Jeff
Canada
Customer
Rating
8
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?”
Jeff's Trip Date:
12th Mar - 25th Mar 2023
What was your most memorable moment?
All the various stops within Patagonia, both on the Chile and Argentina side. Torres del Paine, as well as El Chalten , El Calafate were spectacular. Various hikes in these regions added to our enjoyment, as well as the lodging, various towns / villages and meals. History of the cities, countries and the culture
Which of the following best describes your adventure?
Great holiday
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?
8 out of 10
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: W Trek: Heart of Torres?
9 out of 10
Tell us about Hotel Las Torres
Great location, great staff, good meals. Excursions were well organized and planned.
Tell us about Torres del Paine
Amazing place, well worth the hike and time on the trail.
Tell us about Los Glaciares
History of the glaciers, provided by the guide, was informative. Main glacier was magnificent. full day boat / walking excursion, think 1st stop could be eliminated and reduce it 1/2 day.
Tell us about the Trekking
Hikes were amazing. Torres del Paine - 24km, 9 hrs, 800 m. somewhat constant grade. Trail well maintained. Had rain, snow, wind and sun, all within the same hour. Fantastic views at the top, but need to be lucky that sky is clear. changes hourly. French Valley - flatter terrain, more of a forest hike, very pretty Fitz Roy - 24km, 9 hours, 800 m, gentle incline and then steep portion for the last hour near the summit. very pretty walk through the forest, then up the switchback on rocks. Mountain biking. - El Chalten - 40 km, slight downhill, tailwind ! - many stops along the way, including various hikes to glaciers, waterfalls, rivers etc. easy pedal with lots of distractions :)
Something Else?
Estancia - Bariloche - amazing way to end a 2 week trip before our final stop in Buenos Aires. Horseback riding, hiking , lakes and very accomadating staff and owners, all provided a very peaceful enviroment for the guests.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Patagonia?
Get What's app emergency #. Better to stay in the park @ Torres del Paine possible to fly into Puerto Natales from Santiago, save some driving time Estancia near Bariloche is 30 km away wide range of clothing required 2 week trip can be done with a carry on and small backpack.
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
We would suggest that a what's app number be given to all customers in order to contact someone in case of emergency. We were not given one and had an issue with a pick up. A couple (who we met in our hotel ), were using swoop as well and had a what's app number which they shared with us. We were also unaware that our initial contact person in the UK was only there to book the trip and then handed us off to someone else. The problem with the customer service person we had was the communication. It was weak at best. We received better attention from the swoop emergency number help. a nice touch was when we arrived in Argentina , we were presented with a complete itinerary of times and pick ups for the rest of the trip. This was very convenient. It came from an Argentina rep. When we arrived in Chile we had no such info. We relied on our tour guide to get the information from dispatch. It would have been nice to arrive at our first destination with a "welcome to.." Also, a better understanding of the " blue Market", to exchange currency, would have been helpful prior to departure. Notwithstanding the ever fluctuating value / exchange rate, it is relatively simple, as most hotels, restaurants, stores all exchange USD's, and for the most part, on any given day, have the same rate of exchange. for 1 st time travellers to Argentina, this should not be an issue, as long as it is explained prior.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
We learned a lot about the genocide , military coups of Argentina and Chile, as well as the South American culture
How prepared and excited for Patagonia did you feel?
Pretty well prepared, with list of questions, most of which were eventually answered.
Would you be interested in travelling to Antarctica with Swoop?
Yes
Would you consider another trip to Patagonia with Swoop?
Yes
Would you be interested in travelling to the Arctic with Swoop?
No