smarTours Reviews

Name: smarTours
Address: 500 7TH AVE, 8TH FL, NEW YORK, New York
Rating: 4.41

4.4 Rating 1,665 Reviews

86 %

of reviewers recommend smarTours

4.4

Based on 1,665 reviews

Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour
Customer Service	3.8 out of 5

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Phone:

800-337-7773

Email:

info@smartours.com

Location:

500 7TH AVE, 8TH FL,
NEW YORK
New York
10018

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smarTours 1 star review on 27th May 2025

Dominion

smarTours 5 star review on 14th December 2024

Diana Potts

smarTours 5 star review on 20th November 2024

Michael And

smarTours 5 star review on 12th October 2024

Michael And Bedelia Sachelari

766

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Sort by: Most Recent Most Recent Highest Rated Filter: None None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“While quite happy with the river cruise, your employees gave us a lot of wrong information before our trip. They need to be better informed. Two biggest complaints: Ship was about 2/3 NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING (which meant we could not comingle AND food selection poor.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“excellent”

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Posted 6 years ago

“We have taken a number of SmarTours packages in the past and have always had a good experience. That was not the case on our recent Australia/New Zealand tour. The major problems are listed below: - Generally there was too much free time allocated with only expensive optional tours to fill in the time. Not enough activities/excursions were included in the basic package - Even when optional excursions were purchased it was often the responsibility of the tour group participants to find there own way to the starting point. - There were only two meals included not counting the Farm Stay meal. - The Farm Stay, which was supposed to be the highlight of the tour, was very disappointing. Our hosts, while very hospitable, did not actually have a farm. It was a very modern, contemporary style house which was nice but there was no farm experience. In addition we were paired with a couple who did not want lamb, or fish so we ended up with the lowest common denominator - what appeared to be a chicken from a "big box" store. We had been hoping for a traditional New Zealand dinner such as lamb. - The tour guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic but, being younger, he might not have been the best match for the age and interests of the older tour participants.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“SmarTours allowed me to experience the trip of a lifetime! I was travelling alone, so it was extremely important that the details of the tour be planned out for me. EVERYTHING from the payments to what to bring and the itinerary was very thorough. Even when I called the offices on a couple of occasions, the representatives were courteous and helpful. Our tour director, Liat Bussiba was fantastic! Not only was she extremely knowledgeable, her enthusiasm and excitement made the trip fun. The actual tour was more than I could have imagined. I can't stop talking about it. I would definitely use and recommend SmarTours to anyone who is planning an overseas trip.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Excellent introductory tour of China with many key points of interest. Sights were fascinating and logistics were well planned. Tour Director Harry Soon was fabulous!! He was informative, paid attention to detail, had concern for all and was pleasant at all times. A real gem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the tour or Harry. To improve the tour, I would make two suggestions: 1. Every stop was in a large city. We would have liked to see some smaller villages, agricultural areas and more country side. Not seeing the countryside & rural areas was definitely a deficiency for us. In 16 days we didn't even get to see a rice paddy -except from a speeding bullet train near the end of the tour. 2. Once we got to Hong Kong the tour fizzled out. Even with 3 nights and 2-1/2 days in Hong Kong, there was only one half day local tour was that didn't have enough time. Virtually nothing was provided in the way of things to do, activities, meals or get-togethers. I think the assumption was that everyone just wanted to go shopping. Unfortunately shopping is not the goal for many of us - we want to see and experience the area. Everyone was on their own, the local guide was almost non-existent (the half day tour and transfers were the only times he was seen). Our group got along extremely well and I think we all would have appreciated at least a cocktail party or farewell dinner.”

smarTours 5 star review on 25th October 2018

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Posted 6 years ago

“All the trips we have done with Smartours were enjoyed. We were happy with our hotels, tours, guides & river cruises. We have recommended your company to our friends.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Beautiful tour compromising a variety of destinations. Lots of interesting history, beautiful sites, some easy hiking, city strolls, bus tours and nice hotels. Our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge...and he never used notes!! Impressive!”

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Posted 6 years ago

“We had a great time. The hotels were nice, except for one, we thought was a little run down. Our tour guide, Elvis, was exceptional. He was caring, very thorough in his explanation of sites and history, and had a great sense of humor. Our bus driver, Milan, was courteous and friendly and a great driver. Each city or town that we visited had it’s own guide. They were all very interesting & knowledgeable. What we liked about this tour is that you did get some time to explore on your own. We will definitely travel with Smartours again.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“We enjoyed ourselves immensely; the guides were very good; especially Paul who was very attentive to our needs, My husband got a cold and he spoke to the Hotel Restaurant on our behalf so we could get some homemade chicken soup for supper. The Hotels were well chosen; each different and several were very reflective of the environment and culture ( Finch Bay Lodge in Galapagos & Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca in Yacay, Peru. Our Co-travellers were wonderful to be with and we had loads of fun together. It was great that everything was covered from entrance fees and all tours, (no optional tours to pay for) and still time to explore the cities on our own time and find interesting cafes and restaurants. We were able to go snorkelling in Galapagos, as well as see the land/sea animals and exotic birds and fish. Manchu Picchu was beautiful, and thrilling. we got to spend loads of time going on several walks on the site and in the surrounding mountains. Wonderful memories!”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I recently returned from A Taste of Spain. I was disappointed in several areas. The first night and I think the 4th night Smartours provided the dinners. Both of those nights it was "fish" that was served. Not chicken, not dairy or anything other than fish. How can that be the only one dish served? There were 12 of us out of 40 that would not eat fish. I offered to buy my dinner from the hotel restaurant and was told not allowed. How can a big hotel and tour company handle customers like us this way? I really could not believe this was the way we would be handled. I still sit here as I write this so upset and mad. I was told by the tour guide that he called his office in Madrid Smartours hires ? and they said don’t do anything. I found out you use an agency to staff this. Ask this agency how they can say that to “your” customer. Breakfasts were excellent Every day.. Another area was some of the hotels we had. Most were nice but there were two that needed to be upgraded and was told they would be written up. Example we checked in like 4pm in one night hotels stays and had to have our luggage out by 8am next morning. This is funny, One room had two separate beds night table between. I wanted to sleep with my wife so I called down was told sorry no other room. I then went down to the front desk said I was on my honeymoon and two separate beds, and they found a king room. See if you speak up face to face. On a very positive note the tour guide that we had who ran this trip and was with us was Luis David Zapata Madroñal, He was very knowledgeable polished and so concerned. But he should have figured a way to get me food. I was even willing to pay. But still a guy that was so well respected. He was so pleasurable, and did his job with class and warmth. . He felt so bad that there was no way he was going to be able to substitute the fish, He and the bus driver we had were excellent. After my letter to Smartours they said they would give me a $100 off on my next trip. I had heard OK trips from friends but don't go to Spain with them.and question the other trips, but as I said the other friends were happy on several of the others. We went with 3 other couples that have used them in the past. They were upset with this trip big time. There is my input just a bad way to Start up a trip and review. Someone in management should have said yes get the food they want, don't ever make it fish. 2nd time fish was so bad also my wife took one bite (and she likes fish) and never ate another bit along with other people. Smartours president make that call to the company how hosted it for you. PS what do the questions below refer to, delivery of What, Made the delivery of what, item damaged- what See no one read the proof on this have no idea what they are talking about, do you?”

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Posted 6 years ago

“The tour took us through many interesting and beautiful areas of Morocco. The tour leader was informed and very concerned that we get the most out of our experience. He made sure that we were safe and that we were satisfied with the food and with the sites we were visiting. He was always available to us. He was very caring to us. Some of hotels could have been been improved upon, especially the one in Casablanca.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Our Tour Director Rob McGregor is excellent, he is a wealth of knowledge. He accommodated all special needs without hesitation. Each location we went to went as smoothly as possible. Our hotels were terrific and transportation was smooth with all the mileage we did. S African Airlines very good.”

smarTours 5 star review on 24th October 2018

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Posted 6 years ago

“Our guide, Kahlid, was excellent in every regard: knowledgeable, efficient, personable and very attentive to all our needs. I'm sure each traveler returned home with a completely different perspective on Morocco, indeed a quite positive one.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Excellent itinerary. Excellent guide. The provided food only average, often bland.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Everything was perfect including the weather! All tours were well planned. The Victoria Fall extension is a must! The Chobe river safari and vultures feeding are the best experience in our trip.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“tour of Scandinavia + add on to St. Petersburg was quite good overall. The 1 vexing situation all 19 of us on the tour disliked was landing in Helsinki and being stuck in the airport for about 6 hours. After a long flight from NYC that was no way to begin our tour/vacation. Instead there could have been a bus tour for we 19 SmarTour guests, the return to airport and leave for our destination . We returned to Helsinki on the last day of the tour and only had a few hours before dark and most places were closed. We could have had our tour that first day and then on the last had more time in Helsinki on our own after checking into our hotel. I hope you can remedy this for future Scandinavian tour participants! In all other instances our tour was good and Alex a delightful tour guide. Ruth Judkins”

smarTours 4 star review on 24th October 2018

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Posted 6 years ago

“Our tour was interesting, well-organized, and the tour director very knowledgeable.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Third time traveling with Smartours. We highly recommended. Always well organized, hotels are nice and specially Henry our guide was amazing with such knowledge and passion for his country Egypt. It is really nice to know that you take the time to find such good guides to lead you through the whole tour.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“From castles to cathedrals to monasteries, from cork production to wine tasting. A Smart Tour offers variety, beautiful hotels, competent well informed, friendly guides. I often travel alone. But on a ŚmarTour I'm never alone.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“There are many tour companies out there and Smartours is as good as most. Smartours tends to be a better value.”

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Posted 6 years ago

smarTours is rated 4.4 based on 1,665 reviews