4.7/5 Excellent
Excellent
13,590
Great
3,623
Average
354
Disappointing
69
Terrible
43
Small Group Tour & Trip Reviews
Small Group Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
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Most Memorable Moment
Trip was great. The guide went over and beyond his dutie. We were able to ...
A wonderful experience!
I just loved this trip. We saw so many beautiful sites, had many hands-o...
Japan's Cultural Treasures Trip
The trip certainly included a fully array of the "cultural treasurers of Japan" from Sumo and Taiko drumming to paper making and mochi making in addition to the many...
Great trip
Great trip and your guide. Enjoyed traveling with others in group. Japan is a great destination.
A terrific trip overall.
A terrific trip overall. The people, trains and fall colors were the highlight!
Small Group Reviews
Great trip
Our guide EK was amazing, the best we’ve ever had. We had lots of fun, made sushi, saw beautiful gardens. Only problems are if you been to a lot of Asian countries y...
Japan's Cultural Treasures
This tour was called "cultural treasures" so was not surprised to visit so many temples, gardens, castles, palaces and museums.Also included were the natural beauty ...
Worth Every Penny!
The itinerary was excellent giving us an excellent overview of Japan and Japanese culture. Our trip leader, Yoko Ozawa, was a delight! She went out of her way to mak...
I loved the trip. It
I loved the trip. It had the perfect amount of structure and free time. Yu, ou...
I truly enjoyed this trip.
I truly enjoyed this trip. The tour leader, Yoko, was the best. She is super helpful, great energy, informative, passionate about her country, works hard, always ava...
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Small Group Reviews
Outstanding cultural experience in every
Outstanding cultural experience in every way- highlighting the country’s history, food and artistic exploration lead by a highly qualified and knowledgable trip lead...
Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture
We loved everything about this trip, but especially liked the experiences, up close and personal, with the Japanese people. OAT did an amazing job of arranging cultu...
There were many memorable moments
There were many memorable moments . The gardens were a wonderful experience in every city. I would take this trip again. Our leader Yo -san was so good. He would mak...
Interactive experience
This is the first tour I went on (I have visited 14 countries with other tours and by myself) but this is the first one that we interact with the people. It was so r...
Thoroughly enjoyed experiencing
Thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the Japanese culture. Seeing several citie...
Small Group Reviews
The most inviting part of
The most inviting part of traveling with OATS is the unique experience that are planned. The trip to Japan was no exception. I came home with a more complex understa...
Autumn in Japan
Following a Typhoon into Tokyo set up a three airport process before arriving. It was totally worth the adventure, it only added to my anticipation and curiosity. Al...
The trip was amazing
The trip was amazing. The country is beautiful and the people are friendly and caring. The culture is what makes the country. The cleanliness thought the country is ...
Excellent trip. Trip leader was the best
Excellent trip. Trip leader was the best we’ve ever had; she went above and beyond to make every experience and activity memorable. Japan was beautiful, clean and t...
Beautiful and fascinating adventure
Our trip to Japan in November was spectacular. The vibrancy of Tokyo, the beauty of Hakone, and the opportunities to interact with Japanese people were so valuable t...
Editor’s Take
What to Look for in Small Group Tour Reviews
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.
Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
Most favorably reviewed small group tour operators have a few key things in common: attention to detail, a truly small group size, engaged local guides and a flexible attitude. Travelers who have been happy with their small group tour experience speak of how well organized and seamless their travels were, how much they were able to see and how they never felt rushed or like just another face in the crowd.
The most indelible memories were those from off-the-beaten-path experiences: accessing a museum after hours, sharing a meal with a local family, going behind the scenes at a centuries-old vineyard with one of the founder’s ancestors. Look for these special moments as you read reviews to get a better understanding of what might be possible on your own trip.
Those casting a negative review of their small group tour likely didn’t pay as close attention to their tour company’s personality. Some focus on younger travelers, some older, some on families - it’s important to do your research and limit your choices to those that not only offer trips where you want to go, but do so with travelers of similar age and interest to yourself.
Others may have been prompted to review their trip negatively if they were expecting a departure that never happened because of low numbers. Guaranteed (or not) departures is a key factor to consider - ask about this up front and what the tour operator’s policy is.
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