Cosmos Tours

The Best of Britain & Ireland Reviews

22 The Best of Britain & Ireland reviews from past travellers that booked with Global Journeys.
4.32
AVG. RATING 4.32 / 5
22 Reviews
5 Star
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Whirlwind through the UK 10 , WA, Australia, Jul 2017
We have done a couple of Cosmos tours and they have been great, but this one was disappointing. Unlike the other tours we did (Europe and USA), there were no included experiences, not even any guided walking tours. If you wanted to explore any of the villages/cities then you had to arrange it yourself, or go on one of the offered experiences, which ...read more were very expensive. The hotels were too far out of each town to enable confident travel alone into each town, and so most of us felt compelled to go to the offered dinners at quite considerable expense. To be fair, two of the dinners we attended were fabulous and included local entertainment as well, and they were not as rushed as some of these experiences can be, so that was good. Our guide was quite strict, but I guess you have to be when you are responsible for 40+ people.
The Best of Britian and Ireland 6 , QLD, Australia, Mar 2017
This is the first coach tour that we have ever done. Overall we were impressed with the whole tour. We found the booking through Global Journeys to be problem free and they were helpful. The greeting at the hotel on day 1 was quality and set the scene for the remainder of the tour. The Coach Driver (Lee) was very courteous, careful driver, and was considerate ...read more of our needs. The Tour Guide (Peter) made a huge difference to the experience of the tour due to his wide knowledge of history, the built environment and particularly the manner in which he kept the whole group engaged through his commentary. Quality! We found the pace of the tour to be good and arrival times were generous. Morning departures were also well managed so that we did have the opportunity to see/visit all of the offerings. We found the add-on experiences generally to be good value with only one minor exception and that has been communicated in our exit survey. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience.
Enjoyed the sights 9 , VIC, Australia, Jul 2016
I enjoyed the places visited as listed in the itinerary. The coach was good and the accommodation up to standard. However, the tour lacked my expectations going on my experience of previous tours. It was a directed tour rather than a guided tour. In other words, we were pretty much given directions for places of interest that we might like to explore. ...read more The guide did not take us 'through' places so that we could relax and enjoy the experience. Instead, I found that I worried constantly about not getting lost and not losing track of time so that I got back to the pick up point on time.

Unfortunately, I forgot to remember a landmark for meeting the bus in Edinburgh after visiting Edinburgh Castle and got lost. I called the guide on her mobile (she gave to us her number on the first day in case we needed to contact her) and texted to give her my location. She did not return my call. My itinerary/paperwork was on the coach otherwise I would have just caught a very expensive cab to the hotel. I had to calm myself down since I was in a city alone totally unknown to me so that I could figure out what to do. I decided to try to retrace my steps when the bus spotted me 15 minutes after the set pick up time. The guide was more concerned with blaming me for getting lost rather than for my welfare. She defended not using her mobile to call me back on the grounds that it was not charged and was not a work phone. I was upset, humiliated at holding everyone up, and angry about my predicament of being lost which lead to question my prospects for enjoying the rest of the tour.

My understanding from other people doing the tour was that the guide was prepared to leave me. For future reference, I suggest that tour operators provide a clear disclaimer in their paperwork outlining who is responsible when someone gets lost. It ended being quite an expensive tour since we paid for entry to most places. The optional tours were expensive too. A ticket to Windsor castle cost £59 yet by the time we got through there was barely an hour to visit the castle before having to head back to the coach. The tour was promoted as 50+ but this was not the case. I have nothing against young people or families but my general view is that they are less open to meeting new people. Also, the fact that we all went in different directions at each stop did not help the bonding process.

One more thing: I got the impression that we were constantly pitched toward tipping each and everyone in addition to the guide and driver who was fabulous by the way. This is off putting. I suggest a communal envelope for tipping at the end of the tour instead of the individual voucher system.
Found Cosmos to be great 1 , QLD, Australia, Sep 2015
This was our first tour with Cosmos and we have found them to be great, I'm thinking it's value for money. Despite the hotels sometimes are not right in the city, we had access to the cities and we stayed in smaller towns on the outskirts which suited me fine. Because we were always given time in the city to explore as well as city tours. I believe ...read more Cosmos gives the best of both worlds a chance to see the city but also to enjoy the feel of little towns. I would recommend this tour to friends and family.
Enjoyed our first trip to Great Britain 1 , NSW, Australia, Jul 2015
We found everything very expensive in Great Britain. The pace was fast especially if you chose the extra options. Our coach driver Alister was excellent. We enjoyed our first trip to Great Britain.
Already saving for another trip!! 0 , QLD, Australia, May 2015
Overall experience of this tour was very positive and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every place we visited. The hotels/guest houses were all lovely and the food was fantastic. Our tour guide, Carmel Nicholson (who is from Dublin, Ireland) was absolutely wonderful, she was so full of historical knowledge about every country we visited and her personal ...read more snippets of what it was like growing up in Ireland and the bits of gaelic language she taught us, added even more to our experience. I would definitely do another tour if she was the tour director! We have only one negative which was that there needs to be a better way to make people stick to the 'seating rotations' on the coach, as some people simply sat where they thought the view was best and didn't stick to the rotation and others who were doing the right thing said nothing as didn't want to make a fuss. That was a minor problem, but we feel it should be mentioned. We just arrived home and my mind is full of the British Isles and all the glorious places that I feel so overwhelmingly blessed to have visited! Already saving for another trip!!
We had a great time 0 , QLD, Australia, May 2015
We had a great time, meet lots of good people and really enjoyed the itinerary. The pace of the trip was ok, the tour director was excellent, but some of the included meals were poor. I would certainly recommend the tour and would also recommend and thank Yvonne at Global Journeys who organised it for us.
Fabulous tour. Everyday seemed to be another surprise 0 , Australia, Oct 2014
This was our first time with Cosmos and we are looking forward to going with them again. The tour director and coach driver were fantastic, everything went smoothly at all times. Our tour director Julian was a walking encyclopaedia which made the tour extremely interesting. My only disappointment was we didn't have enough time in Bath. Overnight would ...read more be better so we could spend more time exploring that beautiful city. It was a fabulous tour. Everyday seemed to be another surprise.
Covered a lot of ground & happy with what I saw 0 , Australia, Aug 2014
A fast paced tour with maybe 2 or 3 photo stops only! Some of the affiliate stops are annoying as there are locations nearby that would have been nice to stop at longer - eg Adare other than the Woollen shop & the very ordinary Irish coffee experience. Overall covered a lot of ground & happy with what I saw. We had a great group - 26 people & this made ...read more it a great travel experience. Tour guide was very good & the driver was wonderful.
Guide was a font of historical knowledge 1 , Australia, Jul 2014
We joined the tour in London. We made our own way to the start point. Our tour guide and coach driver were excellent. Our guide was a font of historical knowledge when it came to the very significant history of the places we visited. She interspersed her commentary with current topical issues relating to the countries visited. The coming vote on Scotland's ...read more separation from the UK was talked about in a non biased but satisfactory manner. Our guide proved adept at encouraging camaraderie amongst our group which comprised Australians, Canadians, Americans and a couple from Bolivia (with good English) and my partner, a Londoner, from Australia. Coach driver was excellent. We marvelled at his skill in negotiating narrow cobbled streets and small country lanes, especially when we met another coach with no room to pass one another! Optional excursions were offered. We joined 3 of these. The Irish pub sing-along is not to be missed, nor is the Cardiff Castle banquet which provided a wonderful last evening to our tour. The entertainment provided by the serving staff who doubled as entertainers proved yet again how talented the Welsh are. Hotels were of good standard. Breakfast choices ranged from good to excellent. On the occasions dinners were included these ranged from good to excellent; on two occasions the decor and setting added much value to the eating experience at dinner with a chance to learn more about our fellow tourists in a non hurried manner. Some of the sites visited were very crowded which could make it difficult to fully appreciate them, but the experience of 'just being there' compensated. We recommend the tour.
Loved every part can't wait to go back 0 , Australia, Sep 2013
Loved every part can't wait to go back to Scotland and Ireland.
Wonderful tour guide 0 , Australia, Aug 2013
We had a wonderful tour guide Mary. So much knowledge. After doing 2 tours, a week apart, the tour guide certainly makes the holiday!
Covered all the prime sights 0 , Australia, Jun 2013
Very well organised. Covered lots of places, certainly all the prime sights. Hotels were mostly good.
Would definitely do a group tour again 0 , Australia, Mar 2013
What a fantastic first experience of group touring, now fully converted. We were hesitant at first to being committed to a group and being locked in 24/7 for 11 days. This soon changed and we got to see more in 11 days than we could have possibly down doing self drive. The group was a mixed background, from USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa. We mixed ...read more well, have to say our tour guide Dominic and driver Mark were exceptional, very knowledgeable, organised and FUN! we covered so much ground, but never really felt like we skimmed the surface, felt we came away having visited many citys, towns and seen so much country side but able to take it all in land not too rushed. the group nights where we had the option to join in or do our own thing (we did a mix of both) were great, food good and events entertaining. We would definitely do a tour again, it also meant John didn't miss anything as the driver, no wrong turns, no missing exits off freeways etc, he relaxed and enjoyed it all too. From our first enquiry to afterwards was all good, we had a great time!
Tour was what I had expected and met all my expectations 0 , Australia, Oct 2012
The tour was what I had expected and met all my expectations. Tour guide director was very informative and with plenty of knowledge to share with the tour group. His name was Ian Walker and he made the tour very memorable as he was patient with the group and always approachable.
Will definitely look into future trips 0 , Australia, Jun 2012
Great trip. Lovely staff, very helpful and didn't mind that I wanted to change a few things to suit myself. Will definitely look into future trips. Thanks.
An exceptional value for money 0 , Australia, May 2012
An exceptional value for money tour where all things had been considered and covered by Cosmos. Great itinerary and well planned tour set at a good pace, allowing time to explore by yourself or with new found friends. Our Tour Director was extremely well versed in the history of sites and places driven through during the tour. Hotels and meals were ...read more all of good quality. The coach was comfortable and the driver made you feel totally safe whilst on the road. Yvonne was our Tour Consultant and it was a pleasure to deal with her on the phone and via email. Yvonne delivered as promised all information on time and in detail. No question was too hard for her and made my first overseas tour a wonderful experience. I will certainly use Global Journeys again to arrange my next tour.
Tour guide and coach driver the best I've come across 1 , Australia, Jan 2012
The routes taken by our crew were off the general 'touristy' roads, giving us more idea of the local countryside and better scenery opportunities. Some accommodation was not climate controlled, and if allocated the ground floor, there was no security if windows were opened. Dublin hotel was on the main street and was affected by large trucks going past ...read more all night to park up at the ferry docks. Tour guide and coach driver would have to be the best I have ever come across, very patient, knowledge was amazing, and a pleasure to be in their company.
We had the most amazing time away 1 , Australia, Jan 2012
Having not done a Cosmos tour before I was unsure what to expect & with my mother never been overseas & approaching 60 I had some concerns about how she would travel on a tour, but right from the beginning, inquiring & booking with Frances my mind was set at ease, she handled everything for me & answered all my queries promptly & efficiently. She was ...read more always lovely, very polite & most helpful. Our tour guide Doug was extremely knowledgeable & I feel I gained more from the experience having listened to him. The coach driver Adrian was always a gentleman & a wonderful drive, we always felt safe & the coach was always immaculate!! The hotel staff & Cosmos consultants were all most helpful! The tour was very high paced & we would have liked a little longer in each place but that was the nature of the tour we chose & we really did get so see a lot in the time we had so we got the most out of it. Mum is already planning her next trip she enjoyed it so much!! And I cannot wait to be embarking on further travel of my own soon also. Thanks so much again for your amazing service & professionalism :)
Cannot speak highly enough of the service provided 0 , Australia, Aug 2011
We had a great time in the UK and Ireland, the weather was kind to us. It would rain while we were on the coach but when we had a scheduled stop the Cosmos Angels shone upon us and the sun would come out! They must have a divine connection up stairs! Our tour director (Marvin) was a mine of information and local knowledge and made everything run smoothly. ...read more Ted (our driver) was excellent and navigated his way through some narrow lanes with great expertise. We had a great bunch of fellow travelers ranging from the USA, New Zealand, Canada and fellow Australians. We cannot speak highly enough of the service provided by the Cosmos group and also the pre-trip organisation done by Global Journeys unlike some agents for our fellow travelers, some of whom had hotel problems post tour. We would highly recommend Global Journeys to any travellers wanting to book tours such as ours.
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