Overseas Adventure Travel Reviews

Hicksville, NY

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About Overseas Adventure Travel

Overseas Adventure Travel provides small group travel and adventure tours. Focusing on destinations that are off the beaten path. The company offers itineraries that include opportunities for cultural immersion and active exploration. Dating back to 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel focuses on experiences that cater to adventurous and curious travelers seeking unique journeys.

Pros
  • Knowledgeable guides
  • Well-organized trips
  • Cultural immersion and local experiences
  • Good value for the quality offered
Cons
  • Poor customer service responsiveness
  • Issues with booking and communication
  • Inconsistent accommodation quality

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Overseas Adventure Travel Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 5
    Customer ServicePricePunctuality & SpeedStaffRates

    Reviewed April 30, 2026

    Everything about our OAT journey - the group leader, the staff on the ship, the accommodations and the OAT planned activities were great and deserve a 5 star rating. My only complaint is with customer service prior to our trip. This was the first OAT trip where we wanted to make side trips during the journey to visit two UNESCO sites that weren’t included on the trip’s agenda, both of which required reservations as much as 3 months ahead of the trip to get a reservation directly through the site itself rather than through a private, less trustworthy, and far more expensive private tour agent.

    Before making such reservations we needed information from OAT about approximates arrival time and departures of our ship at the port, location of the port, and times of activities listed in the published Day-to-Day itinerary that we should avoid missing. For example, the Itenerary would say the ship “arrives at the port in the morning.” Did that mean 7:00 AM or did it mean 11:00 AM? Customer Service could not provide the answer or connect us with anyone who could. This resulted in much anxiety on our part, and ultimately resulted in having to cancel the trip to one of the UNESCO sites we wishes to visit because we would not have gotten back to the port in time for the ship’s departure had we gone on our private excursion.

    I expect that we aren’t the only OAT passengers who from time wish to visit a non-included site while on the trip. The kind of information I requested should have been available through OAT customer service since the trip we took was one that had been around for a while, and they should have had a way to get the information we needed. They said we could get the info from our tour guide, but we don’t hear from the tour guide until just a few days before the trip, far too late for making reservations at the two sites we wished to visit. We made our best guesses, and one of the two worked out.

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    Response from Overseas Adventure Travel

    Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re so glad your journey, from your Trip Experience Leader to the ship staff and activities, was 5-star. We also appreciate your feedback on pre-trip support. We understand how important timing details are when planning independent excursions and are sorry this caused stress. Your input will be shared as we work to improve.

    Overseas Adventure Travel

    Customer ServicePricePunctuality & SpeedStaffBilling

    Reviewed April 15, 2026

    I recently completed my first OAT Inside Vietnam tour, and it was a truly amazing experience. The trip was exceptionally well managed and organized, I felt incredibly lucky to have been assigned such a top-notch and witty Tour Experience Leader, Emma. From the moment I received an introduction email from Emma before the trip, I already felt prepared and excited. I truly glad to have that early communication along with her profile picture, it set the tone for an engaging and memorable long journey, far from home.

    Emma’s leadership, attention to details, sense of humor made a lasting impression. My husband and I truly and fully enjoyed every moment of the trip. That said, there are a few areas of improvement needed regarding OAT website and pre-trip documentation that could significantly reduce stress for first-time travelers to Vietnam:

    1) Cash is King in Vietnam! Local VND is King in Vietnam. Travelers should be clearly advised to bring sufficient, specifically crisp, clean, unfolded, latest version of $100 US dollar bills. Smaller denominations like $20 US are frowned upon. Credit Cards are not widely accepted; even at some “must-eat” OAT-designated restaurants—where you may not even be able to charge something as simple as a beer.
    2) Avoid recommending bringing gifts from the U.S. While well-intentioned, this request adds unnecessary stress, takes up valuable luggage space, and may not result in meaningful or usable gifts for hosts.
    3) Optional tours are cash-only (outside OAT optional tours). This should be clearly emphasized in advance. Travelers should not expect to use credit cards for these purchases.
    4) Hotel tipping guidance needs clarity. While “daily” tipping for hotel room’s cleaning staff is understandable due to staffing rotations, guidance should align with local practices. If U.S. currency is not widely accepted and $100 US is preferred for exchange, recommending $1–$2 USD tips is inconsistent. Travelers should instead be advised to use local Vietnamese Dong (VND).
    5) Love, love, love the scooters excursion in Nha Trang! Very thankful we skipped the Women’s shelter (after our trip to Mình Tu’s orphanage!)
    6) The Zen Monastery in Đà Lạt and the cable car ride were a nice replacement trip over Đà Lạt university optional tour! Yay!

    7) Perhaps we should stay overnight trip in Đà Nẳng vs. Nha Trang. Nha Trang was too lively with plentiful tourists.

    Our main frustration during the trip was not being adequately prepared for the heavy reliance on cash. We found ourselves short on usable currency, especially since we prefer not to use or rely on ATM withdrawals in foreign countries. Many fellow travelers felt the same regarding “cash availability” issue. Overall, this was an unforgettable and enriching experience, made outstanding by Emma’s leadership. With clearer pre-trip guidance, future travelers could enjoy the journey with less stress related to money.

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      Punctuality & SpeedStaffRates

      Reviewed April 7, 2026

      My husband and I had never experienced a tour before. We have always planned our overseas travels, but were a but intimidated by Greece and Turkey since we don't speak the language and Greece has a different alphabet. OAT solved our problem magnificently! We went to the usual sites in both countries, but also to very interesting places we had never heard of before. During the entire trip our trip leader gave us clear, understandable descriptions of everything we saw. She kept our group together and found the optimum time of day to see each site. She was also very personable. Because we traveled in the Aegean during early spring, the wind and weather was not always optimum, but I was so impressed with the ingenuity used by our trip leader and ship captain to ensure we saw all of the key islands and the one that was substituted was my favorite!

      We got to see a pistachio factory planned at the last minute, as well as the Greek Independence Day parade. We had dinner in a local's home twice; what a treat it was to get to talk to people who live where we visited. And the honeybee farm was unexpectedly spectacular. I appreciate all of the hard work, planning and flexibility that OAT leaders put into our trip. We never would have seen so much nor understood what we were seeing to such a degree on our own. And another bonus was the lovely group of people on our tour. We were able to relive our daily adventures and, in this way, better remember them by sharing them with fellow travelers.

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      Customer ServiceTechSales & MarketingPriceStaffRates

      Reviewed March 24, 2026

      One of the many reasons I choose to travel with OAT is not only their exceptional guides, but because, as they say, we're visitors, not just tourists. We visit in the homes of local residents and in other activities we listen to people who have been involved in wars and other important events in their countries. On my recent Ancient Kingdoms tour we had our guide translate the experience of a Vietnam veteran who fought for our country, the "losing side". He partially lost both legs and now walks with prosthetic limbs. Some of us were brought to tears listening to what he went through and because the U.S. lost the war, he receives no pension nor medical help while the Vietcong, the "winning" side, receive both. Our country no longer helps support these veterans. All of us enjoy visiting beautiful sites, and there are many to see on OAT's tours, but we also learn and we grow through these people-to-people experiences.

      Another plus to these tours are the excellent guides, our main trip leader and guides for each city. Our guide on my Ancient Kingdoms tour, John, just to give you one example, did something for me that was certainly not part of his duty as our guide. I inadvertently left my sunhat in a restroom, and didn't realize it until our bus had left the site. At our next stop, as I was listening to our city guide, John came over to tell me that in the market behind us there were sunhats for sale. He walked me to the market, and I found a hat for a reasonable price that I liked even better than the one I'd left behind. I don't usually leave things behind when I'm on a trip, but this time I outdid myself. I had left behind my sunglass case at a restaurant and our wonderful city guide, Sean, went back to the restaurant (twice!), to retrieve my case. Not only are these guides knowledgeable and interesting, but they are also compassionate and helpful in unexpected ways.

      These trips are great for couples, but also singles. I lost my husband two years ago and did not want to be a third or fifth wheel in a group (although I have also thoroughly enjoyed the couples on my trips with OAT), and there are usually six singles on a tour. I could go on and on about all the benefits to an OAT tour, but suffice it to say that I am already signed up for my next trip, which speaks volumes of how much I have grown, learned, and enjoyed my experiences with Overseas Adventure Travel.

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      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed March 12, 2026

      My wife & I recently returned from our first OAT trip, which was the Costa Rica Wildlife & Tropical Landscape adventure. After many years of organizing and planning trips on our own, and after hearing from friends and fellow travelers about OAT, we decided to try a small group organized tour. We were not disappointed. The pre-trip information and planning, the welcome letter from our trip leader, the accommodations, food, and itinerary were all well-organized and made for a hassle-free trip.

      We visited five microclimates, experiencing everything from the rain forest to the mountains to the cloud forests - and of course the beach. Our guide, Andres was well-organized, experienced, knowledgeable and worked tirelessly to arrange the transport, entrance fees, local guides, activities and communication. He went beyond the published itinerary to provide extras for our group of 16 travelers - including a daily morning activity list as well as a description of our activities, wildlife, nature viewings, and photos at the end of each day. His knowledge of local wildlife, plants, trees, geography, history and culture was extensive. He often offered early morning and/or evening walks - spotting toucans, monkeys, coati, and many birds - that were not on the published schedule to enhance our appreciation of the local area.

      The school visit to the middle school at Juanilama, which Andres worked hard to arrange despite the fact that school was not in session, was impactful and memorable. Spending time with the enthusiastic students and staff was culturally enriching as well as eye-opening. The “pure vida” attitude of the Costa Ricans was clearly evident.

      The school visit was followed by a luncheon with the local women’s group. We were able to participate in this activity by shopping beforehand at a local market, and then asked to join the preparation the meal along with the women - who then accompanied us at the table in discussions of daily life. In addition to the rainforest hikes, there were many experiences that made this trip amazing: family-run coffee plantation, the Epiphyte Trail at the Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation, the Hanging Bridges Tour, the boat cruise on the Rio Frio River. We enjoyed our Costa Rican adventure immensely and look forward to planning out next trip with OAT.

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      Staff

      Reviewed May 9, 2026

      OAT is an outstanding travel company. The guides are very professional, and will go above and beyond, to make a memorable trip for you. The home-hosted visit with a dinner, is always a highlight of our adventure. The itinerary provides you with time to explore on your own. I highly recommend traveling the world with OAT.

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      Overseas Adventure Travel
      Response from Overseas Adventure Travel

      Thank you for your kind words. We’re so glad you enjoy the balance of guided experiences, independent exploration, and meaningful home-hosted visits. Those personal connections are truly what make travel so special.

      Overseas Adventure Travel

      Staff

      Reviewed May 7, 2026

      My OAT trip to Morocco exceeded my expectations. Khalid was exceptionally knowledgeable, affable and handled each bump in the road (there weren't many) with grace and patience. Morocco is an extraordinary destination. OAT's accommodations were steps above my previous trips on other tour companies. OAT is very fortunate to have such a talented guide as Khalid.

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      Overseas Adventure Travel
      Response from Overseas Adventure Travel

      We’re so glad your Morocco journey exceeded expectations. We’re thrilled Khalide helped make your experience so memorable. Thank you for sharing your kind words and for traveling with us.

      Overseas Adventure Travel

      Staff

      Reviewed May 7, 2026

      I’m happy to get my booking flight the agent as soon as I needed to my flight. Thank you.

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      Overseas Adventure Travel
      Response from Overseas Adventure Travel

      We’re so glad we were able to assist with your flight booking needs. Thank you for traveling with us.

      Overseas Adventure Travel

      Staff

      Reviewed May 5, 2026

      Outstanding trip to Sicily. Exceptional trip leader - Ludo. Amazing Roman and Greek ruins. Must see military museum for veterans.

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      Overseas Adventure Travel
      Response from Overseas Adventure Travel

      Love your highlights and thank you for our review! Sounds like you had a wonderful experience. We hope to see you on another advenure soon.

      Overseas Adventure Travel

      Staff

      Reviewed May 4, 2026

      Indonesia was our second tour with OAT. As before, guide quality was exceptional. They do a great job of managing expectations as well as giving you choices for down time versus extra activities. I love how the trips are designed, with one-to-one interactions with local people to really get a sense of the place.

      Thanks for your vote!
      Overseas Adventure Travel
      Response from Overseas Adventure Travel

      We’re so glad you chose to travel with us again and that Indonesia delivered another great experience. It’s wonderful to hear how much you value the flexibility and those meaningful one-to-one connections with local people. Thank you for sharing.

      Overseas Adventure Travel

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      Overseas Adventure Travel Company Information

      Company Name:
      Overseas Adventure Travel
      Website:
      www.oattravel.com