Review of Voyages Traditours (Montreal)
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
GR
Hi,

I’m looking for any info or experiences (good or bad) about this agency.

Thanks
ST Stratele52 Globetrotter ·
Have you tried searching with Google?

I found, among other things:

/www.tripadvisor.fr/ShowTopic-g1-i11062-k3829508-Voyage_traditours-Package_Holidays.html

Here on Voyage Forum, very few people use travel agencies. It doesn’t seem to be the vibe of the community. It’s so much better to organize things yourself—it’s not difficult, just a bit time-consuming. But to each their own!

I couldn’t let someone else decide what I visit, but I get that when you’re forced to, we all pretty much want to see the same things.

On the other hand, not deciding how much time to spend on each visit, not having a choice of restaurants (which are usually pretty ordinary) when there are plenty of nice little spots nearby, not being free to change the schedule if something comes up, and having to follow a group that might not match your pace.

All that for what? To avoid doing research online or to feel reassured and not be "alone" in a foreign country? Everyone has their preferences, but think about it.

Where do you want to go? Based on the forum, it seems like North America. It’s super easy to organize things yourself.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
JA Jacmat Regular ·
I've traveled a lot, in Europe and Asia, and I still travel frequently in North America. I had never wanted to do an organized trip. But a few years ago, a couple of friends convinced us to take a trip to Italy with them, organized by Traditours.

Despite my concerns—like delays, waiting, and tardy group members, mediocre hotels, food, and poorly informed guides—none of that happened.

We really enjoyed our trip with an excellent group of 32 people, mostly 4-star hotels, great meals, and a schedule that was followed with everyone on time. For example, if departure was scheduled for 7:30 AM, everyone was ready by 7:20. I also think that if we had organized the same trip ourselves, we wouldn’t have seen even 50% of what we experienced during this journey. The guides were excellent, and we had a great bus driver. All meals were included, as well as the entrance fees for the various visits. Another advantage of being in a group was that we didn’t have to wait in line—we were immediately admitted.

We truly enjoyed our experience with Traditours so much that we did another trip in the fall of 2012: England, Scotland, and Ireland for 22 days. And we’re looking into a third one in 2014, possibly Spain and Portugal.

I highly recommend them.
ZO Zoe5mars ·
Hi there, To answer your questions, I can tell you that I just got back from a trip to Italy in May, and I can say it was end-to-end service all the way. No complaints—everything was well planned, and all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride. You can check out the travel forum on Taditours’ website. Zoé 🙂
zoe5mars
MP Mpoulain ·
Hi Grumman! I just got back from a trip to Peru with Traditours... If I had a great trip, it was thanks to *me*!

First, they told us that at the airport, our guide would have a Traditours sign. Since I arrived late because of road construction, I was already stressed. So, I looked everywhere for the sign, but no one was there. I asked at the information desk, but they hadn’t seen anyone with a sign either. Finally, I headed to the Air Canada counter and spotted a man in a dark blue jacket with "Traditours" written in dark orange—phew! He directed me to the guide, and when I told her I hadn’t seen any sign, she replied: "I just came from Gatineau, so I didn’t feel like carrying a sign!"

Next, two nights in an Amazon lodge without being told there was no hot water!

Then, the guide gave us information but had to take it back later because she’d received incorrect details.

After that, since I wanted to do some Christmas shopping and had bought an excursion (for a steep $105, just for a driver—we’re talking about Peru here), I asked if we’d have any time for shopping during the tour. She replied: "With Traditours, we don’t focus on shopping!" Well, I ended up doing my shopping during a visit to the Pisac market... and then I realized that EVERY day, we had a little time for shopping! But okay, it wasn’t much...

I asked for details about my private excursion because all I’d received was the invoice. They told me: "With Traditours, you don’t have to worry." Perfect, I thought. The day before my excursion, I asked if they had my entrance ticket for the site, and she said she’d ask the national guide and get back to me. She never did! After lunch, the national guide told me to meet him downstairs at the restaurant because my driver had arrived. I got in the car and asked if I needed to show the ticket we’d used for the Sacred Valley excursions, and the guide said: "Of course!" Luckily, two days earlier, when they gave us a ticket with images of some tourist sites, I’d noticed the picture of my excursion and thought maybe it was also my ticket for my PRIVATE excursion. If I hadn’t noticed and left it in the hotel room, I would’ve had to pay again.

At Lake Titicaca, we could’ve gotten our passports stamped, but since she didn’t tell us about it before we got there, too bad!

In Nazca, since I was in the first flight group, I had two hours to shop in about ten little stores. I got scammed with a 50-sol bill, but I managed to get out of it because luckily, I’d bought jewelry at another shop and passed the fake bill to them. The seller accompanied me to talk to the woman who’d given me the fake bill (since I don’t speak Spanish), and she gave me real bills in exchange. I immediately told the national guide about the scam, and he said: "Oh, that’s common!". I was stunned! We were never warned that counterfeit bills could be an issue. So, I asked the guide if he’d warn the group in case others had bought things from that shop, but he said: "Oh no, we don’t want to cause panic!"

Also, if you have a sensitive stomach, definitely don’t take this tour with Traditours—there’s a full day of bus travel with only one stop in the morning, none during the picnic by the sea, and another stop just to buy olives... But you can manage by asking to use the back of the store—just close your eyes...

Let’s talk about the picnic (knowing that this trip cost me $600 more than my Italy trip with Tours Chanteclerc—which, by the way, is *really* professional in every way). For me, it was a disgrace! Here’s what was in the little lunch bag: a bit of chicken in a small bun with nothing else, a slice of ham as thin as paper between two slices of bread with nothing else, a piece of cake that was starting to dry out, and a small mustard packet. There were also 2 bags of chips for 33 people, beer (which I don’t like), 2 bottles of Coke, and water.

Also, there’s no audio guide... So, for info with 33 people... haha

And the cherry on top: they asked me which destination I’d choose for my next Traditours trip!!!!
Mpoulain
Néfer Globetrotter ·
Maybe this isn't the right place to ask?

Where are you planning to go?

I haven't traveled with Traditours yet, but if I were going to China, I wouldn't hesitate to go with them, just like some friends did.

I went to Turkey solo and had an amazing trip, but a close relative went there with Traditours and came back absolutely delighted—said it was one of the most enjoyable trips they’ve ever had.

Of course, everything comes at a price, and Traditours is a bit pricier.
AN AnnaLarénine ·
Hi,

I went to Turkey last fall with Traditours. Big mistake! Turkey is a magnificent country to discover, but NOT with Traditours. 1) The price: $4500. 2) The quality of the hotels: several were mediocre, even uncomfortable, but most importantly, often isolated! In other words, you’re prisoners of the hotel! 2) The food: Turkey is renowned for its gastronomy! Well, with Traditours, you’ll often eat the same thing and not the best. Plus, 7 dinners were hotel buffets, 3 of which were downright inedible. 3) No free time in the places visited, except for one afternoon (the last one) in Istanbul. 4) Lots of hours spent on the bus! Very exhausting by the end. 5) But the worst part was the tour leader. In our case, it was a woman who acted like a fussy little lady (my annoying aunt). She had no travel experience (only her second trip as a tour leader and less than a year with Traditours!), no professionalism (she meddled in everything! Even though her job was just to accompany us, like a bathroom boss!).

In short, my experience was very disappointing and bitter! I’ll NEVER travel with Traditours again! The quality offered doesn’t match the price.

REVIEW: Traditours claims to be the cheapest! Not true at all after checking, and their agents don’t give you details about the hotels or restaurants. They stay very vague, sticking to "wow!" and "amazing!"

So, avoid Traditours—you can find better, even in Turkey. Turkey is the 7th most popular destination in the world and has a well-established tourism industry. Even our friendly guide told us to book directly with a local agency. It’s cheaper and will better meet your expectations.

A traveler very frustrated with Traditours!
PR Princesa ·
Personally, I’ve taken two trips with Traditours, and I was simply delighted. My first trip with them was to Turkey, and it was truly a favorite! The variety of attractions visited is extraordinary: Cappadocia, a boat ride on the Mediterranean, the Blue Mosque, the underground city, the travertine pools, the Grand Bazaar, the Basilica Cistern, etc. You discover places focused on culture and history, natural attractions, big cities—well, in short, you see a ton of different things, all more interesting than the last. The meals were varied; we ate in restaurants, other times in hotels, and even at locals’ homes. Friends had warmly recommended this tour with Traditours, and I didn’t regret following their advice! Because I loved my trip to Turkey so much, I thought, *"Why not Peru?!?"* So, I went with them again. And once more, I was charmed by their approach. The team was professional and exceptionally patient, we tasted truly local cuisine (it’s part of the discovery!), the hotels were simple but well-located, and again, the trip was full of variety, contrasts, and even opportunities to connect with locals. I saw so much in such a short time—it’s hard to summarize: Machu Picchu (what can you even say about Machu Picchu?!?), Arequipa with its monastery and main square, the Andes, etc. I really appreciated the service from the guides; both had very different personalities, but they shared several things in common—they were friendly, kind, dedicated, and attentive to everyone’s needs. They were extremely available, and in both of my trips, the Traditours guide was a major highlight. I loved not having to worry about all the details. I felt like we were truly taken care of from the start of the trip, and I just had to let myself be guided toward the beautiful discoveries. I had done a lot of research before booking, and in terms of value for money, I never found anything cheaper. When you consider everything that’s included and the quality of what’s included, they’re really more affordable. Seriously, I only have positive things to say about my experiences with Traditours, and the people who were with me on these two trips were also very happy with their experience. I’ve recommended them to friends and family, and everyone came back satisfied.
AN AnnaLarénine ·
Good for you, Princesa! I’d also heard some things about Traditours from two colleagues, but my experience didn’t live up to expectations. Turkey is indeed magnificent, but not with Traditours. I guess the service matches the age group. Maybe I’m just too young for Traditours. In fact, there were only three of us in our forties, and we felt less well-served because of that. The guide’s attitude played a big part in that.

As far as I’m concerned, I’ll never repeat the experience with Traditours. I’m planning a trip to Peru with a local agency, and it’s much cheaper for the same sites to visit. It’s all-inclusive!
CL Clarisse2356 ·
It’s too bad you had a bad experience with Traditours. Some friends of mine actually had a rough time traveling solo in Cambodia... They thought they’d save money by booking through a local agency, but ended up in a real mess! No one to welcome them on arrival, no way to contact anyone... Sure, booking directly can be cheaper, but the risks are much higher.
MI Mike22 Regular ·
Hello, I’m back on Voyage Forum after a few years away. I’m using this post (thanks Grumman) to get an update on the travel agency "Traditours", which is becoming more and more popular here in Quebec. We’re looking into taking a trip to Thailand with them in March 2025 and would love to hear about your recent experiences with this agency! I totally get those of you who prefer making your own arrangements—we did that for years—but after trying this guided formula on our last few trips, we love it... especially the "small group" option! Thanks, Mike22 😉
MI Mike22 Regular ·
Hello everyone, I wanted to share my feedback on my trip to Thailand with TRADITOURS. Sure, there’s always room for improvement, but our expectations differ from one traveler to another. I tried so-called "organized" trips a few years ago after planning my own travels. Yes, I’ve dealt with overbooked flights, confirmed hotel reservations that weren’t honored, and car rentals with GPS that didn’t have one—but all of that’s okay because it’s part of traveling, and we’re doubly happy when nothing goes wrong, right?

Last March, it was our 4th organized trip, all with different tour operators, and the first time with TRADITOURS. Everything went very smoothly. From the airport, our guide was there on time and in the right place, taking care of our well-being throughout the entire circuit in a way we hadn’t experienced with any other travel company. Arriving at the hotels, we just had to identify our luggage, get our key, and that was it (no waiting)—oh, and all the hotels were 5-star without it even being planned! The visits weren’t just temples and palaces but also swimming in waterfalls in national parks, hiking trails in breathtaking spots, visits to tribal villages of all kinds like the "long-neck women," rides in "tuk-tuks" and "cyclo-pousses," restaurants all of high quality, and so much more!

This trip ran like clockwork with a fantastic small group. So, for the first time, I want to thank TRADITOURS, our guide Élaine, and Nouna, our national guide for the duration of the circuit. It was a trip beyond our expectations! 😎

Similar discussions

You might also like