Disappointing Experience with Lykke Travel – Not Worth the Hype
We recently booked a Turkey trip with Lykke Travel as a special birthday surprise, expecting a memorable and relaxing experience. Unfortunately, what we got was far from what was promised. If you’re considering international travel, please save yourself the regret—book with reputed travel companies or plan the trip yourself. We went with Lykke after watching a glowing YouTube video (which now feels highly misleading) that oversold their capabilities. The fellow tourists we met in Turkey who had booked through Lykke shared the same feedback—disappointment.
Here’s the reality:
• Before the trip, Lykke went out of their way to convince us that they were offering a premium experience. We even had a direct conversation with their manager questioning why they were charging more than known players like Thomas Cook—who offered 3–5 star hotels with all meals included for a lower price. Lykke’s response? “It’s all about the experience we’ll create for you.”
• The “experience” they promised turned out to be:
• Hostel-grade hotels (not even 2-star) with tiny rooms—so cramped we had to keep our luggage on the bed to move around.
• One hotel had insects, and none were even close to premium quality.
• Our “coastal drive experience” was cancelled, and Lykke didn’t even know it had been dropped from the itinerary. When we raised the issue, we were given a measly €20 refund.
• All tours were group tours, despite being told we would get something “personalised.”
• Lunches were only included on a few days—and even then, we were taken to low-quality, tourist trap joints with no authentic food experience.
• Lykke was unaware of local arrangements, including hot air balloon pick-up slots—something critical to a Cappadocia experience.
• On day one, our driver left without picking us up. Lykke gave us one pick-up time, the driver had another. We waited over an hour in the hotel lobby, with no support unless we chased them down.
And don’t be fooled by the promise of “personal airport transfers”—that makes zero difference if everything else is substandard.
Bottom line:
Lykke Travel is a newbie in the market, charging premium prices but delivering below-par service. They seem to be running on promises, not execution. We would have had a much better time planning the trip ourselves. It’s unfortunate we trusted marketing over established reputation.
Save your time, money, and energy. Choose a professional travel partner, not an overhyped name.
May 11, 2025
Unprompted review