07 Dec 2024
Our private tour from Malacca to Singapore was highly disappointing and unprofessional. Here’s why:
The driver was 15 minutes late for pickup, showing a lack of punctuality and preparation.
The car had personal belongings already inside, and it was not properly prepared to accommodate our luggage. The cramped situation was made worse by the driver seemingly not knowing how to adjust the seats for the passengers.
The driver brought his wife along, occupying the front passenger seat, which was not expected for a private tour with no other passengers.
Extra stopping time was taken for the driver’s wife to buy food, further delaying the journey.
The driver displayed unsafe driving habits, using one hand to hold his mobile phone for conversations and navigation while driving.
Both the driver and his wife ate in the car during the drive, which felt unprofessional.
The driver was unfamiliar with the route and relied entirely on Google Maps. Once we crossed the border into Singapore, his phone had no roaming data, so he had to depend on a passenger to navigate to the hotel.
The trip lasted from 12:15 pm to 4:30 pm and cost AUD 573.44 for four people. For three of us, expecting sufficient space for passengers and luggage, the cramped seat arrangement was unacceptable.
We will be submitting a formal complaint to Viator, requesting that the driver’s wife pay for 1/4 of the charge (AUD 143.36), as her presence and additional stops were inappropriate for a paid private service.
This experience was far from worth the cost and highly disappointing.