| hgscholz15:22 UTC08 Nov 2014 | I wonder if anybody has experience with this Agency. This is what happened to us.
We booked with this company a four days trip (EM02) to Munuwata Island including an overnight stay. However, we never made it there! Here is why.
Firstly the itinerary which was presented on the internet was cut short to a day trip. Ecotourism Melanesia informed us about this change just the evening before the flight to the islands.
Arriving in Trobriand there was nobody to pick us up from the airport. We had to call first the office in Port Moresby. The guide who was supposed show us the island the next two days was on a funeral. We just grabbed the driver of the lodge and went on our own. The room we’ve got in Lokuia Lodge was without Air-Con. If you travel to a place like Trobriand you don’t really expect to have one. However, if it is emphasized in your offer and you’ve paid a lot of money, you expect to get it.
On the last day the dinghy ride to Munuwata Island was delayed by half a day because of heavy rain and finally cancelled. The remaining time was too short to make at least a part of the program which is expressed in so colorful words on EM’s website. According to the local boat driver there was even no possibility to stay overnight on the island (Now we know why our overnight stay was cancelled). He announced to us to reimburse Ecotourism for the cancellation.
Back in Port Moresby we immediately informed Ecotourism Melanesia what happened and asked for a refund. Because this kind of “service” you can get directly on Trobriand for less than 20 % of what we have paid. They sent us an email with their regret and a promise for a refund. That was a month ago. Since then nothing happened.
On Lonely Planet Ecotourism Melanesia describes themselves as “Not cheap but has an excellent reputation”. We cannot prove the second part. If you want to book with this agency try to make sure that you really get what they offer to you on their promising web pages.
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| majordom15:13 UTC09 Nov 2014 | welcome to PNG !
sounds like some of it was badly organised but you cant blame them for the weather - those open banana boats dont like rough weather
seems like they over promised - in PNG you have to be flexible and allow lots of time to get anywhere as all sorts of things can upset your plans very easily - some of these tour companies are not close to things on the ground and middlemen add to the cost and make it hard to get full information and to make changes when needed
we arrived in the trobriands with nothing planned - stayed at the loquia lodge who were great and arranged tours and homestays - see my trip reports on this forum
how was the rest of your time in PNG ?
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| hgscholz01:39 UTC21 Nov 2014 | We've travelled to other places too, Goroka, Mt.Hagen, Simbai, Madang and Sepik River. Not everything went to plan. But we have expected this travelling in PNG. Over all we had a great time.
I'm not blaming them for the weather. We know that things can go wrong. It is the way the operator is dealing with such a situation. If somebody is asking you a lot of money, writing you that your trip was "poor outcome and unacceptable for the money paid", but refusing any compensation and just leaving you with the cost. Would you recommend him to anybody?
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