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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The trip exceeded our expectations.
The trip exceeded our expectations. In particular, the subjects selected for our program were interesting and not the usual tourist fare. Our leader was a real profe...
A wonderful Experience!
My wife and I had a marvelous time. Our whole itinerary was packed with so many wonderful experiences and activities. Our tour guide Hiroshi Sato-san was very knowle...
Amazing trip with experienced guide
I observed the well organized Japanese society. Everything is clean. Public transportation is awesome. Gardeners are professional and dedicated. Meals are meticulous...
This trip was made by Katy
This trip was made by Katy, our guide. She was friendly, kind, knowledgeable, organized, and funny. Katy went beyond the call of duty to offer us additional opportun...
It was a very busy trip.
It was a very busy trip. Lots of great things to see and do. I enjoyed learning about their culture and history by visiting with people from Japan to explain it from...
Small Group Reviews
Japan’s Cultural Treasures
Our tour guide was very personable and being a native of Japan was very knowledgeable about his beautiful country. We were exposed to different cultures, city and c...
I throughly enjoyed the trip.
I throughly enjoyed the trip. The scenery and gardens were beautiful and we learned a great deal about the Japanese culture. Our hands on experiences were unique to ...
Totally exceeded my expectations
Totally exceeded my expectations The people so gracious,everywhere so clean , no litter/ graffiti Loved the small group & being able to use the various forms o...
Japan Enhanced‼️
Japan Enhanced‼️ Cultural Treasures was just that: one cultural learning and discovery after another. We met with so many locals and shared their activities and thei...
Most everything was wonderful on the trip
Most everything was wonderful on the trip. Hotel rooms were larger than I ex...
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Small Group Reviews
Great adventure
We had a very enjoyable trip. The guide was wonderful and knowledgeable, the program was well organized and balanced, and the accommodations were comfortable. Great ...
A great itinerary for a first visit to China
A great itinerary for a first visit to China. Hotels were average. Communication challenging unless you can manage some Mandarin. Food great. Very clean. Remember to...
The trip through China was fantastic
The trip through China was fantastic, a full on trip with lots of diversity and experiences. It is busy, so be prepared for early starts to ensure you get the most o...
Infrastructure is overwhelming!
A quick paced tour that covers a lot of ground so a good level of fitness is required. We saw some amazing sights such as the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, live s...
Absolutely excellent.
An excellent trip in every way. Fascinating, good value for money, well planned, with varied activities both included and optional. Travelling mostly by train meant ...
Small Group Reviews
I loved the tour
I loved the tour, the places we visited also the accommodations.
I loved seeing new places and amazing views
I loved seeing new places and amazing views . I loved the hike...
A really great trip
A really great trip with an excellent leader and driver.
Great guides
Great guides, route and overall tour. Just a couple of things arou...
Really enthusiastic
Great transport ad the guides were great. Really enthusiastic.
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.
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