Private Tour of Melk Hallstatt and Salzburg from Vienna - Sound of Music

Do not book with Randon Travel

I messaged the tour operator the night before to confirm our pick up and they responded with the name of the driver and the time. When they did not arrive by 8:20 am I called the number provided and the number I found for them on the internet since the driver did not respond. We were then told they were cancelling the tour. Do NOT book with this company- Randon Travel or as they are listed on the internet Europe City Tours. Had we not been staying at the Ritz Carlton with an incredible concierge that rebooked our trip immediately, we would not have been able to go to Salzburg at all. Viator should remove them completely from the tours that are offered.

Response from the operator: We are very sorry for this matter but the car allocated for your tour broke down on the way, we were trying to find a replacement, but we already had 6other tours on this day so it was difficult and as you did not want to wait any longer we issued a full refund. We always try to deliver the best service, but sometimes its just not possible within a short time. We are one of the biggest suppliers in the area, offer lots of tours to Salzburg, Budapest, Prague etc and even we do frequent service checks cars can break down. We offered you a later pick up time, or a different date, but you asked for a refund which was automaticly issued, we hope you had a good time with the other company and enjoyed your stay in Austria.

via Viator

Beautiful Trip

Hallstatt is the highlight of this trip. Our guide René was wonderful, very knowledgeable and took great care of us. My one negative is very minor, I would remove the Melk stop as it’s very close to Vienna it could be done separately, which would allow more time in Salzburg.

via Viator

Great experience- Vienna to Salzburg via Hallstatt- private tour

Excellent!! Overall we had a great experience. We decided to skip Melk to sorbs more time In Salzburg. Our driver came in a Mercedes van that was spotless and was on time. He was very friendly and helpful. Had a great time overall

via Viator

Pathetic. Utter waste of money.

A terrible waste of money. No guide on this tour. The driver Phillip had no clue on where to take us apart from only knowing he had to take us to Melk, Hallstatt and Salzburg. He kept on saying I am not a guide and just a driver. After paying close to 1000 US$ we expect to be told where to visit on these places and what to look for. A definite request for money back. Pathetic.

Response from the operator: Dear Gehan, we would like to clarify this situation. You were unhappy from the start of the tour as soon as the driver informed you that he is not a guide, but a driver and offered you to arrange a local guide in Hallstatt or Salzburg which you refused. This tour clearly states that the local guide is not included, but still our drivers serve a great tour and visit all the locations mentioned in the itinerary and most of the time they even go with tourists and show them places, but they do not serve as guides/for history etc, this can be arrange for clients for sucharge/ our drivers serve this tour nearly every day and show also all the hidden parts on the route, tours is fully flexible and can be fit to all clients needs, but if you need history etc, please book our tours with guides or tell us even on the day and we can arrange a local guide.

via Viator

Misleading tour description

The presentation for this tour is misleading. Although the description of it does not say anywhere that this tour is with a professional and certified tour guide, it does lead to that assumption. For a first time tourist in Austria, who’s reading the description days or maybe weeks in advance of the tour date, the tour description does seem to implicate it will include a certified tour guide. To my surprise, I met a 22 young man, not an Austrian native, who was nice enough to tell me immediately that he is not a professional tour guide. Since I paid top dollar for this tour and although I was upset to realize I will not enjoy a professionally guided tour, I decide to go ahead with it. The driver was nice, accommodating and attentive, but he was not a professional tour guide. I should be partially reimbursed for this tour.

Response from the operator: Dear Gadi, we are sorry to hear this review, but we also expected it after you unfairly asked for a refund 3weeks after the tour which we refused. The tour covered all the sites in your itinerary, had a full day tour in a new Audi A6 car and you also tipped the driver. The tour description clearly says that it does not include a guide, but only a driver/we offer lots of other tours where we supply local guides in Salzburg or Hallstatt or they can also be arranged on request for a surcharge which you refused. This is our most popular tour and on this day we had 3other drivers on the route, if you called us and complained we could have changed them for you, you never did but after 3weeks you asked for refund well. The driver on the route is younger, but has done this route many times and has lots of experience on long distances like Budapest, Prague etc.

via Viator