Our proposed 22-day private journey for four people through Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Ushuaia, El Chalten, El Calafate, and Torres del Paine sounded absolutely marvelous and memorable--and in many ways, it was. We visited breathtaking and fascinating places with ever-changing, stunning landscapes, and enjoyed thrilling hikes in the mountains of Patagonia. The natural beauty was truly unforgettable.
However, while the destinations themselves lived up to expectations, the actual experience of traveling with Say Hueque left much to be desired. If you're considering booking with this company, I urge you to clarify every single detail before you go--down to the very last element.
For example, always double-check the hotel ratings yourself. In El Calafate, we were promised a "five-star" hotel that, at best, might have deserved two normal stars. From unpleasant odors in the rooms to worn-out towels and robes that would barely fit a ten-year-old, the experience was far from luxurious.
Make sure you triple-check the arrangements for each day. Otherwise, you might find yourself--as we did--dumped at a ferry terminal in Uruguay with a driver who spoke no English, surrounded by thousands of people, with no tickets and no instructions. After a frantic forty minutes of calling the company, we finally received copies of our tickets via our phones--and not even in the class we had paid for.
Be prepared, upon landing at the airport (as happened to us in Ushuaia), to look around in confusion for your promised meet-and-greet, only to eventually spot a breathless guide who was informed of your arrival just twenty minutes before your plane landed. Oh, and this guide arrived in a standard five-seater SUV, so we had to squeeze in with our luggage on our laps.
If, like us, you experience theft at your hotel (as happened at Aracur in Ushuaia, where expensive items were stolen and the hotel acknowledged the incident), don't expect any support or involvement from Say Hueque in resolving the matter.
When traveling through Patagonia, study a detailed map so you know how to get to your hotel. Otherwise, your driver might drive in circles for an hour, only finding the right place after spotting a random person on a deserted road.
Finally, don't expect a beautiful printed itinerary upon arrival--after all, "we sent you the prospectus by email, what more could you want? We're saving paper." And if you're thinking of requesting even a partial refund for such service, be warned: you'll be worn out by the process and still not get your money back.
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