Cosmos Tour Reviews
The 1984 Cosmos Tour reviews listed below are from past clients of Global Journeys that have traveled with Cosmos. Each review has been individually verified by our team.
4.4
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Scenery was to die for 1
Alpine Adventure, Bernina & Glacier Express
Patricia & Brian McCudden, Australia, Aug 2014
The tour was fantastic - scenery was to die for. Our guide Mihaela Lacko was the best guide we have ever had on any tour - she was just wonderful. The accommodation was always good - often great. Could do the same tour again. Very good value - congratulations Cosmos.
Very scenic trip, well organised & well paced 1
Alpine Adventure, Bernina & Glacier Express
Clare Cagney, Australia, Aug 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed my Alpine Tour with Globus & would be happy to recommend it to other travellers. In particular I would like to commend highly our tour guide & driver. Both did an excellent job & made the whole journey a sublime experience. As well it was a very scenic trip, well organised & well paced. I would be very happy to book another trip with Globus in the future.
I found the pace good - more avid travelers lamented the short stops which prevented them from really having a good look around. The tour director Tara was excellent, and went far beyond the call of her duties.
Overall, the tour was great. It is the first bus tour we have been on and was considerably better than we expected. The tour director, Tara, was a font of information, she was super efficient, friendly and approachable. The regular driver, Andy was also top class. The relief drivers were also very good - with one exception, a lady at Edinburgh (I read more think) - her driving was fine, but she didn't have a clue where she was or how to get to the next place. (I suppose there was one plus to that, we saw the same bits of the city several times from different directions). The trip is possibly a few days longer than many of us could 'cope with'. It would be difficult to fit in what we did in any less time, its just that the majority of us were in our senior years and I think 18 days is about our limit. We did have a free day in Dublin which should have 'revived' us but unfortunately Dot got sick so we didn't have much of our 'free day'. The one 'disappointing' day was the Cornwall Loop out of Plymouth. An awful lot of travelling with not much to see. St Ives. This is a bit of a time waster in that in the time available, some of us spent 15 - 30 minutes waiting for a bus to take us down and up the hill. Perhaps Cosmos could consider a brief stop at picturesque St Ives (at the upper bus park), for a 'photo opportunity' and then calling in at one of the 'lesser' port towns for lunch. As for Lands End - it is all very Ho-Hum a long way there and back (over almost the same roads) for very little. It would have been better to visit = a few of the smaller towns than have to go all that way to see a bit of ocean and the A21. It was great that we didn't have to lug our own main baggage back and forth. Some other tours did this and the people on them were not too happy doing it.
The hotels were generally good, (the plumbing was interesting, each night having to sort out how to have a shower) as were the meals (when provided) - one exception, the first night, Hinkley Island (Coventry) - dinner time was chaotic - they had several tour groups in at the same time, some from other countries were obviously not used to forming a line for service.
Optional excursions - those we went on were mostly cultural which were all good value - the 'Jaunty Ride' at Kilarney was pretty ordinary, even though the driver was humorous with his Irish blarney, we didn't see an awful lot other than roads. We did get to the castle, but its 'just another castle', it did not live up to the rap that Tara gave it.
Tour Coach - generally good although the over seat storage lockers were rather small. The front seats did not have enough leg room for some of us, as did the seats behind the middle door. The very back seats are uncomfortable and appear narrow as the bus wall reduces the usable width of the seat. The bus was clean and Andy made sure that all windows were cleaned regularly.
Other comments - It might be a good idea for Tour directors to have to walk the 'It's just a short walk' carrying 50kgs on their back - this might give some of the younger people a better idea of just how older people (some with minor walking issues) find walking these distances, often on steps, cobblestones etc. The vast majority of us were in our senior years and 'just a short walk' for us is no more than about 200m. Still on 'Seniors' - a few times, the time between 'comfort stops' was longer than was comfortable.
Gratuities - this is a perpetual problem for Australians travelling abroad. We are not comfortable at all about giving extra money to someone who has already been paid (we assume) for their service. It is not part of our culture at all. Even though there are guidelines we generally do not agree with the concept. In these times, we expect that people are given a fair wage in line with their responsibilities - perhaps Cosmos could adopt the policy used by many Australian based tour companies, (eg Scenic, APT, Princess Line) in which all gratuities are paid by the company and become part of the overall cost which the customer is quoted and pays. This way the customer knows the actual overall cost and also avoids possible embarrassing situations, & Cosmos gets kudos by advertising 'No gratuities - all inclusive'. (GJ. The ability to prepay gratuities is possible with Cosmos - most we have found prefer not to).
I think that's it. I thank Cosmos and Global Journeys for a very enjoyable and informative coach tour, albeit fairly exhausting.
The hotels were generally good, (the plumbing was interesting, each night having to sort out how to have a shower) as were the meals (when provided) - one exception, the first night, Hinkley Island (Coventry) - dinner time was chaotic - they had several tour groups in at the same time, some from other countries were obviously not used to forming a line for service.
Optional excursions - those we went on were mostly cultural which were all good value - the 'Jaunty Ride' at Kilarney was pretty ordinary, even though the driver was humorous with his Irish blarney, we didn't see an awful lot other than roads. We did get to the castle, but its 'just another castle', it did not live up to the rap that Tara gave it.
Tour Coach - generally good although the over seat storage lockers were rather small. The front seats did not have enough leg room for some of us, as did the seats behind the middle door. The very back seats are uncomfortable and appear narrow as the bus wall reduces the usable width of the seat. The bus was clean and Andy made sure that all windows were cleaned regularly.
Other comments - It might be a good idea for Tour directors to have to walk the 'It's just a short walk' carrying 50kgs on their back - this might give some of the younger people a better idea of just how older people (some with minor walking issues) find walking these distances, often on steps, cobblestones etc. The vast majority of us were in our senior years and 'just a short walk' for us is no more than about 200m. Still on 'Seniors' - a few times, the time between 'comfort stops' was longer than was comfortable.
Gratuities - this is a perpetual problem for Australians travelling abroad. We are not comfortable at all about giving extra money to someone who has already been paid (we assume) for their service. It is not part of our culture at all. Even though there are guidelines we generally do not agree with the concept. In these times, we expect that people are given a fair wage in line with their responsibilities - perhaps Cosmos could adopt the policy used by many Australian based tour companies, (eg Scenic, APT, Princess Line) in which all gratuities are paid by the company and become part of the overall cost which the customer is quoted and pays. This way the customer knows the actual overall cost and also avoids possible embarrassing situations, & Cosmos gets kudos by advertising 'No gratuities - all inclusive'. (GJ. The ability to prepay gratuities is possible with Cosmos - most we have found prefer not to).
I think that's it. I thank Cosmos and Global Journeys for a very enjoyable and informative coach tour, albeit fairly exhausting.
This is the first time we booked a tour through Global Journeys, we were deeply impressed by the service provided by their tour consultant, so helpful, efficient and professional, paying attention to every details in what we requested. We did really enjoyed our holiday. Would highly recommend Global Journeys to our friends.
We were very happy with the tour 3
Canadian Masterpiece with Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise
Wendy Law, Australia, Aug 2014
We were very happy with the tour, on the whole, the train trip was sensational, and on the coach both the Tour Director and driver went above and beyond to make our tour happy, fun filled and filled it with so much information about the places we went to. The side tours were very good, especially the trip to the Taku Glacier Lodge, it was exceptional read more and we will treasure the memories. The only disappointment was that, try as they might, there were no bears to be seen except on a tour, but my daughter was able to secure a spot on one which guaranteed seeing them and she did. Several of our fellow travellers wanted to get onto this tour as well, in Ketchikan, but there were no further places. I recommend booking before leaving Australia. We enjoyed all the accommodation and our cabins on the ship were very satisfactory. Our main baggage was taken care of all through the tour and was there waiting for us in our room (cabin) on arrival. The amount of tipping required was a bit of a shock to us, averaging 15% which people should be aware of before they go. Other than that we were completely happy and would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to travel to Canada/Alaska on a reasonable budget. We are very happy with Globus/Cosmos and would definitely use them again if we travel in the future.
Everything about the tour was a awesome 1
Canadian Masterpiece with Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise
Jenny & Rick , Australia, Aug 2014
We did a 19 day coach, rocky mountaineer and Alaska cruise tour called the Canadian Masterpiece. It was fantastic, we had a great experience, everything about the tour was a awesome. The tour director was John and he was very knowledgeable about Canada. The hotel accommodations were all in good locations. A big thank you to Michelle at Global Journeys read more for organising everything for us, even when we changed our minds she was great to deal with thanks Michelle! I would definitely book another tour with you.
Run professionally, good value and no complaints 2
New York City, Niagara Falls & Washington DC
Paul De Laeter, Australia, Aug 2014
Tour went smoothly - run professionally. Good value and no complaints. The trip to Niagara takes some time so you have to be prepared for two long days of coach travelling. Stops and commentary along the way plus a comfortable bus help the hours pass. In addition, the countryside is quite interesting. It was nice to pop into Canada for a couple of read more days too. We were blessed with perfect weather.
The tour was absolutely fantastic. We got to see so much. Our tour guide Todd Asperger, was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. He was very funny and always in a great mood. We were given extra maps of the cities we visited and he also gave us helpful hint as to where to eat, buy etc. Our coach driver, Matt Lewellen, was also great. He was a very read more skillful driver, and took good care of the bus by always keeping it very clean. He was also good fun and very courteous. It was all such a great experience, one we will never forget. I would definitely recommend this tour to everyone.
The trip was terrific 2
Fran Bagot, Australia, Aug 2014
The trip was terrific. The guide was the absolute best. She was so happy, well informed, likable, super organised, and caring, I could go on & on. This trip has restored my faith in coach touring. This was my fifth and I must say I was very apprehensive. The hotels were good, very well placed in the city for transport & local amenities. The coach was read more very comfortable and the driver excellent. I stayed in Munich for a few days at the end, I say a Cosmos coach parked I just wanted to jump aboard & start again. I will be looking forward to my next tour with you.
We have some excellent memories 2
The Best of Europe with London
Edmond Starkey, Australia, Aug 2014
We had a fabulous time. The tour guide was excellent. The group gelled very early in the tour and had a wonderful time. We have some excellent memories.
No hesitation in recommending this tour 2
The British Isles in Depth
Cyril Hill, Australia, Aug 2014
Your services for organising the booking and seeing it through to the actual tour ran as smoothly as clockwork. Information sought by us or provided by you as normal procedure was always readily forthcoming and easy to follow. Thank you for your efficiency. We certainly have enjoyed our tour of the British Isles from start to finish. The route chosen read more had many interesting places and when appropriate we enjoyed communicating with the locals. Andrew Hynd, our tour guide, was excellent and the bus drivers were capable and also helpful, always having our luggage smoothly organised. The coach was comfortable and, although it was never used, we were pleased to see that it had an emergency toilet on board. We thoroughly enjoyed Andrew's commentaries about the areas we were passing through but especially his stories about people who had lived in those places and historical anecdotes. He was always pleasant and his organisation was superb. Generally the accommodation was of a very high standard but we could not say that about the hotel in Strathpeffer. The provision of breakfasts was a shambles and cold showers on the second day were not appreciated. Our selected optional excursions were enjoyed and well executed. The Edinburgh Tattoo was a highlight but we felt that the others were also good value. We would have no hesitation in recommending the tour to our friends.
Tour overall was well organised and most enjoyable 2
Richard Danks, Australia, Aug 2014
Generally food was good (sometimes excellent) for a budget tour. Unfortunately, several hotels, possibly thinking patrons were not cultured enough to enjoy typically German fare, provided meals more suited to our home countries. Whilst I enjoyed this tour very much, next time, I will be paying extra for choice of food etc - Globus? I must mention surprise read more that the feedback form provided in the coach had its first question relating to the Tour Director - which then had to be handed to her - and not under cover! This would surely influence the feedback (GJ. That's why we ask for it and you can have a gripe without Cosmos brushing it under the rug!) Some negatives: At one hotel we were told that the hotel does not provide meals and that we had to catch a train into the main city to find a suitable restaurant. That is not acceptable. Some of us not wishing to go into the city at night spent 45 minutes walking around looking for a restaurant. We later discovered that the hotel did provide evening meals. The tour director had major problems in providing details of meeting places. It's not good enough to tell people to remember the name of some German Street. As a result one lady missed the coach, I got lost three times. On another occasion, after several hours on the coach we got off to go on a walking tour. I desperately need to relieve myself and asked the tour director for directions to a WC, and advised I'll be back very shortly. When I returned the coach had gone and so were tour patrons and director. I was left on my own in a very crowded city - totally lost. A map with the details of the meeting place plus some local landmarks would be helpful. Even better if in German. It's not good enough saying, 'You have my number, ring me if you get lost.' Several people did not have a mobile. Others didn't bring them in view of the huge cost of local calls. Otherwise, the tour was well organised and most enjoyable.
Holiday itself was excellent, well worth the money 1
Trans-American Adventure
Vivien Shirley, Australia, Aug 2014
We could not fault our Tour Director Doris Walker or our driver Mo. We thought a couple of the accommodations were lacking some things like a refrigerator or an iron. The Los Angeles hotel was a bit out of the way but still a nice hotel. The holiday itself was excellent, well worth the money, a bit tiring at times but we had a great time and a great read more crowd of fellow travellers which makes all the difference when travelling for 23 days.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Trans-American Cosmos / Archers Tour with its extensive coverage of states and visits to sites of historical importance and places of natural beauty and wonder. The pace, I found, to be fine for the type of tour it was and I personally like to be kept 'on the go'. Doris, our tour director was exceptional and had every aspect read more of the tour so carefully planned and timed. Doris's provision of entertaining activities or fun competitions went down very well as did also the extra material such as maps, state statistics and other information documents. The videos that were played during some of the long days on the coach also went down well. Mo, the driver, also deserves mention for his safe and comfortable driving, his loading and unloading of our ever increasing weight of luggage and for his accessibilty and friendliness even if just for a quick chat. The local guides were all very knowledgeable and passionate about their area and each presented themselves in a professional manner. The travel group was also a great group to be with and everyone seemed to get on very well and enjoy each other's company which I am now becoming accustomed to with Cosmos tours. Since returning I have shown photographs and spoken very highly about my experiences and so a few others are inspired to go on this particular tour.
Loved the circuit - perhaps too long in Vegas if you are not a punter or like to shop. I found heaps to do with the optional excursions but others struggled.
Covered a lot of ground & happy with what I saw 1
The Best of Britain & Ireland
Annette Clark, 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.
Tour and everything that went with it was excellent 2
The British Isles in Depth
Merilyn & Kevin Olsen, Australia, Aug 2014
The tour and everything that went with it was excellent as I have indicated in my scores below. We would like to say thank you very very much for your excellent service and helping us with organizing the tour.
A very good introduction to the UK and Ireland 1
The British Isles in Depth
Dermott O'Moore, Australia, Aug 2014
We had a most enjoyable time on our tour. The organization was superb and the tour guide and driver could not be faulted. We would recommend this tour to anyone wanting a very good introduction to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Thank you Global Journeys for an unforgettable holiday experience.
Dave, our coach driver, was wonderful - excellent driver and always ready with his helping hand as we got off the coach. Bob, our tour guide, was amazing. Every day he delighted us with his in-depth knowledge of the surrounding districts and his sense of humour was boundless. His anecdotes amused us continuously and both men held us captivated with read more their gorgeous Irish accents. I travelled as a single but was never aware of this as my fellow travellers were very friendly and inclusive. I really had a very good holiday in the UK and was pleasantly surprised at the high standard of the accommodation. There was only one hotel towards the end of the holiday which disappointed all of us - the food was atrocious.
