CitySights DC — Local services in Washington

This does not deserve 1 star. In april, my daughter and i decided to do a tour of DC before heading to Williamsburg. Walking is difficult but the Ritz carlton valet parks for 20.00. Well worth it as the tour bus stops about 100 feet from building. That's the end of the positive. After waiting about 1/2 an hour in 90 degree heat, we stood up to get the bus, but driver passed us. Great. About 25 min later, a bus stopped where it was supppse to and picked us up. We paid for tour. The first thing I noticed was the windows were sealed shut making it unbearable. But we were getting off at Lincoln memorial. So, we waited 40 minutes for next bus. Well, these busses that we were told run every 15 minutes was not true. In fact, they were both running short and a bus broke down. Long story short, because of time, you really could not get off because it was the only bus and there was a time constraint. Moving forward, because there was a connecting bus, and my bus was late, i was stuck on this bus an additional 2 and a half hours with a very rude driver. At on point, we were scolded for...wait for it...missing the bus. At another point when I asked when we would get back to my original stop, driver stated "do you see this traffic". I lost it. I told her I didnt ask for a traffic report, was asking a question about an ETA, and didn't need her attitude. She also had problems negotiating turns and curbs. And yes, i have driven bigger busses for years. She was swearing at pedestrians and drivers. Now, to go back a little, when the tourist guide was asked if we needed to get off bus once they were alerted to a broken down vehicle, we were told oh no, please stay on bus. When we arrived at union city, same guide rudely told us to get off. When we told him you just said stay on, he was belligerant, refused to acknowledge he said it, and was just plain rude. Now, after these folks were trying to figure out what to do, they finally told us to get back on. Its 94 out at this point. So now they are trying to get a hold of the last bus that leaves at 4 for pentagon city from lincoln memorial. Bus doesnt wait for us. At one point, my daughter and i were told that we'd have to find our way back. I won't go into that conversation but suffice it to say, we were taken back to the drop off point. I paid 89.00 for a six hour bus ride that did not stop at the many monuments it was suppose to because they were incompetent. I had a 2 and a half ride from there that I really didnt want to do in the dark but had no choice. Fast forward to next day. Made my complaint. She spent a lot of time taking info. Cust service rep said she'd send an email and it would take about 10 days. Nothing. Called today and no record of complaint. In fact, i was asked ??? That should have been asked so I'm back to square 1. Waste of time and money. Unprofessional and had a driver that felt slamming on her brakes every six seconds was necessary. She also gave me the name of other driver to BLAME for this issue. Also, we thought that the bus taking us back finally was going to die on the road. Ugh.

UPDATE! since may 19, 2017, ive heard nothing. This complaint process started in April 28 when they could not find my first complaint. Refiled 5/19. Called today as a follow up. Cust serv rep could not connect to quality contril dept. This is email i received.

"Hello Irma, I apologize, no one was available in the Quality Control Department today. I will contact their department again first thing in the morning tomorrow and will let you know once I have it. Thank you for your patience."

Seriously, there should be some kind of legal action taken against this company who clearly has used deceptive practices to rip off the pyblic by providing zero...

I bought five of the 48 hour plus night tour tickets. Bought them from the bus driver as it said we can do: Bus driver printed my receipt and tickets which was 8 feet long which I could not review because the bus started moving. Turns out that was only three of my five tickets. Second bus we get on, lots of seating on a crowded memorial day weekend. After riding for couple blocks. There is no live guide talking and no recording. The bus driver does not, when asked, announce the stops. Said it was broken. Could get off the bus and wait for next one. Go to night tour. In line, now realize i have only tickets for three of the five in my 100 inches of paper - but have clearly a receipt that says bought 4 adults and one child 48+night tour. Employee needed to click my night tour tickets with a paper punch. Only had three of the five. Showed him receipt. He got out calculator to recalculate what I had paid. Agreed I had paid for 5. Asked my why I did not get tickets. Said do not know. He called bus driver that sold to me. Asked her if she remembered me and wanted me to talk to her. Advised no I will not. It is your problem not mine. He said need tickets. Said have proof of paying - your problem. Folks in front of us and behind us are all telling him same thing. He finally let it go. So many people wanted night tour they brought in more buses. Then made our full bus wait while they tried to load and balance buses. eventually let us pull away from Union Station but started to make us wait again for rest of buses. Finally let us go on ahead without the others. Each bus had own guide andd driver, not sure why they thought we needed to travel together. Was reviewing bus options before going to DC. Evaluating Big Bus and CitySight DC. Big bus had on their website that Sunday and Monday routing for memorial day weekend would be very limited due to activities and events. City Sights DC had nothing on website so called customer service to ask. Was told on ly Monday routing would be disrupted. Reason I bought City Sight versus Big Bus. Lo and behold, while riding first bus on Saturday, was advised that limited routing Sunday and Monday, basically instead of three routes would only have one extended Georgetown/zoo route. Took the Georgetown zoo route on Monday. NO guide, NO recording tour info. No announcement of any kind about which stop we were making or passing by. Two employees on bus, the bus driver and an additional lady sitting at back of bus. Asked her if she could help up know when arriving at National Cathedral. Said yes. As I thought we were getting in general area based on overview map in flyer, I asked her again if getting close. She said yes. Bus stopped. I asked if this is National Cathedral. She shook head no. I yelled to bus driver, asked same question, he said it was. So we got off. LAST BUT NOT LEAST: We were shocked in the ear by the headphones. My granddaughter was shocked every time she put headphones on when there was a guide. I personally was shocked several times and so was my daughter in law.

Really bad experience. Will not recommend to anyone. Have used Big Bus in several cities. I will only recommend them for DC. Listening to all customers over the weekend. Many were very unhappy. Bus drivers made no attempt to assist or apologize. Just said call customer service.

Wish me luck, I am now going to try and call customer service and get credit back for my experience. That should be...

DO NOT USE this bus tour!!! The worst every....completely ruined our day. My friend and I took this tour bus on 1 Aug. We were informed this was a guided tour with a hop on hop off option. We selected the red and blue/purple line. We picked it up at Union Station DC. Our trip to the White House was as advertised. A knowledgeable tour guide provided a fun cometary to the sites we were seeing. We got off at a stop near the White House and returned approximately 20 min later. We were told the buses ran every 15 to 20 min. We stood....in the hot sun....for a half and hour. Finally a bus arrived. However it was only for the yellow line. We waited another 15 -20 minutes and two buses finally arrived. However they were both for the yellow line. There were a number of us waiting and we spoke to one of drivers to inform him we had been waiting on a red line bus for over 45 minutes. After approximately 10 minutes the driver we had complained to showed up with a bus for the red line. I was a little confused how he had switched bus and returned so quickly....however we were relieved to be getting on a bus to continue our day. However the bus we no longer had a tour guide and the plug in headphone option was not working either. We got off at the Lincoln Memorial to catch the blue/purple line to Arlington. We waited again for well over the 15 to 20 minutes for a bus to show. When one did it to did not include a guided tour of any kind. We were taken to Arlington and told buses were running approximately every 30 minutes. After visiting Arlington we waited for approximately 30 minutes and saw no bus. We lost faith one would show we decided to walk back across the bridge to the Lincoln Memorial. No, I am not kidding. As we walked....in the heat and sun.....we never saw a CitySights bus. At the Lincoln Memorial we were able to catch a bus to return us to Union Station. Again, this bus had no guided tour. We filed a formal complaint at the number on the map and also at the stand were we brought our tickets. We wanted a refund. Instead they opened a "file" to determine if we could get a refund, which we have not yet received. We were also ordered a free ticket to ride the next day. After telling them what a horrible day we had on their bus the best they would offer was to do it again....are you kidding me. I will never take this bus tour again and it is no my mission to save others from taking it too. My friend and I were grateful for one thing. We were grateful we did not have our kids with us. We felt so sorry for those we shared our rides with that had children who were not only disappointed about no guided tour and the broken headphone jacks but were exposed to ridiculous long waits in the sun and heat. It is also important to note that during our many wait times we saw (with jealousy) other tour buses stop a number of times. In fact Old Town Trolly was everywhere and better yet they are covered transportation. PLEASE DO NOT use CitySights DC....this bus tour needs to...