The following relates to the two previous reviews. We are talking about a tour to view the total solar eclipse on 11 July 2010. Everyone first went to Tahiti; part of the group then flew to an atoll in French Polynesia, the other part to Easter Island. We went to Easter Island, and we must say the eclipse was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill. However, our experience with Astronomical Tours was less than inspiring. Everything the previous posters say about communication is true. As for the trip itself, the plane arrived at Easter Island several hours earlier than advertised. Instead of the pre-dawn start we had contracted for, we arrived there in the middle of the night and had to spend 5 or 6 hours of darkness sitting at tables in a restaurant. No sign of the promised tents and blankets and places to lie down. There was speculation they had sold off their favourable landing slot to another tour group. Things got worse upon return to Tahiti. AT had not paid for our last night at the Radisson in Tahiti, as well as the two nights at the Intercontinental in Moorea, so we were stuck with both bills. I have not yet tried to recover the money, but expect this will be difficult; they weren't returning their calls or answering their emails even before the tour. It would be interesting to collect more such experiences; group action is a possibility, since I suspect most people on the tour were affected in similar ways. Unfortunately we don't know who we all are. Feel free to write to me at mackenzieatrimbadotcom
Pros: we saw the eclipse
Cons: bad organization, bad communication, extortionate add-ons
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