Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours

We meet the nicest people – take Sarah for instance. Not only did she send me the nicest email (below), she’s also interested in helping boost our business! Now that’s what I call a satisfied customer! Make sure to check us out on the Dibb!

Hi Debi,

I know it’s over 3 weeks since we had our airboat tour with you but I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the tour.  We all thought it was fantastic, the kids raved about it for days and they loved the fact that we got to see a good few ‘gators’.

I belong to a forum in the UK that is on www.thedibb.co.uk and I just wanted to let you know that I put a note on there saying how much we enjoyed your tour and would recommend you to anyone thinking of it.  I got a good selection if replies back from people who had also used you and some who were going to get in touch and book a tour with you. I hope that helps boost your business.  I wonder if you are able to join the forum group and you could read the comments (they are all very positive)-just an idea to help boost your business.

I also wanted to say thank you for being so patient as we were half an hour late, we didn’t expect you to wait but were so pleased that you did and you were still able to take us out for the full hour-that was so good of you, thanks.

Anyway we are back home in the UK now and it’s raining and the forecast is not looking good for the weekend, oh how I wish we were back in Orlando!!!!

All the best,
Sarah x

Here’s an email I received today, I just loved it and wanted to share it with you.  Especially the part about “the big guys must be worried and I am sure want them out of business, Our family  recommends them 100% , power to the small guys!”

I have to admit that since I’m not much of a car person, I had no idea what a Bugatti was until I looked it up (A Super Sports Car).  Wow, comparing our airboat to a Bugatti – that’s high praise!  Thanks a million Joseph!

April 2010 - 5 reasons why we choose Spirit of the Swamp vs. others

a) A Husband and wife team (Harold and Debi), own boat, very well maintained and ‘deluxe’, USCG 6 seater. Harold has 20 years around Airboats, handsome Texan (according to my wife!). Have 2 other friends with similar real 6 seat boats vs. the big tourist boats. Small Airboat is beautiful, Bugatti vs. a Barge,

b) Custom trips 2+ hrs vs. 1 hr on a big tourist airboat.

c) Can customize the experience as you wish , they recommended we cancel our first trip on marginal weather to have a better trip on a better day, 100% correct decision, professional and admirable , they deferred the quick buck to give us a better experience

d) The smaller boat gives you more of a “feel “for an airboat manoevering and can get into the tightest nooks.

e) These guys are the real deal for an authentic airboat, full intercoms, owner operators so very interested in your satisfaction.

Its something you experience once, beats “the Mouse” hands down for REALITY, the big guys must be worried and I am sure want them out of business, Our family  recommends them 100% , power to the small guys !

Joeseph ONeill, Paris/Ireland/Uk.

If you’ve done your research I’m sure you’ve run across the tourist trap airboat ride companies – I know you know who I’m talking about! Our passengers tell us every day that they don’t want to be loaded onto a barge type airboat with 15-20 other people and take a 30 minute airboat ride.

Or better yet – they tell us that they’ve “been there, done that” and definitely don’t want to do it again.

We know you’re looking for something real, personal and authentic.

But we also want to you to know that unlike the tourist traps, we care about protecting the marshes and swamps we tour every day. We’ve see these tourist trap airboats plowing through the marsh and destroying everything in their path. Their idea of showing you Florida’s beauty is running 30 minute trips through the same area over and over again – all day long. Sometimes 25-30 times per day!

And because their on such a tight time schedule to head back and pick up the next load of unsuspecting tourists, they blow right by the wildlife! Ever wonder why they can’t really show you many alligators?

Captain Harold’s actually seen their captains radioing each other when they spot a gator – and then the hoards of airboats thrash through the area, scaring every living creature off.

And what they do to the marsh and wetlands? Mow it completely down. It’s horrible to watch. Absolutely breaks my heart. We’ve had passengers tell us that these tourist traps have run over nesting birds! So sad.

On the other hand… Spirit of the Swamp runs a small environmentally friendly airboat that can slip into places they can’t reach. We slow down and see so much wildlife they missed because of their tight schedules to hustle through every trip as quickly and with as many people as they can.

If you care about the environment, and want to see Florida’s unspoiled beauty, give us a call. You’ve found the right airboat company!

Our fantastic Trip Advisor airboat reviews are now tainted with a negative review. Just keepin’ it real here folks, as usual. I’m totally  sure the review was fraud, written by one of our competitors - they’ve certainly shown that they can be low down dirty rotten and mean in more ways than I can describe!

To make it even more unfair, the person who wrote the review never even rode on our airboat! Apparently they drove to our location without a reservation, and proceeded to complain about everything under the sun. Goodness, get a clue - our web site clearly says you need to make a reservation!  Obviously everyone else  understand this simple concept and our phone rings every day. Check it out here: Trip Advisor

So be positive, I thought I’d go ahead and share some of the emails (UNEDITED since the bad reviewer seems to think our passengers are told what to write LOL) I’ve gotten over the past few days that have made me smile:

Sue and I went on a 2 hour airboat swamp tour with Captain Harold on April 1st 2010. We want you to know that this was the highlight of our vacation in Florida.

We will be more than happy to recommend this adventure to all of our friends and relatives.

We searched the Web trying to find the best company and we were lucky to find you guys.

Thanks for a wonderful experience that we will always remember. See you next year.

Jim and Sue

Debi, I just got off the phone with Alex and he told me that they all had a great time out on the boat this afternoon.  He thought it was really cool and enjoyed seeing the gators too! Thanks again for making this part of his trip a success. Sincerly, Cindy Sheldon

hi Debi

Just thought Id drop you a line as we have just returned to England. The trip with you was the best of the whole 2 week vacation and I will never ever forget it as long as I live and travel!

Capt Harold was amazing - he was brilliant with the kids and we saw so much, his enthusiasm for airboating was amazing, and he was so professional and enthusiastic.

I will recommend your company so highly on tripadvisor and the Dibb (which is where I found you) and thank you so much for an amazing day. Susie