Ann Phillips

United Kingdom

Customer
Rating

10

Customer Rating On return from their adventure we ask customers: “On a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?”

Ann Phillips' Trip Date:

29th Jan - 3rd Mar 2018

Overall, how was your trip?

Very good - Cruise was the highlight

In one sentence, what did you think of Patagonia? Did it live up to your expectations?

Wonderful

Would you visit again?

Yes

How was the service that Swoop provided?

Very well organised - almost everything went exactly to plan and we had full details in advance yes - generally the right itinerary

How likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10 out of 10

How was your experience in Buenos Aires?

Loved it although it was blisteringly hot. Mix up with the day for the tour meant we omitted it - there didn't seem much point on our last afternoon there. Gaston the guide was good - very helpful when we arrived with getting a SIM card - w couldn't have managed without him. The Hotel was perfect.

How was your experience on Chiloe?

Lovely hotel - perfect position. Excellent Spa.

How was your experience in the Lake District?

AWA Hotel was good and et food outstanding- but having been in more remote parts this felt a little discordant with the rest of the trip. Also we had a nightmare journey getting there - from midday from Explora Torres del Paine a 5 hour mini bus trip (fine) but it dropped us at Punta Arenas airport 5.5 hours before our flight with nowhere to leave luggage and a 3.5 hour wait before we could even check in. The ensuing Sky flight was cramped beyond belief. Then although we went quickly through the system on arrival, it was a longer cab journey by far than we expected - so we got to bed just after 2pm. With the benefit of hindsight we would - if doing it again - stay overnight in Punta Arenas omit the Awa, and get Tierra Chiloe to collect us from a morning flight.

How was your experience in El Calafate and El Chalten?

Loved it - our favourite element of eth trip aside from the cruise. Excellent guide - Fernando Martinez - could not have been better. Apart from the walking the other highlight was an afternoon with Fitzroy Madsen at the Museo Madsen. Destino Sur was very good - relaxed ambiance and very comfortable without being luxurious.

How was your experience in Santiago and the surrounding area?

A little disappointing overall. The Hotel staff were great but the room was not generously sized and the bathroom was very, very cramped. We bumped into friends from the cruise also staying there (small world) and their room was a good deal nicer so perhaps we were just unlucky. Breakfast and tea very good. Overall though it was the least nice hotel we stayed in which was a shame as it was the finish of the trip. We had an excellent tour with Cesar the guide - very good and well informed. Santiago we did not love - it lacked the charm of Buenos Aires for us. We went to various museums - and particularly liked the Museum of National History.

How was your experience in Torres del Paine?

Wonderful hotel and very good guides for the walking. It can be little frustrating that you have to fit into the particular expeditions they are doing that day - which they rotate. Our suite was exceptional - a jaw dropping view and eth food and service were extremely good throughout.

How was your Patagonian cruise?

Wonderful - we were lucky with the weather and landed on Cape Horn which started the trip very well. It was a good mix of activity and relaxation and the guides were very well informed. My favourite afternoon was the one spent in the Garibaldi fiord when the cut the engines and it was magically still - watching the birds, sea lions and the occasional crash of ice from the glacier. Logistics at et start of the cruise were fine - at the end less so. The crew definitely went into low service mode ate end - as we waited for a long time the lounges to disembark.

Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Patagonia?

Stay in fewer places for longer - given that the travel between each location is long

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