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Collette vs Luxury Gold
Compare the travel styles, pricing, destinations and popularity of Collette and Luxury Gold.The Low Down
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 service for those within a 40km radius of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Cairns and Hobart airports.
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 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.
Stats
No. of Trips
192
No. of Departures
6,246
Avg. Trip Length
11 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$410
Accommodation
4 Star
Budget
Premium
No. of Trips
35
No. of Departures
483
Avg. Trip Length
13 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$685
Accommodation
4.5 - 5 Star
Budget
Premium & Luxury
In Their Own Words We asked the travel companies themselves why you should travel with them
At Collette, we consider everyone who travels with us to be our personal guest. Every moment matters to us because we know it matters to you. This may be because at heart we are a family owned company that has been in business for 100 years. It may be because our team are passionate about sharing their own love of travel and uncovering mysteries.
Choosing Collette comes with benefits that take your guided travel experience to another level. Our inclusive tours provide you more value for your money and more of what makes travel special. Let us show you the world!
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 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.
Recent Reviews
4.5
Incredible Tour of Tuscany & Umbria with Collette 0
Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside
Donna, QLD, Australia, Oct 2025
Just got back from the most incredible trip through Tuscany and Umbria with Collette, and I honestly can’t stop smiling! Everything about this tour was fantastic — the places we visited, the food, the people, and the whole vibe. I was travelling solo, but it didn’t feel that way for long. There was such a great mix of people, and by the end of the trip,... read more we all felt like family. Our tour manager was amazing — super organized, fun, and full of great stories and local knowledge.
The itinerary was spot on — a perfect balance of sightseeing, relaxing, and soaking up the culture (and the wine!). Huge shoutout to Hannah from Global Journeys for making everything so easy from start to finish. She handled all the details and made sure the whole process was smooth and stress-free. If you’re thinking about visiting Italy, I can’t recommend Collette and Global Journeys enough. Honestly one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had!
The itinerary was spot on — a perfect balance of sightseeing, relaxing, and soaking up the culture (and the wine!). Huge shoutout to Hannah from Global Journeys for making everything so easy from start to finish. She handled all the details and made sure the whole process was smooth and stress-free. If you’re thinking about visiting Italy, I can’t recommend Collette and Global Journeys enough. Honestly one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had!
Just got back from the Old World Sicily & Malta tour with Collette, and overall it was a fantastic experience! The itinerary was amazing — stunning places, great food, and the perfect mix of sightseeing and downtime. I was travelling solo, but honestly, it never felt that way. There was such a great group of people, and by the end, we all felt like... read more family. So many laughs and fun moments along the way! Our tour manager was a really lovely guy, but it was his first tour with Collette, so he was still finding his way a bit. He tried hard (and even used Google a few times to help out, which gave us all a chuckle!). While it wasn’t quite up to the same level as my previous Collette tours, he had a great attitude and was genuinely kind.
Huge shoutout to Hannah from Global Journeys — she was absolutely amazing! She made the whole process so easy from start to finish, handled everything perfectly, and kept me in the loop the whole time. All in all, it was an incredible trip — great company, beautiful destinations, and so many laughs. I’d definitely travel with Collette again and book through Global Journeys in a heartbeat! 💖✨
Huge shoutout to Hannah from Global Journeys — she was absolutely amazing! She made the whole process so easy from start to finish, handled everything perfectly, and kept me in the loop the whole time. All in all, it was an incredible trip — great company, beautiful destinations, and so many laughs. I’d definitely travel with Collette again and book through Global Journeys in a heartbeat! 💖✨
A good tour. Damiano was a good tour director, was very helpful when we got stuck in Milan after our train to Zurich was cancelled due to flooding. Got to Zurich but again missed the first day of the tour. Some hotels were disappointing. The meals together were OK nothing special. Thought we should of had professional guides in some cities instead of... read more Damiano being guide. His English is ok but maybe a guide would of been better.
The highlight of this tour was the trip on the Bernina Express. The scenery was 'wow' factor around every corner. The tour was very well organised and ran smoothly. The bus driver, Enzo, was an incredibly careful driver, especially as some of the roads were very high, with difficult bends. The main guide, Dario and local guides were all excellent.... read more The hotels were of superior quality. As a suggestion, it would have been preferable to have one less day (3 night stay) in Lake Maggiore and instead stay one night at Lake Como, as we drove straight past and only caught glimpses of the Lake.
The visit to the cheese farm before reaching Lake Maggiore should be reviewed. It was a little disorganised and too long, although in fairness, it was their first time in hosting tours. The conclusion of the tour in Lucerne meant that all passengers had the additional cost of taxis to Zurich, for the flight home, as Lucerne does not have an international airport. Perhaps the tour could have terminated in Zurich, were it commenced.
The visit to the cheese farm before reaching Lake Maggiore should be reviewed. It was a little disorganised and too long, although in fairness, it was their first time in hosting tours. The conclusion of the tour in Lucerne meant that all passengers had the additional cost of taxis to Zurich, for the flight home, as Lucerne does not have an international airport. Perhaps the tour could have terminated in Zurich, were it commenced.
Happy to leave a review- it was fantastic- very well organised, great host (Marco). This year marks a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church (every 25 years), a time of grace, renewal, and pilgrimage. One of the most moving experiences was crossing the Four Holy Doors in Rome - at St Peter’s Basilica, St John Lateran, St Mary Major, and St Paul Outside... read more the Walls. These doors are only opened every 25 years. Two of the highlights for me was processing the pilgrimage cross across St Peter’s Square and attending the Papal audience.
In Assisi, I walked in the footsteps of St Francis and St Clare, whose lives of humility, service, and joy continue to inspire. The town itself radiates peace, and visiting the Basilica of St Francis - where his tomb lies - was a moment of huge reflection. My only criticism- we didn't have enough time in this town. We had a three course lunch - lovely - but would be better to grab a sandwich and see more.
From the grandeur of the Vatican to the quiet beauty of Assisi, I was struck by the artistry, devotion, and centuries of prayer embedded in these sacred spaces. Standing beneath Michelangelo’s dome in St Peter’s, standing in the Sistine Chapel, praying in the crypts of saints, and witnessing the living faith of pilgrims from around the world (including half a million young people who were in Rome at the same time for World Youth Day!).
As a Principal in a Catholic school, this pilgrimage wasn’t just a personal journey - it was a professional and spiritual renewal. It reminded me of the sacred responsibility I have to nurture faith, learning, and community. I return with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to continue building a school where every child is known, loved, and inspired and where we nurture hearts, minds and spirits. Thank you for organising.
In Assisi, I walked in the footsteps of St Francis and St Clare, whose lives of humility, service, and joy continue to inspire. The town itself radiates peace, and visiting the Basilica of St Francis - where his tomb lies - was a moment of huge reflection. My only criticism- we didn't have enough time in this town. We had a three course lunch - lovely - but would be better to grab a sandwich and see more.
From the grandeur of the Vatican to the quiet beauty of Assisi, I was struck by the artistry, devotion, and centuries of prayer embedded in these sacred spaces. Standing beneath Michelangelo’s dome in St Peter’s, standing in the Sistine Chapel, praying in the crypts of saints, and witnessing the living faith of pilgrims from around the world (including half a million young people who were in Rome at the same time for World Youth Day!).
As a Principal in a Catholic school, this pilgrimage wasn’t just a personal journey - it was a professional and spiritual renewal. It reminded me of the sacred responsibility I have to nurture faith, learning, and community. I return with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to continue building a school where every child is known, loved, and inspired and where we nurture hearts, minds and spirits. Thank you for organising.
Best tour I have been on. Tour Manager Claudia from Collette was excellent. Bus was comfortable and hotels 4 star. Tour was well organised with daily updates from Claudia including summary of day’s activities and next day. I loved all of the tour. Highlights was gin factory, winery, picnic at Monchique, Algarve caves Cruise, Lagos, Cascais and Sintra.... read more Highly recommended for all ages and great value. I look forward to my next adventure with Collette.
4.6
Excellent Trip with efficient Tour Director 1
Ultimate France
George and Chithralekha, NSW, Australia, May 2025
Beautiful little Villages South of France. Much nicer than visiting large cities. A nice full length coach with only 40 seats provided ample space for the 22 participants. The fast train travelling up to 320 kph was a nice inclusion. Excellent hotels included. Krista our Tour Director was excellent.
Spain and Portugal with Luxury Gold 3
Spain & Portugal in Style
Jenny & David, QLD, Australia, Sep 2022
This was a great tour with excellent hotels and tour guides. The coach was comfortable with plenty of room - maximum 40 passengers - but with Luxury Gold the maximum number is 18 and minimum is 10.
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.
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.
We enjoyed all the highlights and had personal experiences with the sites. The food was great. Really enjoyed the villages we visited.
Great itinerary for a trip to Egypt, hits the main sites. Thrilled with the addition of Esna’s temple, which is being cleaned/restored and has amazing colors! Great pace with a 7-day cruise, allowing a break mid-day for a late lunch on the River Tosca. I never felt rushed to get through a site/temple. Again, our Egyptologist guide, Wael, was a wealth... read more of information - we couldn’t have asked for a better guide!
Our itinerary was just busy enough with enough time to explore on your own if you wanted to or rest if you wanted to. I especially liked exploring Belfast and Giants Causeway, Dublin, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Galway, and Ashford Castle. I loved hearing about the rich and sometimes complicated history of the areas.
Even though there was a lot of moving, the baggage handling and coach rides were done very well. No other way to cover so much ground in one trip.
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