Overseas Adventure TravelReviews of oattravel.com

I recently booked a trip with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), a subsidiary of the Grand Circle Corporation, and my experience was nothing short of a nightmare. This company engages in deceptive pricing practices, refuses to take accountability for their mistakes, and has an absurdly slow refund process—all while taking your money in record time. Here’s what happened: I booked a trip with OAT and was assured by their representative that it included everything I requested, including Business Class airfare. Just two days later, I was informed that, in fact, Business Class was not included, and that if I wanted it, the price would increase by a staggering $7,800. This was a clear case of bait-and-switch. When I pushed back, OAT refused to take any responsibility for the misinformation their own representative provided. Naturally, I requested an immediate refund. Their representative initially told me it would take 30–45 days. Yet, when I booked the trip, they had no problem charging my credit card within six hours. This is completely unacceptable and raises serious questions about their business ethics. How is a company like this still in business? They mislead customers, refuse to acknowledge their own mistakes, and hold onto refunds for an unreasonable amount of time. If this is how they treat customers before the trip even begins, I shudder to think what would happen once you’re actually traveling with them. I strongly advise anyone considering Overseas Adventure Travel to think twice before booking. Do your research, and don’t fall for their misleading sales tactics. I certainly won’t be booking with them again.

My trip with OAT to Vietnam was exceptional. I booked on fairly short notice and they handled my airfare booking as well. Almost all of the hotels were good (one wasn't and our tour guide said they'd look into other options for the future). The experiences were phenomenal; we met a lot of every day people, learned about people's lives, were in their homes and also saw the main tourist sites. The itinerary was great and our guide was fabulous.

We booked an Eastern Europe to the Black Sea River Cruise with GCT on 26 Nov 2024 during their Black Friday Special. The deal on their special has cruise fare "with airfare". When we spoke with Sales (Breault), she stated that we are "getting free airfare" and kept pestering us for upgrading to Premium Economy with more upselling for Pre- and Post-Cruise to which we said "NO" several times in the conversation. She provided a lot of false information and misrepresentation. What she did NOT discuss was the information in the invoice especially about the airfare. I sent my issues to OAT support as they own GCT. Never heard from them -- no response to the email. Called them up, CS Agent Gabby said that there is no supervisor and that they can't do anything about the complaint. I raised the issue through Better Business Bureau in 04 Dec 2024. Travel Relations French said that Sales was correct. GCT was charging the airfare from Boston for $1,250 per person. Their Black Friday Special Ad stated "FLY FOR FREE -- a savings up to $1,600 per person -- on March and May-June departures". Yet, GCT only gave a $1,100 discount per person leaving us to pay a total of $300 for airfare. How is that FLY FOR FREE (free airfare) as claimed by their Sales (Breault) and their promotional Ad? We have screenshots to prove our assertions. After reading reviews about OAT, it seemed that most of their issues are about the integrity of their Sales. Their Customer Service and Travel Relations is a joke. At best, their Sales agent was deceptive and their Travel Relations are dishonest. I would NEVER recommend this company. DO NOT TRUST Grand Circle Travel or Overseas Adventure Travel.

This was our first experience using OAT but the Galapagos was always a bucket list stop and our tour didn’t disappoint. Booked all airfare with OAT out of Chicago and arrived into Quito a couple days early to adjust to the altitude. Was met at the airport at 11:30pm by an OAT guide that helped us through security and baggage and took us to the hotel for the night. Toured Quito for a couple days on our own before meeting our TL Delphin and then it was off to the Amazon. What a great experience. Our TL was local and had grown up in the jungles and was a wizard with a spotting scope. The lodge where we stayed was perfect for the area, with great food every day. Daily treks and boat rides were amazing. Following our Amazon trip it was back to Quito for another couple days, with a beautiful optional trip to a hot springs up in the mountains at about 10,000ft. Heavenly. Then off to the Galapagos with our next TL Daniel. Air travel to the island, transfer to our ship and away we went. Hit 6 islands over 7 days aboard a 16 passenger catamaran. We were able to snorkel pretty much every day, with walking treks and city tours included. Meals each night aboard the ship were fantastic. Bar was available but extra expense. Have snorkeled many locations in the Caribbean and Hawaii and this was by far the best. Looking forward to our next trip with OAT in May 2026.

I had originally booked my second tour with OAT in Oct 2019. Covid happened, then Russia invaded Ukraine (not far from our destination), so I was able to change my date several times. In a nutshell, I found out yesterday after hours on the phone that my money had been transferred to a non refundable certificate which had expired, and $500 had been deducted. At no time was I notified of this. OAT has agreed to renew the certificate but my $500 is gone. And my promise of a refund does not exist. After reading other reviews here maybe my experience is not so bad, but I am a single senior and really didnt want to travel anymore.

Waiting $25,000 refund. Same as many below. More excuses every time I call. It's been almost 2 months and now they say another 3 weeks. I doubt I will see the money. The two trips I have taken went well, and I have prepaid for the third one (to replace the cancelled one) but I will never trust them again.

OAT gives a good travel experience, and I would travel with them again. However, while onboard ship in the Greek Islands, it came time to settle our onboard bill on the last day before departure. Consider you and your partner having a daily drink during happy hour for 6 Euro each for 7 days. Then you purchase your partner a jewelry trinket from the ship store for 200 Euro. Now, the morning of the departure date you are settling up with a credit card. They DEMAND to change the currency from Euro to US Dollars and use an exchange rate that is about 5% lower than the current rate. Your 284 Euro bill should be $304.39 but instead they DEMAND $319.61 due to using their mandatory low exchange rate. The only option is to go off ship at the last minute, find a bank and get Euros. The ship's purser, Mr. Damir Arbanas on the ship Arethusa, either could not or would not bill my CC in Euros and let my bank do the conversion at current rates as all other venues on the islands did. OAT rips off all their shipboard clients for many US dollars each. I do not understand why a good travel company like OAT resorts to stealing from their customers. REPLY TO RESPONSE: Currency conversion should not be necessary. We were in Europe, all charges on board ship were in Euros, why demand payment in US Dollars? If you do demand payment in Dollars, then use that day’s exchange rate, as the banks do and not just some rate that you make up that takes advantage of your clients/travelers.

Pricing scam. . Changed price after I booked. Had everything written down. Added $400 for no reason. Said they cannot reconnect me with my representative. Said call was recorded but all prices were beeped out for security purposes. But somehow some number that I never heard and is not written in my notes was not beeped out? Complete liars.