Top The Balkans Historic Sightseeing Trips & Packages In 2025/2026

What travelers are saying

"Until Covid clears, I would steer clear of Backroads. We were partially through their June 2020 Costa Rica tour when a guest tested Covid positive. She and her husband were isolated. The rest of the group were offered wimpy masks. Nobody was offered Covid testing daily and masks were not required of the guests or staff. The guides kept repeating "not in the CDC guidelines." Our group of six decided that the Backroads response was inadequate so returned home mid-excursion. The hotel and food was excellent, but the provided bikes were inadequate. The front derailleurs were poorly adjusted, and most of the riders had the chains come off during the first ride. Hikes or bike rides were conducted in downpours. Disappointed for charging such a premium price."

What travelers are saying

"We were booked for an Italian Adventure in Capri and were booked at the Camp Santa Fortunata in Sorrento which turned out to be a nightmare. We paid for an upgrade and the cabin we were placed in had no air conditioning, windows had no mosquito net, the bathroom had no toilet paper. I have contacted them for a refund, of at least the upgrade that we paid, and they have refused. We ended up having to book a hotel in Sorrento because we just couldn't sleep at the cabin they placed us in. We hated the accommodation and their communication was poor and underserved to their clients."

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

What travelers are saying

"I’ve gone on a few trips by MGTC and all of them have been fantastic. They know where you wanna go, who you want to take you or be your guide, if anything goes awry you call them and they fix it. They make your days away wonderful, and stress free and planning your dream trip is easy! Russ and Suzie have planned all my trips. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I stepped foot into a calendar or computer wall paper! It’s the best value per dollar you can get for travel!"

What travelers are saying

"I’ve gone on a few trips by MGTC and all of them have been fantastic. They know where you wanna go, who you want to take you or be your guide, if anything goes awry you call them and they fix it. They make your days away wonderful, and stress free and planning your dream trip is easy! Russ and Suzie have planned all my trips. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I stepped foot into a calendar or computer wall paper! It’s the best value per dollar you can get for travel!"

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

What travelers are saying

"While the staff was unfailingly polite in their communications, I had significant concerns about my experience booking through this travel agency: The primary issue was the clear lack of first-hand destination knowledge among their team members. Despite marketing themselves as a luxury travel provider, the recommendations and arrangements felt more premium-tier at best. This became apparent through several missteps: They booked us into a subpar hotel in Entebbe that was well below the expected quality for the price point Our itinerary included an unnecessary layover in Zanzibar that wasted an entire day, when direct flights were available They scheduled us for an extremely challenging hike despite clear communication about moderate fitness levels, suggesting limited familiarity with the terrain Most disappointingly, when these issues were raised during and after the trip, the company acknowledged their mistakes but was unwilling to provide any meaningful compensation or refund. This stance felt particularly problematic given their admitted errors in judgment and planning. While individual elements of the trip were enjoyable (particularly Chameleon Lodge), I cannot recommend an agency that positions itself as a luxury provider while delivering mid-tier experiences and refusing to make things right when they fall short of expectations. The silver lining was their responsive and pleasant communication style, but politeness alone doesn't make up for fundamental service issues."