What other Travelers Say

My name's Kara Sergeant and I was very lucky to get the chance to go to Thailand with Free and Easy this summer. My experience in Thailand was amazing! I can honestly say it was the best time of my life so far. The leaders that Free and Easy have chosen for each group are sick! They're totally accepting of everyone in the group and do everything they can to make your trip the best it can be, a trip that will give you a whole new perspective on life. The best thing, for me, about the trip was being able to experience the Thai culture. Being able to meet different Thai people and be a part of their lives for 40 days was unbelievable! Just laying back and enjoying life. I really did meet some Thai people that I can call friends which is crazy. I got to do everything I wanted to do while I was there, like bungee jumping and celebrating my birthday (what a party!), and I made 23 friends I really will never forget. Free and Easy is all about introducing people to paradise and making them love it just as much as they do and they definitely accomplished that. I miss Thailand everyday and can't wait to go back!

Traveling to Thailand this past summer with Free and Easy was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Thailand is such an amazing country with the most genuine locals you will ever meet. Being with the Free and Easy group made my experience so much more than I could ever have imagined. When you travel with Free and Easy, you start to feel like your group is your family because everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Before you even meet anyone in your group you already know that you will have at least one thing in common with everyone, and that is traveling. My experience in Thailand with Free and Easy is one that I will never forget and it definitely was life-altering in the most positive way possible. My group leaders were Jonas Liw and Jay Fafard and they were unreal. They made the trip run so smoothly and we had a blast with them! Traveling to Thailand with Free and Easy was such a great experience and I have now met many people who I know I will stay friends with for a long time back in Canada. I would recommend Free and Easy to anyone who plans on traveling to Thailand (or any of the other destinations Free and Easy will come up with); you will have an amazing time and meet so many amazing people along the way!

The LTC trip was a life altering trip. With it i found a great diversity of chances to enjoy and learn about the culture of these great places, while still going out and having a great time enjoying the night life! The group leaders were more than leaders as they became great friends to us all and were always very knowledgable. They had experiences in the different areas that they showed us that i would have never seen if i went by myself, such as the waterfall in laung pouban where we actually crawled out to a pool in the middle of a giant waterfall with a huge drop above and below us. I would recomend this trip to anyone as we had a diverse group of people wanting to do everything right to people who just came to chill and do there own thing, and we all enjoyed it. Made life long friends.

The LTC tour was the perfect mix of culture, adventure, excitment and friendship! I wouldn't hesitate to book another trip with Free and Easy! They offered a variety of activities without the strict schedule you might expect out of other tour groups. Our leaders were exactly that, they steered us in the right direction and joined in on every adventure. Thanks Tadd and Justin for an unforgettable trip!! And thanks to all my fellow group members for sharing an amazing time!

‎110% Satisfaction every time! This is my second trip with Free & Easy and I'm already planning my third. Absolutely the experience of a life time, backpacking with ease and excitement in the most beautiful countries. The memories I have from my Free & Easy Thailand and LTC trips are some of my most vivid and memorable of all time. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed, or I'll pay for your trip! ;) The tour leaders are well versed, well researched and well prepared to faciliate a jam packed action experience or a totally chilled relaxed vacation. Whatever you're looking for, they can provide. 2 thumbs up, 5 stars. I LOVE FREE & EASY!

If you plan to travel, Free and Easy is an awesome way to go! I just did the 25 day LTC and it blew my mind. I'm in awe of how much we accomplished in the short time we were here, from trekking through the jungle to climbing up waterfalls and swimming in places we aren't supposed to go be to petting tigers and so much more. What they say is true; it's life altering! My leaders, Tadd and Justin, made the trip so easy and fun for us and I had amazing people on the trip with me. I can't stress how amazing this trip was though! If you haven't traveled with them, book your trip now! Abuja, FNEZ!!

This summer i had the privilege of joining the inaugural trip to Vietnam with Free and Easy. It was my first trip in an organized group and my first time backpacking. Initially, i was a little worried about being in a group as most of the group members knew each other from previous adventures with Free and Easy. Within days i felt comfortable and really liked free and easy’s way of traveling. 

My group leaders Chad and Jeff planned an EPIC trip that showcased the best of Vietnam and some amazing hidden gems. Saigon was insane, vibrant, and truly the motorcycle city (I haven’t needed a lesson on how to cross a street since i was a child). Jungle Beach was a welcome oasis with a private beach, phosphorescents, and boom box dance parties. Hoi An was a shopaholics dream with 24 hour custom tailoring and some amazing restaurants!! Spending time in stunning mountains of Sapa and exploring a tribe’s village taught me that i really dislike hiking regardless of the scenery or country. Instead i enjoyed endless massages and foot soaks, great restaurants, and the cooler temperatures. Cat Ba Island made me appreciate nature’s wave pool, and trying white bikini’s out before you in the ocean (thank you stacy for the sarong). Houseboating on Halong Bay was an amazing way to finish off the trip, with the best catering, magnificent views, and an insane pirate party. I have so many great memories of Vietnam that it is hard to decide my favourite area or experience.

Vietnam is a fascinating country with incredible and varied scenery. The Vietnamese people are a role model in how to overcome astounding challenges and devastation. Vietnam is a thriving country, not a war. Everyone should make it to Vietnam. Place it at the top of your travel wish list today, and sign up for this amazing trip!

When I first heard a rumour of a Vietnam trip I wasn't really interested and figured it wasn't my thing. But after doing 2 trips with FNEZ, I decided I loved and trusted them enough to do everything they could offer me so I put my name down! It was probably the best decision I've ever made (short of booking my first Thai trip!) I have travelled with FNEZ in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines and I can say without a doubt that Vietnam is the most beautiful country I've traveled in. There is a huge diversity of scenery, history and culture that has something in store for everyone. One day we were chilling on our own private beach with amazing multi-course meals, and the next we were getting cheap custom tailoring in one of the coolest cities I've ever seen. Next was a misty mountain village for amazing culture and hiking (I liked to call it the "Banff" of SE Asia). Finishing off with a private houseboat tour around Halong Bay, which has been the one and only thing that I have said that everyone should do before they die. 

Most people would never even think of traveling to Vietnam, but I feel like right now is the perfect time to travel there, you feel comfortable as a traveler, but you don't feel like it's lost its true culture from hyper-tourism like you see in other countries in the area. It is also incredibly inexpensive, I spent just over 500$ while I was there for 3 weeks, and that includes a custom-made wool coat shipped back to Canada, spa days, shopping, drinks, and eating amazing food. (check out the cheapest beer in the world- 10 cents a glass!)

To cap it all off is the awesome and unique FNEZ experience that stands behind every trip. It's what keeps me booking again and again ...Greece/Turkey 2012 here I come! But of all the ones I've been on, it's obvious that the people who work for this company are extremely enthusiastic and excited about this trip in particular, which says a lot given the kinds of places these guys have been :)

How do you describe a life-altering adventure? 3 words - Free and Easy. Having completed 151 days of Free and Easy (Philippines - June '08; Thailand - May '09; LTC - June '09; Nicaragua - Reading Week, February '10; Indonesia - July '11; Thailand - August '11), I know for a fact that my life has changed for the better. The things I've seen and experienced on these 6 trips - bungee jumping, trekking the rice terraces, ziplining through jungles, scuba diving with sharks, riding elephants, visiting Angkor Wat, climbing a volcano - are things that most people can only dream about doing in their lifetime. Furthermore, the people that I've met along the way have all impacted my life in individual ways that have transformed me into a person that three years ago I had never thought possible. The bonds I've made with some of these people are unbreakable; they are now and will forever be my second family. Through my adventures in Southeast Asia and Central America, I've learned to appreciate the little things in life that are far too often taken for granted. Traveling is the best education. The pictures and videos cannot do justice to a Free and Easy trip. It is something that must be experienced first-hand. So I say to those who are tentative about venturing out in this fascinating place we call the wide world, why not give Free and Easy a try? They provide just the right balance between guidance/advice and independence/freedom. Why not get yourself a 70 L backpack, fill out the registration form, submit your $200 deposit, and begin the countdown to a life-changing experience? It'll be something you'll never regret!

I'd give 10 stars out of 5 if I could. I wasn't too sure what too expect when I left for this trip but it would have blown any expectations I could have possibly had out of the water. I can't say enough about the whole group I was with. They were all awesome people and I hope I'll get to see some of them again in the future. As for Nigel and Justin, I couldn't have asked for two better leaders. Cheers to you both. You did an awesome job and were always fun to be around.
To anyone who might be on the fence about booking a trip with Free and Easy, just DO IT! You can't go wrong. Seriously. You will not regret it. You'll get to see places and do things that you probably wouldn't see or do if you were backpacking on your own. These guys know their stuff and show you only the best of the best of what the country has to offer. Everything about this trip was incredible and FnEZ will most definitely be hearing from me again.

MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE EVER!!! whyyy do i have to leave thailand tonight :( its so upsetting! honestly, i cant believe how much fun i had..words cant even describe how much fun it was and how amazing the people were. The leaders were more incredible then i ever could have imagined and i am most definitly doing by next big trip with them. I never heard of free and easy before this trip and now i will tell everyone i know that they MUST travel with this company! there isnt a person out there that would regret it! thank you free and easy for making my thailand experience sooo amazing!!! you guys are the shit! :)

Just got back to Bangkok after doing the 25 day LTC and then the 20 day Thailand and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life. This is a quality company from the people who deal with all your needs before you even arrive to the group leaders who are some of the most awesome people I have ever met. The places you stay and the staff at these places are great. I've done group travel before (Contiki) and this is very different. It's much more relaxed and not as touristy which I felt was perfect for traveling SE Asia. It's amazing how close you become to the people you are traveling with as well, I know I got a lot of people from my trips that I will stay in contact with for life. I couldn't have imagined a better way to end my 8 months of traveling than with Free and Easy. Thanks for everything and I can't wait for my next Free and Easy adventure.

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Woo hoo...our girls are home!  We picked them up in Calgary last night, expecting tired and grumpy after such a long trip and instead they were full of smiles and laughter.  I'm sure it was a reflection of their fantastic experiences over the last month...they even had a positive spin on the whole snake bite/hospital stay!  They had us laughing all the way home to Lethbridge with stories of their adventures, the people they met, the places visited, the good, the weird, the stressful...it sounds like their trip really was "free and easy" and they loved every minute of it.

Ben, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate everything you did for the girls.  I still don't know how you managed to get them flights home when there were no seats to be had!  I was totally stressed out this last week but knowing you were with the girls and helping them with absolutely everything, helped save my sanity!  If Free & Easy has an employee of the decade award in honour of their 10th anniversary, you deserve it in spades!!!

Rob,  thanks for all your help with the insurance mess and the travel plans and my panicky moments.  You are so well organized, knowledgeable and prompt with your emails.  It was comforting to know you were there to help in any way you could.  I have so much respect for your obvious dedication to customer service and your ability to deal with a "panicky mother"!

Curtis, you've obviously put together a top notch organization!  I have to admit, your website pictures of the Free & Easy family, which I know appeal to your target customers, made me a little uneasy when Rachael was planning her trip.  I was trusting my daughter halfway around the world with these free wheeling, beach loving, unconventional tour guides??  Obviously, looks can be very deceiving...if the rest of your guides are half as good as Ben and Jemma, which I'm sure they are, you have a goldmine!  I was so impressed with how you handled the unrest in Bangkok, changing the itinerary last minute, and then dealing with Rachael's accident.  Obviously, customer care is one of your number one priorities!

Anyway, thanks for listening to the ramblings of a grateful mother.  I know Rachael would love to hop on a plane straight back to Thailand and hopefully she'll have that opportunity in the future.  In the meantime, we both have good stories to tell family and friends, fortunately with a very happy ending!  You can be sure you'll get plenty of good word of mouth advertising for Free & Easy from both of us!

Thanks for everything guys, and best of luck with your new ventures in Nicaragua!

Alright I am trying my best not to sound too cliché, but going to Thailand has been one of the best experiences of my life. There is not a single regret that I have about signing up for the trip - except that I wish I would've stayed longer. I'd bet money that I had a smile plastered on my face the whole 40 days. Since I've been back in Calgary I want nothing more than to hop on a plane and go straight back to Thailand. The trip leaders were great, the people I met were amazing, the food was unreal, the parties were legendary, and the culture is something everyone must experience. It’s hard to believe, but the pictures on the website do not do the place justice - Thailand will blow you away.

Free and easy went above and beyond my expectations for the trip - they couldn’t have organized a better trip.  Believe me - to get the most out of your experience - these are the people you want showing you around Thailand.

The word Epic belongs to Free and Easy. No other experience will ever live up to the epic-ness that was my Free and Easy travel adventure. What an amazing way to see and experience a country!! You will laugh everyday until you cry and you probably will cry when you have to leave the people that you never beleived you could grow so close to in such a short time. Living so deeply within the Thai culture, this is no tourist trip, you learn to live the way the people do and so appreciate the culture Free and Easy has emerced you in. Wake up everyday slightly burned and completely hungover with a story to tell about someone the night before. you will meet your best friends and you will find the happiest you possible. Jeff and David were epic leaders just as close of friends as anyone who know so much about Thailand and truly love and appreciate everything about it - they can also drink all of us under the table and still make sure we are all home safe. Cliff jumping, beaches, kayaks, monkeys, dancing, elephants, laughter X 1000, lots of bruises and smiles - Consider my perspective changed! This was my life changing expierience and I plan to travel Free and Easyagain as soon as possible. Thank you so much for this amazing time!! I love all of you!

Sitting here in Seoul during my 10-hour layover and running over my entire trip in my head, from Bangkok to Haad Yuan, to Railay and up to Chiang Mai and Vang Vieng, I was realizing how f#@king amazing it was. I've traveled quite a bit, but not even the San Fermines festival in Pamplona (the Running of the Bulls), New Years in Vegas, or Christmas in Times Square compares to how wicked Thailand has been. Next year's trip is already in the works. And then I check my e-mail and here you are asking for a testimonial - I'd be more than happy to give one.

I signed up for the Free & Easy trip because a good friend of mine recommended it. I spent a month travelling Europe with him after he'd been in Thailand and he got me more than excited with all his stories. I came to Thailand with what I thought was a pretty good idea of what to expect and how awesome it was going to be. Not even close. Every single experience on my trip absolutely blew any and every expectation out of the water: The trip doesn't even compare to anything else I have ever done, it's simply life changing.

When I told people I was going to the Philippines, the most common response I got was "why the Philippines?" the answer I tell people now is, because it's like nothing you've ever seen before. And it’s true, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just stepping off your first international flight you will be in awe of what this country has to offer. Whether your hiking through the 2000 year old rice terraces of Banaue, scuba diving on the reefs of Panglao Island, or catching a perfect wave at Cloud 9 surf break in Siargao, the Philippines will amaze you. You'll see things you will never see anywhere else in the world. Have experiences that you will cherish the rest of your life. And meet friends that you'll call your family. Mix that with some of the friendliest people in the world and some sand between your toes, and you know you’re in a special place. A place most people never think about going to, but once they see your pictures and hear your stores, will wish they had gone with you.

When I told people I was going to the Philippines, the most common response I got was "why the Philippines?" the answer I tell people now is, because it's like nothing you've ever seen before. And it's true, whether you're a seasoned traveller or just stepping off your first international flight you will be in awe of what this country has to offer. Whether your hiking through the 2000 year old rice terraces of Banaue, scuba diving on the reefs of Panglao Island, or catching a perfect wave at Cloud 9 surf break in Siargao, the Philippines will amaze you. You'll see things you will never see anywhere else in the world. Have experiences that you will cherish the rest of your life. And meet friends that you'll call your family. Mix that with some of the friendliest people in the world and some sand between your toes, and you know you're in a special place. A place most people never think about going to, but once they see your pictures and hear your stores, will wish they had gone with you.

Sitting at my boring office job many months ago I stumbled upon the Free and Easy website, I was instantly amazed by the concept of the trip. Spending 40 days traveling a stunningly beautiful country that I knew nothing about with 20 other fun travelers, being taken to all the coolest spots in the country by amazing leaders... I couldn’t believe that such a vacation existed (and that I had never heard about it before.) I decided at that moment that I would make the trip a reality, and looking back at that day it was the best decision I ever made.
My 40 day trip to Thailand was epic to say the very least. Spending 40 days in a country like Thailand which has a whole different style of life and a whole different type of 'people' has really changed me as a person, and expanded my perspective about the world. Getting a break from North American life and spending time with people who live with so much less than us but seem so much happier is really incredible. The friendly and genuine smiles of the Thai people are something that stays with you and something you long to see again once you return home.
Thailand is a stunning country. The places you visit and the scenery you are exposed to is more beautiful than any picture can ever do justice. Everything in Thailand is so different and interesting, you really feel as if you’re in another world. A simple walk down the street can turn into an amazing story that you struggle to explain to your friends.
A great thing about the trip is that its truly yours to have, it doesn’t have that stiff tour group feel. The leaders take the worry of planning your travels away but also give you the freedom to experience Thailand the way you want. If you like to relax you can spend your time lounging in your hammocks or sunbathing on the beach and if you’re an active person you will be happy to find that nearly every day you can go on some sort of adventure. Whether it’s a new cave to explore, a new hike to take, riding elephants through the jungle, visiting a monkey park, bungee jumping, a reggae concert, cliff diving, a fire show or a friendly game of volleyball there’s always something awesome to do. Whether you like to party your face off at the local dance floor or chill out and play some great tunes on the beach while checking out the stars, the trip offers a great variety of both.
Perhaps the best part of the trip is the friends you make in your group along the way, having a group of people to share all the amazing experiences you encounter is something truly valuable. The trip leaders are also incredible people. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable about the Thailand and the trip, they are also incredibly fun people to hang around and really know how to ensure everyone has a great time. If you’re a positive spirited person, you'll enjoy every minute of this awesome trip.
So if you were like me, looking at the website in wonder, thinking 'Is it really possible for this trip to be as amazing as it looks?' let me tell you that it will surpass every expectation you have. Your 40 day trip will be something you remember for the rest of your life.