“I have just got back from Sri Lanka. I booked a group holiday to be safe and secure. When I arrived at Colombo airport I found I was the only one in the group. Solo traveller literally meant solo traveller. I had asked Exoticca three time how many in the group and each time they said they didn't have the information. Had I known I would have changed the date. I had to eat alone in the evening and it made what should have been a great experience an ordeal. So far they have offered me a credit. To add to that my driver/guide had a heart attack and passed away half way up Sigiriya Rock. I was not offered a flight home or asked if I wanted to continue on the trip. I was very upset and hardly slept for 3 nights.”
Hello Ros,
We apologize on behalf of everyone at Exoticca. Please know that your situation was an exception. As you can see on other reviews, we are known for taking ownership and caring deeply about our customers. We can’t fix the past but you have our personal commitment to improve our service. We are very sorry to hear about the events during your time in Sri Lanka.
We can see that you are already in communication with a dedicated member of our team, who is assisting you with your feedback. We hope to come to a suitable solution for you soon.
Regards,
Exoticca
“Too much wasted time commuting, arguing and waiting…
This was a disastrous trip with them to Greece and Turkey. They subcontract all their tours who babuzzle travellers into buying extra 3x’s more expensive extra excursions otherwise you get left without transportation back to the hotels (which most are quite far away from the centre of action ie. Istanbul). The reps are inexperienced and for the most part unreachable. They were subcontractors who again combined 3 groups together 65 people on the first day - terrible sooo much wasted time we almost missed our transfer flight to Greece as there was no confirmation or pick up time sent to us! The hotels were substandard in I Stan up La Quinta had to request multiple times cleaners and amenities - see hotel review! Long drives in Turkey to each and every location for short times at highlights, no chance to go back and always waiting in lines or for other people! Free time limited and rest time minimal except in the buses or ferries - but due to extremely large groups and extended travels times due to distances from things (hotel Into the city and between cities) leaving times were FAR TOO EARLY! In Santorini got put in a dungeon room in the basement with no natural Light and wasn’t even hotel from original booking which we did manage to get changed to - El Greco way better than deadalus - 6 pools vs 1, weight room vs. None, unobstructed view vs. View of pharmacy in dangerous corner of street, open air restaurant va. Basement restaurant respectively! Also deadalus had awful staff rock hard beds pillows and headboards and at 5.1ft my feet were hanging over the bed (see hotel Review)! Tour company in Greece also put several groups together including air Canada vacations to maximize profits. Hotel in Athens great location but very sketchy area to the point that the concierge came running out to tell us to stick to the main road - also old outdated with small elevators and dangerous stairs - I was called to help a lady who fell down them and sprain her ankle as I am a healthcare professional, I almost fell down them myself! It should be noted I have complained twice since the trip and in multiple emails and what’s app conversations with no reply from Exoticca - once you pay they don’t care! I have been given credits but cannot use them unless I book with them again - highly unlikely!”
Hi Dan,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the trip did not meet your expectations.
We would like to know more about your trip to check if we can do anything else for you. We sent you a DM requesting your booking ID.
Once that we have, we will contact you regarding this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Exoticca
“We have been dispute with exottica and Amex on a cancellation of a trip which we soon initiated day after booking to go to Equador. Obviously there was uproar in the country next day where it was advised not to travel. To date exottica are adding they have refunded our money, however they cannot prove it. We have been left with a large sum of money to pay Amex who will not accept crediting unless exottica provides some form of credit note from the merchant. This has been ongoing for 10months and over 100emails/ phone calls between the two to resolve. Still have no responses.”
Hi Rick,
Thank you for your review.
Please update your review to include your booking number as, under the email address from which we received your review, it did not match any bookings in our system.
We would love the opportunity to check the status of your open requests with us and see how we can expedite them for you.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Exoticca
“Very disappointed with Exoticca. I had a lovely trip to Egypt and decided to go on a trip to Guatemala. Had a terrible time with your on the ground travel partner. I got significantly ill and no one seemed to care. Not from Exoticca and not from Maya Sky. No one followed up once I returned home either. You'd think that a woman traveling on her own would receive follow up after getting very ill from the food at the hotel your travel partner booked. But nothing. My conversation with your customer service was long and tedious but I followed up. I was offered a $100 credit on another trip. That's it. I plan to contact ASTA and USA based government agencies that police things like this. Exoticca deflected any responsibility in the final email I was sent. What an incredible joke. I've asked to be put in contact with the grievance redress officer. Very disappointed. I planned to go to Egypt again but I will book directly with Planet Tours in Egypt.”
Hello Lisa,
We are truly sorry to hear about your experience in Guatemala.
We have carefully reviewed the issues you raised, including the challenges on the bus journey and your concerns with the hotel. We are addressing these with our local partners to improve service and support for our travelers.
An expert is already handling your case and is in direct communication with you. For any further questions, please continue to respond to the same thread.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Regards,
Exoticca
“the website is terrible. dates of trip didnt match with flights. I called and operator didnt know the city - halifax, i was leaving from and was no help.
Couldnt book optional activities and cant tell if I need early check in and the one i talked to knew even less.”
Hello Truis,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We are sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with the services provided.
We understand your request to add excursions to your upcoming trip. However, our terms and conditions, which are highlighted at the time of booking, require that excursion requests be made at least 30 days before the departure date.
As your departure is now less than 30 days away, we regret that we cannot accommodate your request. That said, we recommend reaching out to our team at your destination, as many of our travelers are often able to book excursions upon arrival, subject to availability.
Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you an amazing trip ahead!
Regards,
Exoticca
“I have had a most positive experience booking with Florence. She is extremely courteous and helpful. I would hope she will be my agent on my next journey...China? We'll see.”
“Awful/non-existent customer service
Little/no suport when on a trip.
Hit & miss whether the local guide is any good....we went to India and ended up telling the guide about his own country!”
Hi Nigel,
We are sorry to know that your trip to India did not meet your expectations.
Following the call with one of our agents, we have carried out an investigation to understand what happened and to be able to find solutions. Please check your inbox to have all the details about the outcome.
If you need anything else, please let us know.
Regards,
Exoticca
“Be careful of this company's advertisement, they said that they would give me $3000 as a result of my next booking.
While booking new trip, I asked them to use $500 reward I have received from my Greece trip. Agent told me that we will give you 10% discount which is $1290 so pick one. I ended up choosing 10% discount and let $500 expired.
month later, I was given on $1710 reward money instead of $3000. After so many calls, holding on phone, explaining different customer service agents all over again, opening service tickets, still they are saying that we substract $1290 discount form your $3000 reward. How can you take money from something was going to show up as a result of booking?????
I stop promoting this company until I see what are they gong to do with my opent case.
I was stupide to book trip six months in advance to get $3000 reward which is still being offered.
Be careful, be careful, be careful!!
So many better companies out there.”
Hello,
Thank you for your review and we are sorry to hear that you have experienced issues with your booking. We can see that you made a booking during our Mad Money promotion, which after making a booking entitles customers to a $3k reward to be used at 10% of future bookings for the next 3 years.
We can see you also had a $500 booking reward in your account. On your initial booking, your agent has applied 10% discount from your £3k instead of the $500 as it is a higher value.
We apologize if there has been some miscommunication and if you would have preferred to use only the $500.
Your case is already open with our team who are investigating your booking call to determine the issue and as soon as we have more information we will contact you.
We thank you for your patience while we work towards a solution.
Regards,
Exoticca
“Be very careful with this company, they are saying they are giving £3000 credit, but in fact that is not correct.
I rang up and asked for an agent to explain how I could use this credit, if I bought a trip and received the credit, he said I would be able to use it against future trips from exotica.
So I bought a trip to Turkey for £999, when I received the credit online I was then and only then informed I would get 1000 per year and could use it to recieve a 10% discount on future trips, which is not how it is shown online.
The customer service is really difficult to get in touch with and even they had to look up the terms and conditions as they were unaware of these. In my eyes it is misinformation and I correct advertising.
So I would never ever again book with this company.”
Hello Qamar,
Thank you for your review, and we apologize for any issues you have experienced while completing your booking.
Our support team has been in contact with you regarding this matter and has explained the terms and conditions of the promotion. Kindly note that this information is visible in our website and our Terms & Conditions.
We have received your payment dispute and our team is in contact with you for a resolution. Please direct any further communication through the same thread we have been using.
Thank you for your understanding.
Regards,
Exoticca
“I recently had the unfortunate experience of booking a trip to Greece through Exoticca Travel, and I can’t stress enough how disappointing and frustrating it was. Exoticca markets itself as a convenient travel agency, but in reality, they seem to function more like a middleman, selling your booking to local travel agencies and leaving you at their mercy.
While the tours we participated in were indeed fantastic, allowing us to see historic sites in Greece, the accommodation arrangements were nothing short of disastrous. Imagine staying in hotel rooms straight out of a 1960s horror movie, with no viable way to rectify the situation unless you wanted to scramble for alternative accommodations and transportation on your own – precisely the problem you are trying to avoid by using a travel agency.
The most egregious issue occurred in Mykonos. Our final destination was supposed to be a hotel right on the beach, a highlight of our trip. We were looking forward to this as the grand finale of our Greek adventure. However, upon arrival, we discovered that Exoticca had moved us to a hotel two miles inland, completely removing us from the beachside experience we had been promised. This not only ruined the whole point of our stay but also forced us to spend over $100 to get to the beach on our own.
When we contacted Exoticca to address the issue, their response was disheartening. They informed us that it was within their contractual rights to move us to another hotel as long as it was considered a “like hotel.” Despite this being part of their policy, they failed to acknowledge that moving us inland fundamentally altered the experience we had been promised. Their offered compensation was a $100 rebooking credit for future travel with Exoticca, which is laughable considering the circumstances.
To make matters worse, it became apparent that by moving us to the inland hotel, the travel agencies involved saved $2,800. This substantial savings was obviously at our expense, making it clear that this was not an oversight but a deliberate cost-cutting measure at the cost of our vacation experience.
Despite our attempts to argue that Exoticca had broken their end of the bargain by not providing us with a comparable hotel, we were met with dismissive responses. It was clear that once they had your money, they had no real incentive to ensure your satisfaction.
The whole purpose of visiting Mykonos is to enjoy its famous beaches, and Exoticca’s failure to deliver on this crucial aspect of our trip left us feeling completely let down. It was a disappointing end to what could have been a memorable vacation.
In conclusion, if you value your travel experiences and want to ensure your trip goes as planned, I strongly advise you to avoid Exoticca Travel. Their business model might seem appealing at first, but their lack of accountability and disregard for customer satisfaction will leave you regretting your choice. Save yourself the trouble and book directly with reliable travel services or agencies.”
Hi Nicolette,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We are sorry to know that your trip did not live up to your expectations and that you are not satisfied with the services provided by Exoticca.
We would like to carry out an investigation to be able to provide you with a suitable response, so we would need your booking number.
Please, share your booking details so we can take a look at it.
Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Exoticca
“I have bought a tour to Turkey for 11 days for August 2024 . I paid in full for 3 people £2997. On 5 th July I asked to add carry on luggage for round trip . I paid an additional £98 . Then in the next few days when I ask for fly credentials they say you have only paid for one way , you need to pay another £96 for 20 kg checked in luggage . . I said I paid for round trip . Then I booked two packages not included in original itinerary . They cancelled my trip on 17 th July saying I have not paid my full amount . I said I paid for the trip , if you neeed to cancel you could cancel the additional package . I doubt if this company is not a scam company . They have my £3090 with out trying to talk to me inspite of me calling them on 18 th July . They are cheating people and where one department does not talk to the other .”
Hi Munmun,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We have been checking our records and it seems that your booking was cancelled by mistake. Please allow us to apologize and please be assured that we have taken the necessary measures to ensure that this situation does not happen again.
We can see that, to solve this problem, a new booking was made and you were able to attend to your trip on 20th August as expected.
We have also tried to call you but, unfortunately, we could not reach you. Please check your inbox so you can confirm that the trip went ahead correctly.
Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Exoticca
Posted 10 months ago
Hi Munmun,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We have been checking our records and it seems that your booking was cancelled by mistake. Please allow us to apologize and please be assured that we have taken the necessary measures to ensure that this situation does not happen again.
After being in contact with you, we wanted to thank you for confirming that, finally, we were able to find a solution and that finally you could travel. We would also like to thank you as you expressed that you enjoyed the trip to Turkey, and we are glad to hear that.
If we can assist you with anything else, don't hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
Exoticca
“This company are not scammers.
Some people may have had issues but complaining about having to take your luggage down yourself is a bit much!
I have done five trips with them... Brazil & Argentina, Costa Rica, Cambodia & Vietnam, Namibia and just a couple of weeks ago to Japan.
I have found them helpful, especially when the friend I was supposed to go to Costa Rica with pulled out, and great value. The trip to Japan was great. It was self guided with passes and tickets given on arrival and included tours too
If you expect to be taken everywhere by coach and have a tour guide with you all the time then book with another company. Read the itinerary and what is included properly and make your decision.
I wouldn't have used them for so many trips if they weren't good.
We had the same guide all the way through in Namibia because there is no other way than road to get around and the roads are rough! Some amazing hotels included and our guide was great.
In my opinion Exoticca is a company that offers great value for money.
It is most certainly not a scam.”
Hi,
We appreciate your feedback and are delighted to know you enjoyed our curated experiences. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to serving you again soon.
Regards,
Exoticca
“I recently booked a trip through Exoticca, and overall, it was a great experience. The itinerary was well-organized, covering both major attractions and some lesser-known spots that were real highlights. The customer service was responsive and helpful, which made the planning process a lot smoother. The accommodations exceeded my expectations, and the local guides were knowledgeable and friendly. There were a few minor hiccups, but nothing that seriously impacted the trip. I would recommend Exoticca for a well-planned, enjoyable vacation.”
Hi
We are honored by your wonderful review. Your satisfaction is our ultimate goal, and we are thrilled that we hit the mark for you. We can’t wait to serve you again soon!
Regards,
Exoticca
“I have found Exoticca extremely helpful, especially the help I neede recently to change my upcoming trip. Reginald and Carly were brilliant, they did exactly what I neede and were helpful, proffesional and overall great at their jobs, you are STARS, thankyou, Wendy.”
Hi Wendy,
We are so grateful for your kind words and 5-star rating! Our team works hard to ensure every customer has a memorable experience. If there’s anything else we can do to make your next holiday even better, please let us know.
Regards,
Exoticca
“Everything including transportation, time that was indicated on schedule with tours, and hotel reservations were exactly what they have stated in the itinerary. No mishaps. All was excellent except the tour guide. She did what was expected no more and no less. She could have made it so it would have been little more lively and fun instead of just reading off the script. Also giving some extra information as what we could do with few hours of time for the people who arrive too early (due to the flight)or leaving little late on the last day would been nice. I had to google it to find out about the yellow and red tram system and sharing that information would have been extremely helpful. But overall Exotica delivered what was promised. I’m taking Costa Rica vacation coming December and looking forward to it.”
Hi Kim,
Your feedback made our day!
We are ecstatic to hear that you had a great time on your trip with Exoticca. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another fantastic experience.
If you need anything else, just let us know.
Regards,
Exoticca
“DON’T USE!!!
Exoticca, in two different reply’s online, that anyone can view, said they will get in touch with me. I received not one call.
I’ve used Exotica twice. Italy was my worse experience ever. You had to pay to go to every hotel by taxi yourself and find every place on your own. No transfers to hotels or airports. Guides don’t show up. Exoticca was called by everyone waiting for the guide at the Colleseum to show up. My phone bill was so high from calling. They told us he was there. They told us to look at two different place to find them. We had around 15 people that we didn’t know, calling and looking everywhere that we did. Exoticca told me he did not show up. We paid again so we can see the Coliseum, because we wouldn’t be back. They would not refund that excursion either.
Just went to Switzerland. My husband had a detached retina. We did not have travel insurance. We booked an excursion with Exoticca to take on the seventh day for almost $400. My guide told me that Exotica canceled my flight for my husband and my excursion. Exotica called me a liar saying that he can’t possibly know that. They got the money back, and will give me zero in return. This is an awful, awful company. Please go with Gate one or smarttours. I travel the world. I’ve used many companies that I book myself, through their company. I’ve never had such irresponsible business owners as this one. They lost me who booked four trips with them. I’m warning you. They also make u take your luggage into the hotel and into your room yourself and when you’re leaving do the same thing bring your luggage to the lobby and then outside yourself. We went to seven different hotels and had to do this each day. Everyone said that their backs were hurting badly by the end of the trip. I don’t want to say “I told you so”. I’m not a disgruntled client, I just want my money back for an excursion that wasn’t used, and I was told it was canceled and call or text Exoticca to get my money back.
EXOTICCA said it never canceled my husbands flight or his excursion. The airplane trip from Lisbon to Newark had someone sitting next to me. This proved they did cancel my husband’s flight and lied to me. They are good at lying.”
Hi Serri,
Many thanks for sharing your feedback.
Please allow us to apologize for the inconveniences you encountered during your trip.
According to our records, we can see that one of our agents called you last May regarding this matter. An investigation was carried out and the outcome was shared with you via email on June 4th.
If you still have any questions, doubts or additional comments regarding this case, please reply to the last email of the thread sent on July 10th.
If you need anything else, do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
Exoticca
“Taxim square, mayday.
In the problems, you shine. Or not.
Our lovely guide told you that taxim square would kick off, 4 days out, but you ignored his advice. We walked 40 minutes through teargas and god knows what, tugging our suitcases. As soon as there was an issue, you were nowhere in sight. Exoticca, never again!”
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Please allow us to apologize for any inconvenience that you encountered during your trip. At Exoticca we strive for customer satisfaction, and we are sorry to hear that this is not the case.
We would like to study your case so please, share your booking number so we can start an investigation.
Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Exoticca
“I gave them a trip deposit over $1500, and long after confirming my reservations, they canceled everything and refused to refund a penny, even though they provided absolutely nothing in return for my deposit.”
“I would have liked to have given no stars, without a doubt the worst company I have travelled with. After I had paid for the trip I struggled to make contact with the company and when things went wrong when travelling the “help desk” was as much use as a chocolate teapot!!!”
