- Posted on: 2014-07-07
- Name: Aniruddha
- Rating:
- I recommend this tour!
After 4 enjoyable trips with TakeTours, we decided to go in for a 4 day trip to Tennessee. The travel guide generally calls in a day prior to the trip to confirm. However, in this case of this trip, that didn't happen. I had to call up customer service, get the guide's number and then left him a message. The guide didn't return any call in the morning. Called up the guide the next morning but he gave me a reason saying that my number was incorrect. Disregarding it, I requested for a change in pick up location which was attended to. Coming to the trip and the itinerary - the second itinerary was followed and not the one we looked at while booking. But that is okay. In the bus, we found ourselves in the midst of mostly non English speaking Chinese travelers. The guide - Alex - made us feel comfortable as he made sure he explained everything first in English. The main attractions of the trip were the Luray Caverns, Dixie Stampede (expensive but worth it)and Ruby Falls. Too little time was given at Gatlinburg Cable Car and the Incline Railway in Chattanooga. Hotel that was picked on the second night could have been better (was below expectation). The tour guide seemed to be in a hurry and running an inconsequential race to be the number 1 bus to reach everywhere. One half of the Incline railway ride was done away with after a lot of indecision (the guide changed his mind thrice whether to go for the round trip in the span of 15 minutes). While returning too, utter confusion on the route to be taken on the trip back ensued. The driver and the guide decided to transfer passengers first to a different bus and after spending 20 minutes at a service station, decided to do away with that. Suggestions - For such a long trip, TakeTours should have tie up with better hotels, budget for time at places involving considerable amount of walking, stop for lunch at places having wider variety of food rather than Chinese eateries. However, all said and done, we enjoyed the trip and would recommend anyone taking this trip.
- Posted on: 2015-09-20
- Name: Rajnish
- Rating:
- I recommend this tour!
I took this tour on the weekend of Labor Day. Our journey started on September 4th and on the first day we reached Luray Caverns around 5PM. Luray Caverns was amazing. We spent around 1 hour 30 minutes there and then proceed further to reach our first night's stay in Quality Inn. The second day, we reached Smokey Mountain and spent around 3 hours 30 minutes there. I didn't take Dixie Stampede and enjoyed the buffet to some other outlet nearby. On the third day, we visited Ruby Falls, Rock City, and Incline Railway. There were waiting for more than 2 hours at Incline Railway but our guide didn't change his mind and let us do the round trip. All their attractions are must. Structures in Ruby Falls and Rock City are captivating. The last day, we visited Natural Bridge but I must say that it is overpriced. On all three days breakfast provided by the hotels were good. Overall this was a great trip and I recommend this trip.