Insight Guides Reviews

This week, I picked up a book on Thailand and was taken aback to find it encourages visits to elephant shows! It even mentions a village known for its elephant festival. "The locals here are recognized for their talent in training elephants." I just can't believe the book fails to mention the awful rituals these elephants endure to become docile. If folks keep flocking to these shows, the suffering of elephants will just go on and on. This book really ought to take some responsibility and discourage people from going there! I’m done with Insight Guides for good!

Our journey to Indonesia was absolutely fantastic, all thanks to our trip planner, Liz, along with the rest of the crew! The itinerary was filled with all sorts of adventures we could squeeze in, along with great guides, fun activities, and perfect accommodations. It turned out to be even more unforgettable than we had hoped. There was one little hiccup when a bag got accidentally left behind at the last hotel by the staff (totally not the travel agency's fault), but the travel agent really went above and beyond to make sure it was sent out right away via a speedy courier to the airport just in time for our flight, and it didn’t cost us a dime. I’d surely consider using Insight Guides for my next trip for the peace of mind and local know-how.

This was our first experience with Insight Guides, and we couldn't be happier! The journey went smoothly without any issues. We managed to check off nearly all the items on our custom itinerary. The car's WiFi was fantastic for navigating with maps and Google Maps during the trip. Our accommodations were spot on - everything matched our expectations. We’re definitely looking to use Insight Guides for our next escapade!

Overall, our trip was enjoyable despite a few hiccups. This was my first time using Insight Guides. Looking back, I really wish I had gone over all the plans more thoroughly and asked a bunch of questions before we set off. We ended up missing the right train from London to York, which led to us missing the taxi to our hotel. I still can’t quite wrap my head around how that happened.
The itinerary said taxis were included, but I found out they weren’t for the ride back to London and the night before we left, even though the hotel was booked by Insight. The hotel, which was labeled as "near the airport," was actually a 30-minute drive away.
I plan to book another tour with Insight, armed with the lessons learned from this experience. Everyone had a good time, but there were definitely some moments that could’ve been less stressful.

We had a trip lined up for May 2020, right before COVID really hit or maybe just as it was starting to spread. When I realized my comfort level for traveling was too low, I decided to cancel and asked if they could keep our deposit, not knowing how long it would be until we could go. I hadn’t gotten travel insurance yet—definitely a lesson for next time—but they were cool about it and helped us rebook for March 2022. After working from home for two years and hardly going out, I felt reassured by the COVID safety measures the hotels had in place. Most of our meals and activities were outdoors, and with the high humidity, the chances of catching COVID for those who are vaccinated seemed pretty low. We absolutely loved our time in Costa Rica, and the hotels really lived up to our expectations.

Everything was super organized, and all the pickups happened right on schedule! The activities were fantastic, especially the rafting and ziplining! It would’ve been nice to merge some excursions with travel days to squeeze in a couple more fun things. All in all, it was an amazing trip!

This marks the second occasion I've turned to Insight Guides for help with my travel plans. The first was for Sri Lanka, and just recently (February 2020) for Vietnam. The travel plan was fantastic, and I appreciated that there was flexibility for adjustments while I was organizing it. Nothing felt like a hassle. I’d definitely suggest them to anyone who’s a bit lost about the country they’re heading to and could use some direction. There were always alternatives available, so it never felt like I was stuck with a rigid itinerary. The guides we had were top-notch. Great work, Insight Guides! Now, I'm gearing up for a trip to Chile in 2021! Thanks a bunch.

This was my third experience with Insight Guides, following my travels in Sri Lanka and Vietnam/Cambodia over the past three years. The Cuba journey really solidified my confidence in IG. The adjustments to our custom itinerary were handled swiftly and with great professionalism. Everything went off without a hitch: from transportation to guides, hotel arrangements, and recommendations. A big shoutout to Carla from the local team who managed all our requests with such kindness and professionalism, even accommodating some last-minute changes. Huge thanks and great job!

We decided to head to Patagonia on a whim and didn’t have much time to organize anything. Thankfully, we reached out to the Insight Guide service, and they connected us with a local guide who crafted a personalized itinerary and handled all the reservations. We were a bit worried that things might not go smoothly, but everything ended up being just as they said it would be. All the timings were spot on, and they were super nice and accommodating throughout the planning phase, plus they offered excellent support while we were traveling. You guys did an amazing job!

We really enjoyed our time in Vietnam, all thanks to our guide, Sunny. He managed everything smoothly, had some delightful surprises lined up, and kept us engaged throughout. He was super accommodating. Our group felt well-informed. We valued the history he shared and his tips for cool spots to check out. I wholeheartedly recommend Sunny and the entire team that made our experience so enjoyable. Big thanks, you all did a fantastic job!

We explored Northern Italy thanks to the planning by Inight Guides. It was an awesome experience. Every hotel was fantastic, the guides were super knowledgeable and friendly, and the transport arrangements to our destination cities were spot on. The whole journey was stress-free and completely fun.

This guide could use some improvements. For instance, the visiting hours for the Peoples Palace and Primaverri Palace (the Ceaucescu family residence) - key attractions in Bucharest - aren't detailed well. We ended up finding a better map and got some tips from the hotel staff, so we chose to leave the book in our room.

I’m super pleased with my purchase of an Insight Guides' guide and thrilled to have found this new service. Prior to picking the Insight Guides site, I checked out various travel agencies in my country, but they all had travel packages that weren’t flexible at all. They offered set packages with a fixed number of days and activities. Thanks to their network of dependable local providers, they were able to craft the trip we desired. The booking process is really smooth and secure. Their team is very professional and eager to help you find the best options.

Our journey to Oman was truly fantastic. The local agency we picked through Insight Guides, Desert Adventures, delivered top-notch service. Our guide was super professional and always paid attention to our preferences regarding food and the kinds of places we wanted to see. We had plenty of time to check out each spot without feeling rushed. This adventure exceeded what we thought it would be. I wholeheartedly suggest Insight Guides for planning your trips.

Insight Guides set up my journey through Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. They coordinated everything through their local contacts in those areas. We only planned it a couple of months ahead of time. The experience was incredible. Every transfer in each country went off without a hitch. The accommodations were spot on. The tours were really well planned. It was a month-long adventure and truly the trip of a lifetime. Big thanks to Insight Guides for making it all so perfect. I’ll surely be using your services again.