I've traveled twice with G Adventures - once on the Costa Rica on a Shoestring Tour, and again Amazon to the Andes in Peru. Like some have said, a lot of your experience depends on your tour guides and also the group dynamic. I've always been pretty lucky in that I have had great tour guides who are clearly passionate about their culture and have had group members who are (for the most part) interested in immersing themselves in another culture. Some of the hotels are not always the best, but part of their business model is to support the local economy; therefore, they are not going to place you in some American hotel chain like Holiday Inn - they will pick a local hotel that will support a local business owner. Sometimes I've been disappointed that guides have picked restaurants for group dinners that are more "American/Tourist"-like; however, keep in mind that may be for safety reasons. There are some in the group who strayed from the suggestions of the tour guide and got sick either because the food was not prepared in the most sanitary way or because our stomachs are not used to the local bacterias. Overall, I have really liked my experiences with G Adventures and I find it's a very easy way for me as a single woman who does not speak another language to still get out there and see the world in a safe way. I also appreciate their business philosophies which makes me feel better about throwing my money their way rather than some other company that might have better (more American-standard) accommodations.