"Not a pleasurable experience"

There were signs which I was not comfortable with when I asked them about the itinerary of the tour. First of all, one of the numbers listed on the website is not operational and secondly, getting an operator was difficult. There were a couple of times I waited more than 15 minutes and still, no one picked up my call. When I finally spoke to someone I was told the tour guide will get hold of us the day off which to me lacked planning. On the day of the trip, Taketours did not notify us that we have to walk across Union Station to wait for the bus and not at the Union Station itself. To top it off, the AC in the bus went out from Bakersfield all the way to Vegas in over a 100 degrees weather! In addition, we were disappointed that we didn't get to see the Horseshoe Bend as indicated on the tour description due to circumstances beyond the tour guide's control, however, an explanation would have settled the confusion, but none of that was stated. The trip would've have been pleasurable had it been run efficiently & well-planned itinerary

"Please no"

rude tour guide who tried to con us into giving up more money. apparently "optional" activities are mandatory and if you don't want to do them you have to pay a $40 service fee, plus it was mandatory to tip our rude tour guide $10 per day. poor time management, hotels were in the outskirts of the cities....... Waste

"7 Day US National Parks Tour (Take Tours)"

Our family recently took a 7-day Take Tours package to visit various US national parks in mid-May 2017. The tour started in LA with some of the tour members picked up in Las Vegas. Tour ended in Salt Lake City with the option to go back to Las Vegas/LA for an extra charge. We were fortunate to have a good female tour guide, Diana, who spoke in Mandarin & English, and our driver, Ruben, was a safe driver. We joined this tour with some trepidation, esp after reading all the reviews online. But what really motivated us to go was the fact that this tour was a comprehensive one covering more national parks than any of the other tours offered. Optional tours initially cost US$100/person but a cable car up in Jackson, WY was added for US$20 each. The tour guide provided all of us sufficient information/guidance on each of our tour stops and rest stops as well as how long our day would be, where to dine, and what to prepare for the next day's tour. We would wake up at 5 am each day to leave the hotel (after breakfast) at 6 am and at times arrive at our next hotel between 7:30 to 8:30 pm. On our tour, we were able to see Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell, Lower Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Glenwood Springs, Rocky Mountains, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone National Park (one afternoon and the following morning), Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, WY, and Salt Lake City. At Arches, we didn't get to see the main attraction as we were told that it was a long drive going there. At Yellowstone, we also missed the main attraction, Mammoth Springs, as the road going north was under construction although we found out the next day that the other road from the west entrance was open but we ended up going to the West Thumb Geyser Basin nearby on an early chilly morning instead. Anyway, it would have been nice if we did but it wasn't a big deal esp if you've been driving for so long. Other than these, we were given sufficient time to enjoy each stop. Of the 48 tour members, a family of 4 Americans, 2 Canadians, 3 Filipinos, and mostly Chinese from the US, Vietnam, mainland China, & HK were with us. All were well behaved and followed instructions from the tour guide throughout the trip so I would say we had a great tour. There was only one incident that marred our first day when a Chinese couple were not picked up promptly at the Las Vegas airport for some time and the upset husband yelled at the tour guide twice (though no fault of hers) creating some scene. Fortunately, he cooled down and behaved the rest of the time. Tips to the driver & guide were pegged at US$8/per day per person. Most of the hotels we stayed at were 2-1/2 to 3 stars. Good enough for a night's stay in each place. Only 3 bkfasts were provided. Our hotel for Yellowstone was in West Yellowstone in Montana which was only 1-1/2*, I think. While it was newly renovated, it did not have any of the usual amenities (microwave, fridge, coffee maker) which was difficult since we had to buy groceries to prepare for bkfast the next morning. So no fridge to store our groceries, no coffeemaker and no heating capability. A total of 9 states (incl CA if one started in LA) were visited and over 3,500 miles logged on this tour. Take Tours (and Tours4Fun and others), I learned, is just an agent for CTour Holidays or Westcoast Holidays, for that matter.

"Tour guides don't understand english much and tour company charges more money"

Tour covers so many city's, it's good for people who don't want to take any risk in US. No need much effort in finding different places, buying ticket etc. Tour can be better if tour guide understands proper english, It was very hard time for us as tour guides and driver everyone are from china they don't understand english properly. They are able to explain abount attractions properly.
Few entry fees we are charged more than actual fee. Taking more benifit from optional entry fee.
At the end of tour it's mandatory to pay $8 per day per head which is huge they should take this while booking.

"Never again complete rip off"

Take tours
Tour code 072-2356


Tried posting this review on Take tour website and as expected they did not publish it.

Complete rip off. Never again.

Totally disappointed with our tour. Many charges in the itinerary were not clear and completely misleading.

Our tour guide Mr Jerry Zhang was extremely non co-operative. He didn't guide us correctly and was very rude when asked questions. Also he took the tips for him and driver right at the beginning of the tour which is not right.He failed to communicate and give proper instructions as to what to see at every destination. Most of the times we were left on our own to figure out what to do. There was complete lack of time management at most of the locations.


1. At Niagara Falls, he tried to sell maid of the mist and movie as a combo and not individually. Many of us wanted to take just the maid of mist ride and not the movie, which he said it cannot be done as it was part of the combo. However in the itinerary they are clearly mentioned as individual optional items. When we questioned him about this ,he told us that he doesn't know what we were told about the itinerary and his company works differently from the online booking company. He also told us to buy maid of the mist tickets on our own if we don't want combo which we refused to do. Finally he pocketed $2 per ticket from all of us just to get us tickets for the Maid of the mist. This is completely unethical and unprofessional attitude.

2. Our visit to Hersheys chocolate factory was disappointing too. For the factory ride, he charged us $15 per person and before the ride we were given some kind of gift hamper. The factory ride is free in reality. When we asked Jerry why did he charge us for the ride which is free, he said it was for the gift hamper , which was completely useless and nobody had asked for. When we demanded for refund, he refused it completely and told us to visit their local office to claim the same.Very few of us were able to visit the office to take the money back. Most of us are unable to do that since we reside at far off places.If company can take online payment from us, then why cant company refund us the same way?

3. Watkins Glen Park was free but company charged us $10 per person as parking charges.

4. Even though breakfast was included at some hotels we stayed in, we were not informed.

5. We were given just one and half hour at Corning glass museum to see the museum and for lunch which was not sufficient at all. As a result of this, we couldn't see the museum completely and could see just the show.

6. At the liberty bell, he didn't inform us as to where the bell was located, because of which majority of the group didn't get the chance to see the bell.

Company should stop ripping off innocent tourists who are left at the mercy of tour guide. My advice - Don't go with this company and if you don't have any other choice, be prepared to spend more than what you did at the time of booking, also pack lots of food for breakfasts and dinner coz they take you to such hotels which are inaccessible to food places.

"My family (tourists)" Obnoxious Guide""

My family (tourists) were supposed to be joining the1 day Amazing New York City tour today, the order number is MT09-486-1047, they were picked up from flushing in front of sherato. They were taken to this "pier" that doesn't look like a regular pier like south street seaport , (there were no people but them.)to catch the ferry to take them close to Liberty. There was another man with the guide and were asking my family to pay $95 each for the cruise alone. And when they refused to pay, because it was too much,they were told to " get out " very rudely and disrespectfully, They were denied of the whole tour, the only place they went to was the Wall street, that's it. An investigation must be conducted by the company regarding this. I must be refunded of my payment. This experiece wad really unacceptable especially the attitude and obnoxious conduct of the guide. ...... flora

"Just a few days back took the TAKETOUR …"

Just a few days back took the TAKETOUR package --3 day to Niagara, DC, and Philidelphia from NY.( during a short visit to US). A well organised tour, a comfortable bus, with a non intrusive tour guide in the form of Ms Cecelia, and a well kept schedule ---- A beautiful experience in sight seeing.
Covered Secret Caves, Niagara by night, Old fort at Niagara, some specific points n the river, Maid of mist, Corning glass facility and White house, Capitol hill, Lincoln memorial, Vietnam and Korean memorial and Musuem of Aerospace ---Imagine all these in one trip and ending with Independence hall and the Liberty Bell across the Delaware river in Philidelphia.

Great job.. Thorough professionals ...No waiting for tickets ..Don't have second thoughts for taking their tours

"Poorest ever seen"

Marc worst tour guide. Hire professionals

"Took tours to San Fransisco and Vegas"

Took tours to San Fransisco and Vegas, Grand Canyon in April 17 with this company and had terrible experience. Driver and Guide are unhelpful and miserable unless you speak Chinese, yet you are expected to pay €8 tip mandatorily per person. Early starts at 5.00 and 6.00 am with no breakfast facilities in room or hotel. Coach does not stop for comfort breaks for longer then 2hrs at times and travellers are not allowed to use facility on coach. This can affect your health. Long journeys to Yosemite and Grand Canyon with less then hour given to appreciate the beauty. They do not provide comprehensive itinerary in advance and you are forced to pay hidden costs of up to €100 minimum for person for excursions. My advice is don't book with this company as you will regret it.

"Horrible! It appear cheap but they will nickel & dime you!"

Booked a trip to Antelope Canyon 4/5 to 4/7. I should have known it was going to be a bad trip when the toir guide called me the night before to admonish me that if I wasn't at union station by 6:40, she would leave my party of four. We arrived by 6:00am. I wish I would have know "picking up at union station " meant walking almost two blocks to where buses are allowed to park. I even asked her where exactly at union station because I'm a regular commuter and know there is no parking for buses.
By 7am, we were on our way.... wrong! We had SEVERAL more stops to make before we were even on the freeway. We were finally on our way by 10am, making so many stops, it took us almost 9 hours to get to Vegas. Our tour guide was very rude, unapproachable and short with her answers. It seemed like the only time she bothered with us was when she was collecting money. Herein lies my biggest issue with this company. They FORCE you to take overpriced tours with them. If you refuse, like my 80 year d mother in law, they charge you a hotel penalty fee. When I questioned it, they called it a tour penalty fee, story kept changing. They also force you to tip the toir guide for the hike after paying almost $100.00 for the 1 hour hike and force you to tip the bus tour guide and bus driver who I absolutely wouldn't have a problem doing if I felt it was warranted. Our driver was a smoker which is why I think we stopped so often and our bus tour guide made it a point to remind us we would be left behind if we were even one minute late from bathroom break. Very stressful waiting in long lines. It was a horrible experience, I will never tour with this company again and will continue to not recommend it to friends and family.