Overall the trip was incredible. All of the t...
Australia
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Dec 17 - Jan 8, 2024
Overall the trip was incredible. All of the tours were absolutely amazing. We cannot pick a favorite place as we loved it all. Every city we went to had its own special memory and experience. Our guides and drivers were all very friendly and very informative. The only tour we cancelled was in Hobart to the prison. We really in the end were not interested and wanted to spend the day on Mona. A couple of hours on Mona was way too rushed. Our only wish was that we could have had more time in some of our destinations to experience the city itself. Go into shops and galleries and not be rushed. After the tours we were strapped for time and were too tired to do this. We would have loved time to purchase a piece of art or something special from each culture. Otherwise we loved it all. Feeding kangaroos and emus, the penguin parade truly fascinating, Mona, Bruny island wow, Byron bay beaches spectacular, Sydney harbor like nothing we have seen before, the blue mountains breathtaking, the vegetation throughout and the Botanical gardens wow, the number of boats in Auckland harbor, absolutely loved Waiheke, the rainforest the volcanic beach, kayaking to the glow worms was quite an experience, the redwoods tree walk beautiful, the Māoris so fascinating. Queenstown loved. And of course Milford sound. There are no words for Milford sound. Surrounded by beauty, flying over the mountains was a highlight!!! In terms of the hotels. We loved Henry jones art hotel in Hobart!!! Unique beautiful, great breakfasts, clean, great staff. We loved elements of Byron, also unique and beautiful, lots of activities and close to drive to the beaches!! Great food and service and very clean. The cabin was amazing!! Our favorite was Rees hotel!! Our accommodation was fabulous. The hotel gorgeous. Breakfast and food amazing. Clean and best staff. We liked the rooms in park royal darling harbor hotel and the breakfasts were great. But the front desk staff and management were not impressive. They made a mistake with our rooms and were not very flexible on fixing it. We had to call the travel agent and they made the entire situation very stressful for us. One of our rooms was supposed to be with 2 queen beds for our 3 adult children and they gave a a king bed and said they could put a rollaway bed in it. Not acceptable. Then agent arranged for a third room and when my son went to check into it they said the agent never confirmed it. It was worked out but the entire thing was stressful for us. Would not recommend. The clarion suites in Melbourne was ok. Clean comfortable beds but very dated. There was nowhere to have breakfast and they gave us these breakfast boxes which were not what we were interested in. Would have liked a hotel with restaurant instead and also a concierge or staff who were educated about the city. Would not recommend. Also the washer dryer did not work and we had to have one of the hotel staff have our clothes dried for us. It was on machine that did both and did not work properly at all. Millenium Roturura was ok but very dated rooms. Didn’t love them. Hotel itself fine. Breakfast ok. But location beside Polynesian spa was good. Adina hotel in Auckland. Great location, suite very nice but terrible service. One day they didn’t clean our room. When we called we told them and they said housekeeping was gone for the day. What would I like them to do? Really? How about clean towels, empty garbage, Kleenex etc. so we asked for that. Then they said what do you expect us to do we only have two staff working. Well that is not our problem!!! We are paying you for service. Would not recommend. Overall we loved the entire trip other than the accommodation issues. The best experiences and best memories. Thank you.
Hotel Review
One day they did not clean our room. When we called they said housekeeping was gone for the day. What would we like them to do! Really?? How about new towels, dump garbage, Kleenex etc. Then he said we only have two staff working. That is not our problem!!! We are paying for the hotel and the service and this was definitely lacking. Would not recommend. Suites nice.
Activity Reviews
Spectacular. The most stunning vistas!!!loved!!!!breathtaking.
Most incredible experience of our lives!!! So beautiful. Surrounded 360 degrees by mountains on the fjord. Woww!! No words!!!! Loved!!!!! And the flight back over the mountains, surreal. Best experience ever!!!!
Best most fascinating experience ever!! We were in the rain and did not want to leave. Loved!!!
Spectacular!!! The cliffs, the dolphins!!! Wowww!!!!
Informative and beautiful!!
Loved it all!!!
Absolutely stunning place. Loved it and the wineries. What a day!!! Loved
There are no words!!! Incredible!!!
Fascinating and beautiful!!!
Educational and incredible to learn about the culture. Loved the interactive activities. A lot of fun. Great experience!! A highlight.
Loved!! Beautiful. Fascinating.
This was an incredible experience. Loved every minute. Wowwww. No words.
Loved this. Great day!! Great wineries!! Great guide Donna 😊
So beautiful and captivating. Gorgeous!!! Loved it
Beautiful. Incredible dinner. Sheep sheering etc fascinating. Love this
Thanks for the 5 star review. I am glad we were able to provide an extra room fat no charge to you to compensate for the mistake the hotel in Sydney did. That was stressful for us also. I did take note of the couple of hotels you were not very satisfied with the service so we can follow up with the properties. It was a very long trip with lots of hotels, tours, transfers and transitions, and also trying to keep control of the budget (in retrospective, we might have... Read more