Meg L

Review of Highland Explorer Tours

I hate that I m leaving such a poor review but I f...

I hate that I m leaving such a poor review but I feel I ought to warn people who are about to spend their money. Be prepared to not get your money s worth, unless I was just very unlucky two tours in a row... I went on the Taste of the Highlands tour. The only good thing about it was the expensive lunch I paid for in Loch Ness. Unfortunately, it took so long I didn t even have time for a proper view of the lake, and the drivers left us at the restaurant alone and without a map of the town so I got lost and was terrified I wouldn t find the group. So I went all the way to Loch Ness to not see it... that s not the worst part. The bus seats were very uncomfortable, not to mention the bus smelled like exhaust and there was no ventilation. The AC wasn t working, and the vents on the floor were blowing even hotter air. When I mentioned my concern because I was feeling ill, the driver laughed at me and said I could break the window...?!? I understand there wasn t much he could do but why not show a little sympathy. The tour guide admitted he was a rookie and proved that he didn t know much. He just went on and on about bloody battles which got tiresome after eight hours on a bus. Why not mix up the topics? When he wasn t talking he was blasting horrible music. I would have much preferred silence so I could listen to my own... Last big complaint was we felt rushed at every stop and we only got seven minutes at Glen Coe which is the most beautiful stop on the journey. I couldn t even get a decent picture... the whole trip was a big let down. I m really disappointed in Highland Explorer and would not recommend them. Either they don t care to build effective itineraries and maintain their buses, or they re just not training their guides...