Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14254 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Jon Browning

Reviewed April 2023

Egypt Wonderful, Exodus less so.

Our family of four went on this tour in February half term 2023. The places you visit are amazing, Pyramids and Valley of the Kings especially. 19 of us on the tour, really good bunch of people and the kids all got on well. We were first time travellers with Exodus and we really expected more effort to have gone in to their planning and attention to detail in making this a family adventure as billed. In reality it’s a tour Exodus seem to resell from an Egyptian tour operator and felt like an adult tour with kids on. e.g. after the 15hour overnight train journey when clearly the group were exhausted, the guide announced that the hotel rooms weren’t ready and we were going to do the next day’s itinerary then. This completely misread the group. Often the plan for the day didn’t factor in meals or breaks at a reasonable time, e.g. on the first day we at left at 0730 but lunch stop wasn’t till 1400, lots of very hungry children. For the overnight train to Aswan they don’t use the main station in Cairo but a small suburban one. They got us to the station 3 hours before the train departure and there was only a small café that served drinks. With a bit of thought they could have easily sorted out a family friendly restaurant with toilets etc, the food on the train is pretty poor so a meal before departure would have been welcome. With some planning all of this could be fixed easily. We didn’t expect someone from Exodus to be with us, but I did expect one of their team to have built the itinerary and worked with the operator to match the vision they sell. This just didn’t seem to be the case. Exodus say they have at some point visited the hotels etc but not been on this particular tour. The Cairo hotel (Cairo Pyramids – Steigenberger) was terrible, you don’t stay in the main part which is on the website but are in old bungalows that were like a 1* motel from the 1980s. I can’t believe that anyone from Exodus has stayed in that part of the hotel and they still let people stay there. At each hotel the group were met by a local representative from the tour operator, but never managed to once get the hotel rooms sorted to match the group, e.g. those that needed three beds seemed to always get two. I realise this seems petty but at 2030 after a 7 hour coach drive you don’t want to be spending another 45mins trying to sort out hotel rooms. It would have really helped if they’d got this type of detail right. The tour operator runs a tipping kitty which Exodus say is optional. In reality it isn’t. You are summoned to pay ($45 or $25 for kids) on the first day, also children age 12 or older are adults for this and the optional tours. The tour operator was literally chasing some people around hotels to collect any missing tip kitty. Exodus have said they are going to make sure the operator knows it is optional, but I think if it’s needed they should simply add to the cost of the holiday. The tipping kitty doesn’t cover the tip for the guide which is recommended at $4/day per person. We really enjoyed Egypt but think Exodus need to step up their game on this tour to make it close to experience they say they offer.

Most Inspirational Moment

Valley of the Kings and King Tut's tomb. The latter was an option not encouraged by the guide but I would definitely do it. You just gt a ticket at the entrance to the Valley of the Kings.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guide was good, but we felt he didn’t grasp that this tour had children on it. At times he lost his audience a bit with his descriptions at the various sites. I think, particularly in Cairo, he over sold the optional tours. I’m not sure how the tour would operate if only some of the group opted for the one of the optional tours. Overall though he worked hard.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t use the tip kitty just tip the drivers, hotel staff etc yourself. Bring $100 to $150 cash per person for optional tours etc. e.g. the Cairo Museum is optional and costs $40. You can pay on a card but they add a commission and then convert to EGP at not a great rate. Buy a Egyptian SIM card at the airport on arrival. When booking we were told family / interconnecting rooms weren’t guaranteed, in reality we never got one. As there were four of us we would have packed differently if we had known our rooms weren’t going to be close to each other. The exchange rate for EGP is much better in Egypt than the UK. All the hotels had ATMs with no commission. Make sure you take plenty of snacks each day, often there is a long time between meals. It was pretty cold in February at night, so bring warm clothes.

Kara Brown

Reviewed April 2023

Superb week

I had been looking at doing this trip for a few years and it did no disappoint. The walks provided both lots of historical interest and stunning views. Our guide, Gizer, was excellent and told us not only about the ancient but also the more recent history of Cyprus. He also pointed out the flora and fauna on our walks. The optional free day is a must and everyone in our group went.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many inspirational moments but the lovely views and learning more about the history of Cyprus were the most memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As mentioned in other reviews Gizer was excellent and a true professional. His amount of knowledge which he shared with us about his country was amazing. On our last day, we found out that the group flight (with BA) was cancelled, due to security strikes at Heathrow. Gizer was calm and able to help everyone with changes to our plans which generally worked out well, although for some this meant that they missed out on the tour of Nicosia on the last day, which was disappointing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would say that the time of our tour (last week in March) was a perfect time to visit. We had sunny weather, no rain and it was perfect temperature for the walks. It was quite windy on a couple of the days so a fleece or light jacket was needed near to the summit of the hills. This is also a good time to see the spring flowers as we were told that they would have faded by the time you get to the middle/end of April. Also good to know that as well as Turkish Lira, Euro and Sterling are more acceptable than I had expected.

Susie Marchant

Reviewed April 2023

Beautiful!

We travelled in February 2023 and there was no evidence of shortages of fuel or food and the people were very friendly and welcoming so please don’t hesitate to visit Sri Lanka in Comfort! The hotels we used were always clean and well-maintained with comfortable beds, air-conditioning (except for Bandarawela), and extensive buffets so there is plenty of choice for all palates. Aliya Hotel in Sigiriya was my favourite with a large infinity pool with views of Sigiriya Rock in the distance. The optional game drive on Day 3 was really worthwhile as we saw several groups of elephants feeding, as well as having a solitary male take a run at our jeep to add to the experience. We saw many bird species including plenty of peacocks. On the game drive in Yala we only saw a couple of solitary tuskers as the herds were at that time in areas of the park which were not open to the public. No leopards spotted in Yala but plenty of birds, a crocodile, water buffalo, a mongoose and wild boar. We could not do the optional white-water rafting as the hydro electric plant had scheduled maintenance so we did not visit Kitugala or do the jungle walk. There doesn’t currently seem to be a plan B for that day on the tripnotes. Also there were not enough people in our group who wanted to do the optional boat trip to do whale watching – it was very expensive -so that did not take place which was disappointing for those who were looking forward to the possibility of seeing whales. The walk on Horton Plains was excellent – a great day being out in the open with spectacular views from World’s End and Little Worlds End. Some of the terrain was bouldery so would recommend walking boots rather than trainers. We spotted some giant tree squirrels and monkeys in the trees as well as birds of prey. We did spend a long time waiting for the train to Bandarawela and it was very full so not easy to get a seat with a view of the spectacular descent. The visit to see the ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy is not to be missed. There are crowds and crowds of pilgrims all jostling to get a glance of the inner chamber when the moment comes for the monks to open it – not for the claustrophobic! Interesting to witness the dedication of the Buddhist followers. Kandy is in a beautiful location surrounded by hills – the views from the hotel are stunning and there is a lovely rooftop pool. The Dutch Fort of Galle looked very interesting but would have been better to visit earlier in the morning as it was so hot when we arrived there and a number of the group were not inclined to walk around so we did not have much time to explore. I think if the Trip Notes specified a walking tour led by the guide then this might make it more of a scheduled activity. The beach resort wasn’t really safe for bathing – red flag was always up! The beach was small so you could not walk far. There are surely better options! I had some fabulous food – tried lots of different curries. Hoppers for breakfast are fab!

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Sigiriya right to the top was a great achievement - all those open steps! The views are definitely worth it! The little gallery of rock paintings on the way down is beautiful

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujan was very knowledgeable. He kindly organised a little extra visit for us on Day 12 to the elephant transit station to watch the orphan baby elephants come for their daily feed - it was fascinating to watch from the viewing area - their antics were so entertaining! This was a nice addition to the itinerary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do take a pair of old socks for the temple visits - the rocks at Dambulla are very hot indeed and it was quite painful especially if you have sensitive soles! At Polonnaruwa you will also have to walk quite a bit in bare feet over some uncomfortable terrain. Do take binoculars and also a camera with a good zoom to capture the birds and wildlife. You do not need US$ - GBP are fine for exchanging and paying for trips and tips. I used a roll on repellent but I think a spray would give better coverage as the bugs are very good at getting you in the spots you missed!

Doreen Drews

Reviewed April 2023

Fabulous trip

A wonderful voyage of discovery which takes you to each region of Costa Rica …all made up of unique climate zones with varying birdlife and wildlife. I would hardly identify myself as someone who usually goes out searching for birdlife or wildlife, but this trip captivates you to get involved and go searching …often early in the morning or in the evening. Costa Rica is incredibly lush with a small population and a government appearing to work hard on sustainability and protection of the environment. There were a lot of roadworks in evidence! All the accommodation was excellent and all the Lodges, each one different, were a delight. They allowed you the luxury of sitting on your own veranda allowing the birdlife and wildlife to ‘come to you’ as you were in their environment. Our trip spent its last night miles outside of San Jose centre which, although the hotel was lovely, was a disappointment for me as I’d wanted to spend the free afternoon exploring the vibrant downtown area with its parks, local shops, lovely buildings, museums etc but this wasn’t feasible from Santa Ana. I’ve mentioned this to Exodus. We had a few downpours…mainly late afternoons, but only were out on a trip during one downpour and the Lodge provided everyone with huge ponchos…the rain didn’t spoil the delight of the boat trip. Suggest a waterproof jacket, strong trainers or walking shoes and a camera with a good zoom lens should be priorities for packing!

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying in the Lodges and exploring the unique landscapes, wildlife around them on guided trips or on our won.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Randall Obsney was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, passionate about Costa Rica, had very good English, caught us all up in his enthusiasm for birdlife, wildlife. flora and fauna and was a joy to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Already mentioned need for a camera with a good zoom. Casual clothes needed throughout. I travelled last 2 weeks of March and wore shorts and tee-shirts most days. A dress and skirt or trousers useful for eating out in bars/restaurants. only wore a sweater/fleece in the mountain and deep valley area. The main thing is the cost of eating out. Friends had warned me that eating out was expensive (all Lodges included all food but some evening meals need to be bought). Most Costa Ricans don't eat out so prices are high in the tourist areas. Think price of a restaurant in the UK plus a Govt tax plus service charge. Bring plenty of dollars! A few of the roads down to the Lodges/hotels were quite bumpy and one road in particular was very narrow and twisty up/down a hillside...we had a fabulous driver so no concerns. it's clear that building/extending/repairing roads is going on all over the country so expect the odd delay.

VAUGHAN SHEWARD

Reviewed April 2023

Perfect snow, great guides and stunning views!

As a complete beginner with no expectations leading up to it, I was left amazed by the stunning location and excellent tour leaders. The leaders managed the group superbly, considering the various ages, experience and ability levels. The accommodation was fun, though a bit tight for space with 4 grown men sharing a 4-sleepr room, I felt like I was at camp. The skiing itself was one of the best things I have ever experienced and can’t wait to try again. Very demanding at times physically, but I pushed myself more than what was expected. A special mention of the food, which was all included. The chefs really know what they’re doing!

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on top of the mountain on the second to last day, having learnt the basics and practiced during the week, thinking.... there is nowhere else on Earth that I would rather be in that moment!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 2 leaders, Mary and Ilse. Both were excellent and very knowledgeable. It's clear that both have a real passion about skiing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are sharing in a Quad-share room, take earplugs just in case! Otherwise, just have fun and try your best. If you fall, get up and try again. That's how I learnt quite quickly.

Barbara Thomas

Reviewed April 2023

Exceptional

I have to say this is the best Exodus Trip i have ever taken (over a few)& one of my best holidays ever. The itinerary is so well thought-out with the perfect mix of culture from natural wonders to architectural, perfectly paced & so interesting. Its a wonderful country & this trip certainly showcases it. The group i was with were wonderful. Special mention for our Tour Guise Alessandro Derrico who is without doubt the best Guide ive had on any trip-just outstanding. Also our Driver Graziano-i cant thank them enough for making the trip so special & i know all the group felt the same. Thankyou to everyone at Exodus for such a memorable trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to choose!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The best! Excellent!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack layers so that you are prepared for Mountain/beach, but pack wise & light-you actually dont need lots of clothes, no need to dress up in the evenings for example.

Sara Whiteside

Reviewed April 2023

Brilliant holiday

We had a fabulous time in Costa Rica. The group got on so well together and we had the best guide, Glenda. We were extremely fortunate with our weather too. Although was the dry season, we were warned that we could expect rain at any time, particularly on the Caribbean side. We only had (biblical) showers at La Fortuna, but after we had had our tours. The wildlife was fantastic – we were lucky enough to see several quetzals and sloths and the bird life was abundant. Most of the hotels used were good but the Holiday Inn in San Jose was a little sub standard. The food was poor and the service in the bar very slow. We thought the Monteverde lodge was too close to the road as we could hear traffic at night. The service was rather surly there too. The lodge at Manuel Antonio was also close to the road and our room (very small) was right next to it so we were woken at 5am by traffic. The restaurant was very expensive too – much better to go into the town.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed all of it but especially Tortuguero with the boat trips searching for bird and animal life. The lodge was special and had a wonderful pool. I also loved the lodges at Esquinas and Savegre as they were isolated and amongst the wildlife. I also loved swimming in the Pacific at Manual Antonio.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Glenda was amazing. She’s the best guide I’ve come across in many years of travelling. She was so well organised; all the hotels were phoned in advance which made check in really smooth. She is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm with a huge passion for her country and its wildlife. She was honest and really easy to talk to. She has a wonderful sense of humour too - very important when you are together for two weeks. Our driver, Francisco, was also brilliant- an exceptional driver, calm, friendly and patient. He was great at spotting wildlife too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind. The few negatives are completely outweighed by the positives. There is so much to appreciate in Costa Rica. It is doing its best to preserve its wildlife and rainforests etc. The scenery is stunning and there is so much variety. Some of the journeys are long and there is some rough terrain but there is much to see (or you can catch up on sleep). Take a stout pair of walking shoes and raincoats. An umbrella is also useful. A towel is needed at the waterfall at La Fortuna. Vegetarians are well catered for. It can be expensive - drinks vary enormously in price and wine is rarely included in happy hours! Drinks and meal prices do add up and the optional excursions are pricy so need to be budgeted for.

Susan Murray

Reviewed April 2023

Amazing thanks to Mikhled!

There were so many aspects of this trip that made it so incredible: a great group of fellow cyclists, a well planned route which ensured we saw the key sights of Jordan but mostly it was our guide Mikhled. Mikhled managed to perfectly blend being a highly professional and effective leader with being friendly and fun to be with. When things didn’t quite work out for us (not his nor Exodus’ fault) he always worked hard to find a solution. For example, on the day we visited all 1500 visitors had to be evacuated from Petra mid-afternoon due to torrential rain and flash-floods. Because of this we didn’t get to climb up the 900 steps to the monastery. The next day, when we had a few hours spare in the afternoon he arranged for those who didn’t want to return to Petra to go back to the hotel while organising a bus for the rest of us to go back to Petra to experience the incredible monastery sight! I would recommend the Petra & Wadi Rum Bike trip to anyone; it is something you will love and an experience to cherish for always. However, if you are lucky enough to have Mikhled as your guide leader you can be assured that everything will be done to optimise every second of the trip. Thank you Mikhled! My only negative comment is that Exodus is possibly growing too fast – the communication with the office team was poor. Emails getting no response until chased several times, welcoming us home while we were mid-way through the trip etc etc.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra and the monastery were, of course, incredible sights. The camping in the Bedouin tents in Wadi Rum wasn't a luxury experience but was a wonderful night not to be missed. We had dinner around a camp-fire with food coming from dishes buried under the sand and cooked by the day's sun. Things like these were additional bonus aspects of the trip. Floating in the dead sea was something I'd always wanted to do but it was also moments such as cycling through a little town as the mosque's call for prayer chimed that made it so special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I can't praise Mikhled enough. He made our trip so special and looked after everyone. He was efficient, highly effective and professional but also a fun member of the group. He did everything within his powers to go out of his way to make every moment the best he could. There was never a "I can't do that" - he always went out of his way to find a solution. If you can have Mikhled as your leader - get the trip booked today!! You won't regret it!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Two suggestions: 1) We arrived a day early so we had time to visit the Citadel and Roman temple. Sadly those who arrived on the scheduled date never got to see these sights. One solution would be to have the 4x4 ride around Wadi Rum on the evening we arrived so that we could have quick camel ride in the morning before returning to Amman early. This would give those who hadn't seen the Citadel and Roman theatre a chance to see these sights. 2) Please change the hotel in Amman. The Days Inn is pretty tired with cracked tiles and mould around the bathroom area. It may be in the centre of the new town but tourists are only interested in the old town. Please find a nice hotel near the Citadel and Roman Theatre. Everyone in our group said they'd prefer to pay another £50++ per night to stay in a nicer and better located hotel.

David Richards

Reviewed March 2023

A cut above other Egypt tours.

A very well planned and operated trip, one of the best I’ve been on with Exodus. We were a capacity group of 20 and were provided with a superb 40 plus seater luxury coach throughout which greatly enhanced the long often slow travel journeys, particularly in Cairo where our elevated viewing position above the traffic mayhem was a delight. The hotels used and the cruise ship were all of a very high standard throughout the tour. I found the staff welcoming and helpful, particularly on our cruise ship MS Style. The cuisine on the cruise ship was exceptional, and breakfast buffets in the hotels were all very good. My one criticism is that where packed breakfasts were provided these were singularly unimaginative, being heavily bread based, with excessive non recyclable plastic packaging. The Hotel Metropole in Alexandria is an Art Nuveaux time capsule and a real experience to stay in. The Luxor Iberotel Hotel is superbly sited with beautiful gardens and a swimming pool overlooking the Nile; great for winding down at the end of your holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

At the end of my Egypt trip I leave with these, among many other lasting memories: - Best modern wonder - The National Library at Alexandria, - Cairo is outstanding for its diversity, and vibrant culture despite huge social deprivation and awful urban infrastructure. - Worse tourist experience - Abu Simbel, although a fabulous archeological site preservered through one of the worlds most successful engineering projects, impossible to view properly. - Best archaeological site - Temple of Horus at Edfu. - Dancing with Nubian musicians at an evening barbecue on the banks of the Nile. - An impromptu performance by young music students at the multi faith House of Arts and Culture in Cairo. - Most poignant memory - the shared tombstone of two unknown comrades from New Zealand, “ Known to their God”, in the Al Alamein war graves cemetery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Sayed Mansour was knowledgeable, caring, helpful and compassionate. He went far beyond the usual tour leader duties to give us a real experience of his country which I could tell he has a passionate love of. This tour visits Mosques, Catholic Monestries and multi faith war graves. As a Muslim Sayed gave me an insight to his own faith and its relationship with other faiths in Egypt current and historical that will remain with me/

Advice for Potential Travellers

As others have repeatedly commented this is not a leisurely trip: it’s full on from start to finish. Even if you don’t take up the optional excursions there are lots of very early starts: if you are aware of this they don’t spoil the holiday. This trip with its' extra time in Cairo and Alexandra is in my opinion far superior to the shorter options as the extra time in both cities is well rewarded. Alexandra would be worth a visit to Egypt in itself just to see the New Library . Three days in Cairo was a real experience to sample its vibrant culture, and have plenty of time to view the National Egyptian Museum and the Pyramid complex. Sadly the New Egyptian museum hadn’t opened, but our hotel was close enough for us to enjoy views of its remarkable architecture. The only disappointment in Cairo was the food tour, which was just a lunch at a cafe and a takeaway for tea, not the informative hands on cooking demonstration I’d hoped for. Our visit in March was in the middle of the peak tourist season. I asked our Leader Sayed if there was any time when sites might be even a little less crowded and apart form August which is too hot for most people, he suggested November at the start of the tourist season.

Sue Clarke

Reviewed March 2023

A Comprehensive Tour of Vietnam

Fast paced and long days in the saddle meant we covered a lot of ground – 480km of this lovely country. Due to snow at home in February, I couldn’t get out on the roads so I got fitter during the rides and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. 6 out of 18 had e-bikes which meant that we kept together pretty well. Lam and his 3 staff took good care of us and we felt safe even in the crazy traffic in the cities. I felt we could have eaten at some better restaurants, especially on the first, second and third nights where the options tasted quite bland and there was little availability on the menus. There were some far better options found via google reviews and the meal in Mui Ne was particularly poor. With greater attention to the evening meals, the trip would be excellent. I loved the variety of sights and Whale Island and Hoi An were highlights for me.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the long days of up to 100km and managing to appreciate the views all around us through hamlets, villages and coastal views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Lam was a great leader and kept us all motivated and refuelled throughout. We were lucky with no wet weather so easier to keep safe on the downhills and see the potholes easier. Lam went above and beyond to make gin and tonics for us on the overnight train - carrying bottles, a tray of tonics and a cool box of ice and limes on top of his own luggage. That was very much appreciated! He also gave us each an annotated map of Vietnam tracking our route by bike and by transfers so we can see our exact route. That’s a 5* effort.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try to get some training in beforehand as you will get more out of the trip. It’s certainly not for beginner cyclists.

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