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Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Newburyport...
3 posts
3 helpful votes
Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

I am writing this on my return from Southern France, on an Odyssey Tours and want to share my experience with you in case you are considering booking a tour with this company. If you care about your travel accommodations and your hotel experience, I have one word for you. DON”T. If you’re not fussy, then you should be fine. For me, it’s about expectations. This is a company that boasts of luxury accommodations, but in truth, the rooms and the flights are based on the pricing they pay for group travel, and trust me, they are more interested in making a profit than the ultimate customer experience.

The problems started two weeks before the departure date for the trip when I received a call from Odyssey that my return flight was messed up (they mistakenly had me returning from the wrong city). After a few frustrating phone calls where they tried to put me on a flight with a seven-hour wait-over in Munich, I was scheduled on a flight with Air Canada. That sounded fine. The times sounded fine, but I was unaware that this was an eight-hour flight to Montreal!!!! A direct flight to Boston takes six hours, but they told me that they were unable to do that since they were only contracted with specific airlines. There was no usable internet on this Air Canada flight (you evidently have to preload the app before takeoff, but no one bothered to mention that, since not all the instructions are in English), and there were no movies, or TV screen...it’s basically an antiquated plane. This is NOT what I would expect from the booking on a luxury tour company.

Further, most of the hotels on the trip were funky at best. The last one in Aix-en-Provence was nice to look at, but it was on a noisy street and the air conditioning, which they supposedly fixed in everyone’s rooms, didn’t work. The first night I opened the windows to be awakened at 4 am by trash pickup and at 5 by street cleaners. The hotel said they fixed the air and it worked for about three hours, but at breakfast in the morning, it became apparent from the stories by disgruntled tour members that no one was able to sleep. I was up since 4:30 a.m. that morning. It wasn’t just that hotel. The other hotels had no air at all and in Avignon, when I opened the windows, I then spent the entire night swatting mosquitos as I tried to sleep. I am used to traveling on my own and know what nicer European hotels are like. Again, except for one exception in Perpignon, the company’s brochure misrepresented the accommodations, which were described as first-rate hotels. Three out of four hotels were not even close. However, at that one hotel which I actually liked, the shower door leaked and got the floor all wet. I slipped when getting out of the very deep tub, skidding on the matt on the water-drenched floor, and fell and hurt my neck!!!

The selections and destinations were lovely; France is a beautiful country and our guide was very knowledgeable, organized and capable, but I found the regimen of over-sized tedious meals ridiculous. I felt like I was one of the French ducks being force-fed. Who do they planning these trips for? I am an active, well-traveled, health-conscious woman and by the end of the trip, I had to go off on my own since I couldn’t stand it any longer. People complained they couldn’t sleep since we were all eating too much, too late at night.

I had opted to share a room with a stranger since it was the only way I could go on this booked trip. I lost my husband last year and we had planned a similar trip on our own. To honor him, it felt important to me to go, so I agreed to a roommate. The hotel’s “double” room was two twin beds shoved together to make a kind. I was horrified. They moved the beds one foot apart, all the room would accommodate, the roommate snored like a sailor, was intrusive and anti-Semitic, I refused to room with her. I wound up getting my own room at the last hotel and paid an extra $500 for it. With all of these frustrations, I am very unhappy with the total experience except for France itself and our guide. Asked a refund for $500 to make up for misrepresentation of the trip and inconveniences but they declined, saying that they were sorry and that they would pass my feedback along. I am also passing MY feedback along to you…and can only say, Buyer Beware.

196 replies to this topic
Wales, United...
Destination Expert
for Bargain Travel, Cruises, Swansea, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Neath, Port Talbot
122,685 posts
365 helpful votes
61. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

I don't get that either, but I also don't get how Sue's post is suitable for the Solo Travel forum when it's her and husband travelling together on a group tour.

No offence intended, Sue, your post is relevant to the subject, but it's just not Solo Travel. I mean, if it was just you there's an argument that you could be described as being on your own within a group, as in having no travelling companion with you.

Rlk
1 post
62. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

I have taken eight different Odyssey Unlimited trips and have booked my ninth. They are wonderful the hotels offer a range of accommodations and are always comfortable. Perhaps you should stay closer to home now.

Newton...
151 posts
63. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Hi Rik,

Thank you for your past patronage, and for your comment about accommodations on Odysseys tours. We work hard to select those lodgings that add to the overall experience - and value - of our tours. And, we look forward to welcoming you on trip # 9!

Amherst, New...
22 posts
35 helpful votes
64. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

We went to Greece in 2019 with Odysseys and we will never go back to traveling on our own. We loved the guide, the group, the nice mix of free time and tour time. overall the hotels were excellent; the only "older" hotel was on a mountain overlooking the water with 180 degree views. Well worth its slightly worn decor.

I have found that people who have not traveled extensively to Europe do not realize that rooms are smaller, AC is often warmer than in the US, window screens are not used (bring some netting and a roll of painters tape), and mealtimes are later and longer affairs.

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome views cannot be acquired in one little corner of the earth all one's life."

Edited: 2 years ago
Newton...
151 posts
65. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Hello, Toujours Max,

We're delighted that you enjoyed your tour to Greece with us, and greatly appreciate that you took the time to post about your experience. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the not-too-distant future.

Oxford, Mississippi
54 posts
33 helpful votes
66. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Hi Jenny, Thank you for your review. I think the reason people are being so hard on you is because while you have some very legitimate concerns to share, they are being glossed over by the nit picking that ruffle people feathers. Talking about snoring room mates, and being fed meals that are too large is just bringing your whole review down to a level that is not being taken seriously. Had you concentrated on the flight issues ( which are very legitimate) non working air conditioning etc. people would have been more receptive to the criticism, But there is just too much petty stuff sprinkled throughout including an anti Semitic snorer! Next time try sticking to legitimate issue that the company can improve on. I hope your next trip is better for you.

Portland, Oregon
33 posts
10 helpful votes
67. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Gosh, sorry you had a bad time. We also took an OU tour to Morocco’s about 2 years ago. Our trip was one of the best vacations ever. In fact covid and terrorists willing we are going on another OU tour to Israel and Jordan in 5 months. We never let the tour company set up our travel. We have lots of miles and use them to fly business class all ways. Internet is always available and lounge service can help with flight changes. We also arrive a couple days early to make sure big delays do not impact the trip. We found all of the hotels as advertised and luxury. Food was always good. They did give you more than we could eat but that is what self control is for. We did see to many chicken tangibles….. could have had a few less of those. They jammed too much stuff into each day so we were dragging by the time we got home. Some of the jointer better shape members of our group loved that tempo. We learned that it is easy to say we are going back to the hotel or we will find our own way back. The Tour Manager was Amazing, well educated, easy to understand and a great guy. And is why we are using them again!

Newton...
151 posts
68. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Hi bobkeenan,

So glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Morocco - thank you for taking the time to post here, and for your patronage. We wish you a wonderful travel experience in Israel and Jordan in 2022!

San Francisco...
1 post
1 helpful vote
69. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

After many self planned trips abroad I decided to try small group travel. I have taken 2 trips with Odysseys (Morocco and Croatia) and they were awesome experiences. This traveler is either inexperienced or delusional about her travel expectations outside the US. The hotels have been 4 star with a few exceptions (always clean and adequate) in smaller rural locations. The meals do get repetitive but if her complaint is TOO much food then simply shut your mouth and eat less. The priorities for me are the excellent guides and the well run structure of the Odysseys trips. An experienced traveler ALWAYS does their own air arrangements. I do coordinate my arrival times to meet the group at the destination airport. My advice to this traveler is spend lots more with the higher cost group travel agencies or personal guide companies or stay home.

Newton...
151 posts
70. Re: Odysseys Unlimited - A Review and a Warning

Dear Icd213,

We're delighted that you enjoyed your tours to Morocco and Croatia with us -- and we appreciate that you took the time to post about your experiences here. Thank you. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the not-too-distant future.

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