Asia Travel Agents & Reviews

Zicasso’s travel agent and his team were outstanding. Thank you for being so patient and accommodating with our requests. It was a pleasure working with someone who was so knowledgeable and professional. The accommodations you chose were perfect and exactly what we were looking for. The detail given to us in the itinerary was impeccable.

The communication between our family and Zicasso’s travel agency was exceptional. We felt confident and comfortable traveling to a country we’d never been to before due to their efficient, detailed, and timely responses. At one point, just before we left, we sent a list of restaurant reservations we made on our own, outside our itinerary. Our agent checked our flights in relation to the time of our reservation and the distance from the hotel to the restaurant, letting us know that based on recent flight delays, we may not make our dinner reservation and would be charged a 100% cancellation fee by the restaurant. We thought this deep analysis into our plans and the “heads up” were a great example of the level of detail that went into our trip planning.

Each excursion was thoughtfully planned and valuable/memorable. We would not have missed a single one, with the exception of one tour at the very end of our trip when our guide was not as strong as the others had been.

We liked that we started with Tokyo and then traveled the country from that starting point because we liked the other cities much more. Because we started in Tokyo, we didn’t really know any differently.

Though it was low season in Japan, I would not travel there again in the summer months. It was just too hot and humid for me. Our other family members did not mind the heat as much as I did.

We would use our travel company’s services again and recommend them to our friends and family without hesitation.

Thank you to our Zicasso travel agent! My mother had wanted to travel to Nepal and see the Himalayas since she was a teenager, and our agent created a trip that allowed her to fulfill this dream. She crafted an itinerary that included not only Nepal, but also Bhutan, allowing us to see so very many of the highlights in both countries.

The guides were above and beyond exceptional – knowledgeable, kind, and caring, and we felt so fortunate to learn about their cultures, religions, and countries. Every transfer, of which there were many, was seamless.

My mother also celebrated her birthday on the trip and it was made so very special with welcoming decorations and cake. My mother, now in her early 70s, spent her birthday trekking in the Himalayas in the most beautiful of settings. We truly could not have asked for anything more.

Additionally, when we needed to make a last-minute change to our trip (while already on the trip), the team was extraordinarily helpful in making that happen. Thank you to you and your team for creating a trip that we will never forget!

I communicated with Zicasso’s travel agent pre-pandemic as we originally planned the Japan trip for summer 2020. After a long time, I reached out to Zicasso again and the local travel agents were booked. The only one available was none other than the agent I had contacted initially. I knew it would be easier as we had a sample travel itinerary from 2020. I just had to notify him that we were now traveling with my dad and stepmom. He easily accepted the challenge and I am happy I chose him again. He was attentive and conscientious about our needs and wants. He was flexible and did not mind my multiple questions throughout the process, even up to the last minute. He promised we would be taken care of each step of the way and, yes, he did deliver. The payment process was very easy. Everything regarding what to expect was laid out in the plan.

Our guide from NRT airport to Tokyo Shibuya waited for us despite the long immigration queue. It took over an hour to clear customs and immigration. I was nervous as the train departure time was approaching. The guide didn’t leave. She patiently waited for us and got us on the train, with resting time to spare. The taxi ride to the hotel and the stay were excellent and efficient.

On the way to the Shibuya station and the Kyoto bullet train, our guide waited for us to cross the Shibuya crossing for the very first time. She showed us where to buy snacks and food for the trip, and let us choose ekiben.

Our travel agent met us at Kyoto station. It was great to meet him. We did not even have to look, he was right outside the train door and even recognized us. He gave us an excellent history of the places we visited.

Our guide for the Arashiyama area gave us enough time to go to each spot. She even climbed with us to the monkey park and generously bought the peanuts for my daughter to feed the monkeys.

Our guide for Osaka and Nara saved us money on train rides. He was efficient and fun. He gave excellent recommendations for food and sake, and where to buy tea and a calligraphy paintbrush handcrafted in Japan. He took us to experience traditional sushi. My dad liked it very much!

The guide who picked us up from Tokyo station showed us the Meiji shrine, Harajuku, Ginza, and where to have ramen close to the hotel. She was flexible, showed us plenty of food options, accommodated what we wanted to do, and moved around the tour schedule. She was also our guide for the Tsukiji market, sushi making, Asakusa, and the Tokyo Skytree. She was always offering to help.

Another guide took us from the hotel to the airport and helped us to check in. I had trouble with my check-in luggage, but since she was there, it was fixed without a hassle. She did not leave us until all were cleared and ready to get to the security line.

All the guides were excellent, patient, flexible, and accommodating. Throughout the tours, they all asked if there was anything else we would like to do, see, eat, or buy. They were all very attentive to our needs, always offering to help my dad and stepmom, especially with the transfers from hotels to stations and back. They are both over 65. The great thing is that they are both active and kept up with us with ease.

It was a beautiful trip, arranged perfectly to our liking. Zicasso’s tour operator was very attentive, listened to all our requests, and was able to respond quickly. We stayed in a gorgeous hotel in Dubai and he was able to book the air tickets and do all the things we needed to do to travel from Dubai to India, India to Abu Dhabi, then Abu Dhabi to Dubai, and then Dubai back home. Even the hotel we’re staying at for the next seven hours is absolutely perfect. I give him the highest rating because the overall Zicasso group has always provided amazing navigation to all the different countries we’ve traveled to in the past 10 years. They provide a reliable way to find the best travel agents within each continent and country. Our agent is really superb at what he does and we’re very happy.

We had a very interesting 18-day trip to Laos and Vietnam in February. We worked closely with our Zicasso tour operator to plan a customized trip that included a number of stops and different experiences.

We started in Laos, with the monasteries, waterfall/hiking, cooking classes in Luang Prabang, and outdoor activities in beautiful Vang Vieng (hiking, caving, and kayaking).

We spent the next 13 days in Vietnam – chaotic Hanoi; beautiful Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, with the fantastic limestone karsts; historic Hue, the Imperial City; picturesque Hoi An, with the serene and spectacular resort; ending up in Saigon for a day.

We had three knowledgeable guides with different personalities and backgrounds – Laos, northern Vietnam, and central Vietnam. We had interesting and detailed discussions which enhanced our understanding of the history of the region, as well as the US impact on Laos and Vietnam. Although we liked our guides, we realized they were independent contractors and did not really have any input in our day-to-day itinerary (which did have changes from the original). Although most of the changes were fine, we would have liked better communication – letting us know about the changes and options. As a result, we spent more time managing each day's itinerary with our guides to ensure we liked the next day's itinerary.

In summary, we truly liked and enjoyed our well-planned trip.

After returning home from a month-long trip to Asia, I am still wowed by the service provided by the travel agency and our guides in Vietnam. Since this was our first visit to the country, I reached out to the agency for itinerary recommendations, and thankfully, I was connected with Albee. She was incredibly responsive before and during our trip, and she paired us with such knowledgeable and hospitable guides.

Our first guide during the trip hosted us in Hanoi and SaPa. We opted to stay a bit more off the beaten path at an ecolodge which we can highly recommend, which is about 30 minutes away from the SaPa village center. We let our guide know we were interested in learning more about the local culture and exploring the countryside, and wow, he delivered! 

We went on the most memorable hike through the rice terraces and stopped to chat with several villagers along the way. He knew everyone. On top of that, he taught us about local flora and customs while on the hike and then the bike ride. We are already looking forward to returning to the North and further exploring the Vietnam/China border, but only if we can do it with him! The mountains were truly the highlight of our trip, and it wouldn't have been possible without him as our guide. If you are lucky enough to add SaPa to your itinerary, do yourself a favor and request him.

Our guide in Saigon, which was the last leg of our Vietnam trip, was so accommodating to our changing needs. After a couple of weeks of travel, we arrived in Saigon wanting a more relaxing pace. She seamlessly made alternate arrangements for us that were a perfect end to the trip. The most hospitable moment from our entire trip to Asia came when we expressed an interest in visiting a local family. She immediately suggested that she and her family host us for lunch at their home in the Mekong Delta the next afternoon. This was such an unexpected yet memorable end to our time in Vietnam. Our guide’s and her family's hospitality were unmatched, and we were so fortunate to have her as our guide.

When we first started planning our trip, we were unsure as to what to expect. We asked Zicasso for recommendations on a travel agent for Rajasthan, India. We were contacted by the trip planner of this travel company.

After taking time to discuss what we might expect to see, our planner recommended an itinerary that would allow us to sample a cross-section of Rajasthan as well as learn some of the history and culture. He suggested that we visit during Diwali, a fantastic experience, and that the end of October and early November would be ideal weather-wise, which it was.

Our itinerary included exploring New Delhi, seeing the Taj Mahal, visiting multiple cities, riding camels and elephants, staying in luxurious hotels, tents in Jaisalmer desert (we stayed in a Camp Relais & Chateaux, an indescribable, wow experience), and a repurposed feudal lord's home which offered character and flavor galore. We were accompanied by one guide, an exceptional, articulate young man, and mostly one driver, and this constancy made the trip much smoother. The trip planner tries to pair personalities, and he did a great job here, which clearly points out the personal attention we received.

Our trip ended with dinner at the planner's home, with his wife and sister-in-law graciously cooking a wonderful Indian meal for us. It was a very special evening for which we are grateful.

We strongly recommend the trip planner and this travel company. Start with their website and contact them for ideas if you are on your way to India.