Go Real TravelReviews of gorealtravel.com

This company ruined our trip to Europe. Overpriced, hotels were sub-par, the arrangements were unmanageable, the customer service was unresponsive and the whole, overall experience was horrid!!

Due to the outbreak of the virus, we have had to cancel our holiday plans due to travel advisory restrictions and have written in to the company with no response whatsoever, we have effectively lost $3,900. If I can give them a zero rating I would!

Gets a 1 because I can't give it a zero. Stole $6000 from us and "went out of business". They just decided to keep everyone's money with no refunds. No response from company at all.

This company has ceased operation! Where is the money for prepaid tours etc? Wonder if this company had any insurance to cover this type of action?

Is anyone else having trouble getting a response from this organization as soon as the virus hit. I have a deposit and can't get any response. My agent seems to be no longer there, their social media accounts are shut down. This is TERRIBLE Customer experience that at the first travel challenge they pack up and take all deposits.

Received email from David Manley CEO, dated 3/6/20 company ceasing operations. Needless to say, this was a surprise.

I did not have a great experience with this company and would never use them again, despite all the good reviews I have seen as I have now had the first-hand experience. Firstly, I traveled to Krakow and Warsaw in Poland, and for what I got it was way overpriced. Unfortunately, I came down with gout in my ankle, which I am owning and in no way putting that issue onto the company. My airport pick-ups were excellent, I cannot fault them, and lovely people too. However, as soon as I landed in Krakow on a Sunday I was shunted to the first outing, to Oskar Schindlers Factory. This had already become a sticking point and Go Real made me get a ticket for that day, citing that I would not be able to go on any other day due to my itinerary. This is where gout kicked in, being on my feet for so long after having flown 20+ hours. Then I found out that the Factory is FREE to visit on a Monday. The tour ended at 4.00 pm, which is dark and I then got ripped off by a taxi driver who charged me 50 zlotych to go back to my hotel, when I was only charged 12 zlotych to get to the factory. That night I called the guide who was supposed to meet me the following day and explained that I had come down with gout, and she stated that it would be ok and that she could sort something out. She also stated that she would call me at 11.00 am the following morning. I waited until 1.00 pm for a call that never came. It was raining (rained for 2.5 days) so I got the hotel to arrange a tour in an electric car with a guide. This cost me another 400 zlotych, which is around $151 AUD - not cheap. That night I called the guide and she never apologized or not calling and got quite angry that I paid for a different guide? Go figure? So, the next day she turned up, it was again raining and she took me to see some sites in her car. She kept belittling the guide I had used the previous day and kept stating that HE was not a Guide, and that she was, and that she studied for 2 years, etc. to become a guide. I found this a bit off-putting, as I felt that she was continually having a go at me about it. I will say though, that she is a good guide, excellent knowledge of history and I was pleased with what she showed me. That little trip lasted around 2 hours, as by the time she came to collect me it was after close to lunchtime, it was raining and she had to get me back before the traffic became too heavy. The hotel in Krakow was about a 3 star and I was happy with it. The people were friendly and very helpful, nice breakfasts and right next to the Jewish Quarter, which is where I wanted to be. On to Warsaw. I was not happy with that hotel, it is not central to any shops, restaurants etc and it is staffed mainly by Indians who were quite rude. My ride in a Communist Nyska Van ended up being a disaster. Apart from gout, which as stated, I own and am not complaining to anyone about, it was very difficult getting in and out of the van. A stepping stool was provided but was not that stable. We did stop at a monument to have a look and when I was alighting, the stepping stool had not been unfolded correctly and was unstable - it collapsed under me, making me fall out of the van, twist my really painful ankle under me and the guide had to catch me. When he caught me one of his hands grabbed my breast - and he did not remove it. I was traumatized by this and asked that I be dropped back to my hotel. Because of this I missed seeing the Polin and that really upset me, as I had wanted to go there. The train trip from Krakow to Warsaw was great, very smooth and comfortable. The driver and guide in Warsaw were brilliant. I cannot fault them, they were very helpful, polite and pleasant. So, when I go to check out of my hotel in Warsaw I find they have locked me out of my room - as Go Real Travel had stuffed my booking up. It was a weekend and I had to pay $72 AUD, pus an overseas fee by credit card to be allowed back in the room where my belongings were. I complained about all these things and got nowhere for about a week when Go Real stated they would reimburse me only for the payment I had to make at the hotel in Warsaw. I was reimbursed $64 AUD and no international transaction fee, as rather than reverse the payment made via Paypal they came up with their own figure and sent it to Paypal. They stated a number of times they were waiting to hear back from the guide in Krakow to get her story, and in the end, I stated that this would not be the case, and that I am sure they would be able to get hold of her if it meant money or tours. Go Real stated in an email that they refuse to reimburse me the 400 zlotych I paid on Monday, even though they asked me to send proof, invoices, receipts, etc. I did this immediately. A really awful trip that I was looking so much forward to, and again, in no way am I blaming Go Real Travel for my own illness, I wear that and the things (walking) I was unable to do that was in my itinerary was not their fault. I went without doing any of that happily, as I knew my limitations. I was jot impressed with the first email I got back from the agent who stated first up that she understood I was suffering from gout - that was NOT the issue, it was the fact that I paid out of pocket expenses that they have refused to reimburse, and that was due to the guide not contacting me when I had PAID for the service in my package. **RESPONSE TO REPLY FROM GO REAL TRAVEL** I did NOT cancel my Monday tour, as stated I waited for a phone call that never came. I had to pay someone else to go somewhere, which the hotel reception had to book for me as I was left hanging. I have copies of all emails, text messages and phone records of communication with Paul who works for you. Your agent Rosemary was aware I was not leaving the hotel until late the day of my departure - again, I have the emails. As far as what happened in Warsaw I concur, the driver probably grabbed hold of my breast in order to try and steady me. HOWEVER, once he realized he was holding onto that part of my person for longer than he should have been he then should have at least moved his grip to my waist or somewhere else other than my breast. This was witnessed by 4 other people on that tour. I also have photos of everyone involved. Additionally I have photos of myself and the driver of the electric car that the hotel booked for me in Krakow. He was Ukrainian and your tour guide the next day also showed her disgust at the fact that he was from Ukraine and not Poland. Again, “HE’S not a guide, I AM a guide“. I actually found him quite good and very friendly. As far as the reservation in Warsaw - I paid what I was quoted all along, and in fact I was not supposed to leave until the next day. Again, I have the email where this was clearly discussed, so by leaving a night before I actually forfeited a night of my trip as I had to leave for Tel Aviv that night. BUT, your company obviously pocketed my money for the day I paid for and I was locked out of my room and my luggage held to ransom by the hotel. Why should I bother to contact you people again? You know my contact details and if I was running a business like you I would be falling all over myself to put things right. In fact I copied you all into my final email communications and did not get a response. And yes, I did say I was traveling to Hong Kong when your poor agent who has to deal with these issues wanted to call me. However, there was no follow up from that day to this.

I would give this 0 stars if I could. DO NOT waste your money with this group. They do not listen to what your requests are. They do not let you know your costs, its all in a lump sum. It is always bait and switch, and then tell you “it’s too late it’s already booked”. Thinking I am getting a 5 star hotel, then switched to another hotel, no where near the original hotel location where I was expecting to be and then get into a 2 star hotel. This happened in 2 cities. Then being way over charged for the 2 star hotel because they charge the 5 star price with no reimbursement. The private tours that you pay for are charged at private rate but then you are with 50 other people. Be very wary, you would be better off doing this all on your own. You also have to manage trips because the times on your agenda change the day before you are scheduled to go so if you plan anything else then you are screwed.