smarTours Reviews

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“Nicholas Patti was an amazing guide. He is Argentinian and was incredibly helpful in Buenos Aires, as well as on the cruise. The tour was first-rate: ship, food, environment. A bit of a physical workout; whether walking a few kilometers up a 40% incline to see penguin rookery, snow-shoeing around an island to see seals, or even getting in and out of a kayak without help. This trip is not for people with mobility issues. Hurtigruten provides a waterproof jacket and rubber boots; they are a first-class operation. The scenery is amazing. Drake Passage is quite the force of Nature. Even as a seasoned traveler I was overwhelmed by the landscape and fauna. A MUST-DO trip.”

smarTours 5 star review on 18th January 2023

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Posted 1 year ago

Wow! What a superb review Cynthia. Thanks for sharing!

Posted 1 year ago

Rekha S

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“Overall the trip and the sightseeing was very good but I had several issues, first was that being allergenic for onion and garlic I wasn’t taken care. Our director slacked in this as is he was very busy with 3 people in the group. At one place I didn’t have anything to eat. On the end of tour meal as well , I only had salad where as they all had fancy meals. He didn’t once come and ask me throughout the trip if I was ok. Secondly as I said he was only looking out for 3 people on the trip, whenever they had an excursion, he would shorten our time so see what is on our itinerary, like we didn’t get the to experience the diamond journey and our time at the V and A was shortened because they were getting late for their excursion. We asked if we can just stay there, he said no we all have to go back to the hotel and get a Uber to come back. So unnecessary. The second time when we visited the Kirstenborsch gardens, he gave us just 15 mins. We were interested to see all the plants, again they were rushing for an excursion and we had to suffer. So some of the things which made our experience not so great.”

smarTours 4 star review on 2nd January 2023

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Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for your feedback Rekha. We will pass your comments along regarding the issues you encountered to our tour team. Thank you for joining us.

Posted 1 year ago

Jasmin N

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“"This was a great and amazing cruise tour especially all that you see with the days of the tour. Our hotel, Hotel Electra Palace in Athens was great and had amazing view of the Acropolis from the 8th floor restaurant. It was great. We truly had a great time especially having our tour director, Gina Agelopoulou, who was so amazing, attentive and very hospitable. She made our trip so amazing and so memorable. Thank you Gina. I would highly recommend this cruise tour to anyone. You will truly enjoy it. I would do it again. Thank you Smartours.”

smarTours 5 star review on 28th December 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Wow! Thank you for your wonderful review Jasmin! We look forward to having you travel with us again!

Posted 1 year ago

Jake M

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“This was our first experience using smarTours and it did not disappoint! Everything was planned perfectly and our guide was so knowledgeable of the country and the sites that we visited which made it very enjoyable.”

smarTours 4 star review on 3rd December 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Thanks for traveling with smarTours!

Posted 1 year ago

Michael Z

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“Amelia Custodio, Tour guide Trip to Portugal, Oct 3-13, 2022 We want to extend our deep appreciation for our marvelous tour guide, Amelia Custodio, who led our recent trip to Portugal on Oct 3-13, 2022. Our tour to Portugal exceeded our expectations, thanks to Amelia who made this trip an unforgettable experience. She demonstrated leadership skills. Within the short time of our arrival, Amelia established the rules which created a positive atmosphere and made everyone of the the group feel very welcome. To every site which was mentioned in the Smartours daily excursion, Amelia provided a thorough historical and cultural background of the site which enriched our knowledge and experience. She also emphasized the importance of being on time and requested that all members of the tour be punctual. She was extremely sensitive to the needs of each individual. For example, if someone didn’t feel well, she offered to help. If someone had special dietary needs, Amelia made arrangements with the restaurant to satisfy the traveler’s dietary needs. Although, the group was heterogeneous in terms of age and ability, Amelia made everyone feel comfortable and motivated.”

smarTours 5 star review on 24th October 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Kathy F

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“"Turkey trip was excellent! We always felt very safe and were extremely impressed with everyday life in Turkey! It was enhanced by the professionalism of our tour guide. The historical sites were amazing and the city of Troy truly exists! Hot air ballooning was not to be missed! Cappadocia was my favorite with the cave tunnels that have existed since about 2000 BC. From swimming in the Mediterranean in Antalya to the bazaars in Istanbul, trip was amazing!"”

smarTours 5 star review on 26th September 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

We are absolutely delighted to hear this Kathy! Thank you for sharing your feedback from your time in Turkey!

Posted 1 year ago

Charles K

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“The Canadian Rockies tour was exceptional. What made it a success was our leader Glen, driver Kris and most importantly the tourist of the group. The tour was exceptional. You got to enjoy the exceptional spots we visited. Glen was exceptional with the history of the Rockies and of other area in Canada. Would recommend this tour to everyone.”

smarTours 5 star review on 23rd September 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for sharing your review and photos with us Charles! It was such a pleasure to host you on our Canadian Rockies Adventure!

Posted 1 year ago

James M

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“Although free time is a great thing. I found this trip had way too much free time. Our guide was wonderful and knowledgeable. She went out of her way to ensure all our needs were met and even arranged the side trips we requested. Hotels were great comfortable and very clean.”

smarTours 4 star review on 27th June 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for your feedback! We will pass your comments along to our tour team.

Posted 1 year ago

Alan S

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“After three years of planning, cancellations and repositioning funds, SmarTours exceeded all of our expectations - especially with our tour guide, Renata. The Great Cities of Eastern Europe tour from May 21 - June 4, 2022 included stops in Warsaw and Krakow, Poland, Vienna, Austria, Budapest, Hungary and Prague, Czech Republic. The accommodations were phenomenal as were the daily, morning breakfasts. We also enjoyed six group dinners. We enjoyed the history, the main attractions and beautiful cities and we had ample free time to explore on our own. We are already looking forward to planning our next tour with SmarTours.”

smarTours 4 star review on 13th June 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for sharing your feedback, Alan! We're glad to hear you had a great experience! We do hope to see you on another tour soon!

Posted 1 year ago

TRACY

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“Extremely planned, full days, lots of exposure to culture. Great way to travel internationally and get a sampling of Culture and history.”

smarTours 5 star review on 5th June 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing these gorgeous images with us from your trip! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your trip!

Posted 1 year ago

Sandy B

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“Our tour guide in Croatia “Danko” was fun!”

smarTours 4 star review on 2nd June 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos! It was a pleasure to host you!

Posted 1 year ago

Andrew S

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“Dear Smartours: I truly enjoyed the Treasures of Türkiye tour from May 4, 2022, through May 16, 2022, and I look forward to my next trip to Türkiye. All the hotels were fantastic as was the tour director (Aran) and the driver (Mehmet). Although I have a degree in history, I learned much and Aran brought Türkiye to life. The depth of Aran’s knowledge was evident when we started our tour at St. Sophia and he provided the history behind what led to building St. Sophia. The entire first day was the same: everywhere we went, Aran explained the history, answered our various questions, and the joy he had in sharing his knowledge was evident. After our first day on tour, I knew we were lucky to have Aran as our guide. Aran was patient, knowledgeable, humorous, and he was clearly proud to be Turkish. Even when things did not go according to plan or were challenging, Aran continued teaching, thinking on his feet, dealing with the challenges with humor, and making the best out of difficult situations. The two best examples of Aran’s professionalism and thinking on his feet: the House of Virgin Mary and crossing the Dardanelles. We arrived at the House of Virgin Mary concurrently with a group on pilgrimage. Aran worked with the situation and he was able to timely get our group through the home. We were scheduled to take a ferry across the Dardanelles; however, some of the tour group expressed concerns about crossing by ferry; therefore, he agreed to cross on the new bridge. However, the individuals who expressed concerns about a ferry crossing changed their minds and Aran quicky revised the schedule, again. Although the balloon ride at Cappadocia is not an “official” part of the tour, I am glad Smartours provided time to complete the balloon ride. It was one of the highlights of the trip. I look forward to my next trip to Türkiye and I hope to have Aran lead my next tour of Türkiye. Andrew”

smarTours 5 star review on 27th May 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Thank you so much for sharing your feedback, Andrew! We are so glad that you enjoyed the trip and that our tour director, Aran, exceeded all expectations! We hope to see you on another smarTours trip soon!

Posted 1 year ago

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Anonymous

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“GOOD STUFF: We covered a lot of ground that we would not have been able to cover on our own. The coordination of transportation and accommodations is good. The value is good. CHALLEGES: The pre-travel communication was terrible. Customer service provided textbook answers that were already located on the web-site. The final itinerary was provided VERY late leaving little to no opportunity for seat upgrades for such a long flight. The tour guides that I have had lacked diversity and sensitivity to nonwhite audiences. The cultural experiences highlighted on the agenda for South Africa were canceled and sufficient alternatives were not provided. There seemed to be a disconnect between our guide and SmarTours because he did not have most recent agenda and opportunities were missed. And we had a lot of unnecessary downtime, especially given our stop to highlight destinations were often rushed and cut short. These are once in a lifetime opportunities and I cannot trust SmarTours with my experiences again. I missed too many opportunities on this last trip that I can never get back because of lack of organization and proper communication.”

smarTours 3 star review on 26th May 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Dear Anonymous, thank you for sharing your honest feedback. We are sorry we did not live up to your expectations either prior to or during the trip. Making our tour documentation available earlier has been challenging during these covid times, as guidance changes frequently, so we have pushed our timing back on making these available. We are always looking for ways to improve our tours, so we will follow up on your feedback about the tour guide's lack of sensitivity as well as the itinerary shortcomings to see where we can make improvements for future travelers. We hope to regain your trust for a future trip with us.

Posted 1 year ago

Karen M

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“Exceptional tour! Knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful tour guides.”

smarTours 5 star review on 21st May 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

We're so glad to hear you had a great experience, Karen! Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos!

Posted 1 year ago

Charrise L

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“Treasures of Portugal exceeded all my expectations. Diana Graca was our tour director. Every city was rich in heritage, history and its own quaint appeal. The people of Portugal were warm and helpful. The food was delicious. Taking the extension to Azores Islands was the highlight of the trip. If you are thinking about taking this trip, please consider the Azores extension. It was like a completely different vacation from the mainland. The variety of activities was a good representation of the country, and we tracked alot of steps each day. Our group was nice and cordial and always looked out for each other. I would return to Portugal again in a heart beat. Thank you for the wonderful memories.”

smarTours 5 star review on 18th May 2022

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Posted 1 year ago

Hello Charrise! We are so glad to hear you had a wonderful experience! We hope to see you on another trip in the future!

Posted 1 year ago

Verified Buyer

Anonymous

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“SmarTours riverboat trip through the Netherlands during Tulip season was THE best! I’ve never been disappointed with the boats, guides, accommodations/meals, or destinations on SmarTours land or riverboat tours.”

smarTours 5 star review on 22nd April 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

We love to hear this! Thank you for sharing your photos!

Posted 1 year ago

I.E.

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“Even though United Airline was late in arriving in South Africa, making us miss our connecting flight and leaving us at the airport, the staff took us to hotel and caught the next flight out! Everything was spectacular!”

smarTours 5 star review on 5th April 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

We love to hear this! Thank you for traveling with us!

Posted 1 year ago

Dylan M

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“Incredible tour of Egypt. Our guide was so kind and knowledgeable and really made the experience unforgettable. I proposed to my girlfriend on day two of the tour in front of the pyramids and our guide helped make it a really special moment complete with photographer.”

smarTours 5 star review on 1st April 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Dylan! Thanks SO much for sharing this incredible moment with smarTours! We wish you all the best on your new adventure!

Posted 1 year ago

Vicky C

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“Oh, Egypt, I have fallen in love with you! I I booked my first international tour with Smartours and just returned from the most amazing trip! Our Tour Director, Andrew was outstanding. His warm friendly demeanor, knowledge and sense of humor made for a great time. The tours were amazing, all but one hotel was very nice and the 3 day Alexandria extension was a must see!”

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Posted 2 years ago

We love these photos Vicky! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

Posted 1 year ago

Diana P

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“From the start, having economy- plus airline seats, to 4&5 Star hotels, small group size, & delightful tour guide (not to mention the overall cost) My Smartours trip to Portugal met & exceeded all my expectations !”

smarTours 5 star review on 29th March 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

We love this photo Diana! Thanks for sharing!

Posted 1 year ago

LSDPDXs.

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“Good value.”

smarTours 4 star review on 29th March 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Thank you for sharing!

Posted 1 year ago

Donna H

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“Smartours made traveling so easy! They took care of everything!!! Great price! Great service! Everyone involved was so good to us. Wonderful food! We loved it!!”

smarTours 5 star review on 18th March 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Siobhan

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“Was able to see all the highlights and had great experiences!”

smarTours 5 star review on 5th February 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Michael M

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“Dubai and Abu Dhabi arranged by Smartours was an Excellent itinerary and really kept us enthused and busy every day! Mohammed was a fantastic guide and a book of knowledge. As always Smartours makes sure the safety of the guests is paramount. We were all PCR tested prior and during to assure everyone remained healthy and happy. The UAE is extremely cautious and very pro-active with covid. Masks are worn by everyone, everywhere and there are no exceptions. The hotels are top notch, tours are well planned and a photographer's dream. The Touring Coach is comfortable and your bags etc are always safe and secure. The one day we took to a cab to Ferrari World and spent the day riding the fastest roller coasters in the world ...WOW! Abu Dhabi and Dubai are truly amazing and modern with a metro that is so easy to navigate. World Expo was a once in a lifetime experience and well done! You will find this Trip has many " Largest, Best, First and Biggest's IN THE WORLD! " The cost of this trip is worth every penny! Emirates Airline also does a great job making sure your tripr over and back is memorable and comfortable. Do not hesitate on booking, you will have a great time !”

smarTours 5 star review on 29th January 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Tessie R

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“This trip I took to Dubai and Abu Dhabi arranged by Smartours was awesome. Granite it got canceled in 2020 due to the Covid. We thought it wasn’t gonna happen but it did and it was amazing. Our tour guide Mohammed Saleem.You have to request him. I’ve traveled many places but he’s the best tour guide ever. So knowledgeable ,so friendly ,so prompt and care about his clients. This trip with smart tours was well planned ,Covid safe everything lined up as it should have.The price was right, airfare to and from ,it included plenty of excursions, ground transportation ,beautiful hotels and good food . Beautiful Emirates, nice trip .”

smarTours 5 star review on 21st January 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Hi Tessie! Oh my goodness we just LOVE these photos! Thanks so much for sharing. We hope to see you on another trip soon!

Posted 1 year ago

Ruth

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“Great trips at affordable prices.”

smarTours 5 star review on 20th January 2022

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Posted 2 years ago

Verified Reviewer

Anonymous

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“Dagmar was an excellent Tour Director. She was very knowledgeable, compassionate and attentive. I can't say enough about her and how she made our trip a complete success. Machu Picchu was amazing. Touring the country of Peru and learning about the culture was inspiring. I would recommend this trip for anyone who is adventurous and wanting to learn more about the Incas and Andean civilizations. Before going, consider the travel time along with the fact that touring starts immediately upon arrival. Everyone was exhausted the first day. I would have preferred to make my own flight arrangements allowing time to sleep and freshen up before starting the tour itinerary.”

smarTours 5 star review on 21st November 2021

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Posted 2 years ago

Bruce H

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“Fantastic trip! We went after cruise season, so we got to stay in hotels on Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete. Those islands are spectacular, glad we got the extra time there. Our guides Gina and Nikki were amazing. The knowledge, the fun, and they truly took care of us. I cannot speak highly enough about this tour. This was our first trip with Smartours, but not our last!”

smarTours 5 star review on 28th October 2021

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Posted 2 years ago

Edith G

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“Vinny our tour director was wonderful! Very knowledgeable warm and friendly. Our tour to Costa Rica wouldn’t have been as enjoyable if it wasn’t for him.”

smarTours 5 star review on 24th October 2021

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Posted 2 years ago

Vicki R