Most Inspirational Moment
Matsumoto castle at night and Okochi Sanso Gardens (not on itinerary)
Thoughts on Group Leader
A lovely man but questioning his experience of leading a group. Provided only information on sites that we read in leaflets, should have purchased train tickets evening before or early in morning rather than have us constantly wait for him to buy tickets whilst we waited, when asked about arranging a tea ceremony I was sent web links even after informing him there was no spaces all March and into April. He did provide links to Tokyo possibilities however several were for groups and others for minimum 2 people - difficult when a solo travellers.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book all activities before trip - cultural, theatre, tea ceremonies, sumo wrestlers etc. do not rely on guide or company. Ensure you have read up on all temples/shrines before trip. Do not expect group dinners and there will not be one at the beginning of the trip.
Suggestions
Flights on Singapore airlines significantly longer than other airlines. Final hotel provided the smallest rooms ever to the point where one had to climb over bed to reach the only chair. A single room booked but still had a ‘single supplement’ applied?! All this could have been overlooked but the trip to Hiroshima left me angry . The itinerary was swapped that day on basis it would rain and better to be indoors. However, that meant arrival in Hiroshima was in the afternoon. A quick walk round the park and on to the museum which was packed and the guide had not booked online so had to queue for tickets. At this stage we were left with limited time as had to catch a train. Result we had to quickly fight our way through corridors of exhibits packed with people in a one way system seeing scarcely any displays and unable to read anything. This was not only disrespectful, leaving me angry and frustrated but was the trip that emotionally had the most meaning during this holiday and the shortest. Visit of all. One that has left this trip most disappointing.
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Reply from Exodus
Thank you for taking the time to submit a review about your recent Exodus holiday, Noreen. We are pleased to read that you enjoyed Japan overall, although we were concerned to receive your comments about your tour leader, aspects of your accommodation and general organisation of your trip. We appreciate the impact our leaders have on our customers’ overall experience in destination, so we were saddened to learn that yours appeared inexperienced in delivering a tour that met your expectations. According to our local team, your leader passed all the necessary training and has regularly and successfully led a variety of Exodus tours throughout the past six years, with generally good feedback, which we trust shows why we were confident to assign him to your trip. We acknowledge, however, that improvements can always be made, and we will be following up with him as a matter of priority to ensure that any skills gaps are addressed ahead of future departures, with a specific focus on improving his local knowledge. In terms of purchasing train tickets, this cannot always be done in advance and, in any event, the most cost-effective option is for our leaders buy them on the day. We appreciate that customers enjoy the flexibility that optional activities offer, so we are regretful that the visits you were interested in were unavailable. Our trip notes do indicate that all these activities are subject to availability, and it appears that the sudden surge in post-pandemic tourism in Japan has led to tickets being booked up much earlier than anticipated. We are, therefore, considering removing these entirely or adding information to our literature about booking well in advance to avoid disappointment. We recognise that Hiroshima is often a highlight for our customers, so we are sorry that you felt this part of the trip was rushed. This day involves a two-hour train journey each way and the sites can be particularly busy during the peak season, which limits the amount of time groups have here. We are currently considering adding a night here next season, which sadly cannot change things for you, but hopefully shows that we are endeavouring to act on your feedback. Finally, we regret that you found the room you were allocated at the last hotel to be rather cramped, as this must have taken some of the shine off your trip. Japanese hotels in urban areas are known for featuring small rooms as most are used by solo travellers on business trips and because cities such as Tokyo are so densely populated that space is at a premium. Nevertheless, we would never wish for our customers to be uncomfortable and please be assured that your comments will be factored into any future discussions about accommodation choices. We hope this addresses your feedback and that this experience has not deterred you from traveling with Exodus in the future.
Kelly Reid, Product Manager
