"We cannot recommend Exploration Journeys more highly! From the first quote until the end of our trip, this was hands down the best experience we've ever had with a travel agent or tour operator. We just returned from a 15-day trip to Argentina, and everything went so smoothly, mostly because of Exploration Journeys. I usually plan our international trips on my own, using resources from the Internet. Iguazu Falls had long been on my bucket list, so we decided to plan a two-week trip to see the highlights of Argentina.
We selected Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Mendoza and Iguazu for a breadth of experiences. But those destinations involved a lot of domestic flights, and I had read that flights are frequently delayed or cancelled on the main carrier - Aerolineas Argentinas - and that the airline does not have a great reputation for customer service. I was worried that this potential added stress might spoil our enjoyment of our vacation. I knew that I needed the help of a Spanish-speaking tour company, who would still let me customize our experience, but help facilitate any problem-solving.
I found Exploration Journeys through a Google search, and requested a quote. From the moment of first contact, I was impressed by Fred. After the initial quote, he followed up to ask if I had any questions or if I wanted to change anything. No question was too small, and he was so quick with his responses! He helped me to customize an itinerary that had a variety of experiences in our desired destinations.
After we booked, Exploration Journeys mailed us a printed and bound, personalized Travel Booklet, which is probably the most thorough pre-trip resource that I've ever received from ANY tour operator or travel agent. They've thought of everything - instructions on how to dial international phone numbers, information on travel insurance, vaccinations, baggage weight limits for domestic flights, local weather, tipping guidelines, tips on what to see and where to eat in each destination, what to pack, and more! The booklet also included our detailed itinerary, complete with our selected flights and tours.
Plus, it had vouchers that we could tear out and hand to each provider (even though we really didn't need them). Exploration Journeys is located in Buenos Aires and works with local tour agencies in the destination cities. These local agencies coordinate your airport transfers, tours, and any other issues when you're at a destination, but Exploration Journeys also assigns you a "trip host," who is never more than an email or phone call away. The hotels they use are very good, and we felt that we got some of the better rooms in those hotels. The private airport transfers are a huge plus - it's a huge relief to emerge from the airport and see your name on a sign and know that you'll arrive safely at your hotel.
And, your trip host is constantly monitoring your travel plans. In our case, the pilots of Aerolineas Argentinas were planning to strike on the weekend that we were supposed to fly to El Calafate. Fred proactively assessed the situation and rebooked us on a different airline before we even heard about the potential strike. WOW!
Another example of Exploration Journeys' amazing service: while you're on your trip, your trip host thoughtfully checks you in to your next domestic flight, notifies you via email and emails the boarding passes to your hotel concierge for printout. Often, the printed boarding passes are also provided to you by your tour guide, so you never have to worry about receiving them.
We would definitely recommend Exploration Journeys to anyone who wants a 'first class and worry-free' vacation in Argentina!"
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