Food and more in a Limited Group

Response from Maria:

We are really glad to read your praising and encouraging review, dear Galit. Thank you very much for your positive energy and your attendance. It was a wonderful morning. Have a safe and pleasant trip! AFFT team

Response from Maria:

Good morning Yana and thank you for giving us your feedback and giving us the opportunity to reply. First of all, we are sorry to realize that you hadn't read the tour information and description before you attended it. In the manual confirmation message always we send to our guests it is clear the way we make the tours and 99% of the people who join us are perfectly fine with that. There is no ambiguity in the details every traveler receives from us before the tour. Additionally your guide repeated the terms and asked all the attendees (including you of course) before any step he made. Everything was agreed already. You wonder why your guide paid for your coffee. As explained already, our guides pay for all the products (foods and beverages you order) because it is much more practical and they always keep all the receipts for the expenses. Your coffee as all the attendees' coffees, teas and foods are part of the tour and they are paid by us. You said that your guide didn't say anything interesting. First, that comment is quiet subjective and questionable. During our walks we share with our attendees knowledge and information on the stories of the city and the people, history of the city and the Greek gastronomy. This what your guide did, as well. If that was not interesting to you, it is respected by us but totally subjective from your own personal aspect. You complain for the guide didn't pay for his food?!? Our guides do not make a walk and then just go, as had been already explained. They stay with the guests, they communicate, they answer to your questions and they all share some time, food, experiences, thoughts, knowledge and fun. How can a guide be "uninvited" as you mentioned? That sounds even quiet mean as a comment. Hundred and hundreds of people from all over the world who join our events have shared their praising reviews and feedbacks and they have enjoyed some authentic experience with all our guides and especially your guide Giorgos, who mostly runs the English speaking events. He asked again all the attendees in your tour if you want to follow the Greek way of sharing - sharing time, food, drinks and knowledge. Around a table we build up a relation, a connection a little community. Giorgos always served you and helped you and gave you all the food you needed and wanted. We don't just order some individual dishes, eat and go. That would be neither communicative nor interesting or originally Mediterranean attitude. Still we ask before any step and the guests confirm and everybody really enjoys that. If you didn't want that you could simply refuse. We never force our guests for anything. As for the "choices". Our guides always ask from the very beginning over allergies or special diet needs the attendees might have. Your guide did the same multiple times and he asked you again if you want to make it easier and more relaxing for you (the attendees) and you all agreed and all the people prefer that way. This is why there is a guide who knows more than a visitor and he works on giving him the opportunity to relax and enjoy his vacations. He is responsible on finding the right places and people and products to please the visitors. That is what we do and what your guide, Giorgos did and you agreed when you were asked before. All the people praised the food which is fresh, handmade and delicious. Regarding the topics of conversation you didn't like. Our guides (including Giorgos) never open talks over politics, etc. It is not something suitable for a tour and it might cause disputes between the guests. Thus he didn't start such conversations, as well. If you remember, the rest of attendees asked him multiple times questions over the situation and the economy in Greece. Your guide just answered truthfully and kindly to the guests' questions upon life in Greece today. He kindly asked the other guests to close a conversation on politics and international relations they had started between them and he motivated them to change subject and "talk about something more interesting and funny than politicians". So, that comment of yours is unfair and one-dimensional, too. As for the tip, we never push or force our guests to offer tips. Never! You had been aware of the tips-based nature of the event and all the free events all around the world. Guruwalk charges two euros per person all the guides for all the events. Still we never force people to give tips and we never judge the amount of them, too. There are more answers to your review but we don't want to tire you and the readers with more words. Only a last comment from us. The tour is English speaking as you knew already. It is not considered polite from behalf of any guest to keep speaking his/her mother language, which might not be understood by the rest of people. For example our guides do not speak Greek or any other language in front of people who don't understand and they cannot participate. In a pluralistic company always is considered polite one common language to be used. Thus we speak always English, since it is an English speaking event and English speakers join it. By choosing to speak some other language insistently a guest does exclude the other people from the talks and doesn't help efficiently to the connection between people. Thank you very much for your time and your attendance. Have a beautiful day and a safe trip! Best regards, AFFT team