Plitvice Lakes National Park - Day Tour from Zadar (TICKET INCLUDED)

I have booked many tours in many countries using Viator and, up till this trip, have always found them great. However, this particular organisation that Viator used for the tour was not good. This began with the pickup in the morning arranged by them to take us to the main coach. The driver told us that no food was available T the Lakes National park, and also that there were no ATMs and that nowhere inside took cards. He got us to the meeting point early and told us to go into the old town to get food and cash for the trip. We hastily did so because we had no reason not to believe him. He also told us there were no boats there because ‘the lakes were too shallow’. I was disappointed because this had been something I had been looking forward to. After rushing to get cash and food supplies as instructed we met the tour guide and got on the coach. He then said there would be food available at the lakes and that there were boats there…as if we were crazy to think otherwise. The coach left late, and then stopped in the side of the road before a toll point…nothing was explained but 20 mins later some late passengers got in the coach. By this time another passenger had got off to go to the toilet. We then had to wait (some time) for them to reappear (looking totally unbothered about holding the coach up and taking her time). On the long drive to the lakes the tour guide Sumon is old all those who were students to get their student ID ready to show. It seemed that half the coach had been made aware and offered discounts if they were disabled or students etc. I explained that my son as disabled and I was a student but he abruptly told me that I should have told them before and it was too late. I explained that Viator only offered adult or child tickets on the online booking site. Sumon seemed disinterested. I then began messaging the company directly and after 30mins (dispute them reading my messages) they eventually replied saying that ‘an announcement is made the day before’. I still have no idea what that means? Repeated messages went back and forward when ultimately the company messaged to say that it was Viator’s fault, and not theirs. I suggested that they make sure they know and understand what any agency is selling on their behalf, and if they wanted to offer discounts for students etc (as the park tickets themselves do) then they should make sure this is available for all their clients rather than those they happen to tell. We then wasted further time at the ticket office at the lakes trying to resolve this, but they said that the money would go back to the company and not me so couldn’t help. The park and lakes were beautiful, did have boat rides, did have ATM and did have lots of restaurants and toilets. The coach in way back made us wait in the baking heat until after the agreed return to coach time (not sure why). We got back to drop off point only to find that there had been a mix up with out transfer with them back to our hotel. The guide did wait with us, to his credit, but when the guy came to take us he didn’t speak English and was much later than suppose to be. He then proceeded to have no idea where our hotel was and asked plus in very broken English. I said that if don’t live here so didn’t know and repeated the address. My phone battery had long died due to all the messaging back and forth due to earlier trip issues. He said I don’t live here, I from Slovenia’. We then drove round and round for half an hour with him stopping repeatedly say ‘here is good?’ To which each time we said ‘no’ because we didn’t recognise anything around. After him stopping and asking and then allowing me to type it in his phone he got us there (long after our due return time). He was nice but we were incredibly tired after our long day and really was the last straw. I have heard nothing more from either the company or Viator but now realise that my son should have been free and me either free as his cater or half price as a student myself (in-terms of the entrance ticket part of the tour). It is something that needs to change. Viator you need to clarify discount options offered by the companies you take bookings for and reflect these in your online booking options to avoid more unhappy customers…or perhaps stop partnering with this particular company.

The transfer service was great. It was on-time and safe, which was all I could really ask for. Keep in mind that you still have to buy a ticket for the National Park, which you can do at the travel agency prior to departing. This is an unguided tour, so you meet your group, travel together, then the leader gave us a quick rundown of how he thought we should approach the hiking route to avoid the crowds, and then we were on our own. Viator has several addresses on the emailed ticket of where to meet if you opt to not get picked up and one of them is wrong. So, make sure you just google Jadera Booking’s address to get you to the right place in the morning.

excelente tour y muy agradable el staff. al tener trayecto y entrada incluida, facilita mucho la experiencia recomendable 100%!

El comienzo es un ohhh! Nosotros nos equivocamos de ruta y al final nos faltaba tiempo porque estuvimos casi 45m, en cola para coger el barco de vuelta, demasiada gente a la misma hora de volver.

Mentre a Zara diluvia a, ai laghi di di Plitvice neanche una goccia! Anche se coperto i colori sono bellissimi. Organizzazione di Viator ottima.