The Best of Southern India 4
Charles & Rosalind, New Zealand, Jan 2018
By far the best time of year (straight after Christmas before it got too hot.) Better than expected accommodation- world class hotels. Lovely food. A great mix of activities. Every day well planned with the odd rest when sight-seeing got too intense. A guide who couldn't do enough to please , was a local and very knowledgeable about the history and read more culture.
The history explained from the Indian point of view was a nice change. A nice contrast between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Highlights- The spice garden up in the hills at Thekkady, the tea, coffee, rubber and spice plantations on the way down into Kerala and the backwater cruise near Cochin with our own chef, waiter and driver. We also witnessed the last day of the Pongol ( Hindu) festival at a temple, which was amazing but unplanned.
The views of poverty, and piles of rubbish out the bus window were at times confronting so this tour is not for the faint hearted but I am glad we went. The new International airport at Cochin was a surprise. Super modern in design and all run on solar power. The only suggestion I can think of is that it is wise to have some transport pre-arranged to the hotel from the Chennai airport rather than rely on the pre-pay taxi stand and make sure you have small bank notes.
Wonderful trip through Central and Eastern Europe
9
Central Europe
Jennifer, NSW, Australia, Dec 2017
Very hard to fault, as the whole tour was so much better than we could have hoped for. The tour director, Davor provided all members of our group with endless information and commentary on all of the wonderful sights of Central Europe, as well as informative history on each of the towns and cities, palaces, churches, etc. Also very thankful for the read more amount of free time provided with each excursion, which we weren't expecting. Very hard to list all of our highlights as there were so many to choose from, although would have to say the stop at the ski resort in Slovakia was unforgettable as it was the first time we had seen snow. The accommodation provided was also very good in each city we stayed in.
The only disappointment for us was the trip to Auschwitz in Poland, as this was one of the main reasons we chose this particular tour. We arrived in the morning, and were split into 2 groups, each with a tour guide. Our group was then rapidly taken through the camp, trying to push through each exhibit and building, only given a very brief description of its historical significance, and then not having time to look at and fully absorb the experience of actually being in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. There was quite a few areas that we didn't even see, due to the fact that we had to stick to a strict time schedule as there was another excursion to the salt mines in the afternoon.
Overall, we really enjoyed the experience, and would not hesitate to use Cosmos and Global Journeys again for future holidays.
Many of the excursions were very good and the tour guide was excellent. The only complaint iwould be the repetitiveness of hotel breakfasts ... but this is not under the tour’s control as even the best hotels all provide similar breakfasts. Spain was our favourite.
Great value introduction to Central Europe
4
Christopher , VIC, Australia, Dec 2017
This well organised tour was a great value introduction to some of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe. And the tour covered miles quickly, so we saw see lots of the countries that we traveled through. That's great, but be prepared for the fast pace. There are few chances to wander and soak up the atmosphere.
I also loved the diverse nationalities read more of the group. We all mixed well, thanks to the friendly encouragement of the superb tour leader Mladan, and the excellent driver Massimo. We stayed in good three star hotels were all well organised and synced with the elements and schedule of the tour. So, thanks for this interesting travel experience.
Outstanding value for money and an excellent itinerary
3
Andrea, QLD, Australia, Dec 2017
This was an excellent tour and to be honest we couldn't fault any aspect of it. We were travelling with our teenage daughter so we were concerned that the room would be cramped but nothing could be further from the truth. The room accommodated 3 very effectively and the rooms overall were great considering how affordable the tour was.
Anna our tour read more guide was the best I've seen having been on multiple organised tours in recent years. She was super professional and made everything seem hassle free. In terms of the itinerary this tour is excellent and I would highly recommend all the optional extras except maybe the Sound of Music tour. The Abbey was shut due to a clean up from too much frolicking the evening prior. The river cruise in Budapest however is a must do. Overall a delight and we would consider taking this same tour again we had such a great time.
Winter Wonderland 4
Tina , NSW, Australia, Dec 2017
We did a Cosmos 9 day tour including the Christmas Markets. It was great value for money, very friendly experienced staff and a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend this tour!
My hubby tagged along this time and he loved all the history especially WWI & WW11. All we had to do was turn up on time and all was done...we sat back and enjoyed this lovely tour.
Great trip through Central Europe
4
Central Europe
Charlene, QLD, Australia, Dec 2017
It was a diverse group on this tour which made it enjoyable and interesting. Loved the places visited, highlight would have been arriving in Frankfurt to snow.
This tour was a very fast-paced glimpse of three countries that have shared histories. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and considerate of traveller needs. The coach was very new, clean and comfortable with lots of leg room. Wi fi was available on the bus in Spain and Portugal and in all the hotels. However, the signal was variable. The standard read more of hotels was good considering this is a 'budget' tour. All had buffet breakfasts with a variety of foods to choose from. The included dinners were generally satisfactory - the one at Fuengirola being exceptional. The tour covers a lot of ground and many days are spent travelling to destinations. Not a lot of free time to explore. Highlights included Seville, Granada, Fuengirola, Lisbon, Obidos and Marrakesch.
This was a great, but sometimes fast paced tour with Cosmos. We had travelled with Cosmos previously so knew what to expect. We added three days at the commencement of the program to give us time to recover from the long flight and also to see more of Madrid. We are very pleased we did. The hotel was out of the city but well positioned to access the read more bus directly to the Plaza Mayor. Even with our limited Spanish we were able to manage these trips into the city. The standout city for us was Seville - from the location of our hotel, nearby ancient pubs and access to the city centre and the Cathedral and wonderful cafes.
This was our first time travelling with the support of Global Journeys. The tour was well priced and as a return customer for Cosmos a discount made it even better! Many thanks to Jemma for her support and assistance in making decisions and the professional way our documents were prepared. We would definitely travel through Global Journeys again.
Great visit
8
Italy's Best
Darrin, NSW , Australia, Nov 2017
A great trip around a beautiful country. I travelled with my daughter late 2017 and we both feel that we enjoyed an insightful and enjoyable snapshot of this fascinating country.
This trip certainly provided the best of Italy wonderful historic cities, amazing.
8
Italy's Best
Meryl, QLD, Australia, Oct 2017
The cities visited were amazing and a comprehensive overview was provided. The weather was perfect and Italy delivered it's best. I love this country and Cosmos provided mostly good hotels but a couple didn't quite deliver. The time provided to explore was terrific and the guides provided good commentary.
Unforgettable trip of Central Europe
5
Central Europe
Karan & Manju, NSW, Australia, Oct 2017
Looking back I would say that this was a great trip. Best part was our tour director who was very well organised, caring, knowledgeable and very helpful. She added great value in picking up optionals and suggesting best places to visit in various towns.
By and large all cities and spots - from Berlin to Prague - were unique in their own ways. Berlin read more with Lindon trees, Warsaw with sap much of history, an emotional tour to Auschwitz, illuminated river Cruz in Budapest, beautiful Prague, Vienna and Munich. But the city of Kraków was the best part for me and my wife. We loved this city and would call it the highlight of our trip. Romantic road from Munich to Frankfurt was also great.
Accommodation, at most of the places was absolutely great but can be better at few places like in Warsaw and Munich. It was a well paced tour, an extra day in Vienna would have been better.
Overall the tour was very satisfactory.we covered a lot without worrying for anything. Group of 40 people from various parts of world was wonderful. Could not have asked for better. Will definitely do another tour with Global journeys.
Sicily Discovery
7
Sicily
Wanida, New Zealand, Oct 2017
The booking process with Leanne was excellent. She kept me well informed and sent me a reminder when the final payment was due. The travel documents were sent by couriers but they misplaced it. Leanne resent another set of documents and got it all sorted in no time. The second tour discount and the repeat customer discount was not automatically applied read more to the quote at first but when I mentioned this to Leanne, she was quick to correct it.
The tour guide was friendly and ran the tour group like a 'family'. He called himself papa and called us all babies. He told us stories along the way and help us when we needed. He performed well from the start to the end unlike some guides who only perform well at the end hoping to get big tips. The driver on the other hand was a bit rude and grumpy most of the time but changed a few days before the tour end. What I loved the most from the tour guide was he had a regular stop for the 'magic room' (toilet). What I loved the least was that he was a bit pushy on selling excursions.
The accommodations were mostly average with some places well below the average. The first and the last ones which happened to be the same hotel were really good, far away from the city (Rome) but close to the airport. Most showers were small and I am a small person. I rudely wonder how the large people could fit in some of the showers.
Time spent on the bus each day wasn't too bad with plenty of free time. A few excursions available with some of them at the reasonable price. I found they served way too much food on most excursion dinners. Lots of food went untouched... such a waste. They could have served less and reduce the price but I guess it's how the Italians eat.
I took the 19 October tour and the weather was a bit warm during the day and nice in the morning and at night. The Positano excursion was my favourite. It's a village enclave in the hills leading down the coast. There were shops everywhere and when you got down to the bottom on the beach and looked up you saw the stunning view of the whole village.
The tour included one night on the ferry crossing from Palermo to Naples. The room was a lot better than what I thought. It was a smooth sail. This tour unfortunately didn't include time in Rome except on the first and last days as free time. I highly recommend you to spend a few days or a week even either before or after the tour and explore Rome.
12 Day Journey Through Japan
19
Nola, Yvonne & Barbara, SA, Australia, Oct 2017
Our Tour Guide was fantastic, helpful, happy and a wealth of information. She often provided information on the Japanese way of life that we didn’t expect to hear but was very enlightening! All the hotels were great, especially the Kyoto hotel which was stunning.
We saw some autumn colour in the mountains but overall it was a few weeks early for read more the mass of colour. It seems the seasons are getting later but we were very lucky to have a sunny, clear day to sail on Lake Ashi and had a clear view of Mt Fuji with just a little snow on the top.
Highlights were the Japanese Alps, Shirakawa, the Adachi Museum of Art gardens, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Hakone. We loved everything about Japan and feel very lucky to have seen and done so much. We couldn’t fault the whole tour, the scenery, the food, the Shinkansen, the shrines, castles, gardens and temples. We especially loved the Japanese people, their culture of honesty, courtesy, cleanliness and respect. Inspiring. We will definitely recommend this tour to others.
All About Europe ..... ohhh yeah and more!!! 7
Paul & Ethel, QLD, Australia, Oct 2017
First and foremost we have to compliment Madeline from Global Journeys for organising everything. We have dealt with Global Journeys for many years and we continue to find that they offer an excellent service.
The tour which we took was 32 day tour 'All about Europe (with London Extension)' ..... what a breathtaking itinerary.
This tour really read more does visit some exquisite places. Our Tour Director, Patricia was very professional, helpful and a font of information. Our Driver, Alessandro was excellent - he can drive the bus through the narrowest of streets and maintain a smile. We had a group of 17 which led to a really nice group dynamic.
In such a long tour, one only really gets a brief appreciation a region / city however this introduction does spark the interest to return and to visit a favourite region / city in more detail again some day. We really enjoyed the whole experience. One piece of graffiti summed up what travelling is about: "Die with memories not dreams".
Time to start planning our next adventure! Cosmos do provide great tours!
Great Sights...Great People 3
Robin & Alison, New Zealand, Oct 2017
Having previously completed a Cosmos Tour this was all we expected, well organized good accommodation with a good driver and Tour Director.
Met some lovely people - all ages and nationalities, quite a few Australians - and shared experiences. For me this was a good time to travel in Scandinavia as the busy holiday season was over and I liked the cool climate. My first experience with a coach tour so although I am not sure if it is something I would do frequently it certainly was a way to travel as a solo woman.
We would book through Global Journeys again. The Cosmos tour was excellent value, with the tour guide brilliant as was the bus driver. All accommodation was of a generally high standard and there was no place we stayed at that we wouldn't be happy to stay at again. Tip: Don't pack too many clothes.
There were 30 people on our tour and on a whole read more we all got along, although at times a couple of people become annoying. The other's were a pleasure to meet, talk to and be with. We only went on 4 of the optional extra excursions and found two to be off an excellent stand and the other two of a poor standard.
We had 13 great days on The Old South with 10 days Florida Discovery extension touring the States on a comfortable coach where everything was taken care of for us. No worries; no hassles. Food and accommodations were great. We will definitely use Global Journeys again. Highly recommend.
Results
601-620 of 1999