Off-Beat Japan
Our guide was lovely and helpful. Tour was very full on but we got to see so much in a relatively short space of time.
Nov 05, 2024
Journey through Japan
The tour guide Mariko handled this mixed group of 26 from three different countries extremely well.
Setting up a WhatsApp group from Day 1 with names and photos of all participants worked really well. It enabled the group to ‘gel’ quickly and gave a clear outline of times, activities etc.
The days were action packed, which meant that we were able to see and experience life in Japan as it really is. The downside was that little time was available in the evenings to enjoy the excellent hotels and facilities.
Of outstanding value was Grand Nico in Tokyo where we were all upgraded.
We were pleased to learn when we booked the holiday that all meals would be provided. We wouldn’t want to change this. However, there was a downside. Most restaurants (mid day and evening) provided basically the same food. Hence by the second week our diet was much the same, with a lot of raw fish (not to everyone’s taste)! We only had one buffet meal and that was in the evening. So a greater choice of food would have suited us better.
Nov 05, 2024
Japan by Rail
This full-on tour visited many of the main tourist points in Japan during October 2024. There were early starts and some long journeys across three of the islands visited - Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido. The group comprised 28 people, plus the tour guide, and was too big for the guide to keep together, especially when travelling on trains in the peak hours.
As lunchtimes varied according to the visit programme, and could be anytime between 1100 and 1330, it would have been helpful if the group had been advised the previous evening of the next day's planned time of lunch. This would have helped us organise our food intake at breakfast to match an early or late lunch as appropriate.
A lovely boat cruise of Tokyo Bay with evening meal was arranged on our last night in the Capital, which left us late(ish) back to our hotel. On arrival back, we had to pack our cases for despatch by road to avoid the Shinkansen restrictions and then to prepare an overnight bag for a two night stay, all whilst having to be up for a 6 am start the following morning.
There was a farewell dinner arranged for the last night of the tour that was held in a very large cook-it-yourself type restaurant. The air was thick with the smoke of meat being cooked on the griddles at the numerous tables, which left our clothes impregnated with the smell of the experience. These were the clothes in which we would be travelling home from Japan the following day.
The horrors of the A Bomb were seen at the museums in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which portray graphically the events to the full, and really test one's emotions. Our guide was so moved, even though she must have seen the material many times, that she took to a quiet corner away from the displays to recover her composure.
The tour visited a number of gardens, Temples and Shrines, many crowded with tourists. At Matsumoto Castle, the stairs to reach the upper floors are very narrow and steep, with people ascending having to compete with the large numbers descending. Some of our group could not make the ascent. Due to the long hot summer, we were told that autumn in Japan had been delayed, with little sign of trees changing their colours in the two south islands.
The tour included hands-on experience of making Momiji-Manju (a type of maple leaf shaped cake), sushi, a sake drinking cup, fan painting, and a calligraphy lesson. These were lighter moments much liked by the group. We also enjoyed a tea ceremony and the art of Zen meditation conducted by a Monk. The tour itinerary was followed to the letter apart from one departure, when we were unable to ride the Komagatake cable car at Lake Ashi, closed due to poor visibility.
Overall, the tour was enjoyed very much by my wife and I, but it would have been more practical to have a smaller tour group. This would have made it easier for the guide to negotiate the busy places we visited and to keep the group together. Over the 21 days of the tour, we had three separate tour guides, all of whom were well prepared, and provided information on the venues to be visited and gave us other interesting facts.
The Japanese culture is much to be enjoyed. The people are unbelievably polite (less so in Tokyo, perhaps) and appear to behave within a set of unwritten rules, to which they all comply. In short, they work as a team and have a country that is devoid of litter, graffiti and, interestingly, dirty road vehicles. The trains do run on time, well almost, as we saw a sign for cancellations on one line. But, all across Japan we saw evidence of the effort and dedication being applied by workers, many in white gloves, who seem totally enthused by their individual roles, however basic. Well done Japan and its people, I would love to visit you again.
Nov 04, 2024
Tibetan Railroad
Well organized. Excellent tour guides.
Nov 04, 2024
Kerala and the Southern Highlights
very full on , have to be fit , saw everything, hotels excellent, the guides were helpful and knowledgeable, would have liked less curries, rice etc. some hotels catered better than others . i felt i had my moneys worth , a wonderful package .
Nov 04, 2024
India by Rail
Fab holiday except for trains number two and three. Dirty and very shabby ..
first and last train on itinerary were clean and comfortable .
This is my third trip to India and have done trains before but this was a different experience .
Toy train in Shimla is tiny and cramped .
Two seater seats suitable for two slim sized people .
Shabby interior .
Myself and four others from my group were put in a carriage with locals . they had luggage piled in every available bit of space . It was cramped , no room to move .
Man opposite me kept scratching his nether regions , I chose to stand !
No room in other carriages .
Other group members had a more enjoyable trip as they weren’t in a crammed carriage .
Train journeys are not romantic if that’s what you’re hoping for .
Taken to train Station at 6am for an 8am train .some stations are dirty with disgusting toilets ., very few seats .
26 people in tour group , far too big , tour guide could t cope .
Lack of porters . Had to cross and walk down railway lines with our luggage .
Not for elderly or unfit .
Horrendous early starts .and late arrival back at hotel in the evening ., 7pm ish .
Only had time to wash hands then go for dinner
. No socialising due to next morning early starts , usually around 6am .
Hotels were all really good with good Indian food . Don’t expect an English Breakfast .
Some wonderful restaurants for lunch , most memorable one in Shimla .
Jam packed itinerary , no free time for anything which was a shame , but what we got to see and do was superb .
Had a fantastic time but it’s full on .
I’d recommend this holiday 100% if the train was ditched .
Nov 04, 2024
A Week in Japan
Well organised guide was fantastic and the group of 24 got along famously
Only downside an 18/20 hour journey to get there and back
Nov 03, 2024
Classic China
We had a great tour with Wendy Wu. Our ******, Ivy was excellent. She was always ready to help, especially with our vegetarian diet. Our group bonded very well, which made it more enjoyable.
Nov 03, 2024
Treasures of Turkey
Excellent. The itinerary was busy but that meant you saw a great deal and experienced so much of what Turkey has to offer. Our guide was very knowledgeable, informative, approachable and kind. Our group was made up of ‘seasoned travellers’ so everyone was aware of being on time which was important given the number of hotel changes on the tour. Would definitely recommend and use Wendy Wu as a tour operator again if this trip is representative of their experience and organisational skills which were first class.
Nov 03, 2024
Egypt and Jordan Adventure
Brilliant as always. Been on their trips several times and everyone I’ve dealt with has been amazing.
Nov 03, 2024
