The Hong Kong Tour Company that begs for 5-Star reviews
of its Lantau tours before you’ve even left the meeting point
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong since January 2nd 1972 - I know the place.
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The Hong Kong Tour Company that begs for 5-Star reviews
of its Lantau tours before you’ve even left the meeting point
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The Big Buddha | Epic Attraction | Hong Kong
How one low cost Tour Company in Hong Kong is bringing Hong Kong Tourism into disrepute with it’s shady business practices that it has no need to inflict on it’s clients
The Lantau Island Tour Company That Begs for 5-Star Reviews Before You’ve Even Left the Meeting Point
(Why one company’s perfect Tripadvisor score isn’t what it seems – December 2025 update)
I’ve been a private tour guide in Hong Kong for 15 years, been there, done that and worn the t shirt and I work very closely with 13 of the best tour companies in Hong Kong (for well over a decade), I have no problem at all with competition
Therefore I have zero problem with low-cost or even “free” tours; one of my great friends runs the gold-standard budget Lantau Island day trip and I recommend him constantly.
But there is one operator dominating the Big Buddha + Tai O listings that is playing a completely different game. (Listed on Viator, Tripdvisor, Get Your Guide etc)
In the space of two weeks, five reviews appeared on Tripadvisor Hong Kong for the exact same tour and the exact same guide. Read them and ask yourself which ones ring true.
The unfiltered truth
Michael N. – 5 Dec 2025 (1 star)
“The worst, most bafflingly bad tour I’ve ever been on… repeats herself endlessly, strange noises… public buses… wasted absurd amounts of time… Skip this tour. Do it yourself.”
Asuka L. – 21 Nov 2025 (1 star)
“She asked for a tip right away and to give her a 5 star review right off the bat… offered money off the next tour if we did.”
The suspiciously timed perfection (both posted within 48 hours of Michael’s review)
Maree S. – 7 Dec 2025 (5 stars)
“Fantastic day. Grace was fabulous. Entertaining, full of knowledge…”
Shaimaa R. – 7 Dec 2025 (5 stars)
“Great trip… Grace was lovely, funny, organized and helpful.”
And then the kicker:
Poisonivyjc – 6 Dec 2025 (3 stars)
“I was on the same tour as MN that has given this a 1 star… Yes, Grace did repeat herself and make some odd noises… Yes you did take public transit… All in all I went with the flow and enjoyed my tour.”
Let that sink in: a traveller literally confirms they were on the same disastrous tour Michael described… and two glowing 5-star reviews praising the identical day as “fabulous” magically appear the very next day.
I’ve done tours with this company twice undercover. Colleagues have too.
What reviewers Michael and Asuka said is totally 100% accurate: The guide pressures everyone for a 5-star review on their phones in the first five minutes, offers cash discounts for instant compliance
“Free” tours that suddenly cost HK$100 cash each at the meeting point (never mentioned in the listing)
Public buses sold as private coach transfers
Multiple identical listings (3) at different prices with the same photos, guaranteeing constant upsells
These are the inclusions that they state on their Tripadvisor and Viator Listings and the key point is that the Boat Ride (Dolphin Cruise) and the NP 360 Cable Car are included but only if you select that option and it seems many people do NOT click those inclusions because of the fact they are swayed by the very cheap price, the listing shows images of the cable car and a pink dolphin and they skip the small print and simply assume it is an all in price
In addition they mention that the Tai O Fishing Village and Big Buddha includes entry fees (and there are NO entry fees!!!) and worse they say Ngong Ping 360 is included, so people assume that is the NP 360 cable car, in fact they are referring to the building that houses the cable car which has a large souvenir shop and the Ngong Ping Village.IS next door
Talk about smoke and mirrors
So back to business
Nearly 1,500 five-star reviews in under two years, almost all mentioning the same single guide by name, almost all one or two lines long.
Honest low-cost tours exist (again – my friend runs the best one).
They don’t need to bribe guests for reviews before the bus has even moved.
Tripadvisor, Viator, GetYourGuide: travellers can see the pattern. Please start acting on it.
To everyone planning Lantau:Island Big Buddha and Tai O Fishing Village Tour
please note this
Pretty much everyone has to take a public bus from Tung Chung to rhe Tai O Fishing Village on Lantau Island and yes means most tour companies myself included has to due to very strict conditions for vehicles to travel to certain parts of Lantau Island including the Tai O Fishing Village and the Big Buddha, vehicles need a special permit and there are very few of them issued, why they don’t mention this on their tour profile beggars belief, they seem to give the impression that you will travel on an airconditioned coach, which you do but it is a public bus.(and there is nothing wrong with it!)
If your guide is begging for a 5-star review before you’ve seen the Big Buddha, you’re being had.
Book with someone who lets the experience speak for itself, you’ll have a better day, and you’ll keep Hong Kong’s reputation intact.
…. and yes I am a Hong Kong private guide of 15 years (and yes, I’m angry about this)
All five reviews quoted above are genuine and current as of 9 December 2025.
My last piece of advice
if the price is too good to be true then it probably is
read the small print and read it again, do NOT assume that everything is included in the sticker price
so we are clear there are NO entry fees for the Big Buddha, The Po Lin Monastery (next to the Buddha) and the Tai O Fishing Village
again, make sure you triple check what is included, if they offer 3 versions of the same tour then a lot of stuff is an additional cost for the tour with the cheapest price
there is nothing wrong with taking public transport, the Lantau Island restrictions mean that even Private Tour Guides have to use the public buses but we make sure we tell our guests in advance, the buses are mostly new and very comfortable
It is of course entirely possible that you are comfortable with all of these shenanigans because of the cheap tour price, that is entirely your decision but at least if you have read this, you know what to expect!
© Jamie Lloyd | J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong |
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