EF Educational Tours
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First-Traveled to Japan
First-Traveled to Japan. Was put up in a hotel that was 1 hour and 15 minute drive outside of Tokyo. The first day in Tokyo we were told the bus had to be back at it's station before we were done with dinner so we would have to take public transportation back to hotel. Not a problem? It took a total of 3 HOURS! By the time we walked to the station, bought tickets (which took 30 minutes to buy them individually) change 2 trains then standing up the whole time and then walking 20 minutes to our hotel. Had to leave Tokyo before dark which meant we never got to see it with all the lights that they are famous for. Did that both nights we were there. I think for the price we paid, EF tours could have gotten a closer hotel that was actually IN Tokyo. WASTE OF OUR PRECIOUS TIME THAT WE COULD HAVE SPENT IN TOKYO Second- every stop they took us to shop. At first seemed ok but by the second day and the 5th shopping stop, some students were upset and so was I. How can anyone buy many things when we had limited luggage to travel with in the first place. Third-One of our tours was going to be an outdoor architectural museum. It was raining so they felt it better to take us to A PARK! A huge park but it had a museum next to it that "was only $7 to get in". You would think they would give the students the $7 that could have been taken from the amount they may have spent on the museum we didn't go to, but no. I saw most of the students walking around in the rain. Fourth-we then went to Hiroshima and the bags were to be driven on bus to get there the next day so we packed an overnight. To our surprise they sent 4 out of the 40 bags to another city so we were without our bags for 3 days until we reached that city. Fifth-the tour guide was very friendly and helpful. No complaints about him personally. I just think EF tours needs to make it educational(which I had expected being Educational Tours) I expected information like when temples we visited were built, by who and why? Maybe when driving around the city things could be pointed out and talked about? Tell about Japan anything in general? I learned nothing about Japans history or really anything. Sixth--we then traveled to South Korea and the first thing our guide told us was that she was not certified yet to be a tour guide so she was not able to tell us much about the country just her "opinion" and what she had learned thus far. We were taken to the demilitarized zone and to a tunnel that was built underground but not given any info except it may be a hard walk. The only way I learned about it was the display board that I had taken a picture of because I didn't have time to read it being rushed back to the bus. I think the guide told a little about the relationship between North and South Korea but not much. When we got dropped off at another spot I eavesdropped on a guided tour given by a different company and learned more in that couple minutes than I did the whole 3 days we were there. OVERALL I HAVE TO SAY, THIS WAS THE NOT THE EDUCATIONAL TOUR THAT I EXPECTED.