City DiscoveryReviews of city-discovery.com

We just returned from three weeks in the UK. We went on many different tours with many different groups, and the only one that was total crap is this one. The first problem was that it took an entire week to book a tour, as they only answer when they feel like it. The process online is very sketchy as they ask for a photo ID before they would even book an online tour. NO OTHER TOUR COMPANY DID THIS. We were staying at a hotel connected to Victoria Station, and our concierge notified them the evening before the tour that we were coming. Their own employee gave us inaccurate information as to how to get to the right bus station platform. We got there on time--with three minutes to spare--but did not see the bus because it was parked in the back behind other buses where you cannot see it, and you are not allowed to go and look since there are buses coming and going.). The bus suddenly pulled out and left, 3 minutes early, and after we had verified we were going to go. Now, they refuse to give us a refund. After we complained, they offered us a trip to a different location which was half the value of the one we booked, and said they would not refund the balance money. We had already been to the other destination. They then offered to let us go, but in four days--when we would not be in London anymore. This "business" is a SCAM. While in the UK, we went with Gray Line, Paddywagon, Irish Tours, BigBus Hop On/Hop Off, ferries, used public buses, trains, taxi's and we didn't have trouble with anyone else. The other tours tell you clearly where they will pick you up and even came to our hotel, in some cases, to get us. None of them left early--and we often waited for people who were a couple of minutes late. After all, not one person going on the tour is local, and everyone does their best to get there on time. I highly recommend you use any other tour group, as this one is a rip off. They give bad information, and then steal your money. No matter what they say, don't do it! You will regret it! There are many tour groups out there, you don't need to use this one!

I booked on Monday or Tuesday a guided tour for Sagrada Famila on Sunday. I got a CONFIRMATION! A few hours later they sent me an E-mail: Your confirmation is stopped - we can offer you a tour on Monday. WHAT?? On Monday? Yes- of course Barcelona tourists often stay there also on Monday!!! I said: NO - but I would accept Saturday. They told me they would check and came later back again with the Monday offer. Inbetween I found easily another provider and was able to book my tour on Sunday. I sent a mail to them and informed them that I have already found another tour and book it - and I asked them to send me the paypal - credit note. The answer was: We will check if our local provider accepts your cancellation. What...???? Who cancelled?? Me or him? I set a time limit till today in order to get the information that my money is back at my paypal account. Please do yourself a favor - don't book here...!!! ______________________________________________________ Update: I got a mail, with an excuse and an explanation why the things went this way. I really appreciate this. Doing mistakes etc is one thing - but solving it afterwards in a very professional manner is really great! So - my first experience was not that lucky - but the professional manner how it has been solved - great! Update 2: I got my money back! I really appreciate the way they finally handled this issue!! Thank you!!!!

This company offers a first class service to customers, and has been very helpful on two occasions. I would recommend them to anyone I know.

It is interesting reading the responses from a number of people about their experience with City Discovery Tours, because the company make you feel as if you are the only person ever to have found it really difficult to either find your tour, or have problems getting to the stupid meeting points, or have issues with 'tickets' etc. We found ourselves near the location on time (The Vatican) but there were thousands of other people and dozens of other tour companies. It was chaotic, and very hot too. In our case, we asked a tour rep where our meeting point was, and we were told that we had missed them because we should have been there 15 minutes early (we were more like 10 minutes early, but in the chaos just could not find our tour). The 'guide' led us away and we ended up having to purchase another tour. There were other couples in the same position and City Discovery were not answering the phone. When I contacted City Discovery they just kept quoting their 15 minute rule which states no refund at all. They took no notice of the extenuating circumstances and even when I suggest a good discount off a future tour instead, there was no movement. You gets lots of rhetoric from their staff but their position remains the same. I find the stance disgraceful. Add to that they are expensive, so you are better off discussing your tours with your hotel concierge or shop around. Big is definitely NOT beautiful, find a small tour company. AVOID

It as my first time to Paris. I only had 3 days and I wanted to invest in every single minutes to discover the city. I bought my ticket to visit Louvre museum through City discovery online. when I went to the Louvre with the print voucher that they clearly tell you in the email that it is your ticket, first you discover that it is not a ticket and you have to go to the agency office to collect the actual ticket and you need about 30 minutes to run back and fro. Thanks God that I arrived 1 hour before my entry time. Second you discover that the ticket is 4 times more expensive than when you buy it from the museum website, third, they offer you an audio guide which you need to put 30 euro as deposit to return which needs another trip to them. third you discover that this guide doesn't work and finally their staff are very rude. It is clearly a scam as I was told by the staff in Louvre museum but unfortunately it is a legal scam. They survive on praying on ignorant tourists In the same time, I booked my ticket to Eiffel tower and when I went there 45 mins ahead 9am, my tour time, I was told by the staff in Eiffel Tower to go to an agency office nearby to collect my ticket. I spent about 1 hour looking for their place as nobody could tell you and barely you find someone who speaks English, finally when I found them I was late about 20 mins and the staff who again was rude refused to give me the ticket as I missed my allocated time and they refused to give me another date anytime during the day or even the following day and they wanted me to buy another ticket. I phoned city discovery and it only goes to the voice mail. I wrote them an email and never went through. I lost my money and my time and most importantly the stress and the inconvenience that they put me through was horrendous. They are absolutely dishonest and their way is inconvenient for a tourist who wants things easy and straightforward. It was a very bad experience I will never deal with them again and I wouldn't advise anyone to do this.

I have booked tickets for Empire State Building in NYC. First of all they started asking my ID proof. I have sent all the documents and they stopped replying to my mail.There is not way you can contact their customer service. I ended up booking tickets from another site. Please Please do not book any trip from this site. They are fraud.

I booked and paid online for one adult and two children's tickets - the children's tickets ranging from ages five to sixteen - for a Dublin City Sightseeing bus tour. On arriving at the office of the bus tour company to claim my tickets, I was promptly told that children up to the age of fourteen ride for free. I have written several emails to the company and have yet to hear back. Their business conduct is fradulent, spread the word and help others avoid such situations.

I booked a trip to Versailles from Paris for May 27th. I was told at that we'd have 3 hours at Versailles. The reality was that we had 90 minutes, and I had time to see about 20% of the palace, the gardens, and the grounds. An audio guide was included, but after 2 rooms, I knew there would not be time to listen to the information. Also, there were inadequate directions sent via e-mail about how to find the place of departure in Paris. When I finally located it, I was unaware that I needed to stand in a long line to exchange my voucher for a boarding pass. Consequently, I was the last person to board the bus and was very stressed. Since my return, I have had many calls and e-mails because I am seeking a small refund. In the past 2 weeks, I have been getting the runaround from City Discovery, and I doubt there will be any resolution to the problem. I know that others have had positive experiences with this company, but I will never use them again.