03 Jul 2023
Yosemite park was a great place but the tour company did not make us feel safe. We had taken the San Jose to Yosemite tour. We were aware that this will mean that they will put us on an SUV from San Jose to Livermore, and then we get on to the main bus that takes us to Yosemite. On the way back, our tour guide drops us at the Livermore empty parking lot and just leaves. He didn't call the driver who was supposed to pick us up. Essentially, we were left to fend for ourselves. We felt super unsafe as tourists just waiting in the dark for someone to come and pick us up. The area did not seem safe. Luckily, one of the tourists had the driver's number, the driver picked up the call, and came after 20 mins. The driver said that no one has contacted him and asked him to come pick us up early ( so I think we were dropped off early, and the tour guide or maybe the tour organizer didn't inform him that we are there ). The tour guide actually said " I wouldn't know " when asked about the pick up situation. Although, the experience was otherwise great ( the tour guide was actually a nice orator), but safety comes first. I should also note that the extranomical tours phone number was not working ( no one picked up and it went to voice mail). Leaving tourists in the dark, in the middle of nowhere, with no information is not fine!!
I saw the same review by other people about the san Jose trip. The tour company seems to apologize and give their number ( which didn't work when we needed them ). So doesn't seem like they will fix the situation. Best is to get the trip from San Francisco ( not San Jose). I think everyone who took the trip from San Francisco had a smooth experience.