Private tour to Cognac - a delight for discerning gourmets

Josh_D, Aug 2024

We have a lot of experience hiring trips via Viator, both in Europe and our home country of America. This “luxury cognac tour” is by far the most expense, and the very worst, Viator trip we have ever booked. Avoid this guided trip, and the company behind it, Tour Up in Europe, at all costs. And Viator, if you cared about the customer experience at all, you should block them from your website.

So, what made this trip awful? The guide and driver were the same person, but they performed both roles and deserve to be rated in each.

Driver: Overall Grade is F

• The driver was easily distracted and a poor driver. A very bad combination. He would follow much too closely and pull out into oncoming traffic. An accident was only prevented on multiple occasions because of the car’s automatic braking system.

• He did not know the region or areas that we were in and constantly missed turns and destinations.

Guide: Overall Grade is F

• It was a Cognac tour and he knew nothing about cognac or the region we were in.

• He didn’t know the area so couldn’t plan. Everything, other than the previously arranged cognac tours, were done at the last minute and in a haphazard and reckless fashion.

• Lunch was a last-minute affair with him taking us to places that were booked or closed. When we finally got lunch, it was hardly a class place, and not what you would expect for a “luxury” experience.

• He put no planning into this trip and didn’t have the knowledge to do so even if he had tried.

Tour: Overall Grade is F-

• We paid extra for a luxury car, but I suspect the driver waited until the last minute to book it, so we ended up with a Ford Mustang. In my mind a Ford Mustang is not a luxury car.

As I said above, the most expensive and worse Viator trip we have ever had. We have

Booked Viator trips throughout Europe over the years and we do know that most services

are professional, courteous, and well prepared. Nothing about this trip was that.

FellowTraveler273411, Aug 2024

Nice landscapes witj good cognacs. An amazing option for a day tour from bordeaux, make sure to drive thru the contry side on the way back.

35renatoj, Aug 2024

This was a surprisingly great tour. The guide Nicholas is knowledgeble, flexible and very pleasant. I plan to go back again next year.

valeriemB9433CZ, Aug 2024

It was a very decent experience, with a wonderful guide who new so much about the region. We even had some time to pass Saint Emilien on our way back. the tour at each cognac house was with a knowledgable sommelier. The tastings - mmmm, so good, especially my grandfather appreciated it, who is a fan of Cognac #1. Thanks to this supplier we had an unforgettable day and my grandparents managed to see something that they were dreaming of.