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Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

Cambridge...
1 post
Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

We are planning a tour for this year and on searching the internet came across the Go Ahead Tours Canada website. After going through the site thoroughly we found the following discrepancies:

a) Unlike other websites, the Go Ahead Tours website makes no upfront, let alone clear, mention of what's included and what's not included in the pricing. This seems to be a tactic of concealing charges that the local guides/tour operators might charge unsuspecting customers once the tour is on, leaving customers with no choice but to pay up.

b) The website also mentions "Once you're on tour, you can get in touch at any time thanks to our team of 24/7 Emergency Support Specialists.", although nowhere is the emergency contact # or name/s mentioned. Again, this seems to be the same cover-up as mentioned in a) above, leaving the customer in the lurch once anything goes wrong whilst on the tour, to be left at the mercy of the tour operator/guide.

Even if it were mentioned, it looks to be just a marketing and sales strategy to coerce new customers into letting their guard down while in the process of shopping for a tour.

c) The website provides conflicting and ambiguous information regarding tipping: (note the conflicting usage of terms "driver" and guide", as also the different amounts of tips suggested)

"We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver."

"Meet your guide the morning of your first full day on tour. He or she will act as both your tour guide-and-driver for the duration of your tour." . "At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your driver/guide a gratuity in USD. We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day."

"We also recommend $2USD per local guide."

"You can also expect to be solicited for tips from the hospitality and restaurant staff that you encounter. Leaving as little as the equivalent of $1USD is greatly appreciated"

This clearly also attempts at coercing the customer to pay tips, whilst the tour organizer gets its profit unhindered. Shows that they themselves indeed care little about supporting locals by paying them very little and passing their burden onto the customer, on top of the full pricing. Shameful.

d) Con tactics with the Toronto office:

The website mentions that the Toronto office is open 7 days a week, with timings clearly displayed. We wished to meet personally with anyone to discuss our plans in choosing a tour as well as to clear some doubts.

Called the office on a Saturday afternoon prior to going over to the office, and the line seemed busy, as we were kept on hold with a voice prompts mentioning to hold as the reps were busy, until someone will be able to take the call. Waited on hold for five minutes, then decided to hang up and visit the office directly.

We went to 80 Bloor St. West and the building was empty. Security let us to the 16th floor, mentioning that Education Funds, parent company of Go Ahead Tours, is not open.

We found both sets of glass doors closed, and all cubicles empty, monitors turned off dark. We knocked a few times on both doors, but there was nobody to reply.

Any respectable tour operator would not be as callous as this example. The website lies and the phone greeting on hold cons one into thinking that the office is busy and open.

In the case of Go Ahead Tours, the term "Caveat Emptor" screams in their favor!!

279 replies to this topic
2 posts
4 helpful votes
51. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

The extra hours on your own could have been put to good use by simply wandering around looking at the local scenery, asking the hotel staff to direct you to any interesting sites near by, finding a restaurant or cafe and doing some people watching. If it was in the evening and you were hesitant about being out in the dark in an unknown area, you could get together with others from the group and gone to a nearby restaurant together. If you are old enough to travel, you are old enough to figure out how to entertain yourself.

2 posts
52. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

We've been on many trips with tour companies and 3 with GoAhead. Could not have asked for a better experience. Their customer service is top notch.

New York City
1 post
53. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

My daughter has taken many tours with Go Ahead, and I have taken two with her. She has always had a very good experience, and my two trips were also excellent. I especially appreciate that they make all the airline reservations for getting us to the place we are traveling to, so flights are in sync with the tour's plans. On a recent Road Scholar tour, we had to make our own flight reservations, and there were difficulties with flights canceled and rebooking.

1 post
54. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

No, it is not a sham. I have gone on 6 tours and they do list what is included on the website.Just read it carefully to understand the difference between a drive by/see it out the window OR actual go inside and see. I enjoyed all my tours. However, WARNING: none of the hotels were centrally located, meaning, you could NOT just walk out the door to great restaurants and sights. You always have to taxi etc. and sometimes as much as 15-30min. Rick Steves is a lot more expensive, but they use perfectly located hotels. So, go cheap with Go Ahead, pay for taxis, and the tips are suggested optional, not mandatory as you wish.

Arlington, Virginia
1 post
55. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

We went to Sicily on a goahead tour. We saw things we would have never seen if not for the tour. Our guide was wonderful and the bus driver was skilled at maneuvering tiny hilly curvy roads. Would use them again, although we prefer to rent our own car and do our own thing. I don't recommend driving in Italy.

Edited: 5 years ago
Hilton Head, South...
2 posts
66 helpful votes
56. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

I have been to Scandinavia and Croatia with Goahead and the tours were top-notch. My wife and I have traveled independently for years and are not naive about costs etc. Nobody forces you to tip anyone! But, the level of service, the quality of lodging and general support are fine. I'd say that you are being overly cautious and skeptical. With that overriding attitude, it might be best to stay home.

57. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

Regarding your explanation of customary tipping suggestion. Everything you describe the (tour director, driver, guide) sounds like their job i.e. the responsibility of go ahead tours should provide as part of the tour experience. Tipping is for extraordinary service and these seems like go ahead tours is passing on salary of these individuals to the consumer.

Overland Park...
53 posts
18 helpful votes
58. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

My friends and I have done 3 tours with Go Ahead (US and Europe) and every one was very good. I'm currently looking at one of their eastern Europe tours. Will use them again.

Stanley, North...
1 post
59. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

We are at the end of an EF Go Ahead tour of Lisbon and Spain(12 days). I don’t know how anyone could do it better. The trip has been spectacular. You won’t do better than Go Ahead!

Portsmouth, Virginia
2 posts
11 helpful votes
60. Re: Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

Yes in my case: We just came off of The Adriatic Greece Cruise Tour with GAT. This is our second GAT and I am an avid cruiser. I understand that most of my tour was provided by RCCL. But this review is strictly geared to Go Ahead Tour and the services, accommodations and information given. Because this kind of trip is meant to be a trip of a lifetime, usually it takes time, a lot of money and preparation to execute. So I chose GAT because we had some credits that they so graciously moved over from our mothers’ accounts due to their health issues and not being fit enough to go on a previous tour, that still does not negate the horrendous misinformation, accommodations in Italy and the low confidence or just lack of coordination of tour guide (albeit she was very nice). So lets get to the specifics:

1. In booking a cruise with this company I was already apprehensive about the details of my cabin and its placement (having been on several cruises with a few different cruise lines which were booked direct). Every one and every time I inquired about my cabin, even after the astronomical amount (at least two times the usual fee for an upgraded balcony cabin would have cost if I had gone directly to the cruise line) was paid, no one could give me any idea as to the placement of my cabin. I had expressed my fears several times and they advised that it was noted and that they could not tell me anything until after the last payment deadline. OK so after that deadline had passed, just as I expected I was given a cabin that no one wanted which was one facing the general elevators. Usually no one wants these particular cabins due to privacy and noise levels. I immediately called GAT and asked to be moved to another Cabin and was told that RCCL assigns whatever is left over to GAT even though I paid GAT a “mint” for a specific category. You would think they would have at least tried to switch me but the only assistance I received is an email containing reviews from a website called Cruise Critic about how the noise level at the elevators was not that “bad”. REALLY? And yes the noise level was acceptable but the privacy was just not there considering every time I opened my door a group or individual who was waiting for the elevators had a nice view of not, only my cabin but of me as well.

2. After finalizing, all details through GAT, including land excursions, I inquired about what GAT was including as far as excursions while on the ship, Rhapsody of the Seas. I was told by several GAT representatives, (including Andy who was the last rep i spoke to about my cabin placement) that GAT was not responsible for, nor doing any excursions while on the ship. That was misinformation because the very first port of call, Dubrovnik, our tour guide explained to us that this excursion was included in our GAT price. Meanwhile, I had already booked an excursion with RCCL for that same Port and was not able to get my money back. I was even advised since I had already paid for the RCCL tour, just to go on that tour instead. (Understandable since I would have lost the money for that excursion but in the scheme of things, I lost money anyway because of mis information.)

3. So going to our arrival in Venice, We Book our own flight. Therefore We arrived early into Venice and stayed on the main land in order to meet our tour group the next morning back at the airport terminal. For the convenience, we paid GAT for transfers from and to the Marco Polo Airport. We were told to meet others at the arrivals section at a specific time and there would be someone there to greet us. Of course, no one was there (with a big green sign) nor did anyone show up until we called the GAT hotline the second time. The first time we were told just to wait and some one would show up between 11am-2pm. Meanwhile, we are in a foreign country barely speaking the language but ok, we’ll wait around with barely any seating in a very small airport until someone shows up. So after our second call to GAT, we were told that our tour guide had sent a pick up person to retrieve us and that he should be in arrivals. I informed them that I was not walking around the airport again and that maybe it would be better if we stay put and he/she comes find us. And he did, with no greeting, no intro, no nothing, just the sign and instruction to follow him back into the arrivals section to wait with no seating. He placed us in a location then went back to the arrivals door to meet others. My husband and I, with our bags, were standing waiting for him to come back for over 45mins. Finally he came back to get us, said nothing but come and proceeded to take us to the others that had been waiting. When we gathered with others, they said he had been looking for us for a while and that they had been standing around waiting. Of course I explained to the group that we were waiting in the spot where he had placed us so he would not loose us. They all agreed that HE was not the friendliest person to begin with and that he seemed unorganized and annoyed.

4. We finally arrived at our hotel in Old Town Venice via boat, of course. That was a very lovely ride. We were greeted by the lovely Sylvanna and were told our hotel was just around the corner. We only had a little walk to our hotel with our bags until we arrived at our beautiful hotel (inside). Don’t let the outside take you back. Most of the buildings look the same. It’s what’s inside that makes the difference. We received our room keys and instruction from our tour guide to be back downstairs for dinner at a certain time which gave us time to rest and soak in where we were. The hotel had 3 floors and a very tiny elevator which was part of the ambiance. But the tiny elevator held only a certain amount of weight so our bags and one traveler went up and the other took the stairs. (No worries there). Finally arrived at our room on the 3rd floor (303) and could barely get the door open because there was a desk on the other side and let’s not even talk about struggling to get our 2 pieces of hardside luggage in the very tiny room. (pictures shown are without our hardside luggage inside the room and I was standing in a small crack between the window and the bed) It and us barely fit. If we wanted to open a suitcase, we had to do it one at a time because there was not room except for on the bed to open it. Now for the real kicker, the bathroom. My husband and I are at least 6’ tall and thank goodness because in order to get into the shower in the bathroom we had to turn sideways, lift our butts over the sink and slide between the sink and the wall. When trying to wash ourselves we had to stick our leg out over the sink to get to it. (This was comical to say the least) There was no bending or turning room in the shower and my poor husband bumped his head a few times in the shower during our stay at that hotel. Since we were in Italy, we assumed all rooms were this tiny with baths made for children until we mentioned it to our tour mates and they were shocked because their rooms and baths were very roomy and had lots of space to move and lay there luggage out. At that point, I just wanted to get on the ship and call it at a day.

That night, Our group dinner was fabulous (food and company) and our morning tour was as expected, done by a local and very informative. Venice is a very beautiful city and almost made up for our accommodations when my husband and I were able to walked the streets and bridges with guidance from Sylvanna, on our own later that evening. Our pre paid extra excursion, gondola ride was canceled due to weather so our tour guide assured us we would get our money back. Haven’t seen that as of yet.

5. Ship Embarkation day. Being old hat at check in and having priority status was a true leg up since our tour director was busy helping some of our tour mates that could not ambulated well and were lagging behind. Sylvanna always made sure everyone was ok as we all did. But since my hubby and I were in the front of the pack and already had our paperwork completed on line and sign and sail cards in hand, we, with the tour group in tow were taken to the priority check in and moved along to the ship without our tour guide. We were aboard early but our Cabins wouldn’t be ready until later that day so mostly everyone that was with my hubby and me went onto the ship to have lunch and relax until our cabins were done. Our luggage had been taken care of by Sylvanna so that was a plus. But of course that is usually done by the porters outside the ship anyway. But it was nice that we didn’t have to lug them to the check in destination from our hotel.

Once on the ship, the only complaints I had as stated before had to do with GAT not RCCL. Cabin placement and non refundable pre paid excursion issue.

Sylvanna was absolutely lovely and helpful throughout the tour. And we met some really wonderful people, who we will stay in contact with long after this tour.

All in all, this was my second tour with GAT. The first one was a land tour of London, Paris, and Rome. There is certainly no comparison between the two. That one was so much more that I expected and well worth the money. However, this second one I feel was a rip off. Only the GAT side was a natural disaster. And having spent well over $7000 (without flight) for this tour was not only hurtful but so disappointing and infuriating that I feel as though I was scammed with my eyes wide open.

I have some other tours on my wishlist but after this last tour, I think I will have to rethink the tour company I chose to make those wishes come true.

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