Tropical Vacations
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2001)
- Member Of:
- KPSGA & pack for a purpose
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A well organized vacation!
We recommend Tropical Vacations strongly to others while, from the start, they organize everything very well. When we decided to go on vacation to Kenia, we send an email to several organizations and Matthew of Tropical Vacations was one of the few who wrote back to us with a lot of payable suggestions.
Matthew is very professional and friendly!
Everything went as planned and he choose an excellent ranger/driver named Wilson!
They made our vacation one of the best have had (and as airline staff we know what we say :-)
FR
Email André | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing safaris in camps In Amboseli and Masai Mara
The safaris booked on internet where as per my expectations.
There were safaris in camps and I must say the camp in Masai Mara was really great.
The one in Amboseli was good: what an experience to face the Kilimanjaro when waking up!
Mathew has taken good care of me being there the 1st morning before I joined the group.
He was also there when I came back to Nairobi so we could debrief the safari.
All in all no bad surprise as I was wondering how it would go when booking on internet.
Happy with the choice of Tropical Vacations.
Maybe not as much lions as I expected, but this is the beauty of safaris as this is not an exact science and you never know in the morning which animals you are going to see. Of course if in Amboseli you don't see elephants then you can consider your guide is very bad. I've seen several groups of elephants there so no complain.
TR
Email Bora | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just One left to see for completing Africa's big five.
My friend and I attended 3 days Masai Mara tour at last october. The trip was incredible. Special thanks to our driver/guide who was very experienced, and informative, because we could see 4 big african animals in 5 - Elephants, Lions(many of them), cape buffalos, and white rhinoceros which is offen very difficult to see in just these three days. What was the other unforgettable factor is that we stayed in a luxurious tent where you can wake up with wild animal sounds. I have already planned to go for my honeymoon. Don't think twice,I strongly advice Tropical Vacations for your East Africa trips.
US
Email Caroline Wallace | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beware of Mathew Adams & Tropical Vacations
In my opinion you should NOT use tropical Vacations! Our money was wired in full almost a month prior to our safari. We paid the director, Matthew Adams, $1630 in total for our lodge accommodation, safari drives, and flight to the Masai Mara from Nairobi Wilson Airport.
We got to Wilson airport at 14:15 to check in with Air Kenya. When we checked in the lady informed me that there was a problem with our ticket, and she sent us to the reservations office. When we went to the reservation office, we were informed that our tickets had not been paid for. An agent, Mary Anne, helped us to attempt to communicate with Matthew.
Matthew said that he was waiting on the refund from Sarova, and said that we just need to pay for our plane tickets, total of $644 for Casey Parker, and myself, Caroline Wallace. He said, and I quote, that he would "sort us out tomorrow". We told him that we could not do that, we can't afford that. We asked him to give Mary Anne his credit card number. This is when he began hanging up on us, talking in circles, and he never gave us an answer.
We had to pay for our plane tickets, which was an additional $580, that we had already paid for well in advance. I am exteremely dissapoointed in the service I have recieved. Matthew Adams said that he would sort us out the next day, well unforunately that day has come and gone. He has turned off his phones, and has been dodging our calls and e-mails.
I do not want this to happen to anyone else. Please do not use Tropical Vacations!
Reply from Tropical Vacations
Posted on Sep 21, 2014There was a problem with this booking as a result of a cancellation by a third party supplier. We're very sorry that this happened and take full responsibility as we are the ones who selected the third party supplier as the only available alternative by then. We had to change accommodation in order to make sure the safari proceed as scheduledd. As a result the clients paid $290 per person too much since the alternative accommodation was more expensive compared to the initial choice (total $580 for 2 persons). We have refunded the full $580 to the client as we agreed and promised. Again, we are bery very sorry that this happened. It was unfortunate and regrettable. Customer satisfaction is extremely important to us, as our other reviews show.
IT
Email Roberto, Genoa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
amazing amazing people competent with a great humanity, fantastic experience
Matthew and William are two competent people who know their job and I show all their experience in this field. I never tire of repeating that put us over the professionionalità also their humanity and passion in what they do.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience seeing wildlife in a wonderful landscape
We enjoyed a lot our experience in Kenya. We saw lots of animals and learnt a lot about them. We were guided toward excellent landscapes and drived secure in the middle of difficult paths. Both, tour guide and driver are excellent profesionals. Both were kind and amazing. We enjoyed their way of travelling, out of the typical tourist routes but without losing the most important scenaries and qualities of the people in the country.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
great safari and city tours
I felt very well taken care of and had a great time on safari. Some problems with car and traffic but that is not the operators fault. They went above and beyond in making sure I was comfortable and safe; and since I was a woman traveling alone that was very important. Great guides, funny, informed and open.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A memorable Incentive Trip to Amboseli National Park
Our local Insurance company had contacted several tour operators for an incentive trip and i an say, our choice Tropical Vacations Inc, didnt dissappoint...their response was efficient and also suggested workable options of the destinations, accommodation and price ranges....The driver guide James was informative and also attentive to our numerous questions...The farewell candle lit dinner at the Observation Hill inside the park was a plus and not to forget the final Nyama Choma lunch as a farewell...we will for sure use you for our other trips and are happy to strongly reccommend you to our friends..Thumbs up to Mathew, who also accompanied us just to make sure things run smoothly ....
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience and a wonderful 9 Days Kenya Safari !
I and my 2 friends had booked a 9 Days Kenya trip with Tropical Vacations starting with a night in Nairobi on arrival, then to
Masai Mara game reserve, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasaha , Amboseli National Park and finally drop off a at
Watamu.The tour was well organized. Our flight landed at 8 p.m. and Mathew and the driver met us with a car as agreed for a transfer to our hotel in Nairobi.
The car was a mini-van. It is quite decent, the seats are comfortable and there were no major breaks. Wilson could use the maximum the car can provide! :))
and we must say everything was excellent from planning to execution....first of all, our emails were responded to in time,
with all the answers we sought and at some point we had to change our initial itinerary..but it still worked out perfectly.
The Guide Wilson was a nice professional who was keen to show us around and drove carefully...he was also punctual on time
...the accommodation options we chose were booked and were perfect, staying in lodges, (Amboseli Sopa Lodge was nice, but a little far from the park!)
We were lucky to see most of the wildlife, with at least 4 of the Big 5 and to sum it up, Mount Kilimanjaro!
We were generally happy with the services and would for sure use this company again...also recommend to our friends....
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect trip to Lake Navasha, Mt. Longonot, and Hell's Gate
Our two day trip for five adults was organized exactly how we asked. The overnight stay at the cabin was a great choice and the chef that came along made delicious meals.
I would definitely use Tropical Vacations again!