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CIE Tours vs Globus
Compare the travel styles, pricing, destinations and popularity of CIE Tours and Globus.The Low Down
CIE Tours are specialists in guided coach tours through Britain and Ireland. With over 80 years of history the team at CIE certainly have the local ties and experience to deliver you a top notch touring experience through Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. They have recently dipped their toes into new regions within Europe, including Iceland, Italy and Spain.CIE are relatively unknown in the Australasian market but are very popular in the rest of the world, so you're fellow travellers are likely to be from all around the world, but perhaps with more American's onboard than Antipodeans. With itineraries designed to be fully inclusive, putting your hand in your pocket for optional day trips and activities is not something you need to worry about.
Accommodation on each trips sits at the 3 to 3 1/2 star level, with breakfasts (along with many lunches and dinners) also included. There's a maximum group size of 44, but look out for selected departures on selected trips that are designed for small groups. Also keep a lookout for CIE's Last Minute Deals which run year round and offers savings of up to 15% off the normal retail price.
Globus is part of the Globus Family of Brands, which also includes Cosmos and Avalon Waterways and are always popular with our clients. Globus offer premium guided touring experiences all over the world, catering mainly for the 55+ market - but like most operators are open to all ages. Along with their classic touring itineraries, Globus also have a range of popular winter escapes, small group discoveries and range of independent trips for those that like a bit more freedom to do their own thing.The majority if their trips are centred on Europe, Canada and the USA where they provide 4 to 4.5 star accommodation, luxury coaches, plenty of meals & inclusions.
Globus's clasic coach tours host a maximum of 45 guests per trip (slightly less that the industry standard of around 50) and their small group trips host between 18 and 24 travellers. Average group sizes are often lower than those maximums, based on the destination you're exploring and the time of year you're travelling.
Our team of advisors have enjoyed numerous journeys with Globus including trips to South America, Dalmatia, Mexico and Spain, so we have plenty of first hand knowledge to help you plan your next trip!
Stats
No. of Trips
77
No. of Departures
1,566
Avg. Trip Length
9 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$550
Accommodation
3.5 - 4 Star
Budget
Premium
Trip Styles
Coach Tours
No. of Trips
440
No. of Departures
11,965
Avg. Trip Length
12 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$689
Accommodation
4 - 4.5 Star
Budget
Premium
In Their Own Words
We asked the travel companies themselves why you should travel with them
When you travel with CIE Tours, you will get the warmest of welcomes and all the benefits of our 87 years of experience. The itineraries are locally crafted - we set our own high standards for delivering excellent holidays with state-of-the-art luxury coaches; the best hotels; carefully chosen authentic experiences and entertainment.
Our outstanding local tour directors are ready to share their knowledge, stories, passion for their home places - they are our greatest assets. Many of our tours spend 2 nights in each location, and our flexible itineraries include a great balance of escorted and free time. We include full breakfasts, most dinners and some evening entertainment. No one has to worry about paying for optional extras on the trip. It’s all included, no hidden extras.
We know how much these trips mean to you and we want to ensure that this is a trip you will treasure forever.
At Globus, we’re not just hooked on travel as a destination, but on the way it makes you feel. Our promise is to craft adventures that you’ll want to re-live forever. We’ve been creating wonder-filled first class touring for more than 90 years; we have the experience and local knowledge globally to craft immersive adventures that make Globus travellers feel alive. Not only can you expect to see the big sites, we’ll also take you deeper in each location, right to the beating heart of each new discovery.
At Globus, we understand that your holiday is your treat – a gift from you to you. Let us connect you with a new world of people, places and experiences that will ignite your imagination.
Recent Reviews
4.6
The Irish Adventure was the second part of our holiday- the first being a trip around Italy with Insight Vacations. CIE was a wonderful tour company also. A much bigger group, 40 people. So when we first saw how large the group was I must say I was a little concerned how it would all work, but the driver/tour guide was excellent and it all went very read more smoothly.
We loved Ireland, the Irish humour and stories/myths and it was a lot of fun. Again we were the only Australians. Although it was a large group, many travelled together and were in groups of say 6 or 7, so they pretty much kept to themselves which was fine. It then made the group of people “mingling” together to be around 24, so again it was lovely sharing that time. Everyone got on very well and the activities etc catered to the majority of the people. The accommodation was also excellent, each one better than the previous. And on our last day in Dublin, we happened to arrive for the grand final of a big Irish football league and the team that won had not won for 75 years, so you can imagine the party celebrations in Dublin that night. And our hotel was right opposite the stadium where the game was played, so the atmosphere was fabulous!! And naturally, we all joined in on the celebrations even if we did not understand or watch the game……..the sheer jubilation, stories and celebration was enough to want to be a part of. So I would recommend CIE also, although I got the impression that most tours around Ireland are around to 35-40 people mark. Again, thank you Grace for all your assistance with our overseas trip. 😊
We loved Ireland, the Irish humour and stories/myths and it was a lot of fun. Again we were the only Australians. Although it was a large group, many travelled together and were in groups of say 6 or 7, so they pretty much kept to themselves which was fine. It then made the group of people “mingling” together to be around 24, so again it was lovely sharing that time. Everyone got on very well and the activities etc catered to the majority of the people. The accommodation was also excellent, each one better than the previous. And on our last day in Dublin, we happened to arrive for the grand final of a big Irish football league and the team that won had not won for 75 years, so you can imagine the party celebrations in Dublin that night. And our hotel was right opposite the stadium where the game was played, so the atmosphere was fabulous!! And naturally, we all joined in on the celebrations even if we did not understand or watch the game……..the sheer jubilation, stories and celebration was enough to want to be a part of. So I would recommend CIE also, although I got the impression that most tours around Ireland are around to 35-40 people mark. Again, thank you Grace for all your assistance with our overseas trip. 😊
We cannot say enough good things about our tour. PJ the coach driver was amazing. Highly recommended this tour. Dublin pub tour. Thanks ever so much for a wonderful trip, from the Canadian Gals, Dee and Denise.
I cannot say enough good things about the CIE Ireland Pub Tour July 16-22, 2025. The tour was well organized and executed, the accommodations and food were great in all the locations and the excursions were fun. The amount of bus travel time, planned excursion time and free time was well balanced. We weren't too rushed or overscheduled. But what read more stood out the most was our fabulous tour guide and driver, PJ. He really made the tour enjoyable and fun. PJ is entertaining, funny and very knowledgeable about all things Irish. He incorporated a uniquely Irish tradition of the National Hurling Finals which really immersed us in the Irish culture. PJ went above and beyond to ensure that our tour was flawless and that we all enjoyed ourselves. Hats off to CIE and PJ for a great vacation that will go down in the memory books for me. I highly recommend this tour.
If you’re looking for a great experience look no further than Global Journeys. Could not fault our experience. From the time of booking till we landed on Australian shores again,fabulous! Rachael McSorley our Travel Advisor looked after us so well. We were kept up to date evert step of the way. And CIE Classic Irish tour was all we hoped and more!
CIE are a great tourist organisation. All costs were in the price quoted , no added extras like some tourist organisations. The tour covered big and small venues, cities and towns whilst the places used for accommodation were of great value. I would recommend CIE.
4.6
Exploring Americas National Parks tour in the West 0
Exploring America's Great Parks
Maxwell and Marieatta, VIC, Australia, Aug 2026
Excellent 15 day tour with a super Tour Director and Experienced Driver. Booking the tour online was easy and well managed by our Global Journeys Travel Consultant. The itinerary was par excellence and the places visited (Grant Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Zion Park, Yellow Stone, Bryce Canyon to name a few) was just breathtaking. Would recommend this tour with no hesitation.
Canadian Rockies Globus Tour 0
Glacier National Park & the Canadian Rockies
Ellen F, FL, United States, Aug 2026
Great tour with majestic scenery. Days filled with sightseeing. Saw lots of wildlife, Elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and a Black Bear as well. Amazing tour director and bus driver. Accommodations were ok considering limited availability in some of the places. I think the breakfasts were not up to par and not comparable to what you get when traveling in Europe.
Overall I felt this tour ticked all the boxes in what a “Taste of Spain” set out to accomplish. It was fast paced and covered a lot of ground, it hit most major landmarks or tourist spots and the format in which it was delivered was great, by this I mean having a tour director onboard and then local tour guides at each city was an efficient way to mix read more things up and give continuity to our tour. As I said overall I’d give it a 10/10.
The hotels were very good for the most part, the rooms were clean and ready for our arrivals, the amenities worked well there were no issues, the staff was courteous and helpful though the food at some of the hotels could’ve been improved.
The location for them was also very favourable. Overall I give the hotels an 9/10.
The included tours were mostly very good also, it largely came down to the tour guide that we had on the day and the manner in which they delivered their explanations. The explanations were good and I’d give them a 10/10 in content
In terms of the way in which the tour guides delivered the content it changed from place to place but overall I’d say a 7/10 with three (3) guides being the sole contributors to the score (the reason why the local tour guide score was impacted was due to the experience we had with foreigners who managed our tours. A Ukrainian lady in Barcelona. An Australian guy in Valencia and and American guy in Seville, they were agreed by all on tour to be the downside of the tour guides, all were really not good at all and everyone we spoke with agreed that Globus should stick to true locals instead)
In terms of paid experiences I would rate these at 10/10, I appreciate many of these locations require tickets in advance so it’s imperative decisions are made in advance, I would only suggest that a more comprehensive explanation is given to help inform the decision making process as some seem a bit vague and one might hesitate to book on these grounds. I also strongly think you should re-incorporate the Montserrat Monastery visit into your tour. Many guests agreed this is a much better choice than the cava experience.
Travel experience was a highlight also, the ability to rotate seats was excellent and the travel always felt safe and comfortable. JuanJo (our bus driver) was amazing, always friendly, safe and dedicated, we really would like to praise him on his service 10/10.
Our tour director was absolutely fantastic also - Kaye Maxwell - her enthusiasm, charisma, charm and all round awesome personality really made our trip one to cherish, no matter the situation she handled it like an absolute pro and nothing was too much or a bother - though we think some high maintenance guests may have tested her patience at times - Kaye always had the right answer, pivoted with ease even in light of things beyond our control (like the Granada earthquake!) and made sure we were always looked after and the show went on with a smile on everyone’s face. Kaye’s way of handling everything with seeming ease is a true testament to her years of experience and professionalism in all aspects of her life and work. Kaye is an absolute champ.
Back to Australia we really enjoyed the Global Journeys booking experience. Hannah was easy to deal with and helpful, quick to clarify aspects of the tour with Globus and quick to relay that clarification back to us, her emails were clear and approachable and despite us having our first tour experience and asking many questions we never felt we annoyed her and was very professional in her dealings with us. Overall I would genuinely look to book another tour with Global Journeys and Globus most likely too.
The hotels were very good for the most part, the rooms were clean and ready for our arrivals, the amenities worked well there were no issues, the staff was courteous and helpful though the food at some of the hotels could’ve been improved.
The location for them was also very favourable. Overall I give the hotels an 9/10.
The included tours were mostly very good also, it largely came down to the tour guide that we had on the day and the manner in which they delivered their explanations. The explanations were good and I’d give them a 10/10 in content
In terms of the way in which the tour guides delivered the content it changed from place to place but overall I’d say a 7/10 with three (3) guides being the sole contributors to the score (the reason why the local tour guide score was impacted was due to the experience we had with foreigners who managed our tours. A Ukrainian lady in Barcelona. An Australian guy in Valencia and and American guy in Seville, they were agreed by all on tour to be the downside of the tour guides, all were really not good at all and everyone we spoke with agreed that Globus should stick to true locals instead)
In terms of paid experiences I would rate these at 10/10, I appreciate many of these locations require tickets in advance so it’s imperative decisions are made in advance, I would only suggest that a more comprehensive explanation is given to help inform the decision making process as some seem a bit vague and one might hesitate to book on these grounds. I also strongly think you should re-incorporate the Montserrat Monastery visit into your tour. Many guests agreed this is a much better choice than the cava experience.
Travel experience was a highlight also, the ability to rotate seats was excellent and the travel always felt safe and comfortable. JuanJo (our bus driver) was amazing, always friendly, safe and dedicated, we really would like to praise him on his service 10/10.
Our tour director was absolutely fantastic also - Kaye Maxwell - her enthusiasm, charisma, charm and all round awesome personality really made our trip one to cherish, no matter the situation she handled it like an absolute pro and nothing was too much or a bother - though we think some high maintenance guests may have tested her patience at times - Kaye always had the right answer, pivoted with ease even in light of things beyond our control (like the Granada earthquake!) and made sure we were always looked after and the show went on with a smile on everyone’s face. Kaye’s way of handling everything with seeming ease is a true testament to her years of experience and professionalism in all aspects of her life and work. Kaye is an absolute champ.
Back to Australia we really enjoyed the Global Journeys booking experience. Hannah was easy to deal with and helpful, quick to clarify aspects of the tour with Globus and quick to relay that clarification back to us, her emails were clear and approachable and despite us having our first tour experience and asking many questions we never felt we annoyed her and was very professional in her dealings with us. Overall I would genuinely look to book another tour with Global Journeys and Globus most likely too.
We cannot say enough, good about global journeys! Our tour guide Olvind, and driver”Magic” were totally awesome. The knowledge and the personal stories that were shared in the tight corners and hairpin turns that were made! Just very thankful we were in the hands of these two great guys. We had beautiful weather, which I understand is not always happening, read more which also helped of course. But they made the trip just just lovely. This was our trip we had on our bucket list for many years and we’re fortunate enough to be able to do it. So thankful we were able to hook up with your tour of Norway.
Grand Tour of Britain and Ireland 0
Britain & Ireland in Depth
Andrew and Maria, NSW, Australia, Jun 2026
Our trip from mid June to mid July was a great period to travel with perfect weather and fascinating sights and locations. Our tour guide Dan was outstanding with his knowledge of history and geography and a great personality. Our coach driver Paul was exceptional, handling narrow countryside roads with care and skill. Accommodation and food included read more were excellent and the extra excursions were a bonus. Thanks to Grace for helping us book the holiday. Highly recommend.
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