Travel Company Recommendations?

[AZTheta]

I've traveled with Overseas Adventure Travel. Would appreciate hearing about any recommendations (positive or negative) for any other travel companies.

National Geographic trips look awesome but are a little (actually, more than a little) out of my price range.

Am interested specifically in Africa.

Other travel I've done (Asia) has all been work related so not for pleasure and I didn't have to do any planning.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

I've traveled with Overseas Adventure Travel. Would appreciate hearing about any recommendations (positive or negative) for any other travel companies.

National Geographic trips look awesome but are a little (actually, more than a little) out of my price range.

Am interested specifically in Africa.

Other travel I've done (Asia) has all been work related so not for pleasure and I didn't have to do any planning.

If you find anything good, let me know. Those Nat Geo trips do look awesome, but they are too long also! I can't go for a month tour of Africa, unfortunately. I've heard good things about Silverfox (or something like that) cruise lines. They go all over the place and are LUXURY. One of the docs I worked with in MD went everywhere with them.

[BAckbOwlsgIrl]

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Intrepid Travel, http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ . They are Australian based but have several offices in USA.

What part of Africa are you looking at? I did North Africa with Intrepid.

They were very reasonable. I looked at Overseas Adventure Travel, and Intrepid Travel appears to be less expensive.

• The lodging that Intrepid uses is not as nice as Overseas Adventure Travel. However, there is something to be said for less fancy schmancy accommodations.
• Half the time I did not have English TV, let alone any TV.
• Also, not all the meals are included. That can be a pro and a con. The group ate together a lot. I wish that I would have eaten on my own a lot more without the tour; cheaper and less touristy. $15 dinner is expensive in North Africa. I found dinner for $5.
• You will have to book your own flight. Or, you can have Intrepid do it. I did my own so I could use frequent flier miles.
• Not sure if OAT does this, but, you can travel solo at no additional cost. Initially, I was going to go single until a friend decided to come with me.

Other similar companies to Intrepid are;

• Gap Adventures; http://www.gapadventures.com/ , Canadian based. I have heard good things about them.
• Shoestring travel; http://shoestring.eu/

DO NOT, DO NOT USE Viator. They outsource to other companies and their leaders do not speak much English.

Let me know what else you need help with.

[AZTheta]

Thanks! If I were traveling solo, I would try Intrepid; I've been looking at their offerings for two years. BUT, this Africa trip will be with my best friend and her idea of roughing it is a room at The Westin (seriously).

Considering a safari/wildlife/maybe a gorilla trek in Rwanda (big "maybe" there) & would like to see South Africa. So we're thinking Kenya/Tanzania/Namibia - where else? Africa is a Big Country.

I'm definitely contacting you again, will do it via PM.