How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Reading the other reviews I can’t believe it was the same Tom who was our Tour Leader. Tom was friendly and accommodating to our needs. He was always there if we needed him and although we had local guides in each country some were not good and we still relied on Tom.  We were never disappointed with any of the restaurants he found for us or the excursions he organised. Although we had to pay more on several occasions because there was only two of us on the tour.  Tom arranged for a car to the Thai border rather than a public bus and although the trip from the Thai border to Bangkok was a public mini bus Tom asked the other passengers to relocate so we could sit together. He even got the driver to divert and drop us off out side our hotel rather than the bus terminus.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

It’s worth doing but be prepared for some long journeys at the end of the tour.  Also the additional excursions can add cost so include this in your budgeting. This tour is about sampling the local culture in two countries and being immersed in their history and traditions. That’s part of the adventure.  All the accommodation was of different standards but all were clean and acceptable and in good locations.  If you want western facilities and standards throughout then don’t do this tour.

Do you have anything else to add?

"This was a very enjoyable and memorable trip. The home stays were basic as you would expect but the food good. On Don Daeng Island we spent the evening celebrating International Women’s day with the local village population. The owner of one home stay was a school teacher and he invited us to his school, which was very interesting.  
It looks like you have taken on board past issues from other travellers and have now addressed these. I have no problems with this tour although you should perhaps emphasis the potential additional costs."

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our leader worked hard to make the tour a success for us. we were a very small group and we got to know him well and very much enjoyed his company throughout the trip. His organisational skills were very good. He is a keen cyclist and i enjoyed the cycle he arranged for us in laos.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Because this is marketed as a budget tour all meals apart from breakfast were extra. Similarily, all the trips and excursions were an additional expense. Being a group of just two it was even more expensive for us so you need to budget this in

Do you have anything else to add?

"Thought this was a wonderful trip which provided an excellent introduction to both laos and cambodia. Accomodation ranged from 2 homestays which were an excellent experience to comfortable hotels with wi fi pools etc.  The location of the hotels in bangkok and phnom penh were excellent considering the ground covered.  I did not feel there were vast times spent travelling and indeed the boat journeys on the mekong were very relaxing.  Also enjoyed the fact that there were three night stays at two locations on the trip.
Cambodia and Laos are two fascinating and contrasting destinations and i thoroughly recommend this trip as an excellent introduction to both - the warm and welcoming people encountered make this a very special trip"

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Tom was our leader and after reading the reviews about him I was hoping he was not our tour leader.  I did think that he tried hard and that the extra trips that he arranged for us was at a fair price.I did have a very bad fall at the second home stay due to wet floor but he was not particular interested also when I lost my camera on the second to last day also on the public bus which was awful .  Not enough room for everyone, luggage in the isle also a body.accident waiting to happen I am sure that my insurance would have not covered this as they would have stated that I should not have got on in the first place.Health and safety non exist .

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Not worth the money. Hotel in Luang Prabang dreadful no water for the 3nights we stayed there.  Had to wash my hair in bucket which was full of slime.  My daughter did not bother at all and just used wet ones.  Then we went on to the first home stay which was even worse.It was a hello from the 4 of us and a nod from them and back to watching TV. Again no where to wash.  The meal was ok which was cooked in the community hall not to my liking as I don't like fish also charged more than in a good restaurant,from he re we went to the guest house on Don Khong Island which was the best.  I took my daughter with me who after the first home stay was ill the next day and a few more days after as she had to stay close to a toilet.

Do you have anything else to add?

It is such a same that my first holiday with Explore was not very good as you do such interesting places to visit and I had earmarked two or three more that I would liked to have done.I was interested in doing some of what you call classic which you say is a little bit more up market but if your standard accommodation is anything like the standard on this tour I would be very worried. I do feel that I need to look at other tour companies even if it was not wanted.  The price you are advertising now I would not even look at as you could do better with other companies.  I booked thisholiday July last year when it was advertised as classic budget .

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"we had 4! which wasnt very good or coherant
the main  leader who stayed with us throughout who at times wasnt clear or gave us the right info when required, we got out the plane of the day of the first homestay to be told we had to unpack and create a bag for the night as we would not be having our main bag - we should have been told the night before rather than unpack on the tarmac and almost forgot malaria tablets and contacts.

we also gave money for the boat ride in Bangkok which we couldnt go on but we were never reimbursed as it had been added to the tips kitty- its the principle rather than the money

but the guide in comabodia was very good

having more than 1 guide caused the orgnaisation to be messy at times and lack of clarity of leader "

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"DONT, AVOID AT ALL COSTS
there are better tours to go on, this one is very expensive for the tour and you have to pay for absolutely everything including Ankor Watt etc and waste too much time travelling"

Do you have anything else to add?

"see above, dont book it
also expect to waste an entire day - 12 hrs stuck in a van travelleing back to bangkok

also this is the second time i have filled in this form so it will be interesting to see if explore publish negative comments"

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Would have been nice to have one - never had a tour without one and wasn't happy about it. Guides in Laos and Cambodia were excellent.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Not for the wimpy, or for anyone expecting to have their hand held. Need overnight bag for the homestays, wasn't mentioned.

Do you have anything else to add?

The explore rep, (made sure to tell us he was not a leader) took money for a trip which did not materialise and when we asked for thew money back he said he had spent it. In my book that is stealing. Not happy about it, I just didn't tip him. Too much travelling on the bus, 2 whole days on public transport. It said it in the notes, but reality was tiring.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

This is difficult as we had 5 different ones and only one (the 2nd one) in Laos called Khiang who actully cared about what he did with us and secondly Som in Cambodia but did not see much of anyone.  More often or not we were deposited and left for said 'free time' until it was up, before we saw anyone again - not good.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Do not do it!!  Too expensive and poor quality.  I must say after all my trips with Explore I felt the standards normally present definetly were not there.  I was thinking of doing the Cycle around Burma next with Explore but am not sure now to do it or not?

Do you have anything else to add?

The homstead periods should be included in the price as there are no other resturants or places to eat and it is part of staying in the community, like camping.  Also we should not be buying sweets/biscuits for village children which teaches them to beg.  There is a very good educational programme in Laos which might be good for Explore to link with enabling books to be bought for the village children for example.  There is more but no room, disappointed Explorer this time....  This turned out to be a very expensive trip of poor quality.