TripADeal Reviews 837

Amazing and crazy place . Just got back from India a week ago . Was lucky enough to to be there when the Holi festival was on . The place was amazing and the hotels we stayed in were great . everyone on the trip was friendly and lovely . The one thing that let it down was the tour guide Mishka? He Went intofar to much detail on things . Disorganised. And vague . Didn’t bother. To get to know any of our names , and hardly any leisure time . It would have been nice to know about the real people of India and how there lives are . It was my first trip a deal and many people on the trip informed me there not like this . Our tour guide ganache, In varanasi was amazing

I have been a long‑time TripADeal customer. I’ve booked many holidays through them over the years and have recommended them to family, friends, and colleagues — many of whom have also booked trips because of my positive experiences. Unfortunately, after my most recent booking, I can no longer recommend them.

I booked a Hurtigruten cruise through TripADeal and paid for a cabin upgrade and two shore excursions. The upgraded cabin was nothing like what was advertised — it was identical to a standard cabin, lacked basic amenities, and was located on a high deck that caused extreme movement, seasickness, and damage to personal belongings. The excursions were also misrepresented.

I raised these issues immediately while onboard and was told by Hurtigruten staff that a refund would be provided once I submitted a claim online. After doing exactly that, Hurtigruten told me TripADeal was responsible. TripADeal then told me Hurtigruten was responsible. Both companies continue to blame each other, and neither will provide a refund.

What has disappointed me most is TripADeal’s unwillingness to assist a loyal, repeat customer who has spent a significant amount of money with them over the years. I have spent many hours trying to resolve this, only to be met with contradictory information and no accountability from either side.

I will be informing everyone I previously recommended TripADeal to about this experience. A company that values its customers should take responsibility and help resolve issues — not pass blame and leave customers stranded.

Easy to book, our tour guide was excellent, so many highlights

We had a holiday of a lifetime thanks to our wonderful tour guide Dragon, ( not his real name). He was very knowledgeable about all things on our recent tour of Japan with Trip a Deal. He made sure we were all safe and kept us entertained with his sense of humour. His local knowledge of his beautiful country was excellent, I actually asked him a question related to WW11, long before his time, and mine, and he answered without hesitation. He always had our comfort in mind, always pointing out the nearest restaurants, atms, and most importantly, the closest restrooms. I would definitely be interested in having him and our driver look after us again. Thank you Dragon ! Best wishes Ann and Paul Vella.

We had our "early honeymoon" as a trip to Japan, the accommodation was nice and our tour guide Dragon was amazing! If you can request a tour guide i would suggest to request Dragon.

We had an absolute blast over in japan, our tour guide dragon was one of the best! Trip was fantastic and so well organised. never a dull moment. Dragon taught us about japanese culture and was always there to answer any questions we had. 10/10!

Amongst numerous difficulties, the most critical is that despite completing their forms and calling before departure and receiving confirmation that my requirements were provided to the tour operator(s), Trip-a-Deal did not provide my food allergy requirements.

We had such a great trip, nothing to much for Dragon. He was always there if we needed assistance or when the language barrier was a problem.
.i highly recommend trip a deal.
He booked a couple of nice places to eat.
He was so happy and informative for us .

First overseas trip at 53 years old with trip a deal to Japan. Our guide was Dragon & he was informative & accommodating. The whole experience was amazing. I will be using trip a deal for my next adventure.

my wife and I have just returned from Japan. from the second we arrived in Tokyo Narita airport (first time there), we were greeted with a happy, smiling, friendly young guide who introduced himself as Dragon.
the itenary was planned and carried out to accommodate all on the tour. dragon put in the extra mile, helping with local info and knowledge, everything was perfect. the scenery and places we went to were fantastic. (a lot of walking but never rushed) dragon would always pop up out of the blue around the sies visited to check we were still all in one piece.
overall, a fantastic trip. our driver was friendly and chatty, handled his coach perfectly in some tight squeezes thru some of the small streets. on our last day he delivered us safely to the airport and directed us to the right areas and finished the tour with a friendly heartfelt handshake and hug. a true gentleman. we even received a welcome home email from dragon. will we use tripadeal again? oooh yeah!

9 Day tour of Japan with Dragon as our tour guide: great experience and enjoyed many parts of Japan.

First of all, massive respect for our tour guide Dragon. He was helpful, kind and hardworking. He often filled the silence of the long bus rides by telling us more about the culture and history of the places we visited. I can confidently say he heavily contributed to the smoothness and enjoyment of the tour, and I couldn’t imagine having anyone else as my tour guide.

The tour of Japan itself was also great! We covered a lot of ground and were able to visit the big 3 cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) as well as cultural spots like temples, Mt. Fuji and Nara Deer Park. I really feel like I got a well-balanced look into the many different elements of Japan, and could see myself recommending this tour (especially with Dragon) for people who want to see what Japan has to offer.

We did Unbeatable Japan
Feb 16, 2026 - Feb 25, 2026.
It was fantastic! The trip was really well organised so we got to see a lot in a short period of time. Our tour guide was called Dragon and he was brilliant! He was always very helpful and had a great deal of knowledge which he shared with us throughout the trip. We were very lucky to have him as our guide as he did such a good job.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is considering travelling to Japan as it was a stress free way to see a new country.

The trip itself was fantastic. Dragon was very helpful with any questions and gave recommendations of things that were around smaller towns.The trip was soured slightly due to our flight there and back being delayed.

This was our second trip with trip a deal. I could not fault it. First one was the Yellowstone and Alaska and now Japan. Both time our guides were fabulous Kira and now Dragon. Full of knowledge and very helpful. Trip was well planned and hotels were conveniently located.

Great hotels and locations, Dragon is a super supportive guide with good planning and great stops. Mix of more traditional areas as well as modern parts, and optional extra tours so I could choose if I wanted to explore by myself or go somewhere else new as well. Overall great experience, recommended for anyone looking to visit Japan. Had an amazing time and would totally visit with this trip again it was great !!

We travelled to Sri Lanka with TripADeal in November 2025 and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience.

During our tour we were caught in the middle of a cyclone. While we understand that weather events are outside anyone’s control, what was most concerning was the lack of support from TripADeal during this time. Communication was limited, assistance was minimal, and we felt largely left to manage the situation ourselves.

We were advised to cut our trip short by our tour guide but not by trip a deal itself which meant missing part of the itinerary we had paid for. At a time when travellers need reassurance and guidance, we did not feel adequately supported.

While the tour itinerary itself may have potential in normal circumstances, our experience during the emergency significantly impacted our overall impression of the company.

Based on our experience, we would be cautious about booking with TripADeal again, particularly for destinations prone to extreme weather events.

As a former Senior Executive Corporate Travel Agent, I would be HESITANT to book with Tripadeal (TAD) in future.

Originally booked in 2019 to travel in 2020.  That was cancelled due to COVID.

Info given to me by Consumer Affairs Victoria said TAD should REFUND my money in full.

For years, I argued and TAD REFUSED TO REFUND unless they deducted a $300 cancellation fee.

In May 2025, I was in Bali & thought I might use my credit.  I emailed TAD and asked about doing same tour booked in 2019.

Some HORRIBLE woman from TAD told me I had to use my credit by the following Sunday or I would FORFEIT ALL MY CASH!

After holding my funds for SIX YEARS, why the sudden urgency?

I asked friends if they wanted to come with me in the November & they had to apply for time off work.  Nobody could get an answer in just a few days.

As my friends couldn't commit with less than a week's notice, I felt I was rail-roaded into paying $1100 FOR THE SOLO TRAVELLER SUPPLEMENT!

Then the arguments began!  TAD always told me my credit was for ONE PLACE on the tour.  Now they were saying my credit was $1599.  Tour now cost $1999.

They insisted I pay the difference.  I argued credit was for ONE PLACE on the tour regardless of price difference.  They got interest on my money for 6 years!

In the finish, I PAID THE DIFFERENCE.  I was irate!

The woman told me I would never book with TAD again.  Why?  I felt they were ripping me off at every turn.

This woman was so hysterical to deal with, I insisted that I liaise with somebody more senior.  Thankfully, they obliged.

TAD offered a tour to Shanghai, Zhangjiajie & Guilin for $1499.

Chengdu, Zhangjiajie & Guilin was $1999.  I asked why the Chengdu option was $500 more.  All I got was, "That's just the way it is."

Then to COMPLETELY SLAP US IN THE FACE, despite paying the extra $500 for Chengdu, the PANDAS WERE AN "OPTIONAL" $80 EXTRA!  How bad is that?

Once departure date was settled, I got flight details sent.  FLIGHTS WERE OUTSIDE THE TERMS & CONDITIONS OF TAD!

I alerted the 2 guys I had been dealing with & they both said flights were fine.  THEY WERE NOT!

Furthermore, on final day, my flight out of Guilin was scheduled for 10pm.  Then it moved to a more suitable 7pm.  Then it was changed to 10am.  Then it moved to 7am & they wanted us to HANG AROUND in Shanghai for 12 hrs for the connection to Australia after getting up at 3:30am to depart hotel by 4am.  THESE FLIGHTS WERE UNACCEPTABLE!  I FORFEITED those flights & booked my own flights.

On tour, we had one Chinese domestic flight.  Flight details were NEVER SENT TO US!  They were supposed to be sent 4 - 6 weeks before departure!  Even at Chengdu Airport, we had no idea which airline or flight number!

I asked TAD office MONTHS AGO for a copy of the eticket as the airline require this to credit my Frequent Flyer points.  I am still waiting.

I have done 4 or 5 tours to China in the past.  We always left Australia in the morning & arrived in China late at night.  Off to bed, then hit the ground running next morning.

I was DISGUSTED to see TAD had us on OVERNIGHT flights from Oz, a long transit upon arrival, then another long flight to Chengdu.

AFTER 21 HRS OF TRAVELLING, we were expected to get on the bus & do half a day of touring.  EVERYBODY WANTED TO SLEEP.  This was absurd!

I will NEVER understand why tour companies do not include "tips" as part of the tour cost!  THIS CREATED ABSOLUTE CHAOS!

THREE DAYS on the bus were dedicated to collecting tips.  Once in Sichuan, once in Hunan province and again in Guangxi Autonomous Region.  Guides had to explain to everybody that "tips" were mandatory and had to be paid as part of his/her income, plus all the people behind the scenes in China who booked hotel rooms, tickets for attractions, arranged bullet trains etc.  I HAVE NEVER KNOWN SO MANY ARGUMENTS!

Some people argued "tips" should be optional otherwise they should be called a surcharge, levy or a fee.  I had to agree!

Some wanted to pay in AUD.  Some wanted to pay in NZD.  Some wanted to pay in Chinese yuan.  Everybody seemed to have a different exchange rate.  CHAOS!

MY GREATEST WARNING TO ANYBODY:  Some China tours are brimming with optional extras and your hand is ALWAYS in your pocket.  THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE TOURS!

Most of the "optional" activities are things you really want to do, right?

The tour already cost $1999, then I was forced to pay the Solo Supplement of $1100, tips $108, then OVER $1,000 IN "OPTIONAL EXTRAS".

What seemed like a reasonably priced tour to an inexpensive country became really quite expensive!  Over $4200 (plus spending cash) for just 9 days in China.  (Days 1 &11 were in the air).

Would I recommend TAD?  Probably not.  Unless they had an itinerary nobody else offered.  They're 100% owned by Qantas & they have the same ARROGANT CULTURE.

If they ban me from future trips, I will update this review accordingly.

Tread carefully!

My friend Sophie and I went on the Unbeatable Japan tour with tour guides Dragon and Blair. They were helpful, understanding, knowledgeable and super organised. They made the trip a real pleasure. The trip was great value for money and we had a well balanced program of activities, information and down time if we wanted it. Trip A Deal sent information in plenty of time and the tour information was really helpful. I would definitely go on another Trip A Deal holiday. The optional tours were well planned and we loved watching the Sumo wrestling training and the day tour to Hiroshima. Patricia

LAPLAND: TripADeal (100% owned by Qantas Group) – A Disappointment 3 stars,
Rovaniemi – Five Stars
TripADeal: Disappointing - Overall travel experience significantly impacted what should have been a truly once-in-a-lifetime journey
TripADeal was a disappointment. Visiting Lapland Rovaniemi Christmas Village itself was a five-star experience. It is an incredibly beautiful part of the world and something my family and I would absolutely recommend people travel to and experience - however, we would not recommend booking with TripADeal.
Poorly Designed Itinerary
The itinerary was poorly designed. Many stopovers felt unnecessary and added little value, often arriving late in the day, leaving minimal time to explore shops, markets, or attractions.
Much of the tour was spent on the bus, with meals mainly at service stations. While the guide was knowledgeable, speaking for hours on end became overwhelming rather than informative. The Northern Lights experience was limited due to driver hour restrictions. When considering the total cost of the trip, a second driver should have been provided to give guests a real chance to experience this natural phenomenon.
Flight cancellation and Additional Costs
Our trip got off to a disappointing start when Emirates cancelled our flight on the morning of departure, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” The replacement flight from Adelaide appeared to combine guests due to low passenger numbers saving the airline money but causing stress and extra costs of around $800 for extra meals, and airport transfers. In addition, because of the flight cancellation, we lost a day in Helsinki. Not only losing one day but we arrived late the next evening which meant we couldn’t tour the city, as shops and markets were already closed, and we had to leave early the next morning. On top of that, two prepaid hotel rooms went unused. When asked for a refund, neither TripADeal nor the hotel were able to provide a clear explanation, stating that the accommodation was part of a “bundle” and therefore could not be itemised or disclosed. As a result, they refused to refund these out-of-pocket expenses.
Currency Impact
It’s also worth noting travelling from Australia involves a considerable exchange rate difference. At the time of travel, the Australian dollar trade was 44% below the euro plus, despite the favourable exchange rate from AUD to SEK, Sweden is very expensive requiring a significant amount of SEK - as a result, this increases the overall expenses across accommodation, dining, and travel. These additional costs accumulate quickly, particularly for a family of four, making our financial loss even more significant.
Insurance Reimbursement
When claiming our out of pocket expenses through Qantas Travel insurance (underwritten by AIG) we were reimbursed a total $88. Fine print in the policy effectively blocked any further compensation, denying us a refund for the additional travel costs and lost accommodation caused by Emirates - which is extremely disappointing, especially given that both Emirates and Qantas are large corporations generate enormous profits, with CEOs receiving multimillion-dollar salaries, often at the expense of travellers who spend years saving for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Just returned from the 9 Day Unbeatable Japan Trip A Deal holiday. My son and I had an amazing time and we would highly recommend this trip. Our Tour Guide Dragon, made sure the trip ran smoothly and without incident even though he needed to adjust the itinerary slightly due to so much snow and the resulting road closures!! Optional activities were explained clearly, including any costs associated. Thanks Dragon and Trip A Deal. We'll be back! :)