First, let me say 2 things - this review is not against Viator, but VPT who operated the tour. Second, if I could give negative stars, I would.
Now the details as to why:
- Advertised tour is not clear, and it is not a round trip - starts in Barcelona, ends in Madrid. I had to buy train tickets to get back to Madrid for another $400.
- I tried to call more than a week out when I realized this, but no one from VPT returned my calls, messages, etc. I finally talked to Viator who helped me get in touch with them, they were not much help.
- Day 1 of tour started bad - guide barely spoke English and hardly understood it either. I specifically asked for an english speaking tour.
- Halfway thought Day 1, we departed the bus for a “technical stop” (aka bathroom/snack break) between Zaragoza and Cordoba. My wife and I have done these through Viator in other countries, so we were prepared with iPads, headphones, etc. during the longer driving sections. I put everything away in my backpack and went to the restroom - when I returned my headphones were gone. I could see them in my device list, I even used the “make a sound” but it would not connect to initiate the sound. It showed them on the bus though, so when I spoke to the tour guide, she could hardly understand me, but I told her what happened, she called back to the “technical stop” for them to look - but I told her they were not there, that someone had taken them. She did not want to do anything, she would not make an announcement as I suggested, or ask people if they saw them/found them. I know it’s an awkward situation, but asking if anyone found them was my suggestion, but she did nothing. Got the main number to VPT from her and since it was Sunday, they were closed.
- Called VPT Monday, they were useless.
- Called Viator after, they are helping.
- Once arrived in Barcelona, the tour guide told us that because of traffic, the bus could not take us to our hotel. She gave us some money and told us to take a cab, then they were off.
- Cab driver only had so much money from tour guide, so when that ran out, he dropped us off to walk the rest of the way - WITH ALL OUR LUGGAGE - and it was easily 1/2 to 3/4 mile trek uphill mostly.
- Day 2 started better, the guide was better, still spoke 90% Spanish.
- Tour in Cordoba was led by a local tour guide, but again, I understood less than 10% of what was said. I did take 3 years of Spanish in high school and can actually pick out a lot of what is said/written. Having lived in Florida and Texas, understanding it to any degree is useful, but this was different.
- Arriving in Seville on Day 2 was the final straw - the dinner was absolutely repulsive, but the room was even worse. I added a picture of one of the bugs in our bed, and the filth left by the air vents. I called the front desk and asked for another room, they told me they didn’t have any. I also mentioned I would prefer a room without 2 double beds, since I am traveling with my wife and we are trying to celebrate our anniversary, again - nothing they can do.
- Called Viator again to get their help, they had been trying to get in touch with the tour operator - no success. I told them I was abandoning the tour and getting another set of rail tickets from Seville to Barcelona - another $350 - but I wasn’t going to waste my time away with my wife like that. We checked out first thing in the morning and headed to the train station.
I must say again that Viator is trying to help, but VPT has been fairly unresponsive through the entire process. I’ll never book something that includes them as the tour operator again.
al settembre ho preso Tour in spagna , un giro bellissimo, hotel tutti belli, pullman comodi grandi , servizi buoni, ho comprato on line in pacchetto ero preoccupata se mi fregano e non vengono a prenderci.... invece ottimo organizzazione