Expat Explore Travel Reviews 139

I am an 82 year old Australian solo traveller.
I arranged a tour with expat explore travel in July 2025 and paid a deposit.
In December 2025 I had to contact the company as, apart from my payment details I had received no itinerary or other pertinent information.
On 4 March 2026 I received an email reassuring me that my ‘tour is confirmed and scheduled to run as planned’.

On 8 April an email informed me that my tour was not taking place. The reasons given were vague and unspecific.
On the same date a different email stated “At this point in time we have not received any payment to confirm your booking [ I had paid a deposit of $500 9 months previously] If you would like to retain this booking please contact our office … your booking will be subject to the current website rate.”
The tour on my chosen dates HAD BEEN CANCELLED by the company.

We’ve done two trips with Expat, Balkan Explorer and Copenhagen to Helsinki. Both are very fast paced tours just as described in the itinerary. It’s a great way to visit many countries in a short time.
The vehicles were great, the hotels were always good, breakfast was always included, and the sites visited were always interesting. There isn’t a lot of time at all the sites but that’s what we signed up for.
Both guides were extremely professional and helpful.
We already have plans to join two more tours with expat.

We went on the 10 day Central Europe in Low Season tour starting in Munich on 22nd November and it was fantastic. Mika from Poland was an absolute gem of a tour leader. She had 48 people from various countries to deal with and did so in a friendly manner, always helpful supportive to everyone and very well organised and professional in all she did.
Alex from Hungary was our friendly driver. A great guy with superb driving skills who always greeted you with a smile.
The itinerary and optional tours were what made us book the tour and we had no regrets. From lovely Gyor to the Sound of Music tour, Budapest dinner cruise and baths to the snow falling in Prague, it was great.

Both me and my daughter had a wonderful time with Expat.Yes there was a lot of coach travel .but how else could we have visited six countries in a week.The hotels were all of a good standard.we loved the one in Switzerland.The countries and locations we visited were all jaw dropping.The bus driver Damian was brilliant and our tour guide 'Pauline' was an absolute star.There were a few set backs along the way but Pauline quickly resolved them ensuring nothing spoilt our day,she was amazing. On the whole a great holiday experience. I will deffinately be travelling with Expat again in the near future.

The driver was very good and kept us safe. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. The tour itself was great and very interesting and I would do again if they use different hotels, the only good hotel was the Swiss chalet, the other hotels had bugs on my curtain and 1 had a bug on my blanket. Beds were sometimes hard, double occupancy had 1 bed and 2 cots instead of 2 comfortable beds. If you have to share with someone you don't know then just know that the beds are not separated.

Do not travel with Expat Explore

Expat Explore is a dishonest company. In a recent trip to Helsinki and the Baltic States, Expat Explore advertised the tour as a small group, and indeed the group for this tour was a small one, but they combined our tour with another one that had 30 guests making the combined tour of over 40 people. This is not a small group tour.

On top of this, they advertised that lodging would be in 3 and 4 star hotels. Our last hotel had 4 inch body divits in the bed and the hotel had no hot water. The hot water was a situation caused by a city repair, but the hotel was informed in the morning of our arrival. Yet despite several contacts between the tour leader, the hotel never mentioned the hot water issue. The experience was unacceptable and we checked out of the hotel saving the company the cost of the second night (the loss of hot water continued the second night) and the cost of breakfast the following morning. We sent a request to the Expat Explore to reimburse us for the replacement lodging and some consideration for the “no hot water situation” Expat Explore said they would research the situation and respond quickly and wanted to find an appropriate remedy. No such luck. They continually deferred a response and finally stopped responding to inquiries. Certainly not a professional response.

I have traveled to over 70 countries all over the globe, and this was the most disconcerting and unprofessional experience with a tour company I have ever experienced. Travelers paying large fees should expect more from their tour provider.,

We have a great time with the 10 days helsinki to warsaw tour. We have a wonderful tour leader Emma who has been very helpful at all time and to make sure everyone can keep up with the team , and our skillful driver Bogdan who also keeps the coach bus clean and tidy. They are such a great team and which made our tour much more fun and enjoying.
Beautiful sight seeing and love visiting all these beautiful and colorful medieval old town architectures in this northern region of Europe. Hotel rooms are always clean and good breakfast with choices. And this beautiful memories with Expat will be cherished for a long time!

Hello! Taste of Scandinavia Tour, one week with Emma Osvald and Bogdan was a smooth and relaxing tour. Unlike some other tours, there was clear communication and ease finding our way about independently. Lovable and intelligent Emma made it all look easy, but it’s not easy at all keeping a large group safe and drama free. Thank you Expat once again for helping a single person travel safely with so much great information!! Wow! I loved my tour immensely! Xox See you again! Renzie.

Helsinki to Warsaw tour ,very interesting travel through Baltics Exceptional organisation & friendliness from tour leader Emma Osvald & consistently cheerful and helpful driver Bogdan. Multicultural mix of passengers which adds to experience.

This 20 days Scandinavian and the Baltics tour was worth every penny especially when you have a bubbly, organized, informative and flexible talent like Emma assited by our most patient, helpful, precise and safest driving skill of Bogdan...an awesome team that should be tied all the time to have the most awesome tour experience you'll ever have. Me and my sister is so lucky to have them both. This is a 10 star team and tour package!!!

I would not book anything with this company. I live right by their offices and I see them behaving erratically, yelling drunk and aloud so defo I wouldn't want my travel experience to be managed by them. Be careful

I've just returned from another wonderful tour with this company. From start to finish the organisation and dedication of the team is first class.
This was a tour hosted by Emma and the driver was Bogdan.
Emma greeted each guest with a happy smile which lasted throughout the tour. It can't be easy maintaining such a challenging, interactive and entertaining schedule with guests from many countries. She did it with ease and enthusiasm.
Bogdan was a friendly, safe, courteous driver who kept his schedule well, engaging with all of the guests ensuring everything on the coach was tidy and prompt.
I would highly recommend this company and especially these great colleagues 👍

Expat Scandinavian & The Baltic Trip covered 8 countries in 20 days It was done well with great Guide, Emma O and driver Borgdam!!!
Hotel Rooms aren't terribly large but always clean

I’ve traveled with ExPat Explore four times now, and they consistently deliver incredible value. The pace of the tours is just right — full enough to experience so much, yet balanced so it never feels overwhelming. One thing that sets ExPat apart from other tour companies is the people: your travel companions come from all over the world. I love exploring a new country not only through my own cultural lens, but also alongside fellow travelers from many different nationalities.

What truly makes ExPat shine, though, is their crew. On my recent tour of Scandinavia, our tour leader, Emma Oszvalt, was outstanding — the perfect blend of professionalism and fun. And our driver, Bogdan, was equally impressive: kind, respectful, and an expert behind the wheel. Together, they made the trip unforgettable.

This company packs a lot in on their tours without it feeling rushed. Our tour guide in Scandinavia was Emma who was knowledgeable, approachable, and super organised. She melded the group together really well and kept us entertained and fully informed. Bogdan, our friendly driver was a super safe driver, a genius at tight corners and Tetris-ing the luggage. The coach was kept so clean I think he must have cleaned it every time we got out!
The accommodation was always very clean, offered generous breakfast buffets and were only a short walk to public transport.

Ultimate Europe – 26 Days of Chaos

25 August to 19 September 2025

🚨 Tour Leader: A Masterclass in Incompetence

Where do I begin? Our tour leader was an absolute disaster. She treated grown adults—many older than her—as if we were schoolchildren. Her knowledge of the destinations was laughably thin, and her organisational skills? Pretty Nonexistent. We got daily update sheets most times

• She put people on the wrong trains, then scrambled to get them off.
• Gave us incorrect public transport numbers, leaving us stranded or confused.
• Dismissed every concern with a shrug or a snide remark.
• Publicly berated a fellow traveler for wanting to buy water—yes, water—while the driver waited outside the bus.

Every single person on the tour had complaints. She was not just unqualified—she was actively detrimental to the experience.

💸 Optional Tours: A Euro Drain

Optional tours were overpriced and poorly coordinated. You’d pay a premium only to be told to find your own way back, racking up even more costs. She cherry-picked what she thought was “appropriate” and told us to book the rest ourselves—then claimed they’d be cheaper elsewhere. No help, no guidance, just vague mentions and zero follow-through.

🍽️ Optional Dinners: 50€ for Mediocrity

The “optional” dinners were basic at best. You’d pay 50€ for a meal that barely passed as edible, and often had to endure a local tour just to reach the restaurant. Not worth the time, effort, or money.

🚶‍♀️ Walking: Rain, Hail, and Blisters

Prepare to walk over two hours a day—rain, hail, or shine. If you’re hoping for sleep-ins or downtime, forget it. This tour runs you ragged.

🏨 Hotels: From Decent to Disastrous

The starting hotel was lovely. Then it all went downhill until the final two nights. We endured:

• Hotels with broken elevators or stairs to reception.
• Rooms far from city centers, requiring 15–30 minutes of public transport—daunting for many, especially in unfamiliar cities.
• I paid a €3,000 single supplement and got single beds for 15 out of 26 nights. Tour leader didn’t care. Expat customer service gave me lip service.
Huge thanks to the kind men on tour who helped us ladies navigate the chaos.

👥 Fellow Travellers: Mixed Bag

Some lovely people, but rooming issues caused real drama. One woman left halfway through. Another had to travel solo, adding to her expenses. The lack of support was glaring.

🚌 Driver: The Unsung Hero

Our driver was phenomenal. He stepped up when the tour leader’s backpack was stolen on Day 1 in Amsterdam (karma?). He explained things clearly, kept us safe, and was the only professional on the trip. He deserved every tip. She deserved none.

💰 Tipping Scam

Expat played videos suggesting tips of $5–7 USD per day per person. Do the math: that’s nearly $4,000 total. I gave the tour leader nothing. She earned it—in the worst way.

❌ Final Verdict: Never Again

This was my first and last group tour. I’m glad I did it—only because now I know what to avoid. The experience gave me insight, but it was far enjoyable.

The upside - the friends I made

Mike the tour guide and Ash the driver were fantastic. Nearly checked everything off on my bucket list in Uk and Ireland just from this one trip. Thanks for the amazing experience and memories!

Traveling with Expat was one of the great experiences I had. I was traveling with my Sister & daughter. We had amazing experiences. It was packed but full of great destinations. It’s something that I will cherish forever. Our guide Emma & driver Gabby were great! They tried their best to cater our needs in a short span of time. I salute you both. Job well done. Great teamwork.

I am looking forward for another trip with you guys.

More power Expat!…

THANK YOU NOTE TO KAVIN SCREEN!!
Dear Kavin,
We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional guidance throughout our journey across nine beautiful countries in Europe. Your dedication—constantly moving up and down to ensure our safety—did not go unnoticed. We deeply appreciate the way you connected with the children, encouraging them with your kindness and making the trip even more special for them. Your professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail helped us create memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you for turning this trip into not just a tour, but an unforgettable experience we will cherish forever.
With warm regards,
Dr. Tula Neopaney and Family

From the very beginning the customer service was absolutely amazing!!! Brandon helped us secure our spots on a tour that only had 2 spots left when there was 3 of us! Such an amazing value for your money!! Got to not only see a lot but also learn so much history!!! Our driver Kristof was a literal miracle worker and our tour guide Kevin was just a master act at what he does! Always on top of everything, super organized, well knowledgeable, and just made everything run so smoothly! Some of the best customer service, give these guys a raise!!! We truly enjoyed!!! Would definitely do another tour again.