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What travelers are saying

"From the moment we stepped on board the stunning Turkish gullet in Croatia, we knew we were going to have an amazing week. The other six guests were just as enthusiastic, and we all bonded very quickly. Helena, our Archeologist was a great host and made our site visits come to life with her storytelling. There was a good balance between visits and time foe relaxing, and swimming in secluded bays. The food was delicious, and the wine was excellent . The attention to detail was second to none. Peter Sommer was in regular touch with Helena to ensure everything going well. Impressive!"

What travelers are saying

"Butterfield and Robinson just planned and executed a great, great trip for us to the Amalfi coast. All the services and hotels were wonderful and the guides were great fun and and well informed. Many nice surprises along the way and an itinerary we would have had trouble putting together on our own was effortless. All guides were well trained the transportation and drivers were polite and on time. The recommended hotels were amazing. We loved every minute of our vacation."

What travelers are saying

"Butterfield and Robinson just planned and executed a great, great trip for us to the Amalfi coast. All the services and hotels were wonderful and the guides were great fun and and well informed. Many nice surprises along the way and an itinerary we would have had trouble putting together on our own was effortless. All guides were well trained the transportation and drivers were polite and on time. The recommended hotels were amazing. We loved every minute of our vacation."

What travelers are saying

"Great routes, guides, hotels and bikes!"

What travelers are saying

"I just got in the office this morning. Egypt was the best. I mean the best. All went well. The people were very nice. But I want to say thank you personally for this chance in a life time. This will be something I will sell, and hope to go again next year.Thank you Thank you Thank you Camel Hugs, Tina”"

What travelers are saying

"Great routes, guides, hotels and bikes!"

What travelers are saying

""I do not recommend Windstar Cruises, at least not onboard 'Windstar'. The only reason I could see to sail with them is for the evening event in Ephesus, which was unforgettable. Reaching them via telephone, pre-cruise took 45mins+. Questions regarding one of Windstar's Private Driver & Guide tours I inquired about were not responded to, nor was a phone call made to me to report back. Instead, after 11pm, on the 3rd night onboard, I received an unacceptable, vague reply. Fortunately, in the week prior to cruise, my travel agent did a wonderful job of contacting a local tour/guide operator, and I had a wonderful experience. I sailed on The Windstar in August 2022 for a Greek Isles cruise. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed in most aspects, except for the spa staff, who were wonderful, and cabin stewards, dining staff, and pool area bartenders/staff, who were excellent. While realizing it is a smaller 'sailing' ship, it needs a major upgrade/overhaul, or perhaps replacement with a new ship. Public areas, were substandard, pool had unsightly rusty colored sediment around the base of the waterline, whirlpool was neither heated, nor cooled, bed was uncomfortable, many times announcements by Captain could not be heard in cabin, nor were they repeated, in full, and slowly, a second time. Announcements meant for hallways or public areas only also were stated very quickly, and not repeated, slowly and with enunciation. I felt the destination briefings could have been interactive, with repeated times, and a fun, learning experience, with some ideas of what, and how, to experience the islands, other than the Windstar, or alternate booked excursions. Such as having information on car rentals, motorbike rentals, and perhaps a packet with information on all port calls, with maps, in the cabins, upon check-in, or a designated, sit-down office, wherein one could obtain information, comfortably, without interruptions. While I realize all lines are short-staffed the past couple of years, I felt it was grossly understaffed in the dissemination of information, reception, and destination briefing department, and that staff could have been available for a longer period of time for public Q & A's. I was actually distracted with number of times I heard 'Ladies & Gentlemen', during destination briefings, after almost every single sentence, that it interfered with information being given. While an understanding was reached after a couple days, and Reception improved, I was, one time, given an 'attitude' by reception staff, which won't easily be forgotten. My cabins portholes had exterior rust sediment build up which interfered with a nice view outside the portholes, and the smaller drain in the bathroom/head, outside the shower stall, had water coming up into/onto the toilet area and left the floorboards with that awful squeaky sound and also disallowed the use of fluffy area rug, instead needing 3 large towels to dry area after a shower. After this was reported to Manager, it was fixed, but by the night prior to end of cruise, it started happening again. I also feel the cruise rates, as compared to other lines, are overpriced. Perhaps Windstar's other, newer ships are different. One can only hope.""

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."