I've been following GTT since 2007 but I'm not a diehard
fan. I tend to go with my sister's choice of travel agency. Previous trips were
well-organized and enjoyable, and I appreciated the professionalism of their
tour leaders until the recent Caucasus trip. We chose this tour mainly for the
chance to see the Gergeti Trinity Church in Georgia, which was highly
advertised. Unfortunately, a rainy day led to a landslide that blocked access
to that remarkable site. Instead, we were taken to the Stalin Museum, which was
decent but ultimately left us feeling disappointed. The weather forecast for
Georgia was always accurate, and I believe the agency could have made necessary
adjustments to the itinerary to ensure we reached that key destination,
especially since the weather was favorable for two days afterward, aside from
this challenging trek.
Initially we believed there must be a reason the tour agency couldn't change
the itinerary. However, once we arrived in Armenia, they were able to adjust
the plan even though the weather was sunny throughout our stay.
While traveling in Azerbaijan, we found it challenging to locate restrooms in
the suburbs, which we understood. However, during a stop at a gas station, we
decided to take a break. I was one of the first to disembark to check for a
restroom, but there was only one available. Some of us overheard the tour guide
and leader suggesting that if we could hold it, they would stop at the next
location. So, we reboarded the bus. To our astonishment, everyone else continued
to wait for the restroom while we who followed the instructions, remained
seated on the bus. Eventually, we felt something was off and got off the bus
again. The local tour guide signaled me with a 'no' gesture. I ignored it
because I assumed there would be no further stops. Upon returning to the bus,
it suddenly moved, and I nearly fell. Frustration mounted due to the inadequate
guidance from the tour leader, and it seemed the bus driver neglected the
safety of the passengers.
The most distressing part of the trip involved my sister, who is recovering
from brain surgery and experiences various complications. She tries to lead a
normal life so we kept her health issues private. Unfortunately, the tour
leader instructed that only the elderly could sit at the front of the bus. My
sister attempted to find a 5th seat there but still ended up facing unkind
treatment from some elder members , which we couldn't control. We endured
discomfort due to the cold attitudes of several members, one of whom directly
approached my sister with a rude negative comment. She managed to handle the
unfair treatment until one outing in Armenia when the tour leader guided
everyone to the restrooms. Upon noticing us, she turned away and ignored us
completely. Immediately afterwards, she assisted a senior who everyone
addressed him as "datuk". I couldn't help but wonder if this person
was paying more than us? This double standard was evident from the beginning,
but we chose to stay silent. My sister absorbed these negative experiences over
multiple days, and this last incident pushed her to her limit. Additionally,
the exhaustion triggered her epilepsy, and she collapsed right after using the
restroom. We were terrified that this could lead to hospitalization or worse,
affecting the entire group. As the tour leader, she must have recognized the
tension among the members but opted not to ease the situation, instead
worsening it. She appeared to favor wealthier individuals, though I cannot
comprehend her judgment based on appearances. We don't expect special
treatment, but fairness is essential; poorly communicated instructions can
impact everyone, especially when traveling with unkind and inconsiderate
individuals that using their own judgement to punish others.
Overall, I would still rate 3 star for this trip. Most of the planned
activities were satisfied. And for the Azerbaijan tour guide deserves a 5-star
rating for his passion, fairness, and caring.
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