All reviews of Monty Lee
Review about: Exoticca
Ireland Tour
My wife and I just got back from our 9-day Ireland tour (Sep 2021). The tour was fantastic, and I give credit to the contracted tour company - Tour Partner Group of Ireland. They were superb and the driver/tour guide (Bill Murray) was the best guide we've had in a decade. His detailed knowledge made this a trip to remember.
Exoticca, on the other hand, needs work. Communication PRIOR to booking was excellent. Once booked, communication all but ceased. Phone calls were disconnected after being on hold 15 minutes. Emails were either responded to after over a week, but usually not answered at all. Incorrect information on the voucher was never corrected in spite of numerous attempts to get clarification (example, all the optional excursions were listed on Day 2). Guided tour at the beginning in Dublin was simply a 90 minute quick walk which you could get from any map, and NONE at the end of the trip (you were on your own, including transportation). Not a big deal, but certainly misleading from the pre-sales information provided.
The tours were great, but sometimes had to be modified by the Tour Partner Group because of the impossibility of completing the "schedule" created by Exoticca (no Star Trek transporter available to cover the distance required). Some tours (Blarney) were so abbreviated as to only allow barely enough time to climb the tower, kiss the Blarney, head back down to the bus. No time to wander any of the wonderful gardens. Hotels were not conveniently located to the next day attraction necessitating additional travel time and limiting on-site time. Hotels (except Dublin) were no convenient to city centers, so evening meals required use of the hotel restaurant for practical reasons. The food was great, so no problem with it. Just that knowing tour groups were restricted to the hotel generally, why not provide some discount at the hotel? Other travel companies include the evening meals in situations like this, so I understand why Exoticca is cheaper. Most hotels do not have a/c, which normally isn't a problem. Our trip had the rare weather of no rain, temperatures above 22C, and so the rooms were quite warm (no fans). Opening the window gave you lots of outside noise, especially in Dublin.
Exottica booked extra excursions even though they were NOT open and had not been for over a year. I'm still awaiting my refunds for those events canceled. These should have been listed as possibilities and booked WHEN they announced they were opening, not ahead like Exoticca did when they were closed. In closing, the Tour Partner Group made this an excellent experience. Exoticca would do better to COORDINATE with this group what would be realistic tour times, hotels, and travel time. They need to work on communication, especially email!
Group made this an excellent experience. Exoticca would do better to COORDINATE with this group what would be realistic