A Mixed Experience with Trip Finder Travels, Dubai
Rating: 3.5/5
I recently had the opportunity to explore Almaty, Kazakhstan with Trip Finder Travels, Dubai, and here's my experience. Our trip was handled by Benoy, who was very helpful and responsive.
Day 1 was a great start, with a visit to Shymbukal Mountain, Green Bazar, and Rakhat Chocolate Shop. Our tour guide, Aya Sister, was excellent in providing insights and making the experience enjoyable and she is very knowledgeable.
Day 2 took us to Kolsay Lake and Charyn Canyon, but unfortunately, we reached the canyon at 4:30 PM, just in time for sunset, and we couldn't explore it properly. More planning could have helped us make the most of this trip.
Day 3 was a cultural delight, with visits to the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, Church, and Kok Tobe Park.
However, our last day was a letdown. We spent over 6 hours at the mall, which was a waste of time. We had to vacate our hotel by 11 AM, and it would have been great if the tour operators had planned some attractions or allowed us to stay in the hotel to make the most of our last day. Keeping the kids in the mall or outside at -3°C for more than six hours was a nightmare.
The biggest issue was the misleading advertisement of the tour as 4 days and 3 nights. Our flight was on the night of 29th December, and we returned on the morning of 3rd January, which made it more like 3 days and 3 nights. Initially, we were given a tour schedule with 29th December as a day trip, but it was later revised to 30th December, which was confusing.
Overall, Benoy's service was good, and Aya Sister's guidance was excellent. However, I'd appreciate it if the tour operators could work on optimizing the itinerary and be more accurate with their advertising.
Suggestions for improvement:
- Plan visits to attractions with ample time to explore
- Consider flexible check-out times or alternative plans for the last day
- Ensure accurate representation of tour duration and itinerary