Explore www.explore.co.uk

Wast of my holiday. The trip wasn't what I expected.

Accommodation should be booked on twin - basis, it was more booked on group basis.

They allow people who are not fit join the group even if they are slowing everybody down, while notes are clearly stating that we will be walking as the slowest fit person. Insted of 7 hours walking day we had 10 hours.

Complete wast of money. I would never recommend this company. If you are looking for good holidays tray Adventure company or Interpid.

Booking over the internet, I went for a discounted trip that the staff recommend and clicked on with flights - choosing the second week as the airport was easier and cheaper to get to and the times fitted better.

Next day explore rang to say the blocked booking flights were all taken up and that we'd either have to fly via another airport (instead of direct)and the cost was more (I'd have thought price should be reduced for inconvenience). Decided to try switching to earlier week, but even then I was going to have to pay £400 more than price originally quoted and fly from a more distant airport so I cancelled booking.

Not what I'd call good business practice quoting one price and then charging another. They were still advertising discount today. So just be aware that buying package holidays entails accepting that the price you advertised, have budgeted for and think you can afford may not be the price you are then asked to pay.

It's a real shame as I was looking forward to trying out explore - they look to have some great holidays - but how can you trust them not to charge extra once your reservation is confirmed.

I've given them two stars because their staff were very polite.

We booked the China Highlights through Explore this summer and went August 2011. This was a trip of a lifetime subsequently ruined by Explore. My wife had used them previously and had great experience. Even though they were more expensive in comparison to other operators we decided to use them because of their previous reputation. I would however recommend that you book through any other operator than Explore if you decide to go away.

The flights were indirect meaning a stop off in Dubai and a total 20 hours travelling before we arrived in Beijing. The hotel they used was below standard. In fact three 3 hotels out of the 4 during were either undergoing serious construction work or were health hazard. Other operators offered direct flights and better hotels for a similar or cheaper price than Explore.

They hired lots of local tour guides who were terrible. In Bejing for example, we had just finished the Forbiden City tour, which was included in holiday package and our local guide then said another tour around old town Hutong would cost extra (be aware, there were lots of hidden cost tours). We decided we did not want to do this optional tour resulting in guide just leaving us their outside the Forbidden City without any travel advice on how to get back to our hotel. No taxis had heard of the obscure hotel Explore had booked. The three police officers we asked could not help either! After spending several hours lost in Beijing we had to pay a guide who worked for rival tour operator just to get us back to the hotel in a private car.

Complaints made to Explore upon our return were brushed aside and not taken seriously. Every member of our tour group had significant concerns on the quality of the tour, yet the Company seemed oblivious to customer care.

After we had shelled out several thousand pounds for a 10-day trip to Syria and with 48hrs before departure, Explore told us we had to pay a couple of hundred pounds each extra for flights and hotels. We protested strongly, and they replied that their contracts only kick in when THEY say they do, not when they have over £3k of the punters' money in their bank account and they weren't prepared to go ahead. I gave them one star as there is not a no-star option - what a bunch of shysters. Avoid them like the plague.