Exoticca - Overall Rating based on 21 reviews
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Trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos
I recently went on a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos with this company and to be honest, it was a bit of a letdown. The guide we had wasn't great - they seemed to lack real knowledge and passion for the place. The itinerary got messed up a few times too, so it was a bit confusing and not as exciting as I had hoped. Considering how much I paid for the trip, I was really expecting better service and organisation. I won't be telling anyone to use this company after my experience, that's for sure.
Central America Charm Package
My experience with the Central America Charm Package was really good. The schedule was well thought out and the transport arrangements were spot on. One thing that could have been better was if we started a bit later when we moved between cities or hotels. The early starts were quite tiring.
Costa Rica trip feedback
Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing, it was even better than we thought it would be. The locals were so friendly, getting to our accommodations and checking in was easy, and the places we visited and activities we did were absolutely gorgeous. At first, I was a bit unsure, but I soon relaxed and had a great time in La Fortuna and Tamarindo. The only downside was that the transfers took longer than we anticipated, but that was just because of the traffic, not the driver's fault. All in all, it was a fantastic holiday in Costa Rica.
Greece and Croatia trip
We visited Greece and then Croatia, which was pretty cool, but the hotels were quite far from the main areas. We had to rely on Uber or taxis each time we wanted to go somewhere in the city. The walking tours were enjoyable though, and we had the chance to explore on our own later in the day. All in all, I'd rate it an 8 out of 10.
Recent trip to Peru
My recent trip with the company was really well planned and smooth sailing. They made sure everything from transport to accommodation to transfers was sorted properly, which meant I could just relax and enjoy my journey without any worries. However, I did have some trouble when I tried to get in touch with their billing department. I had to wait for three days before I could finally speak to someone after being on hold for ages. It was a bit annoying and they could definitely do better in that area. But all in all, my trip was great thanks to the company taking care of everything so efficiently.
Exotic holiday to Peru
My recent trip to Peru, which I booked through Exoticca, was absolutely amazing. Right from the start of booking, I was really impressed by how well they looked after me and paid attention to every detail. The flights went smoothly, the places I stayed were top quality, and the guides were so knowledgeable and friendly. Everything on the itinerary matched up with what was promised, with no unexpected surprises. The prices offered by Exoticca were way better than other tour companies, especially when you consider the flights were included in the deal. Although there were a couple of minor hiccups, they didn't take away from the incredible experience of the trip overall. I'm already excited about planning my next adventure with Exoticca.
Morocco trip
I recently went on a trip to Morocco with Exoticca, which was actually my third trip with them. I've always liked their tours because they're a good bang for your buck and jam-packed with lots of interesting stuff to see in the short time you have. During my travels, I've come across some top-notch guides, like Abdel in Morocco. He wasn't just really clued-up but also sorted out any issues that cropped up, making my holiday all the more enjoyable. The only downside was the food at the last hotel in Marrakech, which unfortunately didn't quite meet the mark.
International tour
I recently booked a trip abroad with this travel agency and I have to say, I was really let down by the service I got. The staff didn't seem to know what they were doing and we ended up getting denied entry at our destination because of them.
Wow. Just wow.
This was the first time I booked a trip through Exoticca and I have to say, I'm really impressed. Everything was organized perfectly as soon as I booked my trip. The travel arrangements, transfers, guides, and destinations were all fantastic. Any questions or concerns I had were dealt with quickly and thoroughly. But what really amazed me was how they offer such incredible experiences at such reasonable prices. I'll definitely be booking more trips with them in the future.
Costa Rica trip
The transportation I had during my trip to Costa Rica was really good. I found that chatting with the agents on WhatsApp was much better than using the app because they were always so helpful and quick to reply. The first hotel I stayed at was amazing, but the other two were not as great. Despite this, the check-in process at all the hotels was easy and it seemed like they worked well with the company. Exoticca really impressed me when my flight got cancelled - they tried to find other options and when that didn't work, they paid for an extra night at the hotel, which was a lovely gesture.
My Costa Rica holiday
My holiday in Costa Rica was absolutely fantastic! We visited some amazing places and saw so many incredible things. The hotels we stayed in were decent, though they could've been a little better. The staff were all really friendly and made us feel so welcome, they were incredibly helpful too! The tours we went on were a blast, especially the one with Walter - he was honestly the best tour guide I've ever had!
South India trip
Our trip to South India was just fantastic! Everything was so well-planned, and our guide really knew their stuff. The driver was also super helpful the whole way. We got to see a lot but also had time to unwind. The hotels were comfy, and our guide sorted out any problems quickly. The food was amazing, proper South Indian grub. We're already thinking about our next visit!
Cool trip review
This company is really well-organised and easy to get in touch with. The trip was so enjoyable and the price was really reasonable. The contractor they used was fantastic as well. We managed to see a lot of the country in a short space of time. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and seemed to know everything about everything. The coach we travelled in was like a luxurious Mercedes and was really comfortable.
Guided tour
The guide and bus driver we had on our tour were amazing. They knew a lot, were really friendly, and made the whole experience fun. But, I reckon the hotels could've been better placed – some were a fair distance from the main sights. Also, the breakfast at a few of the hotels wasn't up to scratch. Still, despite these little things, I had a great time overall and would definitely think about booking another trip with them.
Fantastic Ecuador and Galapagos trip
The logistics were spot on and everything went smoothly. My husband and I had a great time on our holiday. We had a good mix of activities and relaxation, so we got to enjoy the best of both worlds. We felt like we were looked after really well during the trip, with all the information we needed given to us at the right times. In general, it was an amazing holiday that gave us memories to cherish.
Incredible Ecuador Adventure
Wow, what a fantastic adventure! We really enjoyed exploring the beautiful landscapes of Quito, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz Islands, and Tena Amazon. The trip was well-organized and had a good pace, which let us fully appreciate the beauty of Ecuador. Our tour guide, Jose, was amazing - he was so knowledgeable and helpful, making our time in Quito and the Amazon unforgettable. The only thing that would have made it even better would have been if the hotel in Quito was more centrally located for our last two nights. It would have been the icing on the cake!
My travel adventure
Oh my goodness, my trip was absolutely incredible! The places we went to were like scenes from a movie. We saw loads of amazing things and gained so much knowledge. The highlight was definitely the people who looked after us during the trip. Our driver, guide, and representative were all incredibly friendly and made sure we had the most amazing experience. I felt like a superstar on my holiday!
Guides, hotels, tour vehicles, enjoyable tours, recommend, wonderful people.
I recently went on a tour with this company and had a bit of a mixed experience. The guides were really clued up and friendly, which definitely made the trip better. However, the hotel in Cusco wasn't up to scratch and I'd suggest going for a fancier option next time. But, to look on the bright side, the tour vehicles were all really comfy and made it a breeze to get around. The actual tours were fun too and I got to know some lovely people who were also along for the ride.
Costa Rica trip
Being a first-time customer of organised trips, I was a bit unsure about booking with a company I'd never heard of before. However, my trip to Costa Rica with Exoticca turned out to be really great. The transport arrangements were efficient, the guided tours were interesting and fun, and the overall quality of the trip was even better than I expected. Some of the accommodations could have been better, but I chose the standard option and was happy with what I got. The only downside was the flights, as there were some changes and issues with luggage and seating due to the airline. Despite this, the price and quality of the trip were excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to book with Exoticca again and would definitely recommend them to others.
13 Days (nearly) Sri Lanka ...amp... Maldives
Having travelled with Exoticca (first 2 weeks of February 2023) and now having spent 2 fruitless weeks pursuing a formal complaint, I strongly advise avoiding this company at all costs. Based on my experience, your documentation / itinerary will be misleading, subject to late change and the quality of your accommodation will be vastly below expectations and the price paid. Thereafter, Exoticca will continually fob you off with references to small print and simply tell you to take matters up with the local agent, from whom they will have procured the holiday (and clearly with who you will have no contract).
We paid £9,316 for an Asian holiday (Sri Lanka and the Maldives) with 11 nights ‘in Destination’ having paid the additional cost of (their words) ‘Luxury Category Hotels’. The warning bells should have sounded when my itinerary described it as ‘13 nights in Destination’. I now have written confirmation from Exoticca that they class a night on a plane as being a night ‘in Destination’.
The more fundamental problems started the week before I left for the holiday, when I noticed that all four of the Sri Lankan hotels had been changed from my previous itinerary without any notification to myself whatsoever. It was only by chance that in downloading the Exoticca App shortly before leaving, that I even noticed the change. I duly complained by phone, prior to leaving, and was told in no uncertain terms their ability to change the hotels is in the small print in the Terms and Conditions so there’s nothing I or they could or would do about it. Failing to even actively notify a customer that 80% of their hotels have changed is, to my mind, simply unacceptable.
Having previously taken holidays throughout South East Asia, circa £9.5K is an expensive holiday and we would have expected that the three 5-Star hotels and two 4-Star hotels were of the highest quality.
In short, the Sri Lankan hotels were simply of an unacceptable standard for a holiday of this value. Problems included: air conditioning not working... cockroaches in the sink... very tired, old fashioned rooms... mouldy curtains... multiple broken items (sink, shower, shower curtain, toilet, safe, phone)... and appalling / inedible buffet food (no ala carte food at any of the hotels). Particular lowlights were the Tourmaline hotel in Kandy, where were the only guests staying in the entire hotel for 2 nights and we were offered an in hotel meal choice of either fish and chips or pasta and tomato sauce, or alternatively they would take us to another hotel for a buffet. At The Palms in Beruwala (comfortably the worst of the worst), we endured a karaoke party in the adjacent room until 04.30 in the morning despite numerous requests to reception to intervene, which they failed to do.
Having now reviewed the cost for 2 people staying at each of the Sri Lankan hotels (Arie Lagoon, Tropical Life, Tourmaline ... The Palms) the position is, as can be seen on multiple hotel booking sites, that 7 of our 11 ‘in Destination’ nights cost a total of £395 out of a holiday costing just under £9.5K. This is simply a complete rip-off and wholly disproportionate to the type of holiday accommodation we should have expected for the money paid.
Our experience of dealing with Exoticca throughout the events described above was terrible. Effectively it was left with me and the local agent to try and make the best of a bad job. On a cost for cost basis, this is the worst holiday experience I have ever had.
Having now pursued a formal compliant for circa 3 weeks, Exoticca have now confirmed to me in writing, that what they describe as a 4... or 5... ‘category’ hotel on my itinerary, has nothing whatsoever to do with its official rating, it is the TripAdvisor score. No where on any of my holiday documentation is this stated and the information presented is patently misleading. Clearly, a TripAdvisor score is directly influenced by the cost paid. I might have ranked some of my hotels slightly higher if paying £50 per night for 2 people. I wasn’t. To date, they offered me a £120 credit off my next Exoticca booking, eventually increased to £300. No thanks – AVOID!
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8 day trip to morocco
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