Akamai Adventure Tours & Travel

we had such an amazing tour, I was sorry to hear the previous experience, but we were able to fit in on a tour that canceled last minute and had a tour beyond our expectations. Tyler was the best guide, relaxing and extremely informative. would do again next time we come. highly recommend

I am a top-​level reviewer on TripAdvisor, and we travel the world A LOT; I review most things really highly! I was so excited for this tour for my family. BUMMER that I didn’t get to do my usual high-​star review… It seems to come down to spoken words not matching with contract. I frankly wonder if our awesome planning phone conversation was perhaps under «compromised» conditions, as I know I was clear & sober, and I believed what was said… And that is where our mis-​communication occurred.
The only reason we are coming to the big island is the Volcanic National Park. I am sad to report that my interaction with Hayley went poorly — we didn’t get a chance to take the awesome tour, as although I made reservations many months ahead, she dumped us 6 weeks out. Given my many years in customer service, I was hoping she would at least help us with the crunch we were left in due to mis-​communication and we could just continue on with the plan; I took responsibility for my part of the misunderstanding, she replied with «…it is in both of our best interest to cancel this reservation…» Actually, NO, it’s NOT in both of our best interest, just her CYA, as apparently there’s a crackdown on tour agencies offering taxi-​like service, etc.
We are now left 6 weeks out with plane reservations in and out of the big island, a motel reservation, with only the intent of coming to the big island to tour the Volcanic National Park, and now NO TOUR. We were going to pay her $ 850 for the day! Apparently she didn’t like what I had to say regarding our mis-​communication.
I HATE to post bad reviews, I am assuming we are a «bad day/​night» exception and she just didn’t want to actually deal with it. Sounds like otherwise she rocks. Wish we could have been another 5-​star review. But now I’m SCRAMBLING to get a tour to accommodate the flights and hotel we have already booked… It just wasn’t that hard to make this right.
I am happy to copy the back-​and-​forth emails to anyone who would like more details on what happened. Just know words over the phone mean nothing, only what’s in writing or email matters. Not a problem for most if it’s a simple agreement by email.
TravelPhotoWriter… at… g… mail… dot com
UPDATE: I think ultimately it worked out GREAT that she cancelled us! We booked a replacement excursion with the company that rates higher than this one on T.A., very professional service & $ 100 less!!!