Bamboo (Closed) Reviews

Neither the pandemic nor bad reviews closed bamboo. They intentionally ripped everyone off and walked away with millions. Colin is sailing around the world and mark is writing self-help books. All while living off our money. They lied and pushed half-off trips if you paid in full. Knowing full well they could not honor these trips. Then they tried to blame the business closing on a few bad reviews. Complete frauds. Everyone lost out…except Colin and Mark who walked away unscathed. Although this happened post pandemic, it is still effectiving me since I have not been able to get any money back from the ongoing litigation.

Date of experience: August 16, 2023

I had taken 2 wonderful trips with Bamboo so decided to book others! Last instalment payment for trip to Vietnam in Oct, prepaid voucher for 2024 to Tahiti, and partial installments paid for India 2024. In total over $5k of my hard earned money… gone! There has to be something we can do😡 shame on Bamboo for misguided trust!.. Force Majeure for justification.. what a joke.

Date of experience: November 07, 2022

They stole everyone's money and lost millions investing in scammy crypto. They even fraudulently took money for CHUBB travel insurance when CHUBB had ceased working with them two years prior to them continuing to take funds. They ALSO continued to book trips and take money while knowing they were insolvent. GREED led them to declare bankruptcy.

Check out the latest news and multiple articles about Colin and Mark, the founders of WAB on the NZ Herald (New Zealand Herald). I'm not allowed to post links here.

Date of experience: June 15, 2023

I’ve had an amazing experience in Vietnam with the guides Tuan and Jane. Their expertise in knowing what we would find interesting and enjoyable about their country was exemplary. They both had all our best interests at heart. Our project was well thought out and went very smoothly, and we all felt such joy in helping. Tuan told us lots of history about Vietnam and it was very interesting. The hotels we stayed in were amazing and our Halong Bay cruise was fantastic. I will always recommend Bamboo, and I will definitely be travelling with this company again.

Date of experience: October 09, 2022

Firstly, I wish to point out not everything went to plan. Its Vietnam and it rains a lot at the time of year we visited. But our guide Tuan was amazing, he worked so so hard to ensue we had the best experience we could have and to adapt the plans on the fly to ensure we didnt miss out on anything. He was caring, honest, knowledgeable and fun to be with. Expect to get your hands dirty, to see not just the touristy bits but also the true Vietnam. Plus you will get help a local family which is so rewarding and perhaps most important of all be prepared to make new life long friends.

Date of experience: October 24, 2022

So have arrived back home and back to reality 😥. Vietnam has won my heart and I'll be back. Our guides Tuan & Jane always there for anyones needs. Showing us the real Vietnam was the highlight. The community project we worked on was well organised and a fantastic experience.

Date of experience: October 07, 2022

What a wonderful experience! Very well planned and carried out by Jana Bamboo! ❤️ Our personal driver was quite efficient and personable. Costa Rica has so much beauty and memorable experiences. I feel blessed to be a part of this BamFam!

Date of experience: September 10, 2022

I purchased the voucher in 2019 for Vietnam tour and paid by PAYPAL. Due to Covid they keep suspending travel date to whenever we wants to take it !! Until now
just received email that they are liquidated ! Director have portrayed themselves as crusader of animal welfare and charity project !! They have pocketed our money and living lavish lifestyle. What a scammer they are ! Please give us our money back from your pocket. Bamboo are still advertising by email until July 2022 ! What a low life cheating vulnerable folks !

Date of experience: January 09, 2022

Closed. They have absconded with millions of travellers dollars. No refunds, not ok. Funds for trips should have been in trust and taken upon completion of tour. Facebook page Bamboo Rip Off for those of you that have lost money and want assistance in ideas to explore options for recovery. You must answer Admin questions.

Date of experience: November 21, 2022

Two tours with Bamboo were great! Costa Rica and Thailand. So great I booked two more Peru and one voucher for further travel. Peru was cancelled during the pandemic and the voucher is for 2024.
Bamboo requires that all bookings must be insured via their Provider Chubb Insurance. I purchased the insurance on all my bookings.
Has anyone looked into this. There is cancellation insurance up to $8000 on each trip.
I’m sad that Bamboo was forced to close but I can see how it happened. I do not believe it was their intention to defraud anyone. The pandemic has been horrible but a business owner I can tell you it was devastating.

Colin, Mark can you guide us in this insurance claim??

Date of experience: October 01, 2022

I was very lucky enough to be embarking on my first solo trip to Japan, after being a travelling companion of three other companions studying abroad in Vienna. What I didn't know was how hard navigating the complex network of train systems could be. Thankfully, I had just the right contacts with Bamboo!

Date of experience: August 16, 2022

At first, it looked a little challenging to find transportation. And then when it was time to take rest on some white sand, the service was so prompt that we didn't have a moment to miss home! I would recommend that everybody should think about visiting this tropical tour

Date of experience: October 03, 2022

The guides, who worked hard to give you a great experience. Worked well with everyone’s needs and great support, when carrying out the experiences and work prodjects and you end making great friends. This was my third trip, some of the friends meet on first trip where on this, so it was like a reunion, well worth the five stars I have given.

Date of experience: October 07, 2022

This is so sad that the company had to close. Their elephant tour and work with the communities was seriously the best experience of my life in 2019 (this review site won't let me go back that far). I made friends. I helped animals. Covid impacted so many people and tourism businesses. And now the cost of living due to greedy corporations limits the extra funds people have to travel making a tour company like this unable to stay afloat. I wish people wouldn't be complaining about this situation. We R Bamboo did good things. I wish I could travel on one of their tours again. Maybe one day a new version of what they did will appear.

Date of experience: June 01, 2022

My holiday was originally booked for 2021, rescheduled to 2023 then cancelled again due to lack of people to run the tour. They refused to give me a refund even though they had retained $2200 USD of my money. I suspected that something might be wrong but made a new booking for December 2024 as I thought it was better than losing my money. Now gone into insolvency . Totally gutted

Date of experience: February 02, 2022

I am saddened that this organization had to close it's doors but I don't understand why money that was prepaid for trips not taken cannot be returned. Like most my trip was paid in advance and was to take place November 2023. I would join a class action lawsuit. They must have insurance if they were operating for 10 years prior to closing.

Date of experience: November 01, 2022

This was my last communication with this company, 10/6/22- I thought I was all set.

Hi Dion Duhon,

All done! You are now successfully changed over to the Discover Bali Young at Heart tour – you’re now officially confirmed on the tour starting on 12 January 2024. You have a wonderful adventure ahead of you and we're excited to be part of your journey!

Your previous trip was: Previous Choice: 2022-07-29
Previous Choice:
Previous Choice: 2024-10-11

Thanks again and looking forward to having you join us!

Bamboo Team

Date of experience: May 18, 2023

Myself and four friends were due to travel March 2021 To Costa Rica, covid hit and we had out trip cancelled twice, we all decided to rebook and were due to travel February 2023!! This trip was cancelled in August with no option to get out money back, just go on a waiting list!! Now I find out (and not from Bamboo themselves) that they have ceased trading!! Shocking communication, shocking service, shocking customer service, shocking policies!! Rant over!! Any help greatly received.

Date of experience: November 01, 2022

Like others I have lost hard earned money on a trip of a life time. Booked back in Oct 2019, regularly postponed, request for extra money to cover covid costs, refused refunds. Then an email blaming people's reviews as the cause for the closure. A nonsensical statement that says their t&c show they don't have to give money back (it does not) and liking the negative reviews received to terrorism! I would be saddened by a business closing because of reviews, however the reviews are correct! I hope at minimum they are banned from setting up a new business. Sadly I suspect they will, without any consequences.

Date of experience: November 06, 2022

Covid has hit every company hard-most companies-ESPECIALLY a travel company have been realistic in their refunding process-this place-not so much.

Our trips were canceled due to Covid-we understand that-we were rescheduled-moved our flights to November 2022…which has also now been canceled. They had given us the green light to change flight dates and now that they canceled again-we also will lose our flights if we don’t use them. So now we are going on our own.

The part that got us-is that they actually have a tour going (October 2022) to the same area that we were NEVER offered.

Furthermore-I had them book us hotel rooms outside of the tour dates and they won’t even refund that. That is the ultimate RIP-OFF!!!

Date of experience: October 12, 2022