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
The tour guide made the trip very enjoyable 1
Grand Tour of France
Roger Attenbrow, Australia, Sep 2013
The tour guide was excellent she went above and beyond what was expected and made the trip very enjoyable. The accommodation was quite good especially after a couple of hotels on the Switzerland tour.
Tour was fast paced and that was a good thing 3
The Best of Europe
Gerald Camilleri, Australia, Sep 2013
The tour was fast paced and that was a good thing however sometimes 'Less is More'. If we cut out a couple of minor towns we could have had a look at one or two castles from the inside instead of from about a kilometer away. Hotels varied and so did tour guides. Occasionally we were treated like sheep and spoken about in the third person in front of read more us. One such guide took us through St Peters in Rome. What an express ride that was, no time to stop and look at the works of art leading into the Sistine Chapel. My biggest disappointment was in Florence where we were taken to a 'leather demonstration' that consisted of a person swiping some gilding tape across a piece of leather 3 times then the group taken into the sales area where we were kept for quite some time. When I got out I made my way straight back to the Basilica where Galileo and Micheal Angelo's tombs were but the church closed at 5.00pm so I didn't even get to poke my head in. We saw the Eiffel Tower from afar but did not even get to stand under this magnificent structure. It was good to have company and the tour operator was knowledgeable but all the way along there were obvious contrasts. Instead of Moulin Rouge we went to a poorer sister, dinners that promised lots but really only stopped shy of false advertising. An example being the desert at the restaurant excursion in Lucerne and many other things that made me feel like a burger pattie on a fast food processing line.
The tour was great. My wife gave it a 12 out of 10. Not bad! We would have liked to spend more time at some of the places but there is not a lot one can do in 16 days. It was very informative, excellent company and the tour director was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. she was ideal. The driver got us through it safely and that is a real plus.
Quite impressed with the standard and location of hotels 1
Grand Tour of Switzerland
Michael England, Australia, Sep 2013
We had heard mixed reviews of Cosmos tours as being 2nd rate, with hotel accommodation remotely (inconveniently) located. However, we were generally quite impressed with both the standard of accommodation and its location, which with one exception were located in the central or tourist districts of the towns we visited. The optional activities were read more excellent as well. Special mention of our tour guide, Flo, who was first class and very professional. She knew how to maintain our interest and was an absolute reservoir of knowledge.
Trip was amazing 1
Christopher & Marjorie Booth, Australia, Sep 2013
Trip was amazing, hotels and included food not quite as good as the trip. If you choose all optional extras you will have a fairly hectic pace but will cover much more.
Overall, a fantastic experience. Thank you! 4
From St. Paul's to St. Peter's
Marcello de Roberto, Australia, Sep 2013
I found the tour extremely satisfying and was better than expected. The organisation was good and the Cosmos tour information booklet was very helpful. The Tour Director was very enthusiastic, well informed and most helpful. She wasn't too strict during free time and departures and so maintained a relaxed atmosphere throughout. The bus driver was law read more abiding and remained calm no matter the situation. He drove safely by not speeding and tailgating and manoeuvred the vehicle very competently. I'm a truck driver myself and so evaluate these things carefully. I found the hotels in Italy were the best for breakfast and bedding. I note the Cosmos information book stated that hotel breakfasts in Italy might not be good. They were certainly better than the Mercure in Paris, which had limited seating for breakfast and lack of food. The tour was fast paced, which is exactly what I liked. We didn't spend too much time in one place and the dinners didn't drag on. The tour group was conservative, well mannered and behaved and I got along well with everyone. That made the trip more enjoyable. I was very surprised by this and a lot of us exchanged warm goodbyes at the end.
I imagined that the introductory dinner would have taken place on the first night instead of the cabaret show. The optional excursions were good and I participated in most of them. Some excursions were a bit pricey, such as the visit to the palace of Louis XIV and the Vatican Museum and the cable car ride up Mount Titlus. Also, for the price I thought the Gondola trip should have lasted a bit longer. Some tour members spoke about name tags and maps. They would probably not be used by all. Some maps needed a scale so I could figure out distances. Perhaps a map of Europe overall and the places that we were to visit highlighted to give us some perspective with what was around us. There are so many places to discover and that may encourage us to do more. I have already spoken about the tour to family and friends and have recommended undertaking a similar experience. I could not have done it cheaper on my own with comparable accommodation and hiring my own car. On the subject of costs I could have saved myself a few hundred dollars if I went with the singles sharing scheme rather than requesting my own room during the booking process. I was the only solo traveller in the group of 31. Also, the requirement to stay a night at the Kensington the night before departure was a bit of a surprise cost. There are others minor things that I could have mentioned but have forgotten much since trying to get back into my normal routine. Overall, a fantastic experience. Thank you!
I imagined that the introductory dinner would have taken place on the first night instead of the cabaret show. The optional excursions were good and I participated in most of them. Some excursions were a bit pricey, such as the visit to the palace of Louis XIV and the Vatican Museum and the cable car ride up Mount Titlus. Also, for the price I thought the Gondola trip should have lasted a bit longer. Some tour members spoke about name tags and maps. They would probably not be used by all. Some maps needed a scale so I could figure out distances. Perhaps a map of Europe overall and the places that we were to visit highlighted to give us some perspective with what was around us. There are so many places to discover and that may encourage us to do more. I have already spoken about the tour to family and friends and have recommended undertaking a similar experience. I could not have done it cheaper on my own with comparable accommodation and hiring my own car. On the subject of costs I could have saved myself a few hundred dollars if I went with the singles sharing scheme rather than requesting my own room during the booking process. I was the only solo traveller in the group of 31. Also, the requirement to stay a night at the Kensington the night before departure was a bit of a surprise cost. There are others minor things that I could have mentioned but have forgotten much since trying to get back into my normal routine. Overall, a fantastic experience. Thank you!
This tour is great as a taster for Canada and Pennsylvania 1
Eastern US & Canada Grand Vacation
Maureen King, Australia, Sep 2013
This is a well established tour for Cosmos and is clearly popular - the bus was virtually full with 50 people. I was a little disappointed with the pace at the beginning of the trip - after a full day in Boston we drove to Quebec in Canada in one hit (with three breaks) - a very long day indeed. We saw very little of the East Coast New Hampshire or read more Vermont apart from the highway. It was also somewhat disappointing that the Fall was late this year and the trees were not yet coloured. However, Canada was lovely and the way south through Niagara Falls and Pennsylvania lived up to expectation. The half day in Lancaster County meeting the Amish people was fascinating and made up for the fact that, when we got to Washington, it was closed! (Due to a Government shut down.) The Tour Director, Brett, was knowledgeable and good tempered, took everything in his stride and did his best to minimise the problems in Washington (he managed to get us within sight of most monuments, if not inside). Accommodation was generally good and once or twice brilliant! This tour is great as a taster for Canada and Pennsylvania, but if you are hoping to catch the Fall colours on the east coast, I would recommend you take a New England only trip.
Georgie was efficient and courteous as always. The tour was enjoyable despite a few days of pouring rain. Some of the hotels were not centrally located and were a little old and tired but this did not detract from the overall tour experience.
Thanks for the service and great memories 1
Seven Countries, Venice & Paris
Eddie Tong, Australia, Sep 2013
It was last minute decision to go on a Taste of Europe Tour, Global Journeys and Michelle were more than happy to help with last minute bookings and rush through our schedules. Tour itself was fantastic enjoyed beautiful weather while we were there, very lucky. Tour guide was great explained everything and was a delight to spend 8 days with, accommodation read more good although some parts could be better but overall ok. Would not hesitate to book with Global Journeys again. Thanks for the service and great memories from our trip. (Ed: Review based on slightly different itinerary. Trip name and itinerary updated this season)
Tour goes to all the right places 1
Trans-American Adventure
Trevor & Patricia McEntyre, Australia, Sep 2013
This tour goes to all the right places with two or three unknowns for good measure. Unfortunately for us, the US Govt had a shutdown while we were there so we couldnt get into the National parks included in our tour. This was very disappointing. However, our tour guide Russ and driver John worked out some new routes so that we could at least drive by read more and see some of the attractions. I thank them for this. There are a couple of places I would not bother with. eg ghost town outside Las Vegas. The owner of the place threatened our driver with a gun when he was asked to move so that our coach could get on it's way. The place was not worth seeing anyway so I would definitely scrap it!! All in all it was a great trip and I would recommend it!
Would definitely book with Global Journeys and Cosmos again 1
Trans-American Adventure
Anne Gibson, Australia, Sep 2013
The tour was awesome. Although when we were there the Government shut down, so we missed stopping at Mt Rushmore and the Grand Canyon, which was very disappointing. The tour director Russ, was very good at organising alternative routes and places to see. The bus driver John was great also, going very slow past Mt Rushmore for us to get some great pics. read more The accommodation was good, mostly clean and comfortable. I would definitely book with Global Journeys and travel with Cosmos again in the future.
The trip was excellent, the crew were great. Accommodation was well selected, but the hotel food was not always up to standard. Especially at Grand Canyon. I noted that I have had a better dining experience at a Pilbara mining camp - often. Harragh's at Las Vegas was a bit disappointing, but I guess the price was right.
We would certainly use Global Journeys again 5
New York City, Niagara Falls & Washington DC
Ron & Sharyl Batchelor, Australia, Sep 2013
On arrival at NYC, we had a bit of a wait for the Shuttle transfer to be organised (flight very full), but we were eventually delivered safely to our hotel. Check-in was quick and straightforward. The extra night we booked was essential to allow us some recovery time and opportunity to explore the surrounding area, incl Central Park. The Excelsior is read more reasonably good value for money by New York standards (this was our 2nd visit). We thought it was superior to the hotel we chose independently following the tour. Staff for the most part were excellent, attentive and caring. The half-day New York tour was very well-organised, with a very knowledgeable and personable local guide assisting. We knew we were covering a lot of ground in a short time, so the pace of the tour was no surprise, but it did take away from the relaxed nature of a holiday. On the plus side, we were exposed to plenty of great sights on the driving days and a good commentary + videos from our tour guide. Niagara Falls was spectacular, as ever, with Maid of the Mist as well as other optional tours, incl Skylon Tower, we took proving great highlights. Philadelphia was rushed, inevitably, but is certainly worth an extended time there. We were fortunate enough to have a return visit after the tour. Two days in Washington barely scratches the surface of what is on offer in that great city, but we made the most of the limited time, with the included sightseeing, visits to Arlington Cemetery and other monuments and museums, along with the dining and other options. The professionalism of both our tour guide, Kacy and driver, Domingo, was commendable and we were very pleased they were able to disembark us from the coach at Delaware Bridge on the return trip to New York (with the okay from Cosmos HQ), allowing us to be collected by a friend who lives in Pennsylvania. Considering the short duration of this tour, it is rushed, but we would recommend it to travellers with limited time or budgets who wish to see and experience as much of this part of NE America as possible, while suggesting it be combined with another regional tour as some of our fellow-pax did. Our thanks to Yvonne Brooks for organising and then reorganising our tour dates due to non-availability of our first choice. We would certainly use Global Journeys' excellent service again.
Loved every part can't wait to go back 1
The Best of Britain & Ireland
Garry Polley, Australia, Sep 2013
Loved every part can't wait to go back to Scotland and Ireland.
Very enjoyable tour made better by a fantastic Guide and Driver 1
Helen Ellis, Australia, Sep 2013
Very enjoyable tour made even better by a fantastic Guide and Driver. Hotel accommodation and included meals were very good and the optional tours were very enjoyable especially the Danube River Cruise and Dinner in Budapest. Very happy with this tour only spoiled at times by some cold and rainy weather. Frances and Michelle at Global Journeys were read more very helpful with all bookings and our Cosmos Tour ran smoothly so we have no complaints. Thank you.
Cruise was the only disappointment 1
Renuka Reddy, Australia, Sep 2013
The only thing that was quite disappointing was the cruise from Greece to Italy. Customer service onboard was very dissatisfying and also the cabins were quite dirty and not to standard.
This tour was by far the best I've been on 1
Rhythms of the Road
Margaret Batzloff, Australia, Sep 2013
Thank you Georgie for organizing our tour for us. We had a wonderful time. I would recommend this tour. Our Tour Director Peter Visceglia was wonderful. I have been on other tours with other companies but this tour was by far the best. Thank you Global Journeys.
The 12 night Cosmos tour through the Canadian Rockies was everything we expected and more. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and her organizational skills excellent. Additionally, she took the time to explain the benefits of all the optional excursions advising which are a 'must see' and which are best value for money. All of the optional excursions read more we participated in were amazing. The tour had a couple of easy days for sightseeing but the remainder was packed full of breathtaking scenery or optional excursions. Some long days were spent on the bus but regular stops, diversions to tourist hot spots and the final destinations made it well worth while. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
A little lengthy, but fantastic 1
Agnes Wong, Australia, Sep 2013
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip, a little lengthy, but fantastic. Tour was well organised, no one was late in the tours. Places were what we wanted to see, however, the one night stays were too short, as there would have been more to see in these places, Knowledge of the tour director, Jana, was a plus to places and history, as she knew her stuff. Driver, read more Piagio was very professional, knew where to go, alot of time saved goes to him. Always there to lend a hand. Cannot fault him. Lovely personality. Maybe, change of stop overs every so often in other places apart from 'Auto grill' as this became boring and the lunch was a little rushed as many other tours also stopped at the same time. Lunch time was (30-45 mins) for 45 tourists, the service was a little slow. I would use Cosmos again, as I am hoping to go to East Canada, and South America next year and following this.
Great that we spent a lot of the time off the highway 1
Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland
Kathleen Jones, Australia, Sep 2013
This was a great tour. The tour director John was so informative and David the bus driver was excellent. Some of the hotels were a bit disappointing (too far out or even too hot in one place) but overall good. It was great that we spent a lot of the time off the highway, so was able to enjoy the country lanes.
