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Eldertreks

597 Markham St.
Toronto, On M6G2L7

Jeanne of Albany NY (11/19/06)
Have gone on three trips with them, two out of three were bad. Sub standard hotels, advertised as best available but not true, basement rooms, bad food, poor guides, bad buses. On a trip to Yunnan, brakes and transmission continuosly failed to the point that we missed parts of our tour because we missed connections due to bus breakdowns. In Yunnan, guide spent most of his time on the phone arranging other trips and local guide did not speak English.

In Myanmar, multiple problems with dirty and substandard rooms, boat not as promised with bad accomodations. When the toilet on the floor above broke and flooded my room, room was not even cleaned and I ended up with dysentery. Guide's reaction was not to bother him with problems. Treated us like it was his vacation and we were just along to pay his way. Complaints to company by numerous tourists were ignored or brushed off. I would not recommend this company to anyone, itinerary descriptions are great, but company does not follow through on promotional material. Also committed to provide for special needs on food  (I'm a vegetarian) but only veg food was rice and one veg dish to be shared with the entire group.

Dysentery in Myanmar, missed tours and connections, dangerous driving conditions in Yunnan-do not want to be on a bus with bad brakes and bad transmission in the Himalayas. At one point a military repair van volunteered to get us to our hotel hours after expected arrival time because the bus died in the mountains, we had been stuck there for hours and were lucky the van stopped when they saw all the Americans standing around where we didn't belong. When we were in need of road stop due to digestive problems in Myanmar, guide refused to stop at side of road because he didn't need to go: we finally and strongly insisted because conditions were critical for some of us.

Julia of Buford GA (07/18/05)
The local company Elder trek contracted with, Juulchin Travel, allowed us to be ejected from our Hotel because they had booked another group into the same hotel. Fortunately our group stood our ground adn we were finally placed into a 3rd rate hotel with hoolers on the front porch - it was better than a tent. The people from Juulchin were insulting and untrustworthly. Think twice before you book with Elder Trek - they are a Canadian Co. and have little regard for Americans traveling abroad. I have travelled the entire world and have never been treated like this before.

We paid for a 5 star hotel and got a hotel in the slums with prostitutes and drugs. They gave us $200 which was a pittance compared to the inconvenience and insult we suffered. then they made us sign a statement saying we wouldn't sue.

Vincent of Coronado CA writes (9/23/01):
Company booked extra nights at Tashkent Sheraton for $250. Told me no alternative to high price, which was what they had to pay. Got a tip and checked Sherarton web site. Had $130 rate. Complained to Eldertreks who repeated claim, the $250 was what they had to pay, but did send me a refund. Booked direct with Hotel.

At the hotel found out Eldertreks got a special rate of $90. Eldertreks did not reply to my letters expressing concern about their business practices. Silk Road tour cost $5K.

Eldertreks sends out slick ads promising "Small group travel". 15 or less guaranteed. Also "Best available hotels". What they did was sell extra slots and add a second bus and group. We were crowded into marginal hotels, resturants, attractions, limited border crossings, etc. What would have been OK for 15 was overwhelmed by 30.

Hotels were not best avaible especially the longer stays in Pakistan. Got a form letter saying how great the trip was and offering $200 off on a future trip. Most companies offer 5 percent to repeat coustomers. Eldertrek didn't answer my two letters of concern.

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