Europe Tours

It was a well organised trip entirely. The tour director was knowledgeable and caring, the driver was excellent. We cannot complain Trafalgar tours. As always, thank you, Hannah from Global Journeys, for organising this trip for us. You made it easy! We had wonderful time!

This tour was an excellent way to see Spain and Portugal and made even more delightful by our Tour Director Denise Lamas whose knowledge of the countries and their history and customs was exceptional as well as her kindness and friendliness to all. There were 36 on the Tour and as a solo traveller I was given a friendly welcome by all. Easter week ...read more in Spain was very special and in spite of the crowds there was an atmosphere of unity everywhere. The highlights of the tour were the visit to Seville and the perfume of the orange blossom, the snow capped Sierras and the Alhambra, the lunch with village ladies in their homes and of course the amazing Segrada Familia by Gaudi in Barcelona. I would recommend this tour to anyone who would like to visit Spain and Portugal.

The trip lasted 7 days. For the first 4 days which included 3 days on Gozo and the 1st day in Malta was an absolute shambles. We were not met from the ferry in Gozo, the guide was too busy talking in the bus with the driver and didn’t notice this very big ferry had docked. One of our group decided to do a car park search after waiting for 3/4 an hour ...read more and found them ! The guide was not interested and did it because she had to. A very unpleasant experience. Arriving Malta and checked in to our hotel. A guide took us out to dinner but never saw her again. The next day was a public holiday which saw the group waiting in the lobby with no idea who, what or when we were being met. Phone call made to the local office to enquire what were the plans and that person was spoken to in such a condescending manner and the attitude was unbelievable which prompted another of the group to phone and email the head office in UK and made a complaint.

A guide was produced at 10 am who also did not want to be there, our entire ‘tour’ of Valletta took 2 hours only and then we were told to take the local bus home as the tour bus was leaving at 1pm!! After the complaint was made to the UK office, the next 3 days we had marvellous guides and the best driver ever who virtually saved the trip from total disaster. The accommodation was 3 star at best, however, was clean and breakfast provided. The group was made up of people from USA, UK and AUS. We all rubbed along quite well. From this experience, I have also emailed the UK head office with a more detailed description of the total lack of communication and attitude from the local Maltese office. Would I go on another Explore trip…. I would really have to think about it but at the moment, no.

I have booked many trips with Global Journeys and Hannah has always been very helpful, with nothing being too much bother. Regarding this Portugal trip, guide Beatriz was THE good tour guide, a mix of information with some lighter moments. Hotels were first rate, especially the NH Collection Porto Batalha on a central pedestrian square. The tour itself ...read more was a good mix of large cities and smaller towns, and even the times where we stopped only one night, the distances were short between.