4.7/5 Excellent
Excellent
13,590
Great
3,623
Average
354
Disappointing
69
Terrible
43
Small Group Tour & Trip Reviews
Small Group Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
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Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised
Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised and free time. Great travelling by train
The format of the trip enabled two
The format of the trip enabled two significant factors to coincide to make the entire experience overwhelmingly positive. 1. Our trip guide - Yuri Awanohara, made th...
Great introduction to the country. Variety of
Great introduction to the country. Variety of activities and all well planned by guide Yuri
well organised we appreciated not going to the
well organised we appreciated not going to the expensive, flashy and touristy restaurants, which gave us a good varied eating experience good mix of organised and ...
Avoid Exoticca
Having travelled with Exoticca (first 2 weeks of February 2023) and now having spent 2 fruitless weeks pursuing a formal complaint, I strongly advise avoiding this c...
Small Group Reviews
Ignores Safety, Issues False Claims, Steals from customers
DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY. Ignores Level 4 DO NOT TRAVEL alerts issued by the US government and puts traveler safety last sending people to a place where the US...
T
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
Excellent trip with a first rate guide and good drivers. Explore organization was very good. We covered a lot of history. Accommodation was fair, but second hotel ha...
J
Jenepher
May 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
I have already reviewed this trip - it was excellent and extremely well done
B
Border Reiver
May 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
This was my eleventh trip with Explore, so you can tell that I enjoy their tours and I pretty much knew what to expect. My problem now, is that I can't but help com...
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsPrivate Guided
4.7/5 Excellent
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5/5 Excellent
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2/5 Disappointing
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviewsSmall Group Tour
Small Group Reviews
T
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
Very poorly managed trip, it felt as if no one could be bothered guides turning up late, never knowing who the guide was going to be the next day! orone occasion, a ...
S
Suzanne
May 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
The start of the trip was going to plan, however, the guides although knowledgeable, were just not interested. Onto Malta from Gozo, there was no communication whats...
T
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
Patricia was great - good sense of humour, very knowledgeable, always ready to help.
P
Peter
Apr 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
The island of Malta may be small but it certainly packs a big punch in historical terms. This is a very comprehensive tour , my tour highlights were the 5,000 year o...
Small Group Reviews
C
Catherine
Apr 2024
Written on
Malta and Gozo Discovery
Our tour leader Chantelle was so passionate and knowledgeable about her country. For small islands there is so much history and places to visit. Leaves you wanting m...
Editor’s Take
What to Look for in Small Group Tour Reviews
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.
Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
Most favorably reviewed small group tour operators have a few key things in common: attention to detail, a truly small group size, engaged local guides and a flexible attitude. Travelers who have been happy with their small group tour experience speak of how well organized and seamless their travels were, how much they were able to see and how they never felt rushed or like just another face in the crowd.
The most indelible memories were those from off-the-beaten-path experiences: accessing a museum after hours, sharing a meal with a local family, going behind the scenes at a centuries-old vineyard with one of the founder’s ancestors. Look for these special moments as you read reviews to get a better understanding of what might be possible on your own trip.
Those casting a negative review of their small group tour likely didn’t pay as close attention to their tour company’s personality. Some focus on younger travelers, some older, some on families - it’s important to do your research and limit your choices to those that not only offer trips where you want to go, but do so with travelers of similar age and interest to yourself.
Others may have been prompted to review their trip negatively if they were expecting a departure that never happened because of low numbers. Guaranteed (or not) departures is a key factor to consider - ask about this up front and what the tour operator’s policy is.
If you want a professional take on small-group tours, see the Travelstride Small Group Tour Guide »
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