Their rates are a little pricey but the service is excellent. My family have engaged their services... read more
Their rates are a little pricey but the service is excellent. My family have engaged their services... read more
My friends and I went to Manila and wanted to go to a beach. We booked a trip to Batangas and had a... read more
We kicked off our Tri-city Tour (Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia) with a wrong foot - missing our shuttle bus to Legoland. Everything could have been almost perfect, if not for such slip-up. For missing our bus, my family of four paid a high price - not in terms of money, but in an ordeal of anxiety.
On Day One, we expected a tour service vehicle to pick us up at our hotel to drive us to the shuttle bus terminal. When it failed to arrive, we knew something went wrong somewhere. Right then and there, we called up Ace Tours Singapore about our situation which informed us that its tour package excluded pick-up from hotel to shuttle bus terminal. We then called up Shore2Shore Philippines and informed us of the same exclusion.
Saving Grace.
Since we're a "no-show" already at the bus terminal, we decided to go to Legoland by our effort. From our hotel, a Grab car took us to the bus terminal. Thanks to TravelStars Singapore for providing two connecting buses exclusively for our family. For saving half of the day, the extra costs we had paid mattered no more.
Lesson Learned: Don't Assume.
We assumed that pick-up from our hotel to our shuttle bus terminal (easy simple transfer but with severe consequence if missed) was part of tour package. Shore2Shore Philippines stated in its email:
"No Hotel Pick-up from 1st Jan 2020,"
"FREE 1 way Pick-up service from major city hotels to shuttle bus terminal."
The above two seeming conflicting statements confused us. The catch: we're booked NOT in a "major city hotel" thus depriving us of the hotel pick-up which we're more than willing to pay for our convenience.
Also, we got the No-Hotel-Pick-Up notice from one email embedded among stacks of e-mail exchanges just a week before our tour kick-off. By reading such late but critical email and misinterpreting it, led to our troubled Legoland travel experience.
Disclaimer.
This feedback is posted not to point a finger to any party, but to care, in one way or another, for other first-time travelers like us in the future.
Thank you for your feedback, upon checking -
Dec 16 we sent you the notice (Your travel date was Jan 8)
Effective 01 Jan 2020, we were advised that all Legoland Booking will have to proceed for Coach Departure from Singapore Flyer to Legoland at 0900hrs.
Coach Return from Legoland to Singapore Flyer will be at 1715hrs.
when we asked for your passport details as required by Singapore tours office.
This applies to all bookings effective Jan 1 by all tours for Legoland year 2020
Dec 24 - you provided us the info required, we trust that you have taken note of this since there was no comment.
Dec 31 - we sent you the confirmation vouchers and complete details summary, and emergency numbers. Informing you to review, and to be at the stated redemption point for the tours.
Jan 9 - we were surprised to receive a call from Singapore hotel package office that your companion called shouting at them demanding about the pick-up of your Legoland tour.
Legoland tour voucher indicated a different tour operator's contact details so you were calling and shouting at people in the wrong numbers and office. To which our office had to apologize to them in your behalf.
We called your number. After talking to your companion over the phone, mentioning all the above (which you may have overlooked), we resent the same day to day details to your messanger.
For missing the shuttle, we called and asked Singapore for suggestions on other options available. We advised you proceed to Burgis, Golden Mile Tower where there are bus tickets are sold going to Legoland, then we provided you the step by step procedure of using your Legoland entry tickets and joining the return shuttle.
We called you and you confirm that you're already buying your tickets
As well as reminding you the next day's schedule and details, to make sure that you don't miss any of it.
It's always best to read all emails and final instructions sent pertaining to your trip to avoid the trouble.
Our office will be happy to go through the day to day details, if needed, just to make sure that all guests are fully aware and understand how they can prepare and expect for each day's trip, on top of the final instructions sent to your email.
My friends and I went to Manila and wanted to go to a beach. We booked a trip to Batangas and had a wonderful time. I guess the day we were traveling was not ery popular and we had our own private trip. Our guide and the driver were so kind, they stopped along the way a couple of times so we could take great pictures before we even reached the beach. It was drizzling a little but it was still a nice day. Before you even dipped your toes in the water you were given your first meal. I appreciate they asked about our dietary needs and were able to provide us with wonderful food. You were fed all day: breakfast snack, lunch, dessert and then another snack. We had so much food we had to take it back with us. The beach was beautiful and our guide even took candids of us and emailed them to us. Everyone was so kind and helpful. I would definitely recommend these services. You will feel so relaxed and definitely enjoy yourself.
We decided to travel with Shore2Shore after coming across their Tricity Tour Package (Puerto Princessa, El Nido and Coron) in November. Just like any other tourist we decided to check their reviews online and there were a lot of good reviews, thus we decided to go ahead with Shore2 Shore. Prior to the trip, communication with Terri (the manager) was great. She got back to us promptly and provided us with numerous options and overall made the planning very easy. What was about to happen next came as a shock to us.
As we landed in Peurto Princessa, we were picked up and taken to the hotel (which was a great value for money) and everything went smoothly until we were informed that our tour for the next day had been cancelled due to bad weather. At this point Terri was kind enough to give us a refund for the cancelled tour.
Halfway through our journey, we encountered an issue with this travel agency! We were supposed to be taken to the pier for our boat ride to Coron from El Nido. As per the instructions given by Terri, we were requested to be ready by 5 am at our hotel to be picked up by our guide, to take us to the pier, of which we followed only to find that our guide did not show up. To our dismay there had been some miscommunication between a sub tour agency (that Terri hired to guide us aorund the island), us and Terri, whereby different instructions were given to all parties. This resulted in us missing our boat ride.
As this miscommunication had occurred, Terry charged us an exorbotant amount to arange for another set of boat tickets and accomodation and a tour in our next destination. She justified, us not having to pay as she was going to use the money from our refund to foot the bill of this new arrangement. when i disagreed with her, she threatened to leave us stranded in El Nido. This definitely frightened us and honestly after this incident, i would never recommend this service to anybody.
i also found out that after the trip, Terri had sent me and email asking for my feedback which i was not aware off was going to be published on a blog post. As i read the blog post i found out that my concerns of the trip had been removed and a positive review had been left behind with my name on it, which i was not aware off at all.
To future travellers, while most of the people we met on this trip were genuinely nice, i still will not recoommend this agency. I was fooled by the good reviews and it was disastrous.
Thank you for your review.
Allow us to provide details you have excluded.
In El Nido, the boat tickets to Coron were delivered a day prior through your hotel. The hotel staff had informed you of the changed instruction that you are to proceed to the port which is just a short walk from the hotel.
You opted not to follow, insisting on the original instruction and stayed there just waiting, while the hotel staff kept insisting that you should go. They told us later on. The boat tickets are in your hands, the departure time is indicated. Only when the boat's time to sail that you decided to go, which got you left behind for being late. The boat forfeits no show tickets.
Concerned, we offered to assist you to purchase a new ticket, in booking another night in El Nido (it was fully booked that time), to call your destination long distance, to push forward and adjust all arrangements to your destination (hotel, meals, tour, transfers). We suggested that we use your refund from the cancelled Underground River tour (because of the storm) to cover PARTIAL cost and for us to be able to do something, or you can take care of it if you want. (It's also wrong to think that your single tour refund can cover ALL the trouble caused.)
You were hesitant at first yet eventually gave your consent. (We believe you already knew that nobody else out there is going to help you if you’re not paying a single peso like what you wanted to happen.) You even told us that you've already spent a lot for just buying the plane ticket from Busuanga outright since the boat ticket you bought got cancelled.
Threat from us is not even necessary. It was good that you know how to get scared on your own. If you were a bit late to decide, all would have been sold out and we may not have been able to do anything for you.
We finished all the arrangements the same day, you only sat and waited till we sent you the recovery done. We thought ahead and included covering the cost of making your tour in Coron private coz with your new schedule, you have no idea that you had missed the original joining tour you availed. We decided you should not have further problems when you reach the last leg of your trip.
Yes, we asked how your Coron tour went, coz that’s the only part we dint hear from you of. Which you responded was positive! And we were relieved. But you further expressed not enjoying the trip because of all that happened and the cost incurred. (We cannot help you anymore when it comes to your outlook. We don’t sell that product.)
Yes your reply was posted including concerns that did not make you enjoy the trip.
For your no enjoyment, we replied to you with –
It's good to know there's no further issues.
Just informing you that below are the bill incurred in adjusting your arrangements (for 5 persons)-
New sets of ticket fast boat El Nido to Coron P1900 x 5 = P9,500
Additional night stay in El Nido 2 rooms (Standard hotel) P4,500
Upgrade of Coron island hopping from joining to private P1200 x 5 = P6,000
Total P20,000
Underground Refund P10,000 (P2000/person)
Your supposed outstanding payable P10,000, which was not collected from you anymore.
That will just be our Christmas and New Year gift to you. Happy Holidays!
Informing you was in the hope that for Knowing the cost, you will at least have the appreciation for the courtesy extended and the effort done in your behalf. But then, that did not help.
We understand that this is your first time travelling and you are students, that’s why you missed a thing or 2 when it comes to your personal responsibility as travelers. It happens to anyone. If nobody hasn't told you then allow us - You're not supposed to sit back and insist waiting if the ticket in your hands says it's time, when someone is telling you to go.
Some companies will not baby sit or even bother to offer you the extensive assistance when you miss the trip and it creates a lot of complications for the current and future arrangements, not to mention costs that you are not ready to take responsibility for. It was a Saturday, our office was only halfday. We went overtime making long distance calls and pleading and negotiating service providers in your behalf.
On costs - you have well informed our office from the start that that you have done due diligence in asking for several quotes until you have chosen to avail from us. You have been to Palawan, and saw that the prices are very much standard and regulated. It’s one of our most popular destinations, it will be wrong to expect it to be cheap? But definitely not exorbitant, your package was standard economy.
We understand, if you lack appreciation of what’s been done for you.
Yet we hope you will stop fooling yourselves that disasters are caused by other people. Take some responsibility for your personal choices, actions and blunders.
Yet, we thank you, for travelling with us.
We are happy to have served, spent the extra time, and even costs, to recover your trip, even without a proper thank you or acknowledgement.
Their rates are a little pricey but the service is excellent. My family have engaged their services on several trips already, Coron, Pagsanjan and Hidden Valley.
The female guide (Grace) is also very helpful and accommodating.
This is one of the best travel agencies & so far meets and excel expectations...Already had few engagements with them.
- The hotels that they offer are excellent. Hotels are destination as well & should level up as this is part of your vacation. So far the accommodations is at its best. I think they don’t believe in ‘puede na to’, I think they’re motto is ‘It should be the best’.
- Terry Sy is very professional
- During our trip to Cebu, the first resort that we booked was not available on the weekends, she managed to booked another hotel at the end of our trip and so far exceeds our expectations. The hotel feels like a 5 star, very business like ambiance. In the end, naging mas ok p ang vacation kahit palipat lipat ng hotel.
- If your the type who’s looking for luxury for a reasonable price, go to this travel agency.
We had only one day in Manila after visiting family and we very much wanted to see Corregidor. We contacted Shore 2 Shore by email a few weeks before traveling to the Philippines, and arranged everything, including payment. They were easy to work with, and everything went smoothly. The tour itself was excellent. We took an Uber from our hotel to the Seaside Terminal, where our tickets were waiting for us. The ferry ride to the island was enjoyable, with an informative video preparing us for what we would see. On Corregidor, a well-organized bus tour took us to all the sights, with multiple stops including one for lunch. Our two teenage boys enjoyed it as much as we did!