Inspiring Vacations travel company - reviews/opinions - South America tours.

[Mr_Tee]

Hi there......

Does anyone here have any views - good, bad or otherwise - on the Australian based travel company Inspiring Vacations? They advertise a lot in mainstream media and offer group tours all over the world.

I am looking at travelling and exploring South America next year. Normally I am a solo/independent traveller and haven't done a group tour in many many years. But I think for South America I'd prefer something more structured and organised, for personal safety reasons in some of the areas that I'd go to.

Inspiring Vacations seems to have some pretty good South America options.

Any reviews would be appreciated. Or alternatively, suggestions of other companies to consider would also be appreciated.

Happy to receive your comments and thoughts by DM if that suits you better.

Many thanks.

 

[bPeteb]

Not IV. We did an Inca Trail/Amazon/Bolivia with Intrepid a few years ago. Very well organised. We booked our own flights, organised a trip to Iguazu, and booked a private guide in BA. Details of the trip are in my signature - Titanium toes attempts to trek the Inca Trail

 

[Aeryn]

Ive done small group tours in South America with Intrepid, G Adventures and World Expeditions; dont go for basix or even original (except in places where there isn't a higher option) the comfort ones are best.

 

[bPeteb]

Ive done small group tours in South America with Intrepid and G Advertures; dont go for basix or even original (except in places where there isn't a higher option) the comfort ones are best.

We’ve been just fine on the four or five originals that we’ve done.

 

[I love to travel]

Blue Dot should be avoided

 

[Aeryn]

We’ve been just fine on the four or five originals that we’ve done.

Ive found original hit and miss and will pick a higher class if available for greater comfort. Only place in South America we had to do original was Bolivia (as no such thing as comfort there).

Comfort (sometimes Nat Geo or some other new name) is not only more comfortable but generally includes internal flights and sees you staying close to everywhere you need to be.

We made our own arrangements in Galapagos and on second visit to Santiago, Chile.

 

[bPeteb]

Ive found original hit and miss and will pick a higher class if available for greater comfort. Only place in South America we had to do original was Bolivia (as no such thing as comfort there).

Comfort (sometimes Nat Geo or some other new name) is not only more comfortable but generally includes internal flights and sees you staying close to everywhere you need to be.

We made our own arrangements in Galapagos and on second visit to Santiago, Chile.

Our internal flights to and from Peurto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon were included in our tour. Lima - PM and then PM to Cusco. We also had an internal flight included on one of our Vietnam Intrepids.

Everyone has different likes and wants different levels of service.

I just wanted to add our experience with Intrepid originals into the conversation.

 

[AIRwin]

It is now a Velocity partner:

Thread 'Earn 3,000 easy Velocity points with Inspiring Vacations'

Apr 16, 2026

Velocity has launched a partnership with Inspiring Vacations and you can earn a fairly easy 3,000 Velocity points by linking accounts and subscribing to emails from the tour company.

Velocity | Inspiring Vacations

www.inspiringvacations.com

You have to remain subscribed to at least one type of marketing email for a year to get the full amount of points.

• Mattg
• earn points
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

• 

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It is now a Velocity partner:

Thread 'Earn 3,000 easy Velocity points with Inspiring Vacations'

Apr 16, 2026

Velocity has launched a partnership with Inspiring Vacations and you can earn a fairly easy 3,000 Velocity points by linking accounts and subscribing to emails from the tour company.

Velocity | Inspiring Vacations

www.inspiringvacations.com

You have to remain subscribed to at least one type of marketing email for a year to get the full amount of points.

• Mattg
• earn points
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

• 

I signed up for the points!

Some of the reviews are dreadful. And apparently seem to concern the company, rather than the passenger making unreasonable complaints. Things like a refund for a cruise that was cut short: passengers who booked direct got a refund, those who booked through IV got nothing.

 

[SydneySwan]

The responses to this thread focused on Intrepid. Has anyone actual experience of going on an Inspiring Vacations tour to South America and do they recommend them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The responses to this thread focused on Intrepid. Has anyone actual experience of going on an Inspiring Vacations tour to South America and do they recommend them?

My post, immediately above yours, was for inspiring vacations.

I’d recommend reading the reviews. As I mentioned the complaints don’t seem to be due to customers not being ‘match fit’ or not understanding the terms and conditions.

 

[ayebee]

"off-continent" (Africa) but FWIW, my experience with IV...
The IV tour of Morocco was operated by Intrepid. That was OK with an experienced guide and excellent driver. Only criticism was probably 2 too many in the minibus. All the logistics were well managed.

The southern africa safari "tour" started in Johannesburg and ended in Cape Town, via Botswana and Zimbabwe. The Botswana / Zimbabwe part was well operated by Jenman (Sth African company). That was a tour that could have been booked direct.
The add-ons were a mixed bag. We elected to arrive Johannesburg a couple of days early and made our own arrangements before the IV "tour" started which was direct to Kruger where we stayed in a pleasant lodge (outside the park) which also had game drive guides. This was excellent.
The Cape Town part (after the Jenman tour) was basically hotel plus local day tours booked by IV. That worked ok, though the final airport transfer was incorrectly timed for the flight, and ultimately fixed by a very helpful person at hotel front desk.

Where IV had problems / errors was in their Melbourne office admin, and attention to detail.
First up was a big one, where they booked us onto the Jenman tour in the wrong year. Unfortunately I did not notice that on the invoice until after paying a significant amount, and when I rang to fix the error the first response I got was "penalties apply for changing dates". Thankfully I had initiated the bookings by email and their error was clear. They took ages to refund the price difference to the next year, and then refused to refund the credit card surcharge (small amount, but indicative of their attitude).
They also had no idea about the details required for Zimbabwe visas, after strongly recommending we organise those before departure. Ultimately we just waited until we were on tour in Botswana and relied on the experienced tour leader.

 

[bsb]

Tried to book a trip with IV then needed to change date. The nightmare began and I can’t rehash it but it was awful.

We eventually I asked for a refund. No was the answer even though I read and reread the t’s and c’s and knew we were allowed to request one.

Agreed to be moved to another date which was sub optimal but acceptable. Then thankfully part of it (a cruise component after a land tour) was cancelled. They then agreed to a full refund.

But that took 4 months and dealing with them was tiresome to say the least. I did finally get onto someone competent in the Melbourne office, I gave him a very hard time (I was firm but not rude) and to his credit he fixed things in minutes. If he was the point of contact I reckon I’d have a different opinion but our experience was abysmal.

What I did learn is that they basically pull together other companies tours and brand them as theirs (as mentioned by others here). If you like something, find it yourself and book directly.

 

[Mr_Tee]

"off-continent" (Africa) but FWIW, my experience with IV...
The IV tour of Morocco was operated by Intrepid. That was OK with an experienced guide and excellent driver. Only criticism was probably 2 too many in the minibus. All the logistics were well managed.

The southern africa safari "tour" started in Johannesburg and ended in Cape Town, via Botswana and Zimbabwe. The Botswana / Zimbabwe part was well operated by Jenman (Sth African company). That was a tour that could have been booked direct.
The add-ons were a mixed bag. We elected to arrive Johannesburg a couple of days early and made our own arrangements before the IV "tour" started which was direct to Kruger where we stayed in a pleasant lodge (outside the park) which also had game drive guides. This was excellent.
The Cape Town part (after the Jenman tour) was basically hotel plus local day tours booked by IV. That worked ok, though the final airport transfer was incorrectly timed for the flight, and ultimately fixed by a very helpful person at hotel front desk.

Where IV had problems / errors was in their Melbourne office admin, and attention to detail.
First up was a big one, where they booked us onto the Jenman tour in the wrong year. Unfortunately I did not notice that on the invoice until after paying a significant amount, and when I rang to fix the error the first response I got was "penalties apply for changing dates". Thankfully I had initiated the bookings by email and their error was clear. They took ages to refund the price difference to the next year, and then refused to refund the credit card surcharge (small amount, but indicative of their attitude).
They also had no idea about the details required for Zimbabwe visas, after strongly recommending we organise those before departure. Ultimately we just waited until we were on tour in Botswana and relied on the experienced tour leader.

Tried to book a trip with IV then needed to change date. The nightmare began and I can’t rehash it but it was awful.

We eventually I asked for a refund. No was the answer even though I read and reread the t’s and c’s and knew we were allowed to request one.

Agreed to be moved to another date which was sub optimal but acceptable. Then thankfully part of it (a cruise component after a land tour) was cancelled. They then agreed to a full refund.

But that took 4 months and dealing with them was tiresome to say the least. I did finally get onto someone competent in the Melbourne office, I gave him a very hard time (I was firm but not rude) and to his credit he fixed things in minutes. If he was the point of contact I reckon I’d have a different opinion but our experience was abysmal.

What I did learn is that they basically pull together other companies tours and brand them as theirs (as mentioned by others here). If you like something, find it yourself and book directly.

Thanks both of you. What you have both said about IV just “stitching together” other companies tours to create their own product sounds about right in my dealings with them so far. Their Melbourne admin team is average/below average and not exactly helpful when they are asked a relatively straightforward question.

I’m booked on the South America tour for September. I’m usually an independent traveller and this is my first group tour in over 20 years. I much prefer to research and book my own adventures but for the reasons in my OP I’ve booked a tour. Let’s see how it goes.

 

[SydneySwan]

I’m booked on the South America tour for September. I’m usually an independent traveller and this is my first group tour in over 20 years. I much prefer to research and book my own adventures but for the reasons in my OP I’ve booked a tour. Let’s see how it goes.

Despite all the negativity both here and elsewhere we have booked today for next May with IV to South America so looking forward to your feedback @Mr_Tee. Like you I prefer to act as my own travel agent but Mrs SS doesn't have unlimited time to travel at my pace so a tour seems like the best option. Fingers crossed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For the second time in a couple of weeks, have been sent an email from Travelzoo, which in turn has been heavily discounting Inspiring Vacations.

Today’s email is 40% off a whole range of tours using the code 40TRAVELZOO

The email from travelzoo takes you direct to the IV page which displays full-priced tours, after which the discount is applied once you enter the code.

So IV isn’t always discounting directly, but they are doing so through third - fourth!? - parties.

Worth signing up if you are considering an IV package.

 

[jesse.melbourne]

I signed up for the points!

Some of the reviews are dreadful. And apparently seem to concern the company, rather than the passenger making unreasonable complaints. Things like a refund for a cruise that was cut short: passengers who booked direct got a refund, those who booked through IV got nothing.

Hi. My mother travelled with them, transiting through Shanghai en route to Japan. B/c of China-Japan political tension, Chinese airline cancelled the flight with full and immediate refund (policy). Inspiring Vacations took several months for simple task of transferring refunded money back. Also, their policy stated the processing fee was 75AUD, but they just took it upon themselves to charge markup of over 300 dollars for no other reason that they felt like it. So the inconvenience to my mother of the cancelled flight was seen by their stakeholders as an opportunity, rather than a customer service problem to resolve in the interests of the customer. Their reps prattle on about their "dedicated team" which their coms scripts seem to mandate that they say on the phone once every 10 seconds. So I'd say that the aggregate reviews on productreviews.com.au paint a fairly accurate picture and it's up to the company whether or not they want to enhance their reputation, or continue treating customers as dupes and muppets, and just hope it doesn't catch up to them. Kind of funny when I step back and observe it. This company looks to me like a dog chasing its own tail. There could be more sinister metaphors to apply to it, given they seem to take not issue with nicking money from retirees and just hoping that the customer gets weary and gives up when asking to get it back! So, as is the case with all businesses, they will probably try to gun for monopoly domination of their chosen industry and market, so that reviews from commoners don't phase them and their bottom line (to what little extent the company owners are phased by commoners i.e. customers as of now). The frequent flier deals and coupons are sadly a double edged sword in this respect, as the company Inspiring Vacations may be adopting a loss-leading business strategy to conquer the Aus market for travel packages, and then competely feast on the monopoly once they've consolidated their grip on it. I hope that doesn't occur. And I hope that they clean up their act. Still waiting for mum to receive the last 300AUD. I was on the phone with the company this morning and apparently the delay was due to the situation in the Middle East. I wasn't aware the $300 was being transported by carrier pigeon from Damascus! In any case, mum got back most of her money and the remainder is just the markup that was charged "due to human error" (Inspiring Vacation's words, not mine).