Why should we travel with Collette?
We asked Collette why you should travel with them, here's what they said...
By Travellers. For Travellers. Family-owned and operated, we’ve been perfecting the art of travel since 1918. As travellers ourselves, we create journeys that feel seamless, personal, and premium, no matter how you choose to explore the world. When we say 'premium' we mean unmatched tour design and industry-leading service, so you’re taken care of every step of the way. Whether you’re on a traditional Classic tour or an Explorations journey with an average of 19 travellers, you’ll feel the Collette difference: smarter design, insider read more access, and journeys created by and for the modern traveller.
What types of trips do Collette offer?
Coach Tours Small Group Tours Short BreaksWhere can you travel to?
Africa Asia Canada & Alaska Egypt & Middle East Europe South America UK & Ireland USA More...Collette snapshot
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The low down on Collette from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
While new to the Australian market in 2017, Collette have actually been operating since 1918. Offering coach touring and small group explorations around the world, you won't find too many Aussies and Kiwis on their trips yet, but clients of ours that haven taken the plunge over the last season have come back with very positive reviews. Collette is very popular in the US and now has offices and support in Australia, Canada and the UK too.
Collette market their trips as 4 star accommodation with 5 star service and inclusions - so if that sounds like your cup of tea, then how about this - Collette also includes a roundtrip home to airport chauffeur read more service for those within a 40km radius of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Cairns and Hobart airports.
Who travels with Collette?
Travellers who prefer a more intimate group, deeper cultural experiences, authentic local food and greater access to places and experiences that larger groups cannot easily reach.
How many people will we be travelling with?
An average of 19 travellers and a maximum of 24.
I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?
Yes. Explorations is specifically promoted as a good option for solo travellers, offering the social benefits of a small group while allowing travellers to retain their independence.
Do you offer single rooms?
Yes. A single supplement applies and single-room pricing and availability is shown for each departure.
Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?
No.
How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?
Accommodation includes hotels as well as more distinctive properties such as villas, tented camps and culturally reflective stays that larger groups may not be able to use.
Are there any extras to pay on top of the tour price shown?
Meals and activities not specified as included and gratuities. Tipping for the Tour Manager, coach driver, local guides and porterage is not automatically included but can be prepaid before departure for Aussie and Kiwi guests only.
Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?
Yes, Collette's small group Explorations tours are accompanied by an expert Tour Manager.
Do you use local guides?
Yes. Local guides and regional experts are used to provide specialist knowledge and deeper cultural insight.
How much free time will we have on a Collette trip?
Built-in free time is included, with itineraries deliberately balancing culturally meaningful experiences with opportunities to explore independently.
How fit do we need to be?
Requirements vary by itinerary, with small group Explorations offered at moderate, active and very active levels. Travellers should check the activity rating for their chosen journey.
Recent Collette reviews
We also had lots of fun experiences from exploring little hill top villages, farm to plate lunches, sampling local tasty produce, liquors and wine and little surprises along the way with unexpected extras such as visiting a war bunker and an old salt mine. We had great accommodation and breakfasts in all stays!
Our tour manager Sonja was excellent and being from Croatia gave us great insights into the countries and cultures. Our driver was very safe and professional. All fellow travellers, mainly from the USA were friendly, fun and interested in sharing stories with us three Australians! I’d definitely consider travelling with Collette tours again.
The scenic train journeys were a highlight in themselves. Traveling through winding valleys, across historic bridges, and past panoramic vistas offered a unique perspective you simply can’t get by road. The trains were clean, comfortable, and well-equipped, making the journey just as enjoyable as the destinations.
What stood out most was the professionalism and warmth of our tour guide Armando. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the regions we visited. His insights added depth to the experience, sharing stories and local history that made each location even more meaningful.
Logistics were handled flawlessly—transport connections, timing, and best accommodations all ran smoothly, which made the trip feel effortless and relaxing. It’s clear that a lot of care goes into planning these tours. Big thank you to the best driver, Diego and tour director Armando Disanto.
We would highly recommend Alpine Lakes and Scenic Trains Tours to anyone looking for a well-curated, memorable travel experience. It’s an ideal blend of nature, comfort, and discovery.
And to Global Journeys, Tracey who assisted us from the beginning until the end of our booking. She made everything hassle free and stress free. Thank you so much Tracey for your help. We would gladly book with them again.
Collette's most popular trips this month...
Why should we travel with Luxury Gold?
We asked Luxury Gold why you should travel with them, here's what they said...
Indulge your passions on a luxurious small group journey, offering the perfect blend of guided and independent exploration. Choose from our worldwide collection of immersive luxury journeys.
How do we define “Luxury”? It’s exceptional dining experiences, including Michelin star restaurants and cooking classes. It’s staying in luxury hotels in central or scenic locations. Luxury is feeling like a VIP accessing iconic sites after hours and meeting remarkable people. It’s having the service of a Travelling Concierge accompanying you along the way read more with incredible commitment to service. When you travel with us, we ensure your experience is elevated, elegant and impeccable.
We put our heart into everything we do and are proud to be leaders in luxury travel. I invite you to relax and enjoy the charm of different cultures as we take care of every detail. Speak with Global Journeys today to start your holiday planning. We look forward to taking you on a journey beyond the ordinary.
What types of trips do Luxury Gold offer?
Small Group ToursWhere can you travel to?
Africa Asia Canada & Alaska Egypt & Middle East Europe South AmericaLuxury Gold snapshot
Total No. ToursDeparturesAverage tour lengthAverage price per dayOur thoughts...
The low down on Luxury Gold from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
Luxury Gold (a luxury brand brought to you by Insight Vacations) endeavours to elevate travel beyond the ordinary, bringing you the best escorted experience for the best value. Staying in some of the finest hotels, chosen for their prime location, ambience, and level of luxury, and enjoying meals and wine at some of the best restaurants the destination has to offer. Insight have recently expanded their range of luxury vacations to include trips through South America, Africa, and Asia - where you can expect the ultimate in luxury and refinement.
With smaller groups (average of 30 but no more than 40 guests - and Asia & South Africa with only read more 24), relaxed start days, VIP door to door transfers (if you're an Aussie within 50km of an airport) , Luxury Gold offers a seamless stress-free travel experience. If you've travelled with any of its sister brands like AAT Kings, Trafalgar, Insight, Inspiring Journeys or Uniworld further savings are available.
Who travels with Luxury Gold?
Passionate travellers from around the world, travelling as couples, friends, family or solo, who prefer a high-end guided experience in a sociable small group.
How many people will we be travelling with?
Small groups average around 18 guests, with a maximum group size of 24.
I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?
All Luxury Gold journeys cater for solo travellers, and the small-group format is designed to make it easy to meet like-minded guests while the Travel Concierge handles the details.
Do you offer single rooms?
Yes. Solo travellers can book their own room, with single-room pricing and availability shown for each departure.
Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?
No.
How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?
Luxury accommodation throughout, including 5-star hotels, boutique properties, resorts and distinctive destination stays.
Are there any extras to pay on top of the tour price shown?
Meals and activities not listed as included, some optional experiences and gratuities.
Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?
Yes. A dedicated Travel Concierge accompanies the group throughout the journey, providing destination knowledge, practical assistance and personalised service.
Do you use local guides?
Yes. Local Expert Guides are used in selected destinations to provide more detailed local knowledge alongside the Travel Concierge.
How much free time will we have on a Luxury Gold trip?
Free time is built into every journey, allowing travellers to explore independently or work with their Travel Concierge to personalise how they spend their time.
How fit do we need to be?
Every tour is rated Leisurely, Balanced or Dynamic, ranging from shorter walks on mostly flat surfaces to more active days involving longer distances, uneven terrain and additional stairs.
Recent Luxury Gold reviews
We had to draw lots to see who got the worst seats. While First Class was available for a small extra charge, Luxury Gold thaught this Economy Class Cabin was the way to "Travel in Style". Our guide stated that she had previously requested that First Class seats be provided, but this request has been ignored. We have previously travelled with Luxury Gold in fast trains in Europe and it was always in the highest available class cabin.
Don't expect the usual 40 seat coach with extra leg room. These coaches were poor quality with cramped seats with very little leg room. They even had jump seats in each row (Not used).
There are 3 nights in Sendai where your normal bags are not available. You are expected to carry an overnight bag on the Train. They could very easily send the bags seperately as done previously, but this is another place where they cut corners. The type of people who book Luxury Gold Tours are not Backpackers. They need the comfort of having all their luggage when it is a 3 night stay.
This tour is a Black Mark for Luxury Gold, and is a great disappointment compared to the wonderful tours we have previously done with Luxury Gold.
Australians need to be aware that we were asked for an extra 400 euros at the end of the trip - 250 euros for our tour manager and 150 euros for the read more driver. Apparently Americans are given vouchers for these gratuities and the Canadians were given an itemised account which included gratuities. However I am not aware of how much they paid for their trip compared to Australians.
Note: The option to prepay Tour Director & Driver gratuities prior to departure is an option. Please ask us to include this in your quote if you wish - or they can be organised after you have paid your trip deposit.
