Go Ahead Tours Consumer Reviews

A friend was taking this to her or rather is taking it and I asked if I could go with her as it sounded like fun! However, I wish I had read all of the negative comments on these sites first. There are some good ones. However in my experience so far, the negative ones are probably the most true. You cannot speak with a customer service representative once you have actually booked the tour and giving them your deposit. Fortunately, I only gave them $99. Still, that's $99 I'm going to lose nonetheless I'm not going. Don't believe them when they tell you that if the tour is cancelled for any reason you will get a full refund.

Do you think that means you'll get your money back? Because that's not what it means. It means they will give you a refund in terms of a credit towards a future tour with them. Also the trip insurance says they will give you a full refund but no again they only give you a full refund in terms of what the tour company will give you so if the tour company is giving you money back then guess what, you get money back from the insurance company otherwise the insurance company gives you no money at all. It's a big racket.

As you cannot get a person on the phone to ask questions you cannot find out simple things such as does your airline ticket include any baggage charges? What airline will you be taking? Where are the hotels? Are they in town or are they outside of town? The actual pricing for the tour is unclear.

Once you have booked, they don't care anything more about you. You cannot get a person on the phone, you're on hold all the time while there's this really annoying British voice telling you how much they value you and they're so sorry about the wait but they cannot call you back so too bad for you if you have to hold on for 20, 30, 40 minutes to an hour. And still, no one comes on the line.

One of the reviews I read said that they're very cheap and that they charge you for stuff that's really free. I believe that to be the case. For example, there is an added to our of the Vatican and it cost $109. However, if you read it it says it once you get there they say all these nice things and then what do they do? Okay, they give you a headset. I believe you can rent that for yourself after buying a ticket ahead of time! Or you can take a smaller group with an actual tour guide and get in early for $20 more what sounds better a headset wandering around by yourself or whatever or a personally guided tour? You still have to get to the Vatican from wherever you are on your own dime. So really what is it they're doing for you?

Probably be individual gods and their individual cities or towns are excellent and very nice but I also have a feeling that the tour guides are really terrible. They probably get paid next to no money since the site says clearly you must tip them but are they being nice so they get better tips? No, apparently not.

Thank God I've only given them $99. They keep telling me that I'm all paid up and ready to go but I haven't paid them so great maybe I'll get a credit! Find another tour! There are so many! Oh and by the way these people that you're speaking to are our only salespeople, they don't know anything really about the company which is evident in the way they speak to you. Bye wrote from a script. Add to get different information for every person before you actually booked the tour that's when they will still speak to you. They must have some kind of caller ID so they don't answer one's call... AVOID THIS GROUP!!!!!

MASSACHUSETTS -- I have read several reviews and I always keep in mind that some people are disgruntled and hard to please much of the time. "I had to walk a long distance." It is a tour! "My airline reservations were not clear." Check with the airline! "The guide was grumpy." Ask the guide to be nicer or email the agency! "I paid for the travel insurance and did not get my money back." Really? That is an independent company. For me, Go Ahead Tours seems very clear on their refund and voucher policies.

Anyhow, I want to go on a 17-day trip to Israel with side trips to Jordon and Egypt. Yes, there is a pandemic and decisions are tough. Traveling overseas to a foreign country is tough. After much online research, which included actually reading their Agreement (contract), I decided on EF Go Ahead Tours. I chatted online to obtain some clarifications. An hour later, I received a personal email to call Paulina, who was very prompt and nice. I did in fact call a few hours later and immediately spoke with a different person. Eric was very helpful and was on the phone with me for almost an hour answering all my questions, for good or bad. I went ahead and booked the $6,100 trip for early 2022.

There was NO problem reaching a customer service representative. There was No ambiguous or conflicting information online or with the representative if you are going to write reviews for "others" to read, please be factual, give appropriate details and most of all be "fair". I feel confident they will handle my tour after all my current research and interaction. I have read many excellent reviews on several websites in this regard. Both 4 and 5 stars. From people who have taken 1 or several tours with Go Ahead. I feel confident they will provide a good tour. I too must make that happen.

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS -- Please understand that Go Ahead tours is a small portion of EF Student Tours and the business/tour model they use is that for HS student educational travel. The hotels are upgraded from 2-3 star for students to 4 star for adults--but they are still located way outside of towns and transportation into the major cities is your cost. The optional excursions offered are those that Traffalger or Overseas Adventure builds into their initial packages and airfare, transfers, etc. are just as comparable to booking it yourself.

They do everything on tour to minimize their cost, such as going to a ton of free churches v. other sites that cost a euro or two to get into and museums like the Prado are always scheduled for entry during the reduced senior hours at noon. Meals are always breakfast and there is no difference between the student tours and the adult tours. In fact, if you want anything extra or different--it is your cost.

These are BUDGET tours and expect to herded and prodded around like students--that is what their tour guide expertise know how to do--they are used to barking out directives and have fixed timetables for everyday and event that are resistant to any change--even if the entire group wishes to change one of the local guided visit spots to an attraction that may cost a euro apiece to enter.

If you don't want to think and research your destination before you go--this is the group for you--they prefer it that way. But remember it is a bargain basement operation that works on volume so the tour group size can go to 45. Also, there are minimums that are not stated for the optional day trips or they will cancel them. These are basically pure profit on a tour for the company and there are high pressure sales techniques for days by the tour directors to sell these to the group.

The tour directors are issued quotas for these optionals that are reported back to the regional sales offices and then to Mass corporate. Be prepared for sales pitches. If you can deal with the above items and don't want to think like an adult but follow around like an adolescent--then this is the tour for you. I have chaperoned groups for EF and have traveled with GO Ahead to run this analysis.

Personally, I would use them for a quick cursory look at a city or country--then later visit the country on my own once I had a feel for metro service, bus & hotels available, and researched the sights that I would want to see from lonely planet or fodors as well as recommendations from locals you talk with in the watering holes you visit at night while on the cursory visit. Figure to spent at least 1500-2000 above the cost of the tour for the hidden expenses and the cost of eating out, ancillary costs, etc. Even the truck stops the bus stops at for bathroom stops cost a half a euro to get into and that is not paid by the company. They are a quick, bargain basement tour agency.

TORONTO, OREGON -- We are planning a tour for this year and on searching the internet came across the Go Ahead Tours Canada website. After going through the site thoroughly we found the following discrepancies:

a) Unlike other websites, the Go Ahead Tours website makes no upfront, let alone clear, mention of what's included and what's not included in the pricing. This seems to be a tactic of concealing charges that the local guides/tour operators might charge unsuspecting customers once the tour is on, leaving customers with no choice but to pay up.

b) The website also mentions "Once you're on tour, you can get in touch at any time thanks to our team of 24/7 Emergency Support Specialists.", although nowhere is the emergency contact # or name/s mentioned. Again, this seems to be the same cover-up as mentioned in a) above, leaving the customer in the lurch once anything goes wrong whilst on the tour, to be left at the mercy of the tour operator/guide.
Even if it were mentioned, it looks to be just a marketing and sales strategy to coerce new customers into letting their guard down while in the process of shopping for a tour.

c) The website provides conflicting and ambiguous information regarding tipping: (note the conflicting usage of terms "driver" and guide", as also the different amounts of tips suggested)
"We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver."
"Meet your guide the morning of your first full day on tour. He or she will act as both your tour guide-and-driver for the duration of your tour." . "At the conclusion of your tour, it's customary to offer your driver/guide a gratuity in USD. We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day."
"We also recommend $2USD per local guide."
"You can also expect to be solicited for tips from the hospitality and restaurant staff that you encounter. Leaving as little as the equivalent of $1USD is greatly appreciated"
This clearly also attempts at coercing the customer to pay tips, whilst the tour organizer gets its profit unhindered. Shows that they themselves indeed care little about supporting locals by paying them very little and passing their burden onto the customer, on top of the full pricing. Shameful.

d) Con tactics with the Toronto office:
The website mentions that the Toronto office is open 7 days a week, with timings clearly displayed. We wished to meet personally with anyone to discuss our plans in choosing a tour as well as to clear some doubts.
Called the office on a Saturday afternoon prior to going over to the office, and the line seemed busy, as we were kept on hold with a voice prompts mentioning to hold as the reps were busy, until someone will be able to take the call. Waited on hold for five minutes, then decided to hang up and visit the office directly.
We went to 80 Bloor St. West and the building was empty. Security let us to the 16th floor, mentioning that Education Funds, parent company of Go Ahead Tours, is not open.
We found both sets of glass doors closed, and all cubicles empty, monitors turned off dark. We knocked a few times on both doors, but there was nobody to reply.
Any respectable tour operator would not be as callous as this example. The website lies and the phone greeting on hold cons one into thinking that the office is busy and open.

In the case of Go Ahead Tours, the term "Caveat Emptor" screams in their favor!!

OGDEN, UTAH -- I recently went on the Venice, Florence, Rome with Capri extension. Everything was wonderful! I loved Italy. The individual tour guides were amazing, knowledgeable and friendly. I want to go back to Italy again soon, but not with Go Ahead Tours.

The main tour guide that was with our group for the entire tour was fair on her best day and a grumpy, pushy bully on her worst day... Mind you, there were plenty of grumpy bully moments during the trip. She seemed as if she simply didn't like her job anymore and she certainly was not a fan of me personally. I felt like she was annoyed with me most of the time. I traveled alone and was nervous to go visit another country by myself which is why I chose a tour group. I asked a lot of questions and I think that because of this, I was a thorn in her side. She was downright rude to me and a few others in our group at times.

There were others in my group that seemed to adore her, but I felt there was a strange dynamic where the people that “kissed her butt” got better treatment from her... It was weird! I got to the point where I stopped talking to her unless I had to.

Our last night in Italy was the icing on the cake. She berated me in the hotel lobby for my behavior on the trip. She said I acted as if I didn't care what was going on most of the time and she told me she needed the evaluation from me before the next day. I told her I didn't want to speak with her anymore and I went up to my room... Then she called me and again told me she needed the written evaluation. I told her I'd give it to Go Ahead directly, she would not stop so I hung up on her.

The next morning at 3:30am, she proceeded to yell at me, in the Hotel lobby in front of my fellow travelers while we were waiting for our bus to take us to the airport. Again telling me she needed the evaluation. I told her I didn't want to speak with her... I walked away from her and she followed me in a somewhat aggressive manner and said she wanted to talk to me. I had to step out of the hotel so she would leave me alone. Our bus finally came and I am very happy that I will never have to see her again.

I sent Go Ahead a brief email the night before we left Italy. A representative called me a few days later when I expressed my complaints. The woman I spoke with told me she was sorry and that they had never had a single complaint about this particular tour guide... Well they sure have a complaint now. I asked if I could be refunded a portion of the money I spent... I suggested $800 since my tour guide was awful most of the time (my entire package was about $4500). She said the best they could do is give me $100 toward my NEXT tour. Unfortunately, this trip could have been nearly perfect if not for the guide. Will never use Go Ahead again.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- I couldn't disagree more with the negative reviews of Go Ahead. I've taken 13 trips with them. Uniformly, the tours have been excellent and the guides, superb. The sales office and reservations people are good but follow-up is needed. But once on tour, the experience is as near perfect as a budget tour can be. Guides are not only extremely knowledgeable, they are masterful at problem-solving and advocating for the group with local vendors, hotels, etc. Travelers who don't want to travel or tour exclusively with the group have lots of options to explore on their own and guides will even help them plan their day.

My guides (13 trips, remember) have always been very respectful of the group's wishes... They're working for tips, folks! But they also must ensure group safety, coverage of the promised itinerary, etc. You don't want a maverick guide on an international travel experience. Go Ahead literature is very clear that tips for guides and drivers are not included, and they let you know in advance the "expected" amount... But it's up to the traveler. Same with gas surcharges... Some people book up to a year in advance. Go Ahead has no way to know if there will be a gas shortage and airlines are assessing a special fee.

On my 13 trips the gas surcharges have always been 100% consistent with the world situation. Their option would be to always charge extra in case there's a world gas crisis; I'm glad they don't do that. Go Ahead now includes a number of dinners, particularly in a new city the group has arrived in. They know you haven't had time to explore and find places yet.

They negotiate great deals on these, better than you could do on your own. But they are in larger places that can accommodate a whole group. Personally, I wish fewer fingers were included as I like to find my own place, but most travelers prefer the group meals in a new city. Go Ahead is not perfect and you won't get the luxury travel experience, but for the traveler who wants to see the world but also minimize their research and safety concerns, Go Ahead is an excellent choice.

Would not suggest using this company at all. Due to Covid our trip was canceled and instead of giving us a refund (even when I paid the extra $400 to cancel in case something happened) they would not give me back anything without a penalty. Plus, I am given only three months to reschedule my trip or else I lose all my money! And if I select a trip that was cheaper than the one I had originally paid for, they give me a credit! WTF? Seriously a credit? Why not give people their money back for something out of their control and for those who paid the extra $400 to be able to cancel if anything were to happen!

MASSACHUSETTS -- They sign you up for a tour and then send you emails asking you to sign up for the same tour. Then you pay in full and they send emails asking you to sign up for a payment plan. They call you at a phone number you asked 4 times not to call on (work). They REFUSE to refund your money if THEY cancel the trip because at least 15 people did not sign up. They don't confirm the trip until 3 weeks before the first day and you need to book your own airfare. Slow to respond; clearly not at all well traveled. Very unimpressed! They talk in script as if they didn't hear what you told them 4-5 times. Go Ahead Tours is a nightmare to book a trip with. Try Friendly Planet - seriously - They know what they are doing. And they care!

LOUISIANA -- Due to the Coronavirus, Go Ahead cancelled our trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. When we requested a refund for the full amount we had paid, less the deposit that we were willing to carry as a credit to our next trip, they refused to make a refund unless we forfeited our deposit. The only way we would not lose our deposit was if we allowed them to keep the ENTIRE PAYMENT for the next 1-2 years until our trip could be rescheduled or we chose another trip to take. Poor customer service on their part. We lost our $600 deposit and they have lost our business forever.

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS -- I just came back from my 5th Go Ahead tour. I will travel with this organization again because of the guides -- local and tour and bus drivers; the brilliance of the design and pacing of the tours; the group size; and the hotels, always a good match between best location and best value. This organization has a long history of travel in Europe and this experience makes the tours work.

What doesn't make Go Ahead work is everything connected to the marketing staff--the phone people (the turn over must be incredibly high -- they seem to be making up the rules up as they go along), the web design (website continues to be a challenge, inconsistent, and less than helpful), the travel arrangements (don't let them handle your air travel and don't buy travel insurance from them).

I worry about this disconnect between the ground staff -- the group of incredibly hard working individuals that makes the tours perfect for us traveler -- and the home office which demonstrates a consistent disregard and lack of concern towards the reality of tours. How long will these excellent guides continue to work with a mothership so itinerate, ignorant, and unconcerned with the reality of touring? For my sake, I hope at least one more trip.