Kensington Tours is a well-known name in the travel industry, particularly for offering customized itineraries and private guided tours across the globe. Based in Toronto, Canada, the company has built a strong reputation for reliability and ethical practices. While recognized as a major player in the wholesale market, especially in the USA, Kensington Tours operates through travel agents, which may influence the overall cost for consumers.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania - A popular destination for African safaris.
The Kensington Tours Approach
Kensington Tours sells packages through travel agents, and they are not only an Africa expert as they sell tours world-wide. As a consumer, this also means there is a layer of cost added to ensure they can pay the agents a liveable commission. Just this week Kensington is advertising in Travel Weekly for an East Coast sales rep to service their East Coast agent clients.
Customization and Private Safaris
Traveling on a custom designed itinerary on your own is usually cheaper than going with a group. There are many companies world-wide that can organize a private safari. From an execution standpoint it is quite simple as they consult with you (budget, time period, what you want to do, etc) then book the appropriate lodges, charter flights, guides, hotels and transfers to suit your exact requirements.
A game drive package is when you use a safari lodge employed guide and a lodge owned vehicle at each safari lodge. On a game drive package you share the vehicle with other guests that happen to be there at the same time. The other metod is a private vehicle and guide that stays with you throughout. The good thing is, if you don’t like them, you never see them again when you leave the camp.
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A typical safari vehicle used for game drives.
Competitive Pricing
This is one reason to always suggest getting a competitive quote from another agency on a similar safari to make sure you are getting a fair price. The second agency can be one with a leaner more consumer direct business model. A safari is a huge financial investment and you should always shop around a little as prices really do vary from one company to another.
As mentioned, Kensington Tour is also a major player in the wholesale market in the USA. This means a lot of their sales are done through travel agents. This is one reason I always suggest getting a competitive quote from another agency on a similar safari to make sure you are getting a fair price.
Unleash Your Inner Explorer: How to Plan an African Safari
Customer Experiences and Reviews
Here's a summary of customer experiences with Kensington Tours, highlighting both positive and negative feedback:
Positive Feedback
- Expert Planning and Guides: Many customers praised the destination experts for their detailed planning, responsiveness, and professionalism. For example, Moe Sami, a Destination Expert, was described as "truly wonderful to work with."
- Seamless Coordination: Several reviews highlighted the seamless coordination and attention to detail provided by Kensington Tours, allowing travelers to enjoy their trips without worrying about logistics.
- Knowledgeable Guides: Guides were frequently mentioned for their knowledge, engaging personalities, and ability to navigate cultural differences.
- Customized Itineraries: Customers appreciated the ability to tailor itineraries to their specific interests and preferences.
Negative Feedback
- Inflexible Accommodations: One customer reported that Kensington Tours repeatedly ignored their requirements for locally-owned, basic hotels, instead offering spa and high-end hotels.
- Cost Transparency: Another customer expressed dissatisfaction with the inability to obtain a detailed breakdown of costs, leading to concerns about overpricing.
Specific Trip Reviews
- Nepal Trip: A two-week trip to Nepal was praised for its perfect recommendations and attentive guidance from the destination expert, Sunita Singh.
- Egypt Highlights & Nile Cruise: This trip received high marks for expertly planned itineraries, wonderful hotels, and excellent private guides.
- Greece Trip: A customer highly recommended Kensington Tours for their Greece trip, noting that the destination expert, Jordan, planned a perfect itinerary and communicated clearly throughout the process.
- India Trip: One customer lauded Kensington for arranging everything from airline tickets to private guides for a trip to Northern India, describing it as the most hassle-free trip they had ever taken.
Examples of Customer Feedback
Here are some direct quotes from customer reviews:
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- "Our visit to Prague was wonderful! It was so easy to walk to sites, restaurants, and beautiful historical landmarks. Our tour guide, Radeon, was amazing, thoughtful, and kind with our tours and his knowledge of the city and Czech history." - Sue
- "Emma and her team planned the most amazing adventure for our group of six . She was in constant contact with me (I was the main point person for our friends). Emma was knowledgeable and answered every question with a calming and supportive manner." - Jane
- "I asked Kensington to create an itinerary with locally- owned basic hotels, etc. They repeatedly ignored my requirements and had spa hotels and high end hotels." - Eric
Overview of Customer Ratings
To provide a clearer picture, here's a summary of customer ratings based on different aspects of their experience:
| Aspect | Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Planning & Coordination | Excellent | Many customers praised the seamless coordination and attention to detail. |
| Guides | Excellent | Guides were frequently mentioned for their knowledge and engaging personalities. |
| Accommodations | Varies | Some customers were pleased with the unique and amazing accommodations, while others had issues with inflexible or overpriced options. |
| Cost Transparency | Poor | Several customers expressed dissatisfaction with the inability to obtain a detailed breakdown of costs. |
| Customer Service | Good | Most customers found the destination experts and reps to be responsive and professional. |
Exploring the vibrant culture of Morocco.
Alternative Tour Options
When planning a trip to a destination like Morocco, it's wise to consider various tour operators. Some travelers have had positive experiences with companies like OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) and Friendly Planet.com, noting their well-organized tours, knowledgeable guides, and opportunities for cultural immersion. It's advisable to research and compare multiple companies to find the best fit for your travel style and preferences.
Read also: Reviews of Egypt & Jordan Tours
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tags: #Africa
