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Rosemarie of North Ridgeville OH (07/02/08)
My two adult children and I just returned from the 15 day Queens Tour of Hawaii. We had clean, comfortable rooms from the start and ended up in the gorgeous Resort Quest in Kauai. I had NO complaints whats so ever. Our tour director, Justin, was like family. We can't say enough good things about him.
I just wanted this to appear here because other folks on our tour also read these complaints and almost missed out on a great vacation because of them. We honestly don't know how YMT can do this tour so inexpensively for what we got. There were a few people on the tour doing it for their second time and one couple who does it every year. I'm not related to or connected to YMT in any way but my two adult children and I would love to go again.
Carol of Davis CA (01/28/08)
I read so much about people dissatisfied with this tour group I thought I would put in my take on them. They advertise in local papers "Travel with your fellow Catholics", which made me feel like they would be good to try out. We booked a two week trip across the Plains States to Canada and back.
The many hours and days we spent in the bus were awful. Most of the motels were just fair, and some were really run down. The bus driver was also the guide. We stopped at places like the museum of a local Artist, Walls Drugs, The Corn Palace, Cabela's, eating in fast food places.
The only good thing was the Canadian part of the trip.
Arlene of Arnold MD (09/23/07)
After reading through the complaints about Your Man Tours, I happened to notice that on 4/16/07 there were some very positive comments from a Frank Channel about the tour which he took with this company. For the record, Frank Channel is a Vice President with this company. This company has tours at very good prices but beware because the hotels that you stay at are not always the best. You get what you pay for!
Joan of Philadelphia PA (07/22/07)
WHAT A GREAT TRIP. We just returned home having left on 7-5-07 for the start of our 15 day tour of the Northwest and Alaska's Inside Passage. Everything went as planned, we were met by YMT in Salt Lake City and taken to our hotel where a welcome reception was held. The next day we boarded bus #4, lucky us. Our driver as Frank, a total gentlemen, great driver, having done this for 39 years and very informative about each area we went thru and stopped at. He really made this part of the trip enjoyable, with his wit and knowledge. We were lucky to be on bus #4 because the other three buses continued to break down, had problems climbing hills, of which there were many. I know that if we had been on those vehicles, this report would be very different.
Our only complaint about any part of the trip was the hotels we stayed at in Penticton, BC (Sandman Hotel, which was dirty and the air conditioner did not work, blew out hot air. The hotel staff was less than helpful.) At the Ramada Inn in Seattle, we were given a smoking room, told could not change as no non smoking available and the room was dirty, curtains falling down, safety railing across window was broken and the bathroom was filthy, with walls covered with mold and mildrew. Could not wait to get out of there.
The cruise was everything we had expected and we feel we got everything that we paid for and more, even with the problems listed above. I do feel that YMT could find better lodging for their clients in areas where a choice can be negotiated. The lodging in Jackson Hole, WY was better than these two major cities. Cut a few extra dollars from the bottom line and give the clients better lodging, which we all expected.
Our dealings with YMT was somewhat unsettling, as always had to wait for return call, but they always came sooner or later.
C Denny of Baton Rouge LA (06/09/07)
Copy of the letter I sent to them (YMT):
You post the positive reviews... how about a negative & what you did to resolve it?
I just finished writing the BBB about my mother-in-law's experience with your company (Your Man Tours).
My husband spoke *in person* via phone with YMT VP Chuck Supnick earlier today, who, believe it or not, commented that's unfortunate to the issue as explained to him. I am appalled & so mad I could *spit nickels* (as my dear grandmother was fond of saying)!
My mother-in-law (60+ year old widow) has never traveled. After this experience, she will probably never travel again. She and three of her lady friends booked a tour with an agent in Mississippi through Your Man Tours... looked forward to this vacation for over six months, spent her Christmas money on the deposit. Finally the day (8 June, 2007, yesterday) comes and the ladies are whisked away by loving family and friends to the Monroe, LA airport (about an hour drive from where they live).
Who could have known that would be the day some fool programmer wrote bad code into the air traffic control computers, shutting down Atlanta, and overloading Salt Lake City? Okay, things happen, flights get delayed/canceled... the airline rerouted the missed connection, and although the ladies had to travel all night, they finally made it to Boston (with all of their luggage, believe it or not).
The problems didn't end there! Last night, my husband called the hotel where the ladies were supposed to stay. He was assured someone would come to collect them in the morning when their new flight arrived and ferry them back to the hotel, no problem. This morning... no shuttle. They called the hotel and were told no one could help them and were advised to take a taxi to the cruise ship terminal at the Port of Boston. Pay for a taxi? Everything including all shuttle transportation was to have been handled through YMT! They totally missed the bus tour of Boston... Okay, never mind that - taxi to cruise terminal. Arrive at Holland America to be told the ship wouldn't be boarding for several hours. They'd have to wait... which wouldn't have been so bad IF they hadn't been traveling all night, IF they had had a decent meal, IF they had rested... and IF they had a decent place to wait! From what I understand, they waited on a bench, outside, all morning and half the afternoon with their baggage around their feet - and with dead cell phones.
We finally got hold of Holland America who went through several channels to try to confirm these four elderly ladies eventually actually boarded the ship. They did - no thanks to YMT - who basically took their money, made reservations, and then washed their hands of the rest - saying that's unfortunate.
The company responds:
YMT Vacations feels that the post by "C Denny" is inaccurate and designed to mislead the reader. This is chiefly due to leaving out key facts relating to the efforts made by YMT to address these problems and concerns. Most importantly, we feel that "C Denny" is propagating an unfortunate disservice herein to the traveling public at large.
YMT has completed our research and investigation into this matter in detail. We did so in order to re-confirm that our efforts were swift, professional and effective. Our Vice President of Tour Development responded to "C Denny's" concerns in a proper and timely manner. He extended apologies that this trip did not begin with a smooth start even though these problems were in no way caused by YMT. He accounted for the decisions YMT had made (and their rationales) pertaining to the travelers’ situation. Because the group of four would not arrive in enough time to meet the motor coach the morning they were scheduled to do so, the best option was for them to head directly to the cruise terminal. The tour guides on the motor coaches were instructed to check and make sure that the group had made it on board when they arrived, which they did; the tour did not get to the terminal until around 12:30 PM, and to their knowledge the four were already on board because embarkation had al ready commenced. (The Vice President’s letter recounted the chain of communication that ensued from this situation, and has been summarized for privacy).
Per his letter, “not knowing all of the behind the scenes efforts can also make it appear as if there was no effort made to assist these passengers, when in fact, there was constant communication concerning these passengers and what would be their best case solution.”
A member of YMT’s consumer affairs department was assigned to the file; the matter was followed-up accordingly and explained that because the airlines were the source of the delay, the matter of reimbursement for expenses incurred needed to be directed to them. Each of the four members in this group was issued a $100 voucher for a future trip as a means of courtesy.
YMT feels that this matter with "C Denny" has been addressed appropriately and thoroughly, and is therefore a closed matter.
Anthony, Direct of Internet Marketing
Your Man Travel Services
Adele of Tampa FL (05/26/07)
Just returned from tour May 10-24, 2007, to Western US parks and Alaska (Holland America).
The complaints are diverse and numerous but the worst was the bus tour. We began in Salt Lake City while the driver , Chad, talked long and maliciously about the Mormons. EG: As long as you're Christian you're OK. Mormons aren't Christian. You don't see any crosses on their churches do you? I will surely tell other Jews about this company. He told us we have the worst bus because it had no power steering and he had not done this route before but the only thing he knew was don't use the toilet. He subsequently made jokes about Baptists and Apache people.
All food stops were junk food and a long walk for my traveling companion who is disabled and uses a cane.
The tour in Yellowstone we were told, was closed in the bear area, although people from Thomas Cooke tours had been there less that a half hour before.
Chad drove right by the Lower Falls, the main event of Yellowstone because he got lost and thought he was on the Tower Falls Rd. The passengers had to yell out to him to stop and go back. He gave us 10 minutes which was insufficient time to walk to the top and see the falls unless you are a sprinter.
He then went to the wrong hotel after telling us we were getting upscale Holiday Inn at budget prices. In fact, we went to a back street hotel with dead flies in the toilet, no elevator (disabled had to stand in line to change rooms) a nasty broken pool full of algae.
There were no tour guides on any part of the trip. On May 13, Sunday Chad spent the bus trip having an extensive personal conversation with the front seat passengers about his new jimmie car, his mother, the fact that he doesn't wear a seat belt. He did not address the bus as a whole at any time until we stopped because he said it was a dangerous road. How can he carry on a conversation with only two people if it's so dangerous.
Continued at length about Canada being superior to the US. EG: his mother has leased real estate in Canada and if she has a law suit the looser pays but in the US the government pays. The is blatantly false.
On no occasion did we stop for decent food. It was all Arby's, McDonalds and other junk food. Chad told us that at every stop it was the best hamburger. Some of us don't eat meat and hamburger is not good food.
I have been on twelve previous bus tours with other companies and every hotel had suites and a happy hour when we arrived. The hotels we stopped at had store bought cookies and our room wasn't ready so we had to sit in the lobby.
Sometimes we were given false information. EG: 3 trillion tons of water moving at 1,000 mph went through this canyon. That would mean it was moving at supersonic speed. Hardly likely!
People with disabilities were unable to see items mentioned on the tour
People suffered insult or discrimination based on religion.
Some items specified on tour were not included: north and south rim of Canyon and Falls. No stop in Coeur d'Alene.
Hotels were too far from food sources. Several diabetics were on the bus and needed Glucose pills due to lunches at 2 PM.
Frank Channel of Westchester CA (04/16/07)
We had a good tour of Hawaii with this company.
We paid a very reasonable price for a two week tour to all four of the Hawaiian Islands.
We had guides on each island,hotels were average,the included sightseeing was enough to show us the highlights of each island, plus plenty of free time to do what we wanted to do.
We don'tlive far from their office so we went to see them before we made our reservations. They have a large facility near the Los Angeles airport.
The agent we worked with was very nice and attentive.
The only negative was that we could not pay our final payment with our credit card.
Nancy of New York NY (04/16/07)
We took our first tour to California and the Golden West with YMT this last March 07. Having never traveled with this company before, we were a little skeptical about what we had purchased, since the price was far below all others. However, having experienced the service and hotels we found that even though we paid a bargain(in our minds anyway) price, we were overall happy with the entire tour. Our driver and guide was Thomas who made this trip most enjoyable. He was outstanding. The hotels were average, but that is what we knew we had bought and were adequate for the price. I would recommend this tour to anyone on a budget who wanted to see a lot of California, Nevada and Arizona.
Richard of Redondo Beach CA (04/16/07)
We just wanted to comment on the tour which, we have just taken with Your Man Tours to Hawaii. The pros were: Hawaii is beautiful and all four islands are very different. The included tours were very interesting and gave us an overview of each island. We had plenty of free time (sometimes to much) to explore on our own. However, at least we had a tour guide there to give us some suggestions or recommend additional sightseeing. The tour guide and drivers were all very nice and well informed. It makes a big difference to have the guide since this was our first trip to the islands.
It was best for us to make one call and have all the arrangements made for us. The cons were: YMT could have made better flight arrangements to and from the islands. Flights were long and one layover was 2 hous long. Hotels could have been better, but not bad for the price. We weren't in at the hotel very much anyhow. On Maui the hotel hair dryer did not work and we could not get the hotel to give a replacement. The welcome briefing was to long. The guide spent too much time explaining the optional tours. But all in all we would recommend YMT for giving us a good tour.
G S of Richmond, Bc Canada (04/07/07)
I enjoyed the tour to Hawaii and the 11 day cruise of the islands. From picking us up at the airport, tours offered and the tour following the cruise I was very pleased with the service.All the guides were pleasant and helpful. It was the time factor for the journey home! We were dropped off at the airport at 4:00 PM (Flight wasn't leaving until 9:00 PM) Arriving in Seattle at 5:30 AM and not flying out to Vancouver until 8:10 AM.
The return travel time was far too long Total time 13.5 hours to get from Honolulu to Vancouver,BC If I had any idea it would be this long travelling I would have arranged my own direct flight. For $650.00 US I could have done better myself.
Douglas of Cookstown Ontario Canada (03/27/07)
My wife and I just returned from a 14 day Hawaiian Cruise March 25/07 organised by Your Man Tours. I can not say enough about how we enjoyed the trip. When we arrived in Hawaii there was a representive from the company waiting at the terminal to greed us. Our luggage was all organised in the terminal,loaded on to a bus and taken to the Hotel. We were all taken by another bus to the Hotel.For the next three days the tours and evening events were well planned.
We were always instructed in a group as to what to expect and what was to come. We were taken as planned to our boat and had a very nice 10 day cruise around the Islands. At the end of the cruise the Company representative was there at the dock to receive us. They then took us and our luggage and we went on another tour which lasted the rest of the day. They delivered us to the airport and we got our flight home. All in all we were very pleased with how well organised the whole trip was and how knowledgeable the tour guides were.
N/A
B. of Oakville, Canada (01/05/07)
Transatlantic cruise...(Oct 06) We have been on many cruises and this was the poorest one yet. We payed for this cruise 6 mos before and received our tickets and info 4 days before we left Canada with no return info from Miami. We were to take an overnight flight to Rome for which we paid a $900. fee We ended up flying to Chicago and waiting 8 1/2 hours for this flight. We could have booked direct from Toronto if we had known beforehand.
When we contacted YMT they said that we had to give a minimum of 7 days notice to cancel a flight....We had only received our tickets 4 days before. In Rome we booked extra tours and payed (Kuoni tours) YMT agent in Rome 170 Euros for 2 tours. after the first tour we cancelled the second tour and were to receive a refund of 80 euros which we never received and were charged on our visa bill when we returned home.
This was the worst tour we have ever been on -- unorganised and the people of Kuoni Tours were rude to us They left us in Rome (11 people) for 2 hours with no apologies and when we contacted them we were told to take a taxi back to the hotel at our own expense. (for their mistake) We will never travel with YMT again as they do not live up to their brochure promises. This tour was to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and it was a holiday from HELL
John of Charlotte NC (12/19/06)
I booked my trip on the internet the company was referred by friends. The tour was wonderful we just sat back and enjoyed. Everyone was very helpful and the tours are personally conducted by same tour guide throughout the trip.
Mr. And Mrs. W of Eldorado IL (11/06/06)
We took the Alaska Cruise and Land Tour to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We had a marvelous time and can't say enough about Your Man Tours
Christine of Oshawa, Canada (10/29/06)
We have just returned from a Your Man Tours Vacation to San Franciso, Los Angeles followed by a cruise to Mexico. To list all the deficiencies and unpleasant situations that occured would make it impossible for anyone to digest in one sitting. Suffice it to say that, as soon as YMT has your money in hand (often well before the trip is to start) customer service goes out the window.
Any client who complains is blamed for misunderstanding the brochure. These misunderstandings cover almost all aspects of this trip but all detracted from a good relaxing holiday. Three hundred of us coming from Canada and northern US all appear to have misunderstood what we could expect from this holiday.
We knew that this was an affordable tour, but we did not expect substandard, dirty accommodations; transportation with no tour guides as promised; the total lack of communication and rudeness from YMT.
Your Man Tours did not live up to the promise of their brochure.
Gino of Niagara Falls, Ontario (10/25/06)
Apparently YourManTour are experienced in trips to HELL! We just completed our 5 day land tour of California and 12 day Mexican Riviera cruise. All flight were United. WE arrived at Travel lodge in San Francisco, during Fleet week. The Travel Lodge was a disgrace, 7 area units all on one level, the farrhest about 1/4 mile form the Lobby.People with wheel cahairs or walkers were required to travel this far. The rooms are dirty, the buildings need much repair, the resturant IHOP was staffed by one waitress and cook for all the tour people, creating long delays.
Other people on tour stayed at the Best Western and were given free breakfast. This was not the case at Travel Lodge. Our tour bus was number 6, driven by Melba, who is experienced in RUDENESS. We were not told to pack an over night bag, so we wore the same clothes for two days, she would not get our main luggage so we could get our medicine, change of clothes or personal items. Tour Man Tour personal are not experienced or have any authority. The trip got out of hand with people comlaining.After the cruise we disembarked in the am and had all day til 11.45 pm to kill. Your Man Tour offered a Day room at the Haciena in LA for $30.00 per person. We waited an hour and a half because no rooms were reserved for about fourty people.
Upon asking for a refund we were told to call customer serve by a your man rep. I taked to President Bill Price on the ship and his attitute was, you got what you paid for. YMT stands for Your Miserable Trip
Mary of Rutherfordton NC (09/07/06)
I was really pleased and satisfied with the entire tour. YMT provided such a fine variety of stops on our NW tour to satisfy everyone. YMT people at airports, hotels, etc were most accomodating. They took us to the Yellowstone Bear World where an animal lover like myself could see bears, cubs, and wolves up close. The Alaska Cruise was like a dream.
Shirley of Findlay OH (09/05/06)
The YMT Reps in S.L.C. were very helpful. Andy our driver was always pleasant and had a joke or two and maintained these attributes throughout the week. Kudos to him! The Volendam cruise was wonderful from the ship to the superior cuisine, to the accommodations, to the outstanding entertainment, to the staff. Everyone was friendly and helpful. All in all a to be remembered experience. Having YMT meet us at the airport and hotel was reassuring. The tour was well organized and for us as Senior citizens that meant much.
Bob C of San Antonio TX (09/05/06)
Everyone at YMT Vacations is geared and gave my wife and myself a pleasurable vacation. My wife andI have been on 35 cruises that have taken us to Hawaii, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Europe and the Caribbean. I have to be truthful with you my wife told me about all of the cruises and vacations that we have taken that the Alaskan Cruise and Tour of the Pacific Northwest from YMT was one of the best. She said she thoroughly enjoyed this one from beginning to end. never in my life did I ever think that I would get to see Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Washington. Not only the breathtaking views but we had a great bus driver, and we had the pleasure of meeting so many nice people that made it so memorable. We appreciate good service and have to give credit where credit is due.
Donna of Dresher PA (02/21/06)
Our Tour of the West Coast was advertised as a "guided Tour", however, what we received was a 14 day bus ride. Our coach driver was not trained to be a tour guide, therefore, we paid an extraordinary amount of money for this ride. Also, the coaches used for this tour were substandard, to the point the bus was pulled over by the state police and given a fine, all the while leaving the tourists on the side of the road for hours.
Because of the tour guides inexperience, we missed important focal points of our trip. Because of the numerous bus breakdowns, we were late going to scheduled events, or sometimes waited hours for rescue buses. There was no tour representative on our excursions which made seven full buses impossible to handle by the bus drivers/tour guides. My husband and I were compensated by Your Man Tours 50% for the tour we took to Sonoma since we never got there - the compensation was $60. I sent two letters asking for reimbursement for our trip, the last letter asking for a specific amount of $600 but have heard nothing. Our total cost of trip, not including side trips was $2,814.00 for two persons.
The company responds:
1. We gave her and her spouse a 50% refund on their optional tour and $100.00 per
person future travel coupon.
Frank of St. Thomas OTHER , Canada (02/17/06)
My husband and I booked a 15 day Gold West Tour with Your Man Tours, Inc. which left Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2005. The trip was doomed from the beginning with 7 buses going in the same direction. Although our bus driver Jay was an experienced driver he had no knowledge of the area we travelled and was hired the night before our tour. This was frustrating!
YMT brochure stated "A professionally trained and accredited tour driver (licensed, bonded and insured). "They are knowledgeable on the local area and provide you with a wealth of information. their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience" The bus driver who picked us up from the airport (Adrian - Coach U.S.A.) told us not to trust the bus drivers because they lie to you!! How true that statement became as we set out on our tour.
We were promised so much and received so little! The entire trip was a continual frustration for ourselves and the other 4 couples we were travelling with and for new friends we met on our bus (#5). Frank (?) spoke to us at the Hacienda hotel in Los Angeles and stated that because there were so many of us travelling on this tour that we would see him along the way! We saw no one! No one was co-ordinating the trip! It was a fiasco! Every day was stressful and full of surprises. Everyone stayed at different hotels - only a few breakfasts were included. We were told to find grocery stores and have our breakfast before leaving.
Several times we would do this and the buses would stop at a fast food restaurant. The hotels chosen were often in isolated places and no instructions were given as to the area and what was available. Several nights were told to pack an overnight because they weren't taking our luggage off the bus. Too many times we were carrying our own luggage to the rooms. Many of the hotels were inadequate (Bus #5). In Fresno no instructions were given that the Red Roof Inn had an elevator. The buses parked at the back and we removed our own luggage - some to the 2nd floor. At this hotel we had dirty sheets and the only other room available was a smoking room.
At 11:30 pm at night after packing up and moving only to find this out we returned to our original room. We turned the sheets over and went to bed. We took an optional tour to Lake Havasu. A boat cruise which was crowded with standing room only and no life jackets proved to be quite unenjoyable. Some people were left behind because the time was changed.
At Oatman we arrived late and most of the shops were closing. No gunfight etc. as promised. We were always rushing with no time to relax! Our bus was inspected by the Highway Patrol and taken off the road with a cracked rotor. We stood by the road for 2 hours waiting to be transferred and divided up into the 6 other buses. Each bus could only take a few. We missed this time in Yosemite. Our bus also had problems the next day and we had to stop 3 times for a fan belt which kept breaking.
In San Francisco we had to change buses because our air conditioning was not working! Constantly waiting in long lines for bathrooms when we would stop. No instructions as to where facilities were and how many there were. We were to spend the day in Las Vegas and have a City Tour. We had 2 hours on Fremont Street (just long enough to find a place to eat). We were then driven out of the city to Primm. Our rooms were not ready and we were dropped off at a mall for one hour. Restaurants were closed at Buffalo Bills, their were no shows as promised. McDonald's didn't even open on time and people were rushed to eat.
It was Fleet Week in San Francisco and an Air Show was scheduled for the day we arrived. We were herded many blocks to the dock for our optional tour of the Bay! So many people! Lineups for meals and bathrooms. Because of our bus problems that day we had to board (Fawn's bus). She was a reckless driver and very rude to us and to pedestrians on the street. In San Francisco extra people on our bus were made to walk in the dark to their hotel by Adrian. He boarded our bus and demanded people get off and walk with him. "He would carry them if necessary". We were told we were a negative bus!!
A tour of Sonoma was cancelled and a wine tour that was nothing but a sales pitch proved to be an upsetting day for most. Many were looking forward to the optional tour of the wine country - it sounded so exciting on the itinerary. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture! Our vacation that we paid for proved to be very stressful for the 15 days we were away and for the days that followed trying to deal with this company. We called YMT twice the day our bus broke down 3 times from a cell phone on the bus. We requested a meeting with the President upon our return.
The company responds:
Frank of St. Thomas
1. He said that only a few breakfasts were included. This was because the hotels
wanted to offer it to the tour, Breakfast is not included in our tours.
2. Frank said that it was Fleet Week and there were a lot of people in San Francisco
when they arrived. We were not aware of it being fleet week this was an honest mistake.
3. Regarding their Sonoma tour that was cancelled we gave them a 50% refund. We also
gave them a $100.00 future travel coupon.
Elizabeth of St. Thomas OTHER (02/17/06)
Re: Golden West Tour Oct 1-15, 2005 My husband & I booked the above tour with Your Man Tours along with four other Canadian couples and were looking forward to the trip of a lifetime. What we experienced was more like “the trip from hell.” When we arrived in Los Angeles to begin the tour, we were told that seven buses would be traveling the tour route together! This was news to us as we were told by the YMT rep who booked our tour that there were only two buses and we had better book quickly as they were filling up fast.
We wondered how seven buses of people traveling together could be accommodated at restaurants, hotels and tour sites along the way, but were assured by YMT representatives in Los Angeles that they would be with us at all times to ensure that all went well.
Here is what my husband & I personally experienced on this trip.
1. We never saw a YMT rep until we arrived back in Los Angeles on October 12, 2005. The bus drivers were expected to be tour guides, baggage handlers and trouble shooters.
2. Our bus experienced five mechanical breakdowns which constantly put us behind schedule and resulted in the cancellation of stops or tours advertised by YMT. These constant breakdowns also made us late getting into our hotel accommodations which in turn often made it difficult to find a dining establishment to serve us at such a late hour.
3. Restaurants along the way were unable to accommodate all of the buses and we were often left scrambling to get something to eat and washroom breaks.
4. Our accommodations were generally in areas where it was difficult to get to restaurants for meals. We often had to buy food at grocery or convenience stores and eat in our room or on the bus.
5. Our optional tours which we paid extra money for were rushed due to bus breakdowns, poor scheduling etc. A boat cruise that we took at Lake Havasu on October 3rd. 2005 was in our opinion unsafe as the number of passengers on board outnumbered the life jackets! Due to the number of people on board, it was also difficult to see much of the sights.
The Bay cruise from Pier 39 in San Francisco was particularly stressful as our seven busloads of people were booked to arrive the same day as the Blue Angels, the 49’ers and it was also Fleet week. The traffic was horrendous and by the time our bus driver was finally able to park the bus we had to race to the pier to get our tickets for the cruise. Crowds of people made it difficult to get anywhere, see anything or find a place to eat in the time allotted. In our opinion this was very poor planning on the part of YMT.
The company responds:
1. She said that there were seven buses theat traveled together, this is because we
had a lot of interest in this tour so we added more buses.
2. The bus had mechanical breakdowns we are very sorry that this happened but
unfortunately, buses sometimes break down. She also got $100.00 coupon for future
travel.
G. J. of Bradenton FL (12/31/05)
We found Your Man Tours staff to be uninformed and offered limited service. We were given incorrect information a number of times. The Company gave few details ahead of time. Do not expect brochures, detailed itinerary or hotel names until you arrive, which of course is too late. We received our flight tickets just 10 days before we left. We live in Florida and specifically requested to fly from a FL airport, preferable Miami. We were told, "you will fly direct from a Florida airport to Rome."
When the tickets arrived 10 days before departure we found we were routed Atlanta/New York, taking us over 24 hours from our Florida home to the Rome hotel. I suffer from a medical condition refered to as Travelers Thrombosis. Even while wearing surgical stockings, extended periods sitting in a cramped plane seat causes my legs to swell and burst the blood vessels. This is extremely dangerous and something we try to avoid by always taking the shortest route.
We spoke to travelers from Toronto who were routed to Miami/Rome. We contacted the California office and were told it would cost us another $900 to make the change to fly this much quicker, shorter route. We had already been asked to pay an extra $100 for a requested earlier flight, this we agreed to. Two weeks later, we were told they required an additional $100, again we agreed.
Some tours in Italy that were indicated to be inclusive were not included and required additional payment in Euros. Our guide in Italy, Alicia, worked hard to cancel a tour we had paid for. Her comment; "There is not much to see. You will jump out of the bus, take a picture of the leaning tower, and then get back on the bus." After much argument we visited Pisa. She admitted that this was her first and probably last time she would work with YMT.
There were 400 plus YMT travelers booked on this 23-day transatlantic cruise/land tour, yet unlike the other travel companies, YMT representation was zero. Our problems were minor compared to some of the stories we heard from fellow YMT travelers. Some phoned and faxed their concerns at their own expense (15 Euro for a fax from the hotel) from Italy shows these were not minor complaints. YMT may have been an efficient travel broker in the past but our first experience with this company will be our last. My wife wrote to YMT shortly after our return detailing our complaints and expressing our disappointment with the service received.
The company responds:
1. They complained about the airline schedule that they had. If they needed special
accomodations they should have let us know in advance or booked their own air. They
also did get a $100.00 per person future travel coupon.
Geraldine of Wauwatosa WI (12/08/05)
When we booked -very early in 2005 we booked air also figuring we would get decent flites ---What a mistake!!!!!! The flite back from Hawaii was absolutely horrible!!!!! A 'Red Eye'with 3 stops enroute. Would I ever recommend booking flites with you again NO!!!!! As a matter of fact I doubt if I will ever book anything with your company. The charge for flites would be a major factor not to book with you as I don't feel your firm informs folks than such a horrible flite pattern is what you offer.
The hotels were moderate to the very end . Some of them have a very bad mold problem which I feel has a major effect on ones health. I feel we have been taken to the 'cleaners' for trusting your firm and booking agent
The company responds:
Geraldine of Wauwatosa, WI
1. Our ticketing department works under a contract with the airlines and gets the
best flights available.
2. This is an affordable tour that is why the rooms are moderate as she said.
Bonnee of Omemee OTHER , Canada (11/21/05)
We just returned from a 22 day Translantic cruise booked through Your Man Tours. First of all let me say that the Cruise ship Costa Mediterranea was fantastic and we loved the cruise. However we will never book through Your Man Tours again.
While we paid our full cruise and land payment about 4 months ahead of time Our flight tickets arrived only the day before the cruise when we were panicking as to whether or not we would receive them. Everyone we spoke to on the cruise told us similar stories. We didn't receive our actual cruise tickets until we were in Italy just before departure on the ship. There were coupons in the cruise package we could have used, but we didn't receive the packge on time. We felt we had absolutely no support from Your Man Tours and could have done this booking totally on our own or through any travel agent.
There were hundreds of people on board ship booked through Your Man Tours from all over the US and Canada and each person we talked to (and there were a great many we spoke with) Everyone is totally disgusted with the way YMT handled thier end of the booking. The arrival back in Fort Lauderdale was completely confused. The flight bookings were all mixed up and everyone had to scramble to make their flights and transfers. YMT was totally unreliable. We will cruise again, but never book with Your Man Tours.
The company responds:
Bonnee of Omemee Canada
1. The reason that the tickets came so close to departure is because the cruise line
was late in getting the tickets to us.
Rita of Windsor, Ont. Canada (11/01/03)
I had booked a trip for 2 to the Rose Bowl Parade for departure Dec. 30/2003 and put down the required $100 deposit. I was aware that this deposit was non-refundable. The balance was due Sept. 30/03, however, before that date a medical condition has occurred that would make it very difficult to travel at this time. I spoke to Debra of the Dearborn MI office of YMT telling her of my disappointment at having to cancel this trip and that we had every intention of booking this trip next year.
At that time Debra told me that they were already taking bookings for next year and that I could request that my deposit be used for next year's trip. She also told me that when I got the final papers from California to write on it that I was unable to go this year but to put the $100 deposit towards next year's reservations and mail it back to them. I did exactly that. Then I received a call from California telling me that they would not use this deposit towards next year's reservation.
The company responds:
1. She was mis informed deposits can not be transferred to new date
Joseph of Norwood NJ (10/04/01)
I booked a trip (Fly/cruise) that was advertised on 1010 Wins radio last October 2000. I paid the first payment of $200.00 with my credit card and the next two payments of $600.00 and $4350.00 with a personal check. Totaling $5150.00. This amount also included travel protection. Since the national tragedy of the World Trade Center we feel unsafe to travel and requested a full refund from Your Man Tours, Inc.
After several phone messages to a Mr. Kessler, He finally returned our call. He said that we would only receive half of our tour price back and that the travel protection only covered personal loses. In the travel protection document there is an unforeseen emergency clause, that does not state specifics. At this time we fell terrified to fly or cruise, now that the country is at the brink of a conflict with foreign nations and or terrorists. If this doesn't fall in the unforeseen emergency clause, I don't know what would!
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