Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour from Boston

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry the experience did not meet your expectations, but we would like to clarify a few points about the day. Regarding your pickup, our guide had numerous scheduled stops throughout Boston that morning. Traveling from hotel to hotel across the city can add a considerable amount of time, particularly with Boston traffic and the additional traffic we encounter traveling to Cape Cod. For that reason, there are days when nearby pickup locations must be consolidated in order to keep the entire group on schedule. This is disclosed in our Viator listing, where we reserve the right to consolidate pickup locations when operationally necessary. We understand that having to take an Uber was inconvenient, and we’re sorry for that frustration. Nobska Point Lighthouse is a time-permitting stop. We are happy to include it when the schedule allows, but our priority must be getting guests to Woods Hole in time for their scheduled ferry. Unfortunately, between the number of pickups and traffic conditions that morning, there was not enough spare time to make the lighthouse stop without risking the ferry departure. We’re very happy to hear that you found Jon to be nice and knowledgeable. As a Martha’s Vineyard islander, he takes pride in showing guests much more of the island than they would experience by simply remaining in Oak Bluffs. The optional island tour is approximately three hours and covers multiple areas of Martha’s Vineyard. Naturally, choosing the island tour reduces the amount of independent time available afterward in Oak Bluffs. Guests who prefer several hours of shopping, dining and exploring Oak Bluffs on their own may absolutely choose not to take the optional island tour. We understand that this style of day trip may not be for everyone. However, coordinating multiple Boston pickups, traveling to Cape Cod, meeting a scheduled ferry, crossing to Martha’s Vineyard and providing guests the opportunity to tour the island requires a carefully managed schedule. We do our best to give our guests the fullest experience possible while keeping everyone on time throughout the day. We appreciate your feedback and are glad that Jon helped make your time touring Martha’s Vineyard enjoyable.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I would like to clarify a few points regarding your experience, as I believe some important context is missing from the review. Regarding the hotel pickup, our commercial vehicle was parked directly outside the hotel. Because of the size of the vehicle and the nature of our pickups, our drivers generally remain with the vehicle rather than leaving it unattended to enter hotel lobbies. When I notified you that I had arrived, I was outside with the vehicle ready for your pickup. I apologize if there was any confusion regarding where we would meet. I would also like to clarify the optional Martha’s Vineyard island tour. I asked on multiple occasions whether you wanted to add the three-hour island tour, and each time you initially declined. Approximately two hours later, you changed your mind and asked if the tour could still be arranged. My comment that it “would’ve been better if you’d said that an hour ago” was not intended to be rude or dismissive. The island tour is operated separately and has to be coordinated with the guide on Martha’s Vineyard. I simply didn’t want you to miss the opportunity. Thankfully, we were still able to make it happen for you. It is also important to understand that this experience is designed as a Martha’s Vineyard day trip from Boston. We provide transportation from Boston to the ferry, ferry tickets, transportation logistics, commentary along the way, snacks, water, food/apparel discount cards, and transportation back to Boston at the end of the day. Once on Martha’s Vineyard, guests may explore independently or prepurchase the optional three-hour narrated island tour. The island tour is not automatically included unless it is selected and paid for prior to departure from Boston. Regarding the snacks and water, both were available in the vehicle. I certainly would have been happy to provide anything you needed during the trip had I known you were looking for them. I always want our guests to have an enjoyable experience, and I take feedback seriously. I’m sorry that certain aspects of the experience did not meet your expectations, but I hope this clarification provides a more complete picture of what occurred that day.

Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback. We’re very glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour overall, and I especially appreciate your kind words about me and the experience getting you to the ferry. The island tour is designed as a guided overview of Martha’s Vineyard, covering several towns, historic areas, coastal scenery, and some of the island’s well-known homes and landmarks. Because the tour operates within a limited timeframe and must coordinate with ferry schedules, traffic, and other guests, the guide does have a planned route and unfortunately cannot always adjust the itinerary based on individual preferences or a group vote. That said, your suggestion about allowing more time along the coastline when possible is a good one, and we appreciate the feedback. We also appreciate your suggestion regarding additional snack varieties and accommodating dietary restrictions. That is something we can certainly take into consideration. Most importantly, thank you for recognizing the care and intentionality we put into the experience. We know every traveler enjoys exploring differently, and feedback like yours helps future guests determine whether this particular style of tour is the right fit for them.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful review and recommendation! We’re glad you enjoyed the trip and that you decided to add the island tour. You also made a great point about the value of traveling with us versus arranging everything independently. When you factor in a rental car or round-trip Uber from downtown Boston to Woods Hole, ferry tickets, parking if renting a vehicle, bottled water and snacks, and the logistics of coordinating everything yourself, the costs can add up very quickly. With our trip, your transportation to and from the ferry, round-trip ferry tickets, bottled water and snacks, historical commentary along the way, and discount cards for participating island businesses are all included. We also handle the timing and ferry logistics and can help arrange the optional island tour, so guests can simply enjoy their day rather than figuring everything out themselves. We completely agree about the island tour as well. Five hours can be a long time to explore without a plan, and the tour is a great way to see much more of Martha’s Vineyard than you could reasonably see on foot. We’re happy to hear you found the van comfortable and the guide informative. And yes—the early pickup is important! Depending on ferry schedules, traffic, hotel locations, and the other pickups that day, departure from Boston can be early. We provide each guest with their specific pickup information the day before.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re glad you were able to make the best of the early start and even catch the beginning of the race. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your first ferry ride and had such a great experience with Jon on the island. We are very sorry about the miscommunication regarding the return ferry time. We understand how stressful that must have been, especially after such an enjoyable day. We appreciate your understanding and your kind words despite the difficult ending, and we’ll certainly use your feedback to help prevent this type of mix-up in the future.