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| - I am writing this review mid-way through what was supposed to be a four week trip in Indochina with GAP Adventure travel. I left the trip two weeks early because it was, by far, the worst travel experience of my life. I am an experienced and patient traveler (solo and group travel), a forgiving and understanding consumer, and an agreeable group participant. Yet, despite this, I was left with no other decision than to abandon this GAP trip in order to salvage what was left of my time in Asia.
Why did I travel with GAP to Asia?
As a high school teacher from the US, I wanted to experience Asia with the help of a knowledgeable guide. As a woman traveling alone, I wanted to be taken seriously when I asked questions. As an American, I wanted to travel in a way that would be sensitive and aware of the cultural context and history of this region of the world and the U.S. After searching for group travel companies, I settled on GAP because of the promises made for this type of cross-cultural experience and group leadership.
The group tour, both leadership and participants, was the exact opposite.
Group Leader:
The GAP brochure states: "They will provide information on the places you are traveling, make suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. For specific areas such as cultural sites or jungles, you will also have a local guide or area expert to impart their knowledge."
What actually happened: The group leader showed up on the first day of travel wearing a T-Shirt that read: "FBI, Female Body Inspector". The group was almost entirely female. He proceeded to wear the shirt throughout the trip. While in Thailand (the first leg of the trip) he was meant to be our leader (logistical person) and guide (tours, introduction, etc). He took us to a boat and told us, "this river is just like in Venice". We visited a temple (Wat Po) and he gathered us around as a group and told us that this is a Buddhist temple. This was the only context given during 5 days in Thailand.
The lack of guidance and leadership persisted throughout the trip. We would arrive in a location and be told simply where we were, "You are now in Hanoi" and then what time we were leaving the next day. While I appreciate the freedom and flexibility of unplanned days, I also expected at a minimum, context.
For example, while in Laos our guide (both tour leader and local guide) did not once mention the word "land mine" or "war". How can one visit literally the most bombed country per capita on earth and never hear these words mentioned? While driving for 6 hours on the roads of Laos our tour leader slept and played video games while we passed by village after village.
When I approached the tour leader and asked questions or asked for more information about something or even requested that he provide more formal information to the group, he shrugged this off or made a joke of it. Nearly every question I asked on the trip was responded to with a joke, a sarcastic comment, or some reference to my being a woman.
Again, if I wanted to risk being shrugged off or not taken seriously, I would have made the decision to travel independently. I took this trip seriously as a learning experience and decided to spend the extra money to go with a leader and group to maximize the learning. This absolutely did not happen.
What about the group?
GAP writes this about group travel, "you will be travelling with like-minded individuals from all over the world. "
My experience:
From the start, group members frequently and unabashedly said things such as (and trust me, this is just a small sampling):
"Look at the little Asians. They look like action figures on bikes."
"I would never eat in this market. I bet the food is filled with lice." (this said in front of a group of local shop keepers)
" Look, there are some queers" On the topic of homosexuality: The level of intolerance toward gay and transgender people by both the group members and the leader was insufferable. I could not believe that people spoke this way, so openly, in the 21st century. Every day, our group leader found some way to mention the "girly boys" and how we needed to stay "far away from the girly boys of Asia". I was horrified at the laughter that these comments generated.
I wish I had more than 5,000 words to review my experience. Full disclosure: I am currently in a quest to receive a refund for the portion of the trip not taken. When the group leader was replaced (because of group complaints) the new group leader said he'd rather "start fresh" than hear my concerns about the trip thus far. I just couldn't risk another two weeks with a similar type guide or group.
edit: GAP did refund a portion of my trip as a gesture of goodwill.
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