Everglades National Park — Attraction in Miami Beach

Please VISIT the everglades, but use a DIFFERENT tour bus. I should keep this short, but I can't stress how BAD the company's management was over handling the tour. This was a management shortfall in a potentially hazardous way. The tour claimed to start promptly at 9:00 and were instructed to be there at 8:30 to check in. We arrived at 8:25. We asked if we had time to grab something to eat and were politely told that as long as we were there by 8:50, all would be fine because the bus leaves PROMPTLY at 9:00. We must have been on a different time zone, because the bus did not arrive until 9:20. As we were boarding the bus, the driver (full of energy) shouted out in an almost comical way that the air conditioning was acting up and hopefully would be ok. He didn't say it was not working, he said it was "acting up" so we had no reason to truly expect what would happen. As we left at 9:40 (40 minutes late), we asked how long it would take to get there. He replied 50 minutes. I didn't question the response thinking the driver does this multiple times a day, several times a week and he should know. It took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes. But what made it worse was that the A/C did not work AT ALL. Fortunately for us, it was the morning tour and the Miami heat had not kicked in, but by the time we had arrived, it was very uncomfortable in the bus.

We unloaded and then had one of the best excursions we have ever had. The Sawgrass Recreation Park was fantastic, our boat captain was knowledgeable, friendly and we saw plenty of wildlife in the short boat ride. The alligator presentation (with two awesome alligators and back-stories) was fantastic. The small preserve "zoo" was not big, but nice.

My wife and I started heading back to the bus wondering when it would be leaving. There was never an announcement by the driver on what time to return. But as we were walking by the area we started, we saw a line forming to get on the bus, so we got in line.

I had truly thought that the company would have sent a replacement bus with a working AC because the temp was now over 90 with high humidity. As we loaded the bus we realized it was the same bus, no AC and the bus had been sitting in the sun all morning with windows that could not be opened.

As we sat baking in the bus ready to leave, I realized that there was no "head count" boarding the bus. There was no announcement when the bus would be leaving. I jokingly said to my wife, I bet someone doesn't get on.

We left the park and headed back to our starting point and about 10 minutes into the drive, the bus driver starts a U-turn and announces we are heading back for some people that didn't catch the bus. This is where I lost it. Up until know, everything was a pour management of vehicles and customer service. But this was just plain disrespectful to the 80+ passengers baking in the 100+ degree bus. Why did we have to go back? Why couldn't management have sent for an Uber or Taxi for those people? I don't blame the people for missing the bus. There should have been a head count and an announcement of departure time. But even if someone missed the bus, you don't turn around a bus with no A/C back 10 minutes, load the people, then head back the 10 minutes lost. Instead of an hour and 15 minute drive home, it was now an hour and forty five minute drive. IN A BUS WITH NO AC!

When we arrived I went to the front desk, it was busy as it was time for the ride changeover, I spoke to the one person who was dressed like a manager and he had no interest in listening to me. I did not make as scene (though it would have been within my right). There was a baby on our bus. Luckily no seniors. Heat exhaustion is no joke. The bus should have been replaced after the A/C went out.

If anyone rode that bus in the afternoon on May 10 and suffered any problems. You are within your right to sue and know that their management (and at least staff) was warned that it was unsafe to drive that bus in that heat with no AC. Also, the bathroom on the bus...

We booked an Everglades tour online months ago, not knowing the disaster of a company we were getting involved with. We arrived 50 minutes before our scheduled departure (20 minutes before the check-in time) and checked in. Check in was smooth. And that was all that was smooth.

Our transport bus arrived after 9am. They were loading multiple tours onto different busses without any organization, lines, waiting areas, or staff directing people where to go. Loading the buses was nothing but chaos and confusion for all guests trying to go on their tours. Staff was too busy high-fiving and socializing inside to care about what was occurring outside. Drivers had no clue what was going on.

We were the first group (8 people) to check in, but thanks to the lack of any organization or direction, we were not able to get on the bus. Clearly the company cared more about selling tickets than verifying they had enough room for transportation. One group had their tour schedule changed and were placed in a bus tour. The remainder of us were told another bus was on the way.

A van finally showed up and was clearly not big enough for the groups waiting. Again, due to the lack of organization and care of the staff, our group was not able to get onto the van… again we waited. This time without any communication from the staff.

Another van finally showed up to take our group. We were told to walk around the corner and get on the van. Just before departure, another group of three for a different tour were placed on our van. The van driver took them to “sawgrass” first and made us wait. We finally got to the Everglades after two hours after we were originally scheduled to go.

The van driver made numerous attempts to sell us and the other group “cash only” items out of his van. The first was a coupon book that he claimed was $10 at the mall, be he would sell it to the group for $5. Upon arrival to the Everglades, he attempted to sell ponchos that he claimed would be sold inside for $6 to $10, for $3 cash. Luckily he didn’t scam anyone. Inside the Everglades, we confirmed that ponchos were only $3. DON’T fall for the scams of the drivers.

We were rushed out of the Everglades tour and spent significantly less time getting to enjoy the tour than the others that were supposed to be in our same group… wasn’t worth the money we spent.

While driving the van, the driver repeatedly used his phone to send pictures, texts, and FaceTime a female that he argued with in Spanish… I lost count of the number of traffic violations committed by the driver. Numerous times almost side-swiping other vehicles while trying to use his cell phone. The least he could have done was have his domestic fight in English so we could understand the drama, since our safety was clearly not his priority.

I would not recommend this tour company if you are looking for something to do while in the...

HUGE SCAM!! I would give negative stars if I could. I will be reporting to the BBB and anyone else who will listen. They are falsely advertising as a National park tour. My whole tour group got scammed, including a family of 7 (approx $700 cash)! No refunds even though we didn't even get to ride the boat. It is my birthday today and I wanted to do something fun and unforgettable with my 2 boys who came to Miami for a little vacation. I honestly wouldn't even be able to afford this trip if I didn't work for a company where free air travel is a perk of the job. I"reserved" our spots online and went to the pick up spot at the correct time. It said absolutely NOTHING on the website about cash only so I had to pay 2 ATM fees because conveniently the on site ATM only let's you withdraw 100 at a time. After paying $120 for the tickets they then told me there was another $2 gratuity charge per person. Paid that as well. Boarded the bus at 1:30 and took the drive. On the way we ran in to a wicked storm. The bus was leaking from the majority of the windows, no big deal... the bus driver Derrek assured us that we would drive through the storm and be able to see some gators when we got there. When we got to sawgrass recreational park at about 3:00 it was still raining and the lightning was within 3 miles so we had to wait on the bus or in the gift shop. At about 3:30 we had to get back on the bus as we were going to head back to Miami. Derrek the driver asked if we would like to wait a few more minutes because the storm looked to be clearing up. The group was allowed off of the bus at 4:00 when the sawgrass employees opened up the sorry excuse of an "animal exhibit ". A couple snakes, lizards, chickens, a peacock, and some gators of different ages. We were told to line up by the boats by 430 to go out but, by 430 they said we weren't going to be able to go out today. I read through the Google reviews on the long bus ride back to Miami and it seems as though for every legitimate 1-star they have 5-6 fake 5-star reviews. They ask on the trip back if people would like to be dropped off at different destinations so that they don't have an angry mob to deal with. They show absolutely no remorse and have no excuse. They are professional con artists and it's disgusting. They say the boss will be in in the morning but, after reading other reviews, I...