CHINA - bad ending
Written: Jul 02 '06
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Pros: Active tours; varied assortment of sites and cities; knowledgeable guides
Cons: OAT reaction to member ratings can get Group Leaders fired
The Bottom Line: I would look for other tour operators. OAT overreacted to my comments concerning the Group Leader by taking away all assignments from him (fired).
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| homeport's Full Review: Overseas Adventure Travel |
My wife and I to the 21 day Overseas Adventure Travel trip to China on April 23, 2006. While the trip was good from the standpoint of what we saw and the places we went, a very unfortunate result occurred that we wish to share with all travelers. During the entire trip, a few loud, overbearing, inconsiderate group members tried to influence what places we were to see, as well as the schedule. Their actions not only intimidated the group leaders, but caused many within the group to feel uncomfortable. This type of situation requires a strong group leader who takes charge and, not only follows the itinerary, but also makes decisions that are based on the groups needs and desires, and not to the benefit of a single member of the group. Upon return from the trip, we received the usual rating forms from OAT asking us to rate performance of the guides, and how we liked the various places we visited. The problem was the forms were so abbreviated and generic that there was no method or room to expound on any single issue.
Instead of filling out the OAT forms, we wrote a lengthy, detailed letter to OAT in which we gave very high marks to the Group Leader except that, because he was easily intimidated, a number of incidents occurred which detracted from what we considered to be a full experience for us. Furthermore, we told them that we felt that this kind of training is a responsibility of OAT, and with further observation and training to enhance the Group Leader’s ability to handle this type of intimidation, he could be an asset to OAT, because of his likable personality, knowledge of the subject matter and his presentation.
We did not hear from OAT for some weeks, but we did receive a message from the Group Leader that he “had all assignments taken from him for the rest of the year”, which in essence means, he was fired. When we finally did get a letter from OAT, the primary issue was not really addressed, seemingly putting all of the blame on the Group Leader, They, furthermore, stated that the reason they wanted feedback from the group members was to improve their tours. In fact, the forms they provide give very little means to assess a group member’s experience. Further correspondence from us to try to get the Group Leader reinstated has been fruitless so far. We will not consider OAT as a choice in the future. While we understand, the obnoxious group member is to be expected on trips, it should not result in the firing of the Group Leader.
The moral of the story is this: When a trip is complete, we would never again fill out any forms or send any correspondence to the tour company unless every item is EXCELLENT. Anything less will endanger the job of the Group Leader, even if the incidents involved are minor.
Recommended:
No
Best Suited For: Couples
Tour type: Group
Tour format: Various
Tour length: Over a Week
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Epinions.com ID:
homeport
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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