Dublin: Private Chauffeur Tour

FRAUDULENT AND DECEPTIVE — DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR! PLEASE DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR. I URGE VIATOR TO REMOVE THIS PROVIDER FROM ITS PLATFORM. This was, without question, the single worst tour-company experience I have ever had in my life. I have used Viator all over the world for many years, and I have never experienced anything remotely like this. I am writing this review because I do not want another customer to lose hundreds of dollars and have their Dublin experience ruined the way ours was. We paid nearly $900 for a private Dublin tour for four adults that specifically advertised and promised a MINIVAN. A minivan was not provided. Instead, on the day of our scheduled tour, a small, beat-up maroon car arrived. The vehicle had dents, dings, scrapes and a dirty, unpleasant interior. It was plainly not the pristine and shiny large minivan advertised in the tour description and photographs and it was completely inappropriate for four adults on a private sightseeing tour. This is not a matter of the vehicle being slightly different from the photographs. The vehicle that arrived was NOTHING like the large Mercedes minivan prominently depicted in the company's listing. In fact, the very first sentence of the tour description states that a "MINIVAN WILL BE PROVIDED!" They even use an exclamation mark to accentuate that point. That is a very specific representation—not a vague suggestion or a promise that "a vehicle" will be provided. A MINIVAN WAS NOT PROVIDED FOR OUR TOUR AS PROMISED AND AS ADVERTISED! When the small car arrived, we were shocked. I immediately and repeatedly attempted to contact the company to explain that the vehicle was unacceptable and to request the minivan—or at minimum, a vehicle large enough to accommodate four adults comfortably. The company would not answer my calls. I was making international calls and repeatedly trying to reach the company, all while standing there with three other paying customers and a driver who had arrived late. The situation was incredibly frustrating and upsetting. The driver told us that he had been able to reach the company and that the company refused to send a larger vehicle because his car "matched the description" of the car I reserved. Apparently, the company was capable of answering the driver's call but could not be bothered to answer repeated calls from the paying customer who was standing there with the awful vehicle that had been sent. Then, after the company refused to provide the vehicle we had paid for, the driver simply left. We were left standing there, completely dumbfounded. We did not take the tour. We could not reasonably take a private Dublin sightseeing tour for four adults in the vehicle that was sent. Yet the company refused to provide the minivan it had advertised and refused to provide a refund. THIS IS THE PART EVERY POTENTIAL CUSTOMER NEEDS TO KNOW: You are not simply paying for "a tour." You are paying for what the company specifically promises to provide. This company advertised a MINIVAN. We paid nearly $900 for a tour for four adults based upon that representation. A minivan was not provided. Instead, we received a small, dirty, damaged vehicle that was completely inconsistent with the listing. Do not assume the beautiful photographs of the Mercedes minivan are representative of what will actually arrive. Based on our experience, they were not. Even more disturbing, I have now seen another customer's review describing what appears to be a strikingly similar experience —a minivan was advertised, but a small car was sent instead, along with a driver who apparently was not even a tour guide. That makes our experience even more troubling. I have used Viator for years and have booked tours in numerous countries. I have always trusted the platform to connect customers with legitimate tour operators. I have never before experienced what I believe was such a blatant failure to provide the service that was advertised and paid for. After returning home from our trip, I contacted Viator and asked them to investigate the company's refusal to provide the promised vehicle and its refusal to refund the nearly $900 we paid for a tour that we could not and did not take because the promised minivan was not provided and we could NOT fit in the small car. As of the date of this review, I still have not received a refund—neither a full refund nor even a partial refund. I sincerely hope Viator ultimately recognizes what happened here and does the right thing by issuing a full refund. But regardless of what ultimately happens with my refund, I am posting this review for one reason above all others: I DO NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE TO GO THROUGH THIS. Please learn from our experience. Read the description carefully. Look at the photographs. Understand exactly what is being promised. And then choose another tour company. There are plenty of companies offering tours of Dublin. Please choose literally any other reputable provider rather than risk paying hundreds of dollars for a service and vehicle that may not be provided. Nearly $900 is an enormous amount of money to lose—particularly when you are on vacation, have limited time in Dublin, and are counting on a tour company to deliver exactly what you paid for. DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR. DO NOT TRUST THE MINIVAN ADVERTISING. DO NOT LET THIS COMPANY RUIN YOUR DAY IN DUBLIN THE WAY THEY RUINED OURS. If I could give this company zero stars—or negative stars—I would. I sincerely hope this review prevents even one other traveler from experiencing what we did.

What an excellent experience. The guide Ricardo was magnificent, it was an excellent day and great to see Dublin in 1 day. I recommend

What a wonderful experience. We managed to see the full of Dublin on our 1 day stay with no hussels. We really appreciate Ricardo on his support and buildind a personalized itinerary for our family

We use this service every where we go and I must say this was the best tour we've ever been to. The Chauffeaur Ricardo was so so nice, he made our trip to Dublin fantastic thanks to this tour

We were extremely disappointed in this tour. Pros: Our driver,Diego, was a good driver and very nice guy. Because of tendering off the ship we were an hour and half late and Diego waited for us. Con’s: Diego was not a native Irishman and knew all most nothing about the history, culture and sites of Dublin. This was not a tour and we felt we went away knowing nothing about Dublin. The tour information said we had a van but the car was a small sedan. The price was outrageous $743 for 2 adults to ride around Dublin in a small sedan with limited tour information. This was not Diego’s fault it was the tour companies fault knowing Diego was not a guide but only a driver. We have taken many private tours in other cities with driver/guides that were excellent. I would suggest not taking any tours from Epic tours.

This private tour of Dublin was truly memorable! Our guide was engaging, offering deep knowledge about the city’s landmarks and culture. The itinerary was personalized, allowing us to avoid the touristy spots and discover hidden gems. The stops at local pubs were particularly enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour for a unique and enriching Dublin adventure!

The private tour of Dublin was amazing! Our guide was knowledgeable, sharing interesting facts and stories. The tour was customized to our preferences, letting us explore Dublin's top spots without the crowds. The local pubs were a highlight. Highly recommend this tour for a unique Dublin experience!

Amazing experience with my friends. Driver/tour guide was so nice with us. We had great moments on Temple Bar that is a completely different vibe. Beautiful city to take a photos for my instagram. I really recommend!

My friends and I really enjoyed the tour. We were blessed with a super sunny day and made the most of it. Our driver Marcelo was very helpful through the whole trip. His local knowledge and extra tips was a plus.

The driver was very friendly, suggested several tips and was up to date with current parties. Who wants a trip with a good experience, it's worth it