I have traveled with Great Value Vacations on three separate occasions. I have visited London, Paris, Prague, Iceland during the trips. Without Great Value vacations, I would not have even checked into going to these places thinking it would be price prohibitive. The first trip to London was a leap of faith. Great Value walked me through passports and travel documents and gave me a blow by blow itinerary. The price was very affordable and the experiences were wonderful and just as promised. The accommodations were nice and conveniently located to everything planned. This trip combined escorted side trips and explore on your own again all went as expected. So, I could afford to travel without worry with this company. They took my family of 7 to Iceland. I opted for an escorted trip this time since there were several people to coordinate. This trip went great and followed the itinerary to a tee and the tour guide was fantastic. on this trip the accommodations were basic but clean. Two trips went great so I tried again. This time first Paris then Prague. This trip was planned by them for travel and time from from location to location and the rest was up to us. Great Value did their job, plane reservations transfers and accommodations. Gave me an itinerary to follow and they held up their end. Paris hotel was again basic and clean and better than I would expect for the price I paid for the trip. Then they flew us to Prague. They had a stunning hotel that looked over the city with a courtyard all amenities and doors on the rooms that were six inches deep. It was located within walking distance of everything. Great Value Vacations has made an Indiana Farm girl an International traveler by taking the question marks away. I always knew I had a trip there and home and a place to stay while I was there and those things were paid for and they gave me all docs necessary to have the basics. From that point they let you choose what level of services you want. Pay for extra excursions with them or a full on tour guide with a plan or the hit what you want when you want plan. They even have some trips with a rental car in it. I have not used that option so I can not vouch for it. When you see the initial price go into it knowing this is a basic price from JFK and the trip will be a little higher than what is laid out right away. The trip will increase in price according to when you travel and where you leave from and what self exploration or excursions you want. Nothing is paid for with out all costs laid out. There are no extras later. Travel insurance is available and expensive and probably a good idea with today's world so think about adding that in too. The basic price listed is probably that plus about $500 by the time you buy your flight from a home airport and get the date you want then buy insurance. Bbuut, those prices are never secrets and don't surprise you. it is all disclosed by the time you pay the first penny to the company. I am funny about hidden prices and will walk away from any deal that is not upfront with price and these guys were upfront and did not book anything without telling the full price before. Try them. I was delighted by the way they did business. Good Travels! read more

I got a Groupon for 8-day/6-night Venice, Florence & Rome vacation w/ airfare. Leaving Chicago on dates between 11/1/17-12/15/17 BUT when I try to reserve it on their Great value vacation website it says the dates for all November and December are booked? So I email them right away and this was their response "It looks like an IT problem. It can be booked through our call center from Chicago. Please call us at 1800-896-4600." Seriously..... again with the "IT Problem" and I have to call again for an additional problem for a different trip. [Read my previous review on my Greece trip purchased with Great Value Vacations] I had just finished talking to them about the booking issue for Greece. So now I have a whole new problem. Anyways I called them multiple times talked to multiple people and FINALLY got it booked again NO Apology for the inconvenience. The package came with train ticket transportation since we were going to 3 different locations but coming back from Greece and having all these issues I did not trust them anymore!!! So I rented a car out there through a different company so I did not use the train tickets and have no comment for those. The hotels were okay BUT I did have one issue at a particular hotel in Florence at the Hotel Palazzo Ricasoli Florence Address: Via delle Mantellate, 2, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy. Once we arrived the sink was clogged and the water was not running down the drain at all. So we called the front desk and 'took care of the problem" We went out for the night and in midafternoon my friend who joined me in this trip said he noticed the sink was slanted. I went to look and it felt like it was about to fall off the wall and since that was a danger hazard I called the front desk they changed our rooms everything seemed okay. Until we went to check out to go to our next destination they tried to charge us for the sink issue claiming it was our fault. As I try to clarify that it wasn't our fault and why they would even assume we were the ones to have a sink break off the wall is absurd. After causing a scene in the lobby area having her yell at us and other customers waiting to be attended I was embarrassed because we seriously didn't do anything wrong and she was yelling at us claiming we did. HORRIBLE I was so upset thankfully we did not have to leave a credit card on file and they did not charge us for the sink situation but that experience I will never forget and not in a good way. So overall I did not enjoy booking with Great Value Vacations and I will NOT be recommending or booking with this company again. So many of my friends and family have asked me who I booked through and I tell them NOT to book with you guys. NEVER AGAIN now when I look for my next vacation on Groupon if it is Great Value Vacation I skip it. read more

Our trip was FLAWLESS - and I don't use that word lightly. From booking, to the online portal, to our actual experience in Ireland during June 2019, everything was smooth and very impressive. We were amazed by the incredible customer service - the only time of day when we could all make decisions about the trip was late at night, and Great Value Vacation's customer service agents were extremely helpful and available to speak to us at almost any hour. Once in Ireland, our experience was wonderful the entire time. The rental car pickup was quick and easy. We bought the highest insurance package, which made our anxiety about driving on the other side of the road much more manageable (we even got a flat tire and a couple of bumps and scratches on the car, which were completely covered by the company). Our first stop was Adare Manor, which was simply breathtaking. The Adare Villas were huge. We felt like we truly had a home in Ireland during our stay and we couldn't believe this package including a stay on those magnificent grounds. From Adare, we explored all the way up the coast to Galway, down the coast to Dingle, and down the country to Blarney. Each drive was scenic and truly worth the extra hours in our car. The quaint farms with happy animals, magnificent miles of coastline, castles/ruins, happy little towns, FRIENDLY people, and surprise beaches helped us fall completely in love with the countryside. After our stay in Adare (we were all heartbroken to leave), we stayed at the Druid Glen Hotel in Wicklow County (outside of Dublin). The hotel was a beautiful golf resort and we particularly loved the high ceilings and views of sheep and farms outside of our windows. From here, we explored Dublin, traveled to Howth and Bray (both are a must do!!!) and spent a day in Northern Ireland. By the end of our vacation, we felt as if we really maximized our stay and we fell head over heels for Ireland's countryside and the people themselves (not to mention the Guinness!). We will ABSOLUTELY use Great Value Vacations to book more trips in the future and I have been recommending them to absolutely everyone who followed our trip as we posted pictures each day on Facebook. Needless to say, everyone at home was extremely impressed and have moved Ireland to the top of their wish lists. I have traveled the world, visiting dozens of countries on most continents. There are not many places that I would rush to return to after having visited once (with the exception of Thailand, Italy, Greece, and Israel). I would give this experience an 11/10 and would do this exact trip again - I can't wait to return to Ireland! read more

Purchased a Groupon for a trip to Greece with Great Value Vacations, which we scheduled for September 1 -11. Had no problems following the instructions on the Groupon and contacting Great Value to schedule. We went to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, and purchased the optional transfers to make our vacation as stress free as possible. We were greeted at the airport by a GVV rep, who gave us a packet with our itinerary, ferry tickets and transfers to and from hotels. Our taxi driver gave us some tips on getting around Athens. When we were scheduled to leave Athens, we were informed at the front desk that a nationwide ferry strike was in progress, and that GVV was arranging alternate transportation to Mykonos, so that our vacation would proceed as arranged. We received a telephone call later that evening from a GVV rep to let us know that the following day we would fly to Mykonos instead of using the ferry tickets, and were told when the driver would transport us to the airport rather than the ferry terminal. When we arrived to check our bags at the airport, we were given a pass to the VIP lounge as well as our boarding passes....we figured that GVV had arranged this as well. We flew to Mykonos, and then the rest of the vacation went exactly as scheduled. Meanwhile, GVV had arranged for transportation to meet us at the airport, instead of the ferry terminal. I felt that GVV went above and beyond to make things right, even though the ferry strike was in no way their fault. The reps at each destination were knowledgeable and friendly. All hotels were clean and comfortable. I have traveled with other companies, and the only thing I preferred with them over GVV was a complete itinerary available online before leaving, with hotel contact info and day to day times. This is the only thing I can think of that would improve the travel experience for me. Overall, I would highly recommend GVV based on my experience; the way the ferry strike was handled showed that they are on top of their game and are a company that you can rely on, even when unexpected travel problems arise. They will see me again on a future trip!! read more

My best friend and I used GVV for our first international trip. We love to travel but hadn't left the US so we wanted a way to know things would be just structured enough that we were comfortable in a foreign country but still left us plenty of room to explore and make our own schedule. We took a 9 night trip to Italy. The first several days were in Tuscany while the last two were in Rome. We know that we probably wont get another change to go to Italy with all our travel wants, so this was a great way to see it all. GVV was great when it came to answering all my questions. We got our confirmations quickly and every point of check-in was easy. We got a rental car and the pick up was super smooth. My favorite part of the trip was Tuscany and the small cities we explored. We stayed in a great rustic castle on the hillside. It was not a hotel feel which was perfect for us. We got to come and go as we wanted without disturbing anyone. The views from our room were straight out of a fairy tale. The restaurant in the hotel was delicious and the small town near by had great local options. It was located perfectly so that we got to explore Pisa, Sienna, Florence, and even Verona. We had some scheduled activities which were so enjoyable! We did a walking tour of Florence and two different wine tastings. Each had really easy directions to follow and times to check in. I printed all the confirmations before I left the US but they already knew to expect us. It was so well planned. The transition to Rome was just as easy. We decided to use the public transit system to Rome since we stayed right outside the city. It was a great adventure we wouldnt have had if we stayed in Rome. Overall, it was a great trip. It spurred the need for us to book more travel internationally. Friends were constantly asking how we planned such a great trip and I can't help but brag about GVV. I have recommended GVV to many friends and family members because it was such a great experience and wonderful trip! read more

The value of this trip is an understatement! Our trip was 6 nights, flights, & vehicle in Ireland. Having a vehicle for the week was a priceless addition to the core price. Although we upgraded for additional excursions, we were not able to experience all of them. This stated, there is no way we could have come close to the price GVV offered if we chose to book a-la-cart. Our rental was with Enterprise in Ireland, and they were very professional. The hotels were very nice. It would be helpful for travelers to be aware that they need to bring their own facecloths or other items for showering. These items were not provided in 2 of 3 hotels. Breakfast was not included. We made it work as we found some really nice, local eateries. Plan ahead, as many places don't open "early." Our excursions were "open-ended" which means we could utilize them at any time during our trip. This was helpful as we mapped out the best travel course. We did some research before we traveled and adjusted where necessary. We were not bound to a certain date on the voucher. This increased the flexibility of our trip. Our flights were non-stop on Aer Lingus. Although they worked out, Aer Lingus cabin space is: Tight. The outbound flight was a lot less comfortable than our inbound flight. I guess it depends on which plane you get. Aer Lingus could make some improvements to the comfortability of their seats, but GVV has no control over this aspect of the trip. Driving on the other side of the road takes a little bit to get used to, initially. All members in our group knew how to drive a standard, but having the automatic took a lot of stress away. We did not experience major issues that couldn't be resolved in-person, while traveling. It was very useful that we did some pre-trip planning before our actual travel dates. We found it easier to call GVV with my questions than emailing back and forth. It was less likely that questions or ideas were lost in translation of an email. read more

Thank you for your response. However, as your history reflects, no accountability has been taken. Rather than addressing the core concerns, the blame has been shifted elsewhere. While I appreciate the clarification, I want to reiterate my concerns regarding the handling of this situation. First, while the travel credit may not have originally been in my name, your team allowed the transfer, which means my family was granted the right to use it. The repeated extensions, while appreciated, do not change the fact that we were unable to complete the booking due to issues beyond our control--including website difficulties and difficulty reaching customer service at critical times. I understand your stance, but our experience does not align with the seamless process you describe. Regarding the customer service availability, my husband's call may have been made late on the final day, but that was due to previous unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter. We did not wait until the last minute by choice--we were met with obstacles throughout the process. As for reviews, I respect your perspective, but the reality is that multiple customers have expressed similar frustrations. A glance at Yelp shows that your "1-star" reviews significantly outweigh your "4-star" reviews and nearly match your "5-star" ratings. High-rated reviews do not negate valid concerns from those who had negative experiences. Transparency is essential, and I encourage your team to view this feedback as an opportunity to improve customer service and resolution processes. Ultimately, my goal has never been to make inaccurate statements but to seek a fair and reasonable resolution. Given the circumstances, I ask that you reconsider extending the travel credit once more or offering an alternative resolution. I hope this conversation can lead to a more customer-focused approach moving forward. read more

I can't begin to tell you how frustrating it was to book a vacation with Great Value Vacations.  We booked for April 2020 to go to Ireland.  After the pandemic, instead of getting our money back, we got a credit voucher. The dates to use the voucher were changed multiple times.  It was all very confusing. We used our voucher for a trip to South Dakota. The trip to South Dakota was ridiculously expensive.  I think we paid about double what we could have done it for on our own, but we were just trying to use our voucher.  We didn't feel safe traveling internationally. The flights booked were Basic Economy - we got no carry ons, we sat on the back of the plane.  I paid to upgrade the car when I booked the trip.  Great Value Vacations did not inform Enterprise of the upgrade, and we got the most compact car.  I am trying to get on refund on this upgrade I paid for. We got an email that our flight had been changed.  Then, a couple days later, we got an oops email that the flight had not been changed. The trip had 2 nights in Rapid City and 4 nights in Wall.  The only attraction close to Wall was The Badlands.  All other attractions were far from Wall.  This vacation should be 4 nights in Rapid City and 2 nights in Wall.  We ended up, on our own dime, booking another hotel more centrally located. Oh! And the itinerary! What a joke.  GVV's itinerary was less than stellar.  It wasn't even helpful.  I had to plan the whole trip.  I would assume a travel company would actually provide a great itinerary.  I spent so much time making sure we saw what South Dakota had to offer. Forget about calling GVV.  I waited over an hour when I first booked the trip when I had initial questions.  Closer to my trip, when I tried to call, the hold time was over three hours. I love to travel, and I do so quite often.  I will NEVER book with Great Value Vacations again. read more

Are you thinking of traveling to EUROPE??? READ THIS! My fiancé and I bought the Groupon for Great Value Vacations for a 9- night trip to London, England, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy. The trip consisted of flight and train accommodations and a three night hotel stay in each city. We flew from NY to England, took the train from London to Paris, flew from Paris to Rome, and flew from Rome back to NY. The trip also included one guided tour voucher around each city. The hotels were each three stars or more and were all CLEAN (very important to me). All hotels were about a 10 minute drive (we used Uber) from the main attractions. The flights were all direct on well-known airlines that my fiancé and I had both flown previously. We were able to pick our seats on all three flights leading up to the day of travel (we were able to sit together). The guided tour vouchers for each city included a great way to explore the city or to visit a main attractions (which we would have paid to see regardless). It still blows my mind how we were able to spend 9 nights in Europe with all travel accommodations for two travelers for under $4,000. It was the perfect amount of time to spend in each major city as it was more than enough time to explore ALL major attractions that we were interested in with a little bit of down time for relaxation. Great Value Vacations provided instructions for using all vouchers in each city and made sure that all small, yet very important details were taken care of. My fiancé and I had an absolutely incredible and ONCE in a lifetime trip running around Europe together. I would 100% book another trip through Great Value Vacations again in the future. read more

We went on our first trip through GVV two years ago - to Ireland. I was literally amazed at how much was included in the package trip - flight there and back, hotels in great locations 4 cities (2 nights each), car rental, entrance fees to castles and breakfast each day. We loved the freedom of having a car to explore and not be confined by group tour days/times. We worked with GVV over the phone to add two days at the end of the trip so we could stay in Dublin longer - this was effortlessly easy. Then last year, I took my daughter to Italy. Again, same great package deal - only had a slight hiccup on this one - the rental car place did not have down that we had paid for our reservation. But I was allowed to take the car and the rental place and GVV worked it out. Again, great hotels in great locations. The hotel in Rome was a little far out, and I didn't want to drive there, so we used public transportation. Bus stop very close by! This year, we went to Iceland. this package was a little different - we didn't have a car but bus transportation was supplied to the hotel from the airport. This hotel was in city center, 1 block from the main shopping/food street and one block from the ocean. Two bus tours were included on this trip. Enjoyed it so much we booked a 3rd through the hotel. The bus stop was literally 50 feet from the hotel. We had no idea we would enjoy bus tours but now that we know, we won't shy away from trips with those. I have recommended GVV to every person I know getting ready to plan a vacation. Wish they did more in the US!!! Highly recommend - amazing value for the money! Photos to be added when I figure out how :) read more