Stand Up Paddle Board Lesson in Panama City Florida

I booked a 2-hour paddleboard lesson with Katie’s Paddleboard via Tripadvisor (Viator) two months in advance.I arrived 15 minutes early, but no one was there.I called five minutes after the scheduled start time and left a voicemail. I called again 45 minutes later, Katie finally answered and said she couldn’t do the lesson due to an injury. When I asked about my earlier message, she said she hadn’t checked her phone yet (by this time it was late morning). She claimed Viator didn’t notify her of my booking—however I received payment confirmation two days before the lesson. I understand injuries happen, but there was no communication whatsoever. I drove 45 minutes each way for nothing. What made it worse was seeing on Tripadvisor that she was still accepting bookings just three days after my reservation—so clearly she was still accepting bookings. I waited to post my review because I was expecting a refund from Viator. I was told on two occasions that the refund had been issued, but it never was. I ultimately had to dispute the charge with my credit card company to receive the refund.

I reached out via messaging two days before to see if I could add another participant, no response. We arrived a half hour early at the meeting point. They never showed, didn’t respond to my next message and didn’t respond to Viator’s phone call. DO NOT BOOK. I probably won’t get my money back since they won’t respond to messaging.

Tour operator didn’t bother to show up, cancel, respond to messages or calls. I had to call Viator and supposedly there will be an investigation. I had to request for my money back after wasting my time and money on this and I had to ask… that is outrageous.

My tour operator "Katie's Paddleboard" through Viator.com did not even bother to show up or cancel or answer the phone or respond to messages. Complete negligence on the tour operators part. Viator.com customer support indicating there would be an "investigation" which means nothing to someone who wasted an hour driving, gas for travel, and missed opportunities to find another tour or attraction... They didn't even mention I would get a refund.. me, the customer had to bring that part up.

Katie did a phenomenal job teaching my teenage daughter and I to paddle board. She was kind, patient, informative, and a ton of fun!! It was an amazing experience all the way around. I would highly recommend her services!!

I'm so happy I did a SUP class and am especially glad it was with Katie. Katie is a great teacher and is so patient and understanding. I love how she loves our local wildlife and is concerned about keeping our waterways clean.

Katie was awesome! She really knows her stuff when it comes to paddle boarding. She patiently went over all the basics, making sure I felt comfortable before hitting the water. Plus, her enthusiasm for the Panama City area was infectious! If you're looking to learn paddle boarding in the area, Katie's your go-to instructor. She also took photos and videos of our experience and shared them with us. Highly recommend!

Had a great time with Katie! She was very patient and encouraging! I told her that I had been paddle boarding for almost a year had had not figured it out yet. She was up to the challenge and had me standing up and moving on the first try. We started out in a small lake. Headed out into St Andrew’s Bay after about 30 minutes. She had great tips and knew a lot about the area. She offered sound advise and even included some safety tips that I hadn’t thought of. Thank you for a great time on the water Katie! I will definitely give you a call the next time I bring the family through the area. She was professional and confident in her ability! Thank you!

Had a great time paddleboarding with Katie in the lake and the bay. We learned the basics, saw some wildlife, and then paddled around the bay.

1st time stand up paddle boarding. Katie taught me everything I needed to know. It was a blast. Something I’ll do at home and on my next vacation.