Re: Western Pacific Odyssey
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That horrible Derek. So Heritage was just as inefficient as Rockjumper. Is there a possibility?though that one company thought the other company was taking care of business? I can see that it was not always the case as with the landing permits. You would think that a company that runs ships regularly would know or at least check if permits were required. That must have been heartbreaking missing the species required at those places.?
Yes, I know that you normally use private guides and drivers. I wasn't directing the tour scenario at you. And yes, sometimes there is no option as to whether tours are taken or guides used. When traveling to Attu it was a "guided tour" but once on the island you could bird on your own if you wished. I prefer to bird on my own or with a friend but at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge and La Selva Lodge as you know guides are required to walk the trails...no choice... Yet still I managed to bird on my own.
I hope your next birding experience makes up for this one Derek.Here's one for you: Holland America has a 22-day cruise from Buenos Aires with stops at Puerto Madryn, the Falkland Islands, ?Antarctica, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, et cetera finishing at Santiago Chili. $3,613 Canadian each. Every southern pelagic possible and a few hours at each port to bird.
Keith
On Tue, Jun 13, 2023 at 6:27?PM Derek Matthews < Derek@...> wrote: Oh and we also asked for assurances that the group would be split in to small groups each with a guide and were told that would absolutely happen! ? D. ? ? Hi Seems to me there were too many fingers in the pie. If Heritage had arranged the tour it would likely have fared better. Too bad that both companies have to pay the price of dissatisfied customers. The itinerary was fantastic and let¡¯s hope that it can continue with more expertise. The two concerns that stand out as displeasing to me are the meeting arrangements to begin the trip and not having at least 7-8 guides to split the group into reasonable sizes. I can¡¯t imagine trying to find a secretive ground species (like a pitta) with even 10 people¡¡¡but that¡¯s why I don¡¯t take tours. Victoria BC
On Jun 13, 2023, at 4:02 PM, Derek Matthews <Derek@...> wrote:
? Thanks Paul and Dan, ? It was really disappointing and the way we have been treated by Heritage and Rockjumper has been unbelievable. It¡¯s so short-sighted of companies to simply ignore customers complaints ??in the hope they¡¯ll just go away. Between social media, chat groups, Google reviews and birding friends around the world, I¡¯ve already had multiple people say they¡¯ve heard similar things about Rockjumper and won¡¯t be using them, so ultimately, the reputational risk will cost both companies far more money than standing behind your product with some honesty and integrity. ? We have heard from so many people on this tour, all of whom are outraged, and for some of them it was a trip of a lifetime! ? Thanks again. ? Derek ? ? ? Hi Derek, I forwarded your review to a couple of my birder friends who aren't on this list. (I expected you wouldn't mind that.)
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pat.mary.taylor