I have worked with Jim on couple of my vacations over the last 2 years. Excellent service and…read moreinvaluable insight into local activities and highlights at exotic destinations. Jim always works hard to keep the cost down while ensuring a great and exotic experience. Will definitely use for my next trip. FYI, Jim only works on countries he has personally been to/has expertise in.

Do not use Jim Harlan for your vacation! I recently cancelled a trip with him, with plenty of…read morenotice, and we are now in a dispute over refunds. He refuses to communicate with me and seems hellbent on keeping all of my over $8,000! He even sent bogus information to my CC company in an attempt to keep all of the money. Please don't make the same mistake I did. This guy is NOT to be trusted. Meredith F Oakland

I've taken two cruises with Amawaterways and I'm already dreaming of a third. With one exception…read more(which I'll discuss later) they're the perfect cruise line for me. The short version of this review is that this is the company that Disney has partnered with for European river cruises. That should immediately let you know the high quality you can expect from them. I can't compare Amawaterways river cruises to ocean cruises. With my personality an ocean cruise is about as appealing as a trip to the dentist. I don't want to be on a boat with a huge number of people. Well with a standard Amawaterways ship they cap the number at 158 guests (other companies squeeze in more people on their river cruise ships). I don't want to have days when I'm out at sea and can't get off of the boat. Well with a river cruise every day you wake up in a new exciting place to explore. Your boat is more like a floating hotel. I also don't want to be cut off from the Internet (yes, I know what you're thinking). Amawaterways ships have free WiFi throughout the ship, not just in the lobby. The connection sometimes won't work when you're in a lock or moving between countries, but that's to be expected. Amawaterways ships are beautiful inside and out. When you board on the right side is a large lobby area where you'll relax and have briefings from the cruise manager. Below the lounge is the restaurant that can seat all passengers at the same time. To the left are multiple floors of guest rooms. You absolutely should spend the extra cash to get a room with a french balcony. You really can't understand how relaxing and wonderful a river cruise is until you experience it. Being able to wake up, go out and sit on your balcony, and watch the most amazing sights float by is so incredibly relaxing and fulfilling. When weather permits it's also fun to sit on top of the boat in one of the lounge chairs. The ships are staffed by such hardworking crews. All of them were polite, but on each cruise you'll have some "superstars" that really make your trip. By the end of the first day they're calling you by name and by the end of the week you'll have shared so many laughs and good times with them. I had never spent more than a few hours on a boat so the obvious next step was to live on a boat for a week. I was concerned with how small the bathroom would be but it ended up being better than my bathroom at home! You've got a standard and rain shower option and the water is hot instantly. The toilets have the power/speed of an airline lavatory when you flush them. The only thing I thought was completely bizarre is that there is a large frosted window in the bathroom facing the rest of the stateroom that can become clear if you flip a switch. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included with the cruise price. I have severe food allergies so going to a country where I don't speak the language is fraught with peril. If I eat the wrong thing it can at best ruin several days of the vacation or at worst put me in serious jeopardy. Amawaterways gets the highest marks for food safety from me. Before the cruise you meet with the maitre d' to inform them of your allergens. All of the menus have codes that list the allergens. If there are snacks/desserts available in the lounge they have cards describing them that list allergens. The wait staff will always be watching out to make sure you don't eat the wrong thing. It was such a weight off of my shoulders to not have to worry about that issue during the vacation. The only thing I was really unhappy about is that a poor job was done offering alternatives. For example, at the boarding party there were brownies, cookies, cakes, and pastries and I couldn't have any of them because they all had nuts in them. It was the same way with the tea service on the second day. It wasn't until the third day that there was ONE item put out I could have. At dinner if everyone was having chocolate cake I would be served lemon squares as a substitute because, you guessed it, the chocolate cake had tree nuts in it. Our chef on our boat was completely obsessed with tree nuts. I don't expect the chef to change everything for people like me but give us some options! If you put out multiple cakes it's not hard to have one without tree nuts. I give AmaWaterways the highest marks for food safety but as for offering alternative food options they could do so much better. I wrote a complaint and actually received a very nice response from customer relations that I am happy with. They assured me they're working with their ships to avoid this in the future. So far I've spent two weeks living on a river and I'm ready for my third. Thanks AmaWaterways!

Disappointing Vegan Experience on an Otherwise Wonderful Cruise…read more My Rhine River cruise with AmaWaterways was a tale of two very different experiences. First, the positives. The crew and staff were exceptional--warm, friendly, attentive, professional, cheerful, helpful, and genuinely eager to make guests feel welcome. Every interaction was met with a smile, and their dedication to customer service was outstanding. My stateroom was always immaculate, comfortable, and thoughtfully maintained. The service throughout the ship was truly first-class. Unfortunately, the dining experience was the exact opposite. I booked this cruise nearly a year in advance and specifically asked my travel agent whether AmaWaterways was vegan-friendly. I was assured that they were very accommodating to plant-based guests. I also completed the dietary preference forms and, two weeks before sailing, responded to an additional detailed questionnaire about my vegan diet. Given all that advance notice, I expected that suitable meals would be prepared. Instead, my first meal consisted of a salad. The soups were usually unavailable because they contained cream or were otherwise not vegan. Main courses often amounted to additional vegetables, and vegan desserts were virtually nonexistent until the final days of the cruise. Day after day, I found myself eating salads and side dishes rather than complete, thoughtfully prepared meals. I was not the only guest experiencing this issue. Another passenger with dietary restrictions struggled similarly throughout the cruise. What was most disappointing was that after repeatedly expressing concerns, we were asked to create our own menus. While I appreciate the effort to accommodate us, planning my meals is something I do every day at home. On vacation, especially one that costs the same as any other guest's experience, I expect to be provided with meal options rather than being responsible for designing them myself. Today, plant-based dining is no longer a niche request. Restaurants, hotels, airlines, major sporting events, and international venues routinely offer creative and satisfying vegan meals. Yet AmaWaterways seemed unprepared despite having extensive advance notice. Only during the last two days of the cruise was I offered a separate menu from which I could choose items. While many of those options were vegetarian rather than vegan, it was at least an acknowledgment that guests with dietary needs deserve choices as well. I believe AmaWaterways needs to reconsider how it markets itself regarding plant-based dining. Based on my experience, the company was not adequately prepared to serve vegan guests despite repeated assurances that accommodations would be available. It is especially disappointing because everything else about the cruise was wonderful. The crew, service, accommodations, and itinerary were excellent. However, dining is a major part of any cruise experience, and when one of the most basic daily needs is not met, it significantly impacts the overall vacation. This was the first vacation where I actually lost weight because I was often limited to salads and vegetables. Sadly, despite the excellent staff and beautiful cruise experience, the food situation was frustrating enough that I would not choose to sail with AmaWaterways again unless significant improvements are made to their vegan offerings. What made the situation even more disappointing was the response I received when I raised my concerns. While many crew members tried their best to help, I felt that some members of the management team were dismissive of my dietary needs rather than understanding of them. As a guest who had provided extensive advance notice and paid the same fare as every other passenger, I expected my concerns to be taken seriously. Instead, there were moments when I felt like my choice to eat a plant-based diet was viewed as an inconvenience rather than a legitimate dietary preference that AmaWaterways had previously assured me they could accommodate. No guest should leave a conversation feeling unwelcome because of how they choose to eat.

My family booked the LA Night Tour for our last night in LA and were lost trying to find the ticket…read morebooth. Needless to say, we arrived 10+ minutes late to hear the buses already backing out. The manager at the office radioed the bus and guide and got them to pull over so my family of 5 could run and jump on. It was an incredible act of kindness, and we were extremely grateful. But then the guide was even BETTER. Brian was outstanding with his story telling and kindness. The tour was nice. The people are Star Line were great.

I am so tired after a long day in L.A. But I feel compelled to hurry up and write a review. I am…read moresad to see so many negative reviews of Starline Tours. Today, they stepped up to the plate twice for us. We are staying at The Garland and they pick up passengers from this hotel. Well, this morning my Mom and two Aussies we befriended were waiting for the bus. It was late. We were getting antsy but the hotel informed us the driver had an emergency and Starline was sending an Uber for us. One minute late later, the Polestar arrived to pick us up Now the ride is tricky on the bus. There is traffic. This is L.A. Overall we were not exactly late for stops. Maybe a few minutes but no big deal. The drivers were nice and gave useful recommendations. The bus was comfortable and riding on the top deck of a double decker bus is one of my favorite things to do in a city I am visiting. The weather was perfect. I was happy. The stops are hit and miss. Some are well worth visiting such as Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, The Grove, Pink's, Olvera Avenue, Melrose Avenue, and really I could go for quite a bit. Others make me go hmm...like the Four Seasons and some unknown streets. Something for everyone. Now to make a long story short we hopped from the red to the yellow back to the red line. This is time consuming and I called telling the lady, Yasmine, I believe that we would not meet the deadline for the last drop-off at Dolby Theater to take us back to The Garland. She spoke with her supervisor, I believe it was Lisa. No problem.....Solomon will take you back to The Garland. Well, let me tell you. Solomon was right there as promised. And guess what? He drove us in his brand new Tesla! No joke. We took a scenic route and saw amazing views of Downtown L.A., the Hollywood sign and through one of the canyons, I forget which one. Solomon was so, so nice. He is a true asset to the company. Now, things did not go 100% smoothly but when does it? Starline Tours stepped up and did right by us. I will recommend them to anyone wanting to see fun L.A. spots without the absolute hassle of driving. And yes, the headset worked on every bus we were on.

Took my bride for a 60-minute (well, more like 52-min. Engine start/stop) Air Tour in one of the…read morecompany's Cessna 172S's. Pilot Martin S. was fantastic -- great host, excellent flying. We enjoyed views of the SFV, Universal Studios, Hollywood and Griffith Park, Dodger Stadium, DTLA, Santa Monica, and the Malibu coastline before flying high above the Santa Monica Mountains en route to VNY. Overall, great flight and service from start to finish (reservation to exit).

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, Quinn Larkin, and the person who responded to…read moremessages in the middle of the night, Chloe Le Lievre, for their outstanding service and care. The pilot went above and beyond to make everything perfect. A huge heartfelt thank you to him. It was an incredible experience! The birthday surprise was a success, exceeding all expectations. The only suggestion I have is to add some sort of sign at the entrance to indicate that "Corsair Aviation" is located in the building. It would make it easier for your clients to find you.

My wife and I were really surprised how great our trip to Cuba was with Exclusive Expeditions!…read more Randi and Rhonda have thought of everything from start to finish. We flew to Miami where our trip started. R and R hosted a wine and cheese party so everyone could get acquainted with each other. The next day we took the short flight over to Cuba. Once in Cuba we met our Cuban guide, Manny, who stayed with us for the duration of the trip. Manny's knowledge of Cuban history was very impressive. The trip included all hotels, transportation, tours and most meals. We started in Havana and loved our Hotel, the Malia Cohiba. R and R had activities planned for us around the clock. We toured a Cuban cigar factory (I bought a few cigars...), went to a couple of the local synagogues in Havana, brought needed items to donate to the local pharmacies and then I went to a baseball game. We stayed in Havana for a few glorious days and then boarded our air conditioned motor coach and went to Cien Fuegos. This city is on a bay so of course the ladies planned a bay cruise with cocktails and cigars, it was great! We then went to Trinidad, the oldest city in Cuba. Trinidad is frozen in time with cobblestone roads and the people still use horse and buggies. We were then taken to where the Bay of Pigs invasion took place. It was eye opening. This is just a brief review as I don't have space to write everything. Thank you Randi and Rhonda for giving us the trip of a lifetime. it was fantastic!!!

I was fortunate to travel to Cuba with Rhonda and Randi last March, and it was a fabulous trip,…read morefrom start to finish. The itinerary was packed with great activities, great sites and historical information. When were weren't doing a group activity, R and R had a comprehensive list of other ideas. Lovely country, you will leave there with many memories of good times and great people.

Joyride Bike Rentals was great to work with…read more I joined a group of my friends to rent bikes in Santa Monica pier and we rode our rentals all the way to Venice beach and back. The bikes we rented were clean, well maintained, and rode smoothly. Great for CA visitors and locals alike.

Awesome experience every time! Jesse was extremely helpful…read moreand friendly. My family and i have been coming here for over 2 years. We love riding bikes on the beach and this place makes it so easy and affordable to enjoy our Sundays. Great customer service and affordable prices. Thanks again Jesse!

Thank you Alfonso, for thr disney cruise you where awesome for the deals. We got a disney cruise to…read moremexico.

Alfonso was very patient as we walked through all the different options. With 14 people traveling,…read morewe had a ton of opinions and Alfonso was very understanding and tried to work with everyone.

My friend and I had a great time with Miles, the tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and it…read morewas a very fun time. It was nice and balmy out and my friend even had an experience! When Miles was talking about a ghost's strong smelling perfume, she immediately smelled it and then it went away. So we had a great time! Thank you so much.

To reply to your message, Candace, yes we did join your tour. Probably not the smartest idea to…read morethrough my real name out to write honest reviews, but people really do need to know. I can recall your memory by telling you that we had 6 people in our group, and 3 of them walk out half way, making me feel terrible for having them pay that much for some terrible dad jokes and a sad excuse for "factual" stories. Now I do apologize and will remove this post if I am indeed mistaken. Here's the dishonest review site that was emailed to me after the tour, and below is my email confirmation with purchase ID removed. https://pro.peek.com/reviews/sample/5907ae6893d2da304f00005b/1 Email confirmation: Thank you for making a purchase with Santa Monica Tour Company on 2017-10-18. Here is a receipt for your order. Please note that a separate confirmation email which includes details about the activity you booked will be sent separately. ORDER DETAILS: Purchase ID: xxxxxxxx Order Summary: Haunted Santa Monica Ghost Tours (6x Adults) Subtotal: $210.00 Taxes & Fees: $15.28 Discounts: $0.00 Total: $225.28 Thanks, Jeb --------------------------- This tour was run by Zack and Candace, two really friendly people. Zack is super energenic, threw dad jokes, and would be an awesome person for regular tours (not haunted tours), and Candace helped tell half the stories. Not sure how this averaged 5-stars. I would give it 0-stars if possible. Biggest disappointment and waste of money. Our group of 10 people all felt scammed. Wasn't what we expected at all. The places we went to were just too crowded to set the mood. Most of the "facts" that were described weren't delivered well to draw us into the stories. Good information on the buildings, but all the haunting stories didn't have any emotions behind it to create the atmosphere. That coupled with the noise and crowdedness of the entire tour just took everyone completely out of it. The whole tour was missing the Mystery aspect of a haunted tour. Delivery of the stories using "factual" statements such as "EMF" and "Séances" does not make it scary, mysterious, or convincing. Not even drugs or alcohol would make it close to what you would expect (Not to say there was any of that involved). TLDR; If your not doing this for your 5 year old kids, don't waste your money or time. Additionally, the tour sent me an email asking to rate my review from 1-5 stars. If you pick anything below 5-stars you get sent to a fake reviewing site that doesn't allow you to submit; Clicking 5-stars sends you to this Yelp page. That's just terrible. https://pro.peek.com/reviews/sample/5907ae6893d2da304f00005b/1

Booked a second lesson with Lorenzo for my 12 year old son. This time he took us out on his boat to…read moreLake Castaic. It was a beautiful day. Lorenzo was patient, experienced and fun. He encouraged my son and we had an excellent day. He caught more than 10 fish under Lorenzo's tutelage! I would recommend Lorenzo to anyone looking to learn the craft of fishing from someone professional with passion and kindness. He does not disappoint! We will be booking another lesson soon!

Lorenzo guided us on a fantastic fishing trip to Lake Pyramid. We were a dad, 9-year old son, and…read more7-year old daughter. They are deskbound STEM and musical instruments type kids. They don't get out enough. This was their first fishing trip. I didn't know what to expect. I thought I'd be hearing (1 hour into the trip), "Dad, I'm bored. When are we going home? Can we get off the boat?" Nope, they loved it. Lorenzo has a customized fishing boat with a top-of-the-line engine in back; a smaller engine in front (to slowly trawl the waters while fishing); a state-of-the-art fishfinder; and all the rods, hooks, and live bait (worms) that we needed. He did all the work. He taught my kids how to fish; hooked the bait; and untangled all the tangles. We caught large catfish; two smaller fish; and one humungous 6.5 lb. large-mouthed striped bass. That's right--we caught dinner. As a bonus, Lorenzo even cleaned the fish for us afterward. We'll be coming back.