Exploring Vacations
Reviews and Complaints

I would like to personally say that I landed in Ireland November 3, 2-18 ready to explore and was informed at the car rental place that Exploring Vacations has ceased operations and I no longer had reservation with any vendor in the country and my vouchers were no good. I did not receive any information in regards to this. The funny thing is I paid 20336. U Euro and 207. Euro's for this trip with last and final payment in August 2018 and they closed their doors Sept 13, 2-18.

Shame on you. I would like to know how I can recoup my funds? Any advice would be appreciated.
Please contact me for additional information

Jenny Olsen
USA
[protected]

I booked a self drive tour of Ireland 1 year in advance of my travel dates, certain that I had found a reputable company. I submitted 2 deposits and then was required to submit final payment 60 days in advance. When I got the final bill it was 1500 euros more than agreed upon and stated in the previous contracts. I figured that prices had gone up, and taxes were added, so I paid the invoice total. Later I found out that they had indeed overcharged me. This was in April of 2018. I am still waiting for my refund as of 7/26/18.

I spoke with Henry from Exploring Vacations about my desire to have adjoining (interconnecting rooms) since I was travelling with kids. It was a big deal to me! I was assured that I did indeed have them. Only to find out that I did not have the interconnecting rooms in more than 50 percent of the rooms. We were put in hotels that were hot and uncomfortable, and just not our style. Ireland was experiencing a drought so I understand the heat issue, but I wish the travel agency would have asked about hotel preferences. We were put in hotels in major cities, which we would have liked to avoid. We would have preferred the outskirts of the city. We were also unfortunate enough to be placed by the bars in many hotels, where noisy party-goers kept us up till the early morning hours.

Several tours including Book of Kells, Trim Castle, other castles, and the Killary Fjord were booked for us at 4 adult prices. Only to find out when we got there that kids under 10 were free. Shouldn't a tour operator "expert" know this? Oh and while trying to get into the Book of Kells their staff admitted they no longer work with EV.

I would recommend that anyone considering EV, just go elsewhere. They have been dishonest, and my trip "of a lifetime, " was less ideal than it should have been. I felt like I could have made the reservations, and researched the attractions better myself.

We booked a 3-week trip to Scotland with Exploring Vacations that included a rental car from Hertz. However, because they had not paid Hertz we were stranded without a vehicle for the rest of our trip. We called Exploring Vacations from the Hertz office and were informed to book at another company and they would reimburse us. We booked the EXACT same vehicle at Enterprise that Hertz was to provide for us. When returning home, I sent a copy of the car rental contract to EV, requesting reimbursement. I am still waiting...

I'm only on the second day with Exploring Vacations...wish I had seen this site before I booked. They overcharged me by 1500 and have yet to refund me more than two months after I paid. They promised me I would have adjoining rooms in my hotel. Im travelling with kids and that was a major issue for me. First hotel and no adjoining rooms, and in a very shady section of Dublin where the majority of people are not even Irish. Had an issue at the Book of Kells, and they admitted that they don't work with Exploring Vacations. I was able to get in after an agent emailed me tickets, but they charged me for my kids when they are free. I've waited so long to see Ireland, and I've been treated like crap so far...hope this gets better. I pick up a rental car tomorrow.