My recent experience with Greatland Tours on a trip from Houston to L'Auberge was **shockingly…read moreunacceptable and completely contradictory to the polished "About Us" statement the company promotes.** For a business that claims to use top‑of‑the‑line vehicles, professionally trained drivers, and exceptional customer service, what we encountered was the exact opposite -- a trip that felt unsafe, disorganized, and downright disrespectful to the loyal riders who depend on this service.
When passengers arrived at the pickup location at 7:45 AM, there was no staff member present--only a posted note instructing riders to pay the driver. The bus that eventually arrived was an extreme downgrade: a small, visibly dirty vehicle clearly not intended for long‑distance travel. The first step was broken, making it difficult and unsafe for elderly and disabled passengers to board. **I would bet that 80% of your ridership consists of elderly people, which makes the lack of accessibility even more unacceptable.**
Inside, the conditions were equally unacceptable. Seats were cramped so tightly that passengers had to squeeze between rows. Several seats were broken, there were no footrests, and the peeling faux leather rubbed off onto passengers' clothing. To make matters worse, the bus had **no restroom**, forcing everyone to rush into a nearby Taco Bell before departure because there would be no stops during the 2‑hour, 10‑minute ride. Even a car trip of that distance typically requires a restroom break, let alone a bus filled with seniors.
The bus held only 38 seats. The first pickup nearly filled it, the second left only a couple of seats open, and by the third stop, passengers with reservations were turned away. Tension rose quickly, and understandably so--loyal riders were shocked by the drastic downgrade in transportation and the lack of communication.
Adding to the frustration, prices have increased to $25-$30 with a card and $35 without, yet perks upon arrival at the casino have been eliminated. Riders headed to the Golden Nugget are no longer dropped off there and must find their own way, even those using walkers, canes, or wheelchairs.
All of this placed the new driver in an unfair and uncomfortable position, simply trying to follow instructions while passengers expressed justified concerns.
In the end, we paid more only to receive deplorable service. It raises serious questions: Should this bus--or any like it--have been on the road? Did it even pass inspection for safely transporting passengers?
This experience was inhumane, unsafe, and far below the standards Greatland Tours claims to uphold.
