Gulf Adventures Tours tried to kill me
DO NOT use Gulf Adventures Tours! They're advertised everywhere, with links on hotel web pages etc BUT DO NOT USE THEM!!!
why? Well I went out recently on their desert Safari and overnight thing- and they almost killed us! We were going duning, which I realize has risks involved, but we went with an established tour company because we thought it would be safer. and if we'd been in the other car with a driver who wasn't a total ass, it would have been! But our driver was showing off, on his cell phone, texting and listing to his awful techno the whole time- while going far too close to edges, taking risks. Until eventually, he goes for one more dune (even though the other car had skipped it). And rolled. We flipped over one and a half times to end up upside down! Thankfully no one was hurt but we could have been killed!
Did the tour apologize? Did they offer it to us for free? did they seem concerned for anything other than their car? NO! The next day they had the gaul to demand payment, which we refused- I'm sorry, your ass of a driver could have seriously hurt or killed us, NO!
Even if they hadn't rolled the car however, it wouldn't have been worth the money- the tour guides don't speak english, don't explain any of the sights, and in fact didn't even bother to tell us what part of the country we were going to or what we were going to see or be doing there (i live here, so I could explain it to my parents and the other tourists but I shouldn't have to!). Also, for what they were charging you'd think you'd get more than a thin pad on the ground and a stinky, unwashed sleeping bag- they didn't even provide pillows, and hadn't let us know before hand to bring anything. For that sort of money, recommended as it is by the sorts of hotels we found out about them through, you'd expect something more.
DO NOT USE THESE GUYS!!!!
I think that's exactly what happened, that we got a driver who was more interested in 'scaring' us than anythign else. We were never presented with an option, and he ignored my mom when she tried to tell him to take it a bit easier- in fact he made fun of the other car ahead of us who was taking it easier as their passengers were 'scared'. Maybe it's not the tour company in general, however I do have to judge them for hiring inexperienced and dangerous drivers.
I dont think a waiver or disclaimer is a legally binding document anyway, all it does is highlight risks which may occur even in the normal run of events . However , the grey area is that if something does go wrong you as the client have to prove there was negligence.
With my son...white knuckled the whole way....loud music....no talk and LOVED every minute of it...They do call it "Dune Bashing" and gave us the option of easy or "fast"..Our driver even stopped for an unscheduled visit at a bedouin camp where they served us camel milk...Very interesting....very sorry your experience was a bad one ours was great fun!
Thanks for the heads up. I will be organizing a couple tours in April and will steer clear of Gulf Adventure Tours!
I have done two tours with GAT and cannot complain about them. The drivers was friendly helpfull explained a lot and spoke in English
Black Pearl ....
Tatz also good.
is the company I have used several times. Same drivers for several years--they know what they are doing. The first time I went I took my baby who was under a year (I do use a car seat!) and it was fun, maybe a little scary, but our driver was certainly professional at all times and spoke very good english. Another time I went with my elderly mother-in-law and she was scared out of her wits. I was a little bored as they went much slower to accomodate her. They have several tents at their lunch site with bathrooms, changing rooms etc etc. Great luncheon served. I recommend them 100%
I've always used Arabian Adventures and been more than happy. Safe, informative drivers who will listen if you tell them to slow down or go easy over the dunes!
I guess I've just been lucky with the drivers I've had from Gulf Adventures.
I think Bleu is right.
I did a desert safari (I think with Gulf, but it was a long time ago) and when the driver arrived to collect us he was given the sticker to put on there and then.
Our experience was more or less the same. The driver spoke no English, drove dangerously (on the streets and on the dunes) and thought that we would enjoy listening to Arabic techno at full volume for the entire day.
As a tourist activity, it was a very revealing picture of Qatar.
Fair enough, though all the times we've used them it's been a regular drivers (i.e. we've had the same drivers 4 or 5 times).
Yes they are...i have also done it...still do it some times...since i love duning and it also make me some money..we are told to attach a stricker when its large group to differntiate between our cars from others..incase we get lost..and various more reasons.
bleu - the adventure tour companies like this will have special insurance to cover this sort of thing.
godsgrace - The vehicles used by Gulf Adventures all have a large Gulf Adventures sticker in the rear window, so I do not think they are hiring freelancers.
I am a regular duner,and know couple of guys who do free lancing for the adventure companies.
These firms do not recruit drivers or train them, neither are these cars on the company name. These are personal cars of the freelancers who are hired for a day with their car for around QAR 500/-. they are requested to drive safe.
There was another incident when a lady dislocated her diask bone, but in this case she was not wearing a seat belt.
Driving is an art in itself and just bcoz some people have forwheels they cannot become expet drivers. It can be improved by practice.
There for next time
1) try goin to the dunes with a friend whose driving you trust or request the driver whom ever you are with to drive slow or you shall get down.
2)Always wear seat belt.
3)Best option : Buy a four wheel/ Learn duning and be safe.
i Chose the third one....
It will take you a litlle time to get out of the phobia you are in right now....
Adventure is thrilling, but be safe.
Insurance companies here don't cover any off-road accidents.
It is your fault alone if you pay for any 'service' in Qatar. You should know, for once and all, there is no professional service in Qatar!
sue them? in Qatar???
LOL.
You would have to prove injury before getting this claim accepted by a court.
The adventure tour companies would have insurance to cover any injuries or incidents. I don't think they need you to sign a waiver. There's no chance you'd be able to sue them, even if you were injured.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience.
I've used Gulf Adventures many times before (maybe 8 or 10 times) and never had a bad experience. The staff have always been great and very safety concious.
Obviously this member of staff is a bad apple in the bunch. Do what you can to ensure he's removed from the company.
Tatz wat all the adventue is abt ??
didn't sign a waiver? sue them....
That is called "Adventure Tourism" their name says it all...
Nice introduction to the country for your parents.
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
oh as well- they didn't even mention what we were doing! On their webpage it's described as a 'tour' of the dunes, not dunebashing, and at no point did anyone check in to see if we wanted to go duning, or if we were comfortable with it- and if the driver had been paying attention, he'd have heard my mother mention several times that perhaps safer was better.
Nope. the whole thing was WAY unprofessional- surprising considering we got their contact information from teh four seasons who recommends them. When they showed up to pick us up, we actually had to go hunt down the driver- he was too busy texting away to try to find his clients! There was no paperwork, no explanation, no nothing- i thought we'd arrive at the camp, then go dune bashing, and the paperwork would get done before hand, but no. Honestly, I'm kicking myself for even getting in the car at all with them when they were so unprofessional.
Just out of interest, did you sign any waiver or anything before dune bashing?