After my first (try) experience, about three years ago, I've decided to give another shot. After all "it was ok" that in 2015 they had to cancel the trip 24 hours in advance because there was not enough people to make it worthy (for them),
It's all about being understandable, i guess, as they have refunded me the whole cost.
Today was my next (AND LAST) try with this company, which I WILL NOT RECOMMEND, not even to my worst friends. Maybe a first April trip or some other joke like, April's fool.
It is almost (not quite funny) when you have to find a bus way before sunrise, at 6am (which is good when you want to have a whole day of skiing). What makes it so funny is the fact that the meeting point was Brossard-Chevier Park-and-Ride RTM with about 2400 parking spots (YES! TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED). So it took me maybe 5 minutes more than I expected to find where was that bus, and then I've found it. after turning around to get to it as I am not used to Brossard's parking lots, I've found the entrance to it. I had only enough time to get park on the side of the bus and breath, It was 6 o'clock in my car. PERFECT TIMING, I've thought. And as I am thinking about the fun day to come, the bus begins to move forward, and I see it leaving from the outside. I honk and honk in many different rhymes, for nothing, the bus wont stop. No my phone is saying 06h03am. I am three minutes past the meeting time.
So I drive following the bus for a quarter hour, until I need to gas my car.
That's was just the begging of a (not so) fun day, which ended with me driving to the border, parking the car on the side of the Express Tour Bus, and being told by the police they wouldn't let me in USA today, because I was following that bus and that they wouldn't let me go talk with the bus driver either. U-turn and back home.
We were going to Stowe at Vermont State. I've payed more then 100$ (hundred dollars) plus what ever expenses I had.
Ok, I understand the principal of punctuality. But this is to be a fun day not a job interview. They left before 06h05. The had my phone number and did not bother to call before heading off. I guess people who pay 100$ usually shows up or not?
I find it as a Tours organizer very incompetent. They treated me like garbage after they had my money. Why would they care for me after all. They had what they wanted, my money. I won't say that the driver ignored me, but I can tell you that I am VERY MUCH IMPRESSED by the sound proof bus they have (God, I've honked!!! And follow the bus for a few corners eventually honking again).
I've for sure try calling them as I was fallowing the bus, guessing I could ask them to call their bus driver and their "tour guide/accompagnateur" (yes they do have a accompagnateur who caries peoples names and info!). Surprise was to find that their office is closed, so I called them later and found out that they don't open on Fridays.
I was abandoned, no one to help me in their office. Lost my $109.31 (after fees) and also my whole day, my mood and the most of all, my hope in this company. I really wanted to have a company like that here in Montreal, who I can count on, BUT THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF COMPANY TO COUNT ON! Today is Friday, 11am, I've just got back home after leaving my place at 5h20am, maybe on Monday I will have news about how their punctuality and not giving a s**t about they clients have affected me. For now I am alone with my problems and almost $110,00 further then where I wanted to be.
GOOD LUCK WITH THEM, I've heard they rent really good "luxury bus", but I never had a chance to see them from inside. From the outside, they look like any other bus, greyhound-style.