Robert S
My Profile
Robert S
United Kingdom
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Robert S's reviews and photos on Viator.com
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Aug092011
Katherine Day Tour from Darwin including Katherine Gorge Cruise
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Darwin, Australia
My Review: How could Katherine Gorge rate anything under 5 stars? It's stunning! Of course you spend a long time travelling from Darwin and some of the stops are more about driver breaks than points of interest, but that's to be expected and is inevitable. Big compliments to Taffy, the guide at Katherine Gorge (and not just 'cos he's a fellow Welshman!) I'd recommend the trip but you do need to consider whether you want to travel for 13 hours to see Katherine Gorge. We did and would go again.
Aug072011
Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (Olgas) Sunrise Tour from Ayers Rock
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Ayers Rock, Australia
My Review: For the money paid, it was disappointing to be whisked away from Uluru 10 minutes after sunrise when the most spectacular colour changes were yet to come. The whole affair is now a mass experience and something of a disappointment.
However, the Kata Tjuta tour was very good, much quieter and really beautiful.
I know most people who go to Uluru want to see the sunrise but it's not something I'd particulalrly recommend nowadays.
Aug052011
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Cairns, Australia
My Review: We went up on the skyrail and back down on the train. Skyrail was excellent, the stops in the rainforest well worthwhile. Kuranda is an odd mix of tack and quality, but generally pretty uninspiring. And, really, don't bother with the Koala Gardens!
The train ride down takes in some spectacular vistas.
Aug032011
Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Cairns, Australia
My Review: Not wishing to sound like a curmudgeon, and conceding that tour companies can't control the weather, I was disappointed by this trip. The wind was strong and the ocean choppy, making the snorkelling impractical and the glass bottomed boat and semi-submersible rides short-lived and disappointing. I'm sure, on a clam and sunny day, it would be a fabulous trip.
Jul292011
Sydney Guided Walking Tour
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Sydney, Australia
My Review: Excellent tour with a knowledgeable and entertaining guide who gave some real insights into the history of The Rocks. I'd recommend this one strongly
Jul292011
Sydney Harbour Highlights Cruise
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Sydney, Australia
My Review: Don't bother! Just cross the bay on a routine ferry and you'll see the sites and get the commentary.
Oct252010
New York City Original Rock 'n' Roll Walking Tour
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: New York City, New York
My Review: My best 2 hours in New York! Utterly fascinating to an old punk rocker like me. I would recommend this tour, conducted by the excellent Bobby Pinn, to anyone with a love of 60s/70s/80s music. The day we went on the tour, Roberta Payne happened to walk by - she did the classic photo for the Ramones first album. Another great aspect of the tour is that it gets you off the beaten tourist track and gives you a glimpse of an up and coming part of NYC which has that bohemian, creative, alternative edge you find in Camden Town in London. Great tour, I recommend it without hesitation.
My Photos:
Feb172010
Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Venice, Italy
My Review: It was our anniversary, so I wanted to take my better half on the classic Venice experience, a gondola ride. That's what happened and she enjoyed it. So what's the problem? Mainly the gondoliers! You have the distinct impression that your presence somehow spoils their social lives. You proceed up the Grand Canal, three gondolas abreast, and do you get a commentary, a song or even some pleasant chat? No, the gondoliers conduct a loud conversation among themselves and generally behave as if their passengers, their paying passengers, are not there at all. At the end of the ride, as you disembark, there's a container for gratuities. Ah well, at least they do irony. The walking tour was really good, though! We had a great guide who mixed English and Spanish for our multilingual party. She took us on a fascinating amble around the alleyways and squares, pointing out architectural highlights and sharing historical anecdotes. And she was funny. So, as a cheapish way to get a gondola ride and enjoy some of the hidden gems of Venice, it's worth doing. But really, someobody needs to have a word with the gondoliers about customer service!
Aug162008
Chamonix and Mont Blanc
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
My Review: This was an excellent trip. We were lucky to go to Chamonix on a beautiful, sunny day and, after the cable car ride to Aiguille du Midi, had breathtaking panoramic views of France, Switzerland and Italy. Chamonix, 2800m below, looked like a model village.
This was, literally and metaphorically, the high point of the tour. The railway trip up to Mer de Glace was also good, but the timetable meant that we did not have time to visit the ice caves. I do think this should be made clear on the website so that visitors can opt out of the admittedly excellent lunch at Chamonix, thus gaining an extra hour at the Mer de Glace.
Our guide was informed and helpful. His dry humour was much appreciated, and his reassurances about the effects of altitude sickness were very welcome.
I would recommend this trip with the one caveat I mentioned.
