocated a single room each without a toilet. We paid a single supplement which should have given us a room with a toilet also all of us being in our 70s getting up in the night. And to make matters worse group 2 were upgraded to rooms with toilets and showers. None of the women in group 1 showered the next morning. Very bad organization on behalf of Tripadeal. Most of us paid for the trip the prior year so plenty of time to book for the whole group not to be separated. Too many options that we had to pay for some not good value. I will factor this in for future holidays when choosing a provider.

A huge thanks to our tour guide Dragon who was so knowledgeable and helpful. The Maiko dinner was absolutely amazing. We loved everything Japan I was so incredible people were so helpful and polite We hated the Hiroshima museum it was to crowed and didn’t see anything because there were too many people very disappointing would rather not go in there, talking to other tripadeal buses they hated it as well. Hotels were great but hated the beds and pillows. Anne was a good bus driver. Loved the group in our tour made lots of new friends. Loved the old towns and the beautiful drive into the mountains. This was our first tripadeal and we wouldn’t hesitate to do more in the future. Thanks again Dragon you made our Japan holiday the best holiday ever. Mark and Karen HAMBLY.

Our Guide Clay was informative, caring, fun and I feel added to our wonderful experience. However from at the Sabah teahouse on the Thursday evening meal or where we had lunch 15 of us had developed severe food poisoning that night which meant that for my partner Peter and myself we could not participate in the last two days of the tour .We were very ill. A great pity. Janet Duncan

Enjoyable holiday, with great attractions. Quality of cruise ship disappointing, the vessel was not even 4 star standard. Cabin air conditioning barely working, complimentary soft drinks at meals didn’t include diet drinks so forced to pay. Not an acceptable thing these days. Crew were very good. The meals were okay, but a little disappointing, as I love Asian food and found better eating at local restaurants ashore. Tour guides very good. More details needed on the airport procedure when flying home. Departure from Guilin fine, but when we arrived into Shanghai to connect to our flight home it became a bit of a nightmare having to go from terminal 1 by train to another terminal, security, passports etc to then get the train back to where we started all in a short time frame. A prior explanation would have helped greatly as some passengers almost missed the flight. All other flights and travel transfers went smoothly because we were met by local guides. Tour quite exhausting, a lot of walking and steps, but a great experience. Could be less optional tours and more included in package.

1. Destination 2. Friendliness of the staff onboard the Seabourn Venture 3. I would have appreciated a Tripadeal day of activities when we were in Buenos Aires. Latam Airlines is very basic. The cabin service was very limited and meals barely satisfactory. I appreciate it keeps the overall price down but isn’t equivalent to the quality to complement Seabourn.

In general I was pleased with the tour, and my suggestions below are quite minor Within hotels in Buenos Aries and Rio de Janeiro, there was no kettle or coffee. The rooms were a little poorer quality than the rest of the tour. But the were ok.. some of us enjoy coffee before the early starts The itinerary, in regard to the Aerolineas flight I think it would be useful to mention the 15 kg luggage limit. I understand it is mentioned elsewhere in the general information, but think it should be mentioned in the itinerary on the day of the flight I was unfortunately left behind by a guide, and I made a compliant and overnight the guide was replaced which was appreciated by myself `and the rest of the group The guide on the Peru part of the trip was exceptional Overall it was a wonderful tour with everyone in the group satisfied. Highly recommend

Exciting itinerary- real bucket list experiences in particular the Amazon jungle, Machu Picchu ruins, Iguazu Falls & Christ the Redeemer - all sensational. All tours in each country were very well organised.

The Sri Lankan Culture , food accomodation.Being in the hands of an experienced female tour leader , a safe driver and an attentive bus assistant . The small group size ov the tour .Returning home via heaven on Earth the Maldives .. a chance to relax , experience beautiful natural surroundings eat drink and be merry before heading for home.

All accommodation was good and very well located. It was great to visit all the major attractions in the countries we visited with Machu Puchu and Iguazo Falls absolutely fascinating! We chose the Santiago pre stay and optional tours that were well worth it. Our guide Rueben in Peru was excellent.

We chose to arrive early so we could see Varanasi as it wasn’t a part of this tour. We were lucky enough to book the same hotel we would be staying in as the others coming on the tour. Sadly the tour guide was not told we had arrived 3 days earlier and they hung around the airport for 1 1/2hrs waiting for us. There was no communication between us and the guide so had to ask other people at the hotel if they were on our tour to find out what was happening the next day. But once that was sorted we had a great time exploring Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. We were a bit templed out as we saw many many temples and found the carpet and Silk and gem places quite interesting but the sales people were quite pushy but we understand they need to sell their goods but can be quite intimidating. We did all the extra tours and really enjoyed them all. India is such a vibrant and amazing place and we learnt a lot about the history which was quite interesting. We loved The Fort and The Taj Mahal, such a beautiful building. The hotels were all good but the many buffets made us so over them. Most days we didn’t have lunch till after 2, we were ok but didn’t get a chance to buy nibbles for the long days. We weren’t offered, probably should have asked the tour guide. Sri Lanka was beautiful. We were told we were on the other group not explanation given, but our first group were told lies. Lack of communication between us and the 2 guides was not necessary and made things a bit uncomfortable. Luckily we got on well with the new group and at the hotels could still catch up with the first group of people. We loved Sigiriya rock and the jeep safari and baby Elephant sanctuary. Some days the guide, Waruna, possibly tried to out to much into the day. A coffee stop in an old English hotel for 20mins when it took 15mins to get it, then a mad walk through the food market including the meat market which we didn’t find the need for it, we had no time for looking around before we had to head off to the cultural show. We did enjoy our time, the long days in the bus took its toll, but understand the distances. We did the extension, the resorts were amazing possibly to much downtime and the last day was sitting around waiting to drive 3 hours to Negambo then sit around and wait till we got to the airport. Overall we loved our time in India and Sri Lanka and would recommend it.

We were fortunate enough to have the most amazing travelers with us. Chongqing, was our favorite city. It was so special at night. It was Vivid on steroids. Walking through the history of China is also very special. We loved that ancient China sits so comfortably with the new and modern China. The Chinese have continued to embrace their heritage which was always such a pleasure to see. The days were long and jam packed, the coaches were usually clean and new/ish. China waas much more than we had ever imagined and certainly more than we had hoped for. We encountered guides who were amazing and others who were not as good. These are just some of my positives, there are many more. We have taken tours with other companies before, we felt Tripadeal could be a little more transparent with the real costs of their trip and reword the parts about tipping as it isn't clear . We found that some people were caught completely off guard with the way the optional tours, not because they didnt know there were optional tour but because the money was usually taken on the bus in front of a group and they had no choice other than to take tours they may not have budgeted for. We believe that this process should be made very clear. My husband and I felt every time we paid for a meal ourselves we should have the option to choose what we want to eat or at least be given a choice. Not taken to a restaurant that doesn't even have a gluten free option. There was one restaurant were there really wasnt a choice of food for the money we paid Booking with Tripadeal was easy, all the documentation arrived when they said it would. Our flights were changed at the last minute and we were unable to access our booking as the ticket numbers no longer worked. I called China Eastern to rectify this however I was told this was a common occurrence, when flights are cancelled. Personally I believe Tripadeal could do better

Our 3rd Japan TAD. Japan In Depth ticked so many boxes, seeing all prefectures over a 4wk period affordability and free days. It was a full bus - 38, age group was quite older 65 plus which was quite surprising considering the longevity and active pace on offer. This was a NEW tour, 2nd one ever so we knew there could be teething issues and areas to improve. Our TD was pleasant enough but lacked control of the older group members and didn't really have the Japanese cultural experience or knowledge that our previous TD had. Bus driver also drove incredibly slow resulting in late arrivals in the evening. In Summary - more Cultural encounters, free days as free days not additional tours for people to be handheld throughout the entirety of the trip. Adding in flight options of premium economy would be a added bonus too.

Everything it was great

To many Shrines, and getting back to our hotel too late to find some ware to eat, Otherwise very happy with the trip Janice.

Loved our guide in the north, Huan. He was very dedicated, very caring & a wonderful guide. Loved the country of Vietnam, the people, the scenery, the madness of the traffic & the delicious food. On the whole, the accommodation was first-rate; however I feel some hotels & resorts had too many steps which the older generation found difficult to negotiate. I believe the majority of TripADeal customers are over 50, so I would suggest that this type of accommodation be changed. I travelled as a single lady & joined with 19 other Australians, which was absolutely fantastic. Everyone was very nice, caring, and respectful of the country & people we were visiting. I counted myself very fortunate to have been a part of this group.

The travel guides were lovely and knowledgeable but having a guide in each city meant that we were often told the exact same stories! The optional tours were often mixed in with the included tours meaning we either had to make our own way home or wait around to get lifts to or from the hotel. I felt this was a ploy to get us buy more optional trips! Travel was hectic and on a few occasions we arrived very late at night. We were also hanging around for hours waiting for flights or trains. One time our group was on different flights so we had to arrive at the airport for their flight and then wait for ours! We were also taken to the train station and left there, waiting in the station for more than 3 hours! The hotels were ok but I think only 1 would be considered as being 5 star here in Australia. The rest were a good 4 star. One included tour on the cruise that we wished to go on, we were told that the group had already decided to do another tour. Nobody in our group actually made that decision. We were told that that tour, (The jade caves) was now full. One couple who did actually manage to change to the Jade caves was told they could not tell anyone in our group that they were changing!

Small group Quality guides Accommodation and meals were good Very good activities Length of time in one place 3 nights and 4 nights

It was a comprehensive tour of the country highlighting all the major areas. It would have been great if the optional tours offered on the free were listed before we started the tour as that way we would not have booked our own activities. Some of the hotels could have been better specially with the food but overall a positive experience. Our guide Rajesh was lovely along with our driver Fu San. I did feel though that when I asked the guide as to his help/opinion on what we should do on the free days he was not very helpful. It seemed like of were not doing what the option offered he would not be bothered. Some places we were given 1.5 to 2 hours to explore a place that took only 45 minutes or so and then we were just hanging around but then only given 1hr for lunch. It makes it a bit hard to find something, order with generally a wait time, eat and be back in the one hour. Both Eva Air and China Eastern flights were comfortable BUT no one could log into the China Eastern website to do seat selection or check in which was extremely frustrating. Some couples ended up being separated for the flight home. One strong suggestion please. You really need to start charging the gratuities at the time of booking. It is so embarrassing when people start to crib and carry on about paying especially when the guide and driver has looked after you and done everything possible for you to have the best time possible. Thanks

This tour included so much with a good variety of city and countryside sights. The optional tours I chose to do were also good, with the Maiko dinner in Kyoto being one of the highlights. Raj was a nice tour guide who worked hard to make it a good experience. Mr Foo was an excellent driver who made us feel safe at all times, even on those many hairpin bends. I enjoyed that we stayed multiple nights at some places and that there were quite a few free days for us to explore. I would have liked more time in Kyoto to explore. Freedays broke the tour up nicely. I was happy with the accomodation standard, and especially enjoyed the hotel in Sapporo. I enjoyed being able to try the Japanese style breakfasts in the hotels. The only other feedback I would like to give that may enhance the tour is perhaps to be provided with a little more info about places where we had free days to help inform us of highlights of a town that we might like to see. Some of the days were quite long and tiring but I was ok with that - perhaps a slightly better quality bus with more comfy seats would’ve been nicer for that.. The only thing I did not enjoy was the first leg of the return trip with China Eastern- the fact that you couldn’t check in online and that their terrible website said tickets could not be found, caused stress to multiple guests and their service in Sapporo was chaotic and unfriendly. This is not Trip A Deals fault but I would prefer not to fly with them again if I were to take another tour. Overall I felt that this tour is very good value for money and I liked that you could chose the optionals you wanted to do rather than have them all included.

Great Wall, Suzhou and Guilin definitely highlights, plus Shanghai at night. Could have easily spent more time in Guilin. Overnight stay in Yichang seemed to be a waste of time. Long days of travel very tedious. More information on airline seat upgrades, Yangtze cruise room and dining upgrades would have been very beneficial and would have saved a lot of confusion and last minute running around.

This is our second tour with Trip a Deal and we had an incredible experience on the Ultimate Japan tour, with so many unforgettable highlights. The itinerary was well thought out and offered a fantastic mix of cultural, historical, and scenic experiences. Standout moments included visiting the temples and shrines in Kyoto, the breathtaking views of Mt Fuji, the shopping malls of Osaka, and the sheer energy and contrast of Tokyo. The bullet train journeys were a real highlight in themselves—fast, smooth, and a great way to see the countryside. We particularly loved the opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture, from the food to the accommodation and the friendliness of the locals. The organisation of the tour was excellent, and our guide Hiro was knowledgeable, approachable, and ensured everything ran smoothly. As for suggestions, a little more time in Tokyo than just the one day would have been appreciated. Overall, this was a fantastic trip and a great introduction to Japan—we would highly recommend it to others.

The whole trip was excellent as we were able to see Mount Fuji without cloud cover, the markets were great and the accommodation was superb. The overnight ferry trip was relaxing, and we hardly felt the ship move. One thing we did not have to go too far from out hotels to access a restaurant, cafe or market. All told the trip was worth the money. The tour guide (Philip) provided us with an entertaining commentary and was very attentive toward the passengers. He went above and beyond what we expected.

Loved the tour and our tour guide Gerard. Favourite parts where Langkawi, Georgetown and KL. The hotels were all brilliant except for Citadines. My suggestions to change would be one full day and night in Cameron Highlands making it a very full on day. We all loved Ipoh and wish we could have stayed there a night. Got up first thing for the orangatang sanctuary and the more time in Georgetown. First trip a deal and will definitely do more.

10 out of 10 for tour,drivef and tour guide Kito was very good at his job Would recommend trip a deal

We loved everything and could not fault the itinerary, organisation and the guides we had. The only suggestion would be if on the last night in Hanoi there could have been a farewell dinner included or organised as we had all become friends but with different departure times and flights there was not really a chance for the whole group to celebrate the end of the trip and say goodbye.

Highlights: The Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors & Horses, Suzhou, Three Gorges, Small Gorges-Qutang Gorge. The Downs side : Some of the Hotel just too far away to reach from every things specially the Wyndham Beijing North Hotel ( had to have instant noodles from the 5 Star China & Yangtze trip) And arrived at Chogqing don’t even have a chance to see any sightseeing of Chogqing.

Need to include "city tours" of Hanoi (not just the walking tour) and Saigon to allow guests to familiarise themselves with the city. The 3 days in Pu Luong were a waste of time as there is nothing to do there - no nearby restaurants or villages. The Casa resort was poor - no communal areas to meet and relax with other guests and no activities at the resort other than the pool, which was unusable due to weather. It would have been much better to do just one night in Pu Luong and have the two walking tours on the same day. Extra days could then be in Hanoi, Hoi An or Saigon. The Hotel in Saigon (Muon Thang Luxury Saigon Hotel) was too far out of the center of the city and had just one or two restaurants within walking distance. The hotel restaurant was poor and the staff were less than friendly. Hotel in Hanoi (Legend Westlake) was not of a high standard. Vietnam as a country was great as were the people, just the above details would have made the flow of the tour much better. Optional tours were generally very good, particularly the cooking class in Hoi An which was excellent. The tour to My Son with Huy (the guide) was excellent - he was very informative, knowledgeable and pleasant.

Loved the tour guide and driver, both brilliant. The places we saw were amazing, best experiences. We covered a lot which was excellent. The only faults were that we did not have proper lunch stops on most days. We had to rely on food from convenience stores such as 7/11, Lawson and Family mart. We would have preferred a proper cafe or restaurant. With the hotel breakfast, as Westerners we would have liked more fruit options to eat as I am gluten free. Also the hotel in Osaka, the Prince Smart Inn, Yodoyabashi was not appropriate for traveling tourists on a tour with luggage. We were assigned rooms that 2 people could not stand in, let alone put suitcases on the floor to open. Many of us paid for an upgrade to a bigger room. This hotel is only for business people with overnight stay. It is not for tourists with luggage on a tour buying stuff along the way. Having said all this, Japan was a wonderful experience

Tour guide and driver were excellent . Loved the cities and places we visited but strongly feel the extra excursion in Tokyo and the last day one in Yokohama should have been included in overall package . Did not think we should pay extra for those . The optional one to the paper making and sword making place was a waste and not what we were told we would see .

I actually thought that maybe TAD should offer a 12 day trip , not the 10 days. So much crammed in couldn’t enjoy lots of places because of the time limit. A lot on my tour thought that we probably should have an overnight stay in the beautiful little town where we caught the boat to catch views of Mt.Fuji. That was so beautiful, there was a chair lift and we could have had more fun on the water with the little paddle boats. Hiroshima was so beautiful as well. Osaka hotel , too small paid to get another room and my friend stayed in the original booked room. I mean it was cheap enough to pay for that upgrade but still shouldn’t have had too. Lots more did the same as well. All in all it was really a taster to let you know what Japan was like. Thank god for 711 , Lawsons and Family Mart 😄 I am pleased I took this holiday , it suited my budget . Kind regards Kathleen

Our guide Arai was the best. He shared a lot of great information about Japan with us and was also very kind, caring and helpful. We really enjoyed our holiday in Japan thanks to Arai. We would have preferred direct flights to Japan and back.

Hotels closer to shops restaurants One hotel we had to walk to with luggage If it rained we all get wet. This is a well organised trip Mt Fuji in the snow AMANOHASHIDATE Harness museum

The tour was planned, extra tours included. The guide was good and attentive and answered all questions and communicated throughout on WhatsApp even after hours. The improvement I would suggest is to try to get the group to the hotel at a reasonable time for some quality downtime. I found some nights there was not enough time to explore as we got in late then departed after breakfast.

Our guide Miyaki was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to assist the group with extra requests. The tour was a great pace with free time and extra options.

The tour in and around Japan was definitely unbeatable! Mount Fuji was on full display for us as were the cranes at our traditional Japanese gardens. The deer bowed in full form and each shrine was just as breathtaking as the last. Thankfully our tour guide was helpful and knows and went above and beyond every single day to show us Japan in all its glory. Unfortunately the staff on qantas were dismal. They looked like they wanted to be anywhere but on that plane. They ran out of foods multiple times and offered us very pathetic options with no empathy. They were often far too consumed with socialising with each other than assisting the customer. The Japan experience was unbeatable but the staff on the flight need to be addressed and reminded that their attitude marks the start of a families vacation.

Well organised trip, got to see many highlights. First hotel was excellent but went downhill from there with the other accommodation. No hot water in showers, mice in one of the rooms. Flights were very good.

I loved the old Kyoto, Hakone and Mount Fuji, which we were privileged to see. Our guide was great and a great asset to the holiday. Her knowledge and generosity in answering questions was amazing. Even though some of the hotel rooms were compact, they provided everything you need, which was welcomed.

good to cover all important sites/places during the trip, but there are few places I think not relevant to me.

Too many flights . I did 11 in 26 days. That’s ridiculous. Half the time we wasted at airports and in aero planes ✈️. Spent too much time in Peru , which most of which is a third world dump. And not enough time in Argentina and Brazil . Trip a deal needs to replan the schedule. And finally I booked this trip because the staff assured me it was only 6 flights all up , that’s why I booked with trip a deal not inspiring vacations - at least they were honest and upfront . The staff at trip a deal intentionally mislead me - this is a tactic used to poach clients like me from other tour operators. Also everywhere we went there was this non stop list of staff that wanted tips . Everyone from the hotel staff to drivers to luggage handlers in 3 different countries, don’t these people get paid already ? The best thing I did coming from Sydney was get there 3 days earlier for a 3 day stop over in Santiago , which was the same flight schedule anyway . I really liked that place . Also it diluted the jet lag . When I met up with the group one extra flight away in Peru they were already exhausted from having done 2 international flights and a 6 hour transit at airport . Otherwise I did have a good time . I’m sorry if I sound like a winger but I’m Trying to be honest and upfront . All the other tour companies had almost identical Itinerary .

Our tour guide, Runa-san made us feel so welcomed, and taught us so much about Japan it makes me and my fiancé want to come back for more! Not only did Runa and our ichiban bus driver, Hiro Hiyashi-san, made the entire trip fun but we felt completely safe, secure and confident in our travels always on time and with a smile! During our travels, Runa-san taught us about what makes Japan thrive going into detail not only on the historical aspects of the sites we’ve seen but also explained the cultural aspects of what it is to be Japanese and what really makes them thrive as a industrous and proud nation. It was truly fascinating. What really stood out most of all is she helped coordinate an unforgettable marriage proposal moment with my now future husband at the Fushimi Nori Tori Gates! Runa-san not only was an amazing tour guide, she made every moment, everyday in Japan feel really special! We miss her and Japan already!

Loved all the experience on offer (except the Golden Brick Museum). Favourites were the Terracotta Warriors, The Great Wall, The River Cruise

Great day tours wonderful guide Eric n good bunch of people in the group

Well looked after by tour guide & bus drivers- excellent knowledge. Great Wall & Terra-cotta warriors are a must. Really enjoyed Hutong & Xi’an but could have spent an extra night/day at each. More time at Panda House would have been great. Hotel rooms were clean & tidy. It was a waste of time going to the Shanghai museum as we had 45 minutes there- either more time or drop all together! Tea factory was good but too much time spent inside & staff a little pushy to get tourist’s to buy tea or tablets would have liked a tour outside instead.

The trip overall was very good with a well thought out itinerary. Really enjoyed. The downside was, there was far too much time spent on trains. 4 train trips totalling over 24 hours. Also very late arrivals at hotels wasn’t ideal. Some of the guides were better than others.

1 please arrange Hotels Bus can reach to the main entrance. In our itinerary day 5 & 6 Hotel bus could not go to the hotel. Clients has to carry the 20 kg bags more than 250 meters Thats can not accepted . 2. Please arrange a full day for shopping for the clients near the Hotel last days.

We loved our hostess Janice , she was the most amazing tour guide .The whole trip was amazing. The highlight was Osaka . We extended our holiday by 3 nights stayed near Ueno park all the cherry blossoms have come to life Regards Heidi & Steve Randall Thank you Janice

The Great Wall was the absolute highlight along with all three guides, Amanda, Rocky & Ivy. Would have loved more time at the attractions & less time at places where they wanted you to buy silk, tea, chinese medicine, pearls & jade. Accommodation was stated as 4 stars on the brochure, all but one hotel was 2-3 stars, very disapointed with level of accommodation. Broken furniture, no fridge, dirty room etc.

Great itinerary. Most accommodation was fantastic. Very hectic pace. 2 of the guides were very good, and the other one was just not as good as the others, but they set a very high bar.

We loved Robinson Noonu, it’s spectacular and the staff are amazing, they can’t do enough for guests. The food was exceptional, fresh with variety each day. It was all inclusive except for the mini bar and there was entertainment every night. Our overwater bungalow with pool was beautiful, we snorkeled right outside seeing sharks, turtles, stingrays and a multitude of fish. It’s a stunning island with magnificent sunrises and sunsets. We flew Malaysian airlines, they were on time and functional. The lounge at Male airport which served food and drinks either end was helpful after long flights and early starts. The seaplane added to the experience.

Enjoyed all the sights we visited and the tour guides information. Hotels were all comfortable although locations were not ideal- meant more time on the bus. Optional tours necessary to see all the sights but that meant no real downtime- long days from 8 to 6pm. Biggest disappointment was air travel. Connecting in China elongated the flight unnecessarily- direct flights would have been much better especially as we travelled from Tasmania which meant another additional flight. China Eastern Airlines had poor quality food and amenities eg very limited movies and entertainment.

Unfortunately the experience fell well below expectations. From the start, it felt like our group was treated as a lower priority, often jokingly referred to as being on the “Temu holidays bus.” A significant portion of the trip was spent waiting around rather than actually experiencing the destinations. A prime example was Tiananmen Square. If it was known that weekend wait times could exceed five hours, the itinerary should have been adjusted. We were told weekdays would only take around 20 minutes, yet we were still taken there on a busy day only to vote as a group not to proceed. That time could have been far better used, especially given the late arrival the night before. The visit to Beijing Zoo was also disappointing and quite distressing. The conditions of the animals were poor, and many in our group chose not to explore any further than the pandas. The Great Wall experience also lacked basic guidance. There was a museum on site, but the only way most of us discovered it was by chance when going to the toilet. No one from the tour advised that it even existed, which meant many people likely missed out entirely. Accommodation in Beijing was substandard, with visible mould in the bathroom basin and a toilet that was difficult to flush. There was no point communicating with reception due to the language barrier. A recurring frustration throughout the tour was what we came to call “optional mandatory tours.” If you chose not to participate, you were effectively left stranded with no guidance on what to do, often waiting hours for the group to return to a designated meeting point rather than your hotel. In Xi’an, the situation was even more frustrating, with the bus being pulled over so Maria could collect money and try to pressure people into joining the optional tours. The worst part of the experience was our tour leader in Xi’an, Maria. Her English was difficult to understand, and communication with the group was consistently poor. Even after opting out of certain activities, she continued to call out our numbers unnecessarily. At the Terracotta Warriors, I chose to explore independently and was glad I did, as I would have missed out had I stayed with the group. There was also a lack of basic care and consideration by Maria. Guests were made to stand in the rain unnecessarily when there was shelter available at the warriors. Those who opted out of group lunch were again left outside in poor conditions with no guidance on what to do. In one instance, a very unwell guest asked for help arranging a DiDi back to the hotel but was refused and told to return on the bus. The so called “night lights tour” in Xi’an was particularly disappointing. We were dropped in town for two hours in the rain being wet from the morning tour, with no real tour provided, before being taken to an empty restaurant and then driven back past the city wall with a brief comment that this was the “light tour.” It felt poorly organised and not worth the time. Logistics throughout the trip were frustrating, particularly when our group was split across three separate flights departing Xi’an. This led to unnecessary waiting both at departure and on arrival, which felt avoidable given that other groups were kept together on the same flights in which we were the smallest group arriving at the hotel close to midnight again. By the time we reached Shanghai, I had raised my concerns and asked about changing my return flight due to the ongoing issues. I was told it would be looked into, but no follow up ever occurred. Shanghai was a slight improvement, with the best tour guide of the trip and a decent hotel. However, even here we encountered issues, including a disruptive children’s soccer group making noise (screaming, pillow fights, blocking lifts, ringing rooms) late into the night which you could hear from the lobby to the 9th floor, with no effective response from hotel management despite multiple complaints. The final day added to the frustration. An optional market tour was presented, but in reality everyone was required to go as it was on the way to the airport. Those who opted out did not have to pay, while others did, which felt unfair given there was no real choice. We arrived at the airport around 6 pm for a midnight flight, leading to hours of unnecessary waiting. It also felt like flight arrangements varied unfairly depending on whether guests had paid for connections or not. On top of all this, the constant late night arrivals followed by early departures each day made the entire tour exhausting and difficult to enjoy, which mainly seemed to effect our group. Overall, the tour was poorly organised, lacked clear communication, and did not prioritise guest experience. Having been to China previously and had an incredible experience, I was especially disappointed, as I had hoped my husband would enjoy it just as much on his first visit. While China itself is an amazing destination, this tour did not do it justice. I would not recommend this particular TripADeal experience.

Guides were excellent (especially Sunny from Shanghai) Very well organised every step of the way. Only criticism is the time spent at Jade, Silk, Chinese Medicine factory visits. More time should be spent at the major attractions and less with the hard sell.

Accommodation was very good. The holiday was great.

The tour leader was exceptional - the best we have ever had. She went above and beyond every day and set the right mood in the group. Everyone followed and we had a ball!

Seabourn cruise was amazing. Crew were great. Good food. Zodiac tours fantastic. The hotels were lovely. The only negative part of our trip were KOI transfers. A large group of us after the cruise waited as per instructions at EZE airport for our transfer to Palladio hotel. None of the Drivers were there! We waited 40 minutes all confused. Also, the KOI transfer from Palladio hotel to EZE airport which was arranged by TripaDeal on 24 March 2026 were originally booked for a 4pm pickup for 19:40 flight. Latam changed the flight several weeks earlier to 19:04. It was not easy to have our pickup time changed to 15:00. In fact KOI told some passengers to contact TripaDeal direct! Unacceptable as a 4pm pick up would have arrived one hour late to international airport. Food quality on LaTam flights was poor quality. No Spirits was offered. Cold ham & cheese toasties! We were seated in row 19 on flight from Santiago to Sydney and food choices ran out at row 28. Coca Cola was room temp NO ice & served in a tiny cup. Not Qantas standard.

Trip a Deal’s Ultimate Vietnam is a great way to experience the variations of geography, life, history and culture between the North, Centre and south of Vietnam. While visiting known tourist destinations we were also taken to rural areas giving us a more intimate experience with the local people. E.g. rowing a boat with the feet and interacting with the Hmong women and children. Lee was an exceptional guide sharing his love of the North, his own family background and appreciation of the local people. When I fell and aggravated an injury he took me to a private hospital in Hanoi where I received exemplary care (x rays, ultrasounds, voucher for lunch, discount because I was a senior, with interpreters accompanying me and translating for doctors.) Relieved, I hadn’t done major damage I was able to complete the tour. Huy was a very special guide in Central Vietnam. His awareness of my imitations was really appreciated especially when walking through the grounds of the Imperial Palace and learning about the history of Vietnam. He shared images of his recent marriage (a flooded day which meant a change in venues) and introduced us to some of the coffees Vietnam specialises in. An experience I enjoyed was going to collect sone special tailoring on the back of his scooter. Very safe. In Saigon guide Ni ushered us through the Chu Chi Tunnels and a trip to the Mekong, again experiencing local village entertainment, food, farms, produce and customs. Like Lee and Hoy, Ni pointed out significant places to visit or eat making negotiating bustling commercial city like Saigon manageable for us. What was outstanding was the way each of the guides warmly related to we Aussie travellers, answered our questions and did more than was expected of them. Do your research and be prepared for Vietnam to speak to you. Joan and Carol

It was an amazing experience with our tour guide, Tom and outstanding bus driver Mr Hau. The sights and experiences were more than I expected. The mountains and scenic views were breathtaking. Only criticism - more time allocated for lunch, 1 hour - than for the sights. Felt rushed at times when all I wanted to do was spend more time soaking in the atmosphere of Vietnam.

We loved the main attractions, optional free day tours, breakfast buffets, especially at the ART Hotel in Narita, and accommodation locations, particularly the central location in Tokyo. Our tour guide was patient, courtesy and always helpful. He gave valuable insight into Japanese culture and useful tips on etiquette and on travelling in Japan. An extra day in Kyoto would have been great; to allow us to partake in a tea ceremony and visit the older tradional district. Kyoto has so much Japanese history to immerse the tourist in that you don't have time to experience it if you take up the optional tours. Another improvement for when arriving late to new accommodation is assistance with the evening meal. Whether it is a list of recommended eateries nearby or an evening meal voucher to a eatery within motel or nearby. Best parts of the tour included the temples. Each one was unique, with the golden temple (Kinkaku-ji Buddhist temple) a standout. Also, the cherry blossoms at Ueno Park were spectacular, which only happened thanks to our flexible tour leader who worked overtime for us to capture a glimpse of them in bloom before leaving Japan. And of course one could not forget the viewing of Mt Fuji for the first time which was memorable. An incredible view and a simply majestic mountain presence. Arigato gazaimasu!

Overall I thought the trip was amazing and there wasn't much to fault really. Our guide Cindy, from Lion Travel, was excellent. She ensured that the whole trip ran smoothly and that there were always options for those more or less able. She also provided a wealth of information about Taiwan, it's history, culture and food. I particularly enjoyed going to all the natural wonders of Taiwan that we visited -Taroko Gorge, Alashan National Forest and Sun Moon Lake. One thing I didn't particularly enjoy was the Hinoki village in Chiayi as it seemed a waste of time. We went there the afternoon we arrived from Kaohsiung and I'd have much preferred to spend longer in Kaohsiung and visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastery after/before going to the Dragon and Tiger pagodas and before travelling to Chiayi. The choice of hotels was good and even when there were not many nearby options for food, Cindy ensured that we were aware of what was available. The days were long, but not too long. We were usually at our hotel by around 6 to 6:30pm, which was much better than the very late arrivals on the 2 for 1 Warriors tour I did with Trip a Deal in China last year. I particularly liked the location of the hotel in Taipei (The Holiday Inn Express). It was close to a night market, close to Dihua Street and close to an MRT station. It also had ATMs right next door! The rooms with no windows were quirky and having a hotel that was so convenient to everything for our 4 nights in Taipei, and for our free day at the end, was excellent.

Loved the wildlife we encountered during the tour especially the boat tours at Sukau. Our guide Clay was extremely knowledgeable not only about the wildlife but also where most likely to be found. I also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the Sandakan death march and especially to meet Mr Charuruka AM, OBE at the memorial in Kundasang.

Too long to get to Tokyo hours in between Shanghai & Japan far too much in between - Food on China plane not very good could be done more simpler - the tourist guide from Monday morning to end was superb & bus driver exceptional- the tour was great would have preferred less walking but buses could not get in closer for the more elderly - Mt Fuji & temples gardens & the deer great overall lots to see a good idea of Japan people extremely polite

Overall a great trip with a knowledgable and caring guide but spoilt by an unnecessary change of internal flight itinerary which caused us to lose a day waiting at airports. Instead of flying directly to Bohol we took 2 flights going via Manilla with a lengthy delay between flights. Highlight was The Coast Resort in Boracay with their wonderful staff and beachside location.

Weather was fantastic, only half a day of rain, therefore Mt Fuji shone and was definately my highlight. Elsie and our bus driver were fantastic, couldn't have asked for a better guide and driver. Only suggestion would be to have some sort of gathering at the beginning to meet everyone and at the end to say farewell. Definately recommending Trip a deal.

Lots of great sites and interesting places. The guides were great - always patient, friendly and very knowledgeable. Highlights were the Summer palace and Terracotta Warriors, and the Great Wall! I was more interested in sites, history and culture - I would have liked more time on these things and less at shopping destinations.

As this was the first Trip A Deal holiday I was very surprised as how good it was. Accommodation was good apart from the last two nights in Tokyo at Hotel Villa Fontaine the rooms were so small had no room at all for suitcases let alone open them so perhaps a different hotel should be investigated by your Company. I have added a photo of our twin room just so you can see how tight the room was. Tour Director Mr Miyaki went over and above to help everyone and especially us. I'm really looking forward to my next trip to Croatia & Slovenia in May with Trip A Deal.

Learning about Japanese history and culture from a wonderful tour guide.

The holiday overall was incredible and we had an amazing time. There are a few things that could be improved, for example - alot of time was wasted going to places to get us to buy stuff, like the jade factory, silk factory, lab diamonds and tea gardens. We were all getting very sick of having stuff pushed on us to buy things. I would have rather spent this time seeing sites. We barely got to walk around at the tea gardens, and would have loved to walk through the hedges and take pictures of them and the workers picking the leaves. On another day, people who were not doing the optional boat ride, got dropped off the bus 10 minutes before in the middle of no where. They could have and should have been dropped off where the boat started and finished, as it was a beautiful spot that they could have explored. That was pretty bad and everyone was pretty upset about it. Almost like, if you don't do the optional tour you will be punished for it. Also, the optional tip is not optional. You are made to pay for it, and its not AU$12 a day as they wont accept coins. A tip is always optional in every country, and should be given at the customers discretion, and as to how much they want to give. We were even made to tip for some days where we didn't do the optional tours and did our own thing. My recommendation would be to change the wording for this and instead of calling it a tip, call it something else, like a mandatory guide fee or something like that. Lastly I think you need at least 3 nights in Shanghai, as there is so much to see and do. And the 2 single nights in hotels prior to Shanghai were a bit brutal, it would have been better to change this if at all possible. However, apart from these things I did have the most amazing wonderful time!!! The sites we did see were incredible, the guides were very helpful with great English and looked after all of us extremely well. We always felt safe and looked after. We had a lovely group of people as well which made it even better. This definitely wont be my last Trip a deal tour, I will be booking again! I had wonderful help from the team before I left on the trip a well, as we had to do a last minute name change so I am extremely grateful for the teams help.

We thoroughly enjoyed each one of our optional excursions but some places would like more time to look around. Everything was well organised and we weren't left waiting around.

A good overview of Japan. Loved Hiroshima and Mount Fuji. Tour leader was great. Hotels were very clean but also very small rooms. One hotel could not provide enough twin rooms to accommodate our booking however I would have thought this would have been pre-booked. Not enough time to spend at sites visited due to long bus trips. Always very late to hotels each day so no real free time to explore in the evening. Too many shrines visited. More variety would be nice.

The trip and group were fantastic. Well organised and ran smoothly. Highlights were the guides, especially Kim and Tiny. Accommodation was fine, although both Muong Thanh properties were not 4 star and need to be reviewed if you intend to keep them on your list.

the star system does not really reflect rating. it was on the whole a great holiday. Was not sure to expect as you read the itinerary and then there is the reality of the actual travel event. Accommodation very good. Comfortable, good service and great selection for meals provided. Southern China airways in comparison with Air NZ provide a far better service. Trip guides really knowledgeable, great command of English/history and local customs. I know this is probably hard to rectify, because this is Vietnam. The time spent travelling on buses. There is a large screen at the front of the bus. Discussing with other members of the trip we thought you could put an informative video on? movie? language tutorial? Vietnam history video???. We did understand going by train is really not an option. That was one grumble point amongst many members of the trip Many of us who went to Ba Na Hills. Impressive in terms of the "engineering to erect this complex', but the crowds left you feeling suffocated and it was so "touristy'. Would have preferred to stay back in Hoi An enjoying the beach. Only other suggestion that annoyed many persons on the trip is the tipping. We did not enjoy this and thought it should become part of the trip costs. You always had to account for extra money in terms of exchanging for this. It is not the way in NZ, and I am not sure if this is normal practice in Australia. We were quite pestered by the canal boat rowers at Mekong Delta to give them tips to the point of becoming " very annoying". We were all crowded into boats, trying to get off and on canoes/'dugouts and the rowers really pestering us for tips. This could have been avoided by maybe the guide paying them beforehand. Very unpleasant. Apart from this great trip, well priced Thankyou so much Helen bryant

Guide and driver both provided exceptional service. Accommodation standard much higher than anticipated for the cost of the holiday. Great service from hotel staff too. Beautiful scenery, good balance of activity and rest time. Loved it!

The tour director and driver were excellent. Gave us great information and suggestions on what to do. The maiko dinner was my biggest highlight. My biggest complaint would be that as a solo traveller who paid extra for the single supplement I didn't receive the same quality of room as my fellow travellers especially on the overnight ferry or the much lower floor on the last night in yokohama. Also the fact that there was no other single travellers some of my supplement should be refunded as a single room would have been provided anyway.

The itinerary was great we saw so much in such a short time. Well organised. Stayed in great locations. Had free time as well as tours. Favourite part was seeing snow for the first time i didnt expect to even see it. Great price to.

Well organised, very affordable, great guide