G Adventures

This wasn't the first time I felt ripped off by G Adventures but this recent trip was so unpleasant it not only made me never want to use G Adventures again but also never to return to the country (Madagascar).

G Adventures charged thousands of dollars for the trip and put us in basic (trying not to use the word crappy) accommodations. The ITC lodge in Ranohira we stayed at had no running water but somehow the toilet still leaked, cockroaches everywhere including on our towels, which we were told specifically that we weren't allowed to kill. When I showed my friends/family picture of this "hotel" bathroom, they said it looked like a prison.

None of the places we stayed at had reliable running water, electricity, or Wi-Fi. We were covered in mud/dirt (likely mixed dried animal feces I'm sure) every day and unable to shower more often than not.
With the living standard in Madagascar, hotels are very, very cheap compared to the rest of the world. Even so G Adventures chose to put us in the most basic facilities that would not even qualify as a hostel in most other countries.

Furthermore, this trip included very few activities and almost everything is optional, which means you have to pay out of pocket. If you choose not to do the optional activities, you're left with nothing to do except for staying at the crappy "hotels" so you really don't have a choice. During the 15 day trip, only three meals TOTAL were included.

So G Adventures charged us a large amount of money but provided us with next to nothing regarding lodging, food, or activities. Where did the money go? They're just scalping basically. The trip felt like a scam.

I contacted their customer service beforehand to see which level of footwear is recommended for hiking during this trip and also if I should bring my own snorkeling gear. She reassured me that sneakers would be fine and if I brought my own gear, I could participate in snorkeling without having to pay extra again. Neither were true. I ended up falling in the muddy, slippery jungle, and had to get assistance because we were walking on steep rock surfaces (the type you need a rope to climb down with), and was charged for snorkeling anyway.

This was my first trip with them after taking their Turkey trip last year when they dropped the price literally a couple days after I paid in full, then told me they wouldn't give me the price difference even in travel credit because price could change anytime. They really care about every single penny they can squeeze out of you rather than customer service, satisfaction, and retention.

I know they spent a lot of money on advertising to make it seem like a nice tour company. Beware - that's where the money you're paying going toward, NOT the actual trip you'll be taking.