Cosmos Tour Reviews
The 1,999 Cosmos Tour reviews listed below are from past clients of Global Journeys that have travelled with Cosmos. Each review has been individually verified by our team.
The 1,999 Cosmos Tour reviews listed below are from past clients of Global Journeys that have travelled with Cosmos. Each review has been individually verified by our team.
Pleasantly surprised about the quality of the hotels 3
Italy's Best
Manlio & Candice Pezzotta, Australia, Oct 2011
I have been to Italy many times before but this was a first for both my wife and I with regard to a fully organised and guided tour of Italy. We didn't really know what to expect as we had read some reviews of this tour and some of the comments were not that complimentary and seemed that some of the comments were in my view overly picky (eg, people read more were critical of the breakfasts each morning [continental] or that the hotels were not all that good etc).
For Candice and I we were not only pleasantly surprised about the quality of the hotels (cleanliness etc) but just how well run the whole tour was. We were informed at every hotel about the schedule for the day/night as well as the schedule for the following day. The tour guide we had (Armando) was exceptional. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. It helped that I also spoke Italian so was able to converse with him about other sites to see and areas to of interest. Our driver Pasquale Miranda was also an absolute hoot. He didn't realise that I was Italian at first but when he realised I was we got on like a house on fire. He was courteous, friendly and always made an effort to come and speak to me and my wife each day. We got on so well with both the driver and tour guide, that we have exchanged email and Facebook addresses.
The sites of Italy speak for themselves but what made our tour so memorable was the people we met and friends we made on the tour, and just how much the tour guide and driver were there to help us. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is considering a fully organised tour of Italy. I would say for anyone who has read negative comments about this tour and for anyone reading my comments I would say this to you, take the hotels, breakfasts etc for what it is. You are in Italy to see the sights and splendor and to experience Italy.
I would recommend this tour to my friends and family without question. Both Candice and I are working on our next trip to Italy and are aiming at doing the Cosmos tour of Sicily as this is something truly spectacular and wondrous to see (from my previous visit there). A big thanks must go to Yvonne who helped us out and was always there to answer questions for us.
For Candice and I we were not only pleasantly surprised about the quality of the hotels (cleanliness etc) but just how well run the whole tour was. We were informed at every hotel about the schedule for the day/night as well as the schedule for the following day. The tour guide we had (Armando) was exceptional. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. It helped that I also spoke Italian so was able to converse with him about other sites to see and areas to of interest. Our driver Pasquale Miranda was also an absolute hoot. He didn't realise that I was Italian at first but when he realised I was we got on like a house on fire. He was courteous, friendly and always made an effort to come and speak to me and my wife each day. We got on so well with both the driver and tour guide, that we have exchanged email and Facebook addresses.
The sites of Italy speak for themselves but what made our tour so memorable was the people we met and friends we made on the tour, and just how much the tour guide and driver were there to help us. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is considering a fully organised tour of Italy. I would say for anyone who has read negative comments about this tour and for anyone reading my comments I would say this to you, take the hotels, breakfasts etc for what it is. You are in Italy to see the sights and splendor and to experience Italy.
I would recommend this tour to my friends and family without question. Both Candice and I are working on our next trip to Italy and are aiming at doing the Cosmos tour of Sicily as this is something truly spectacular and wondrous to see (from my previous visit there). A big thanks must go to Yvonne who helped us out and was always there to answer questions for us.
Yvonne handled the arrangements very professionally and everything went like clockwork with no hitches at all. The extra two days I spent in Frankfurt before the tour began were well worth the effort and I was fully out of jetlag and able to commence the tour with body and mind in Germany. The tour was, as is usually the case, very rushed and there read more were places I could easily have spent more time, especially Munich and Vienna. A couple of the hotels left a lot to be desired from either being much too far out of town or not up to an acceptable standard. The tour guide (Arna) was every helpful with hints of places to purchase mementos and have a meal, often the local culinary delight. Mustafa, the bus driver, was excellent and these two helped to make the tour a delight. The coach was comfortable and roomy. Arna's history lessons of the places that were visited or driven through or passed by were very informative and assisted in gaining a view of the people and places that we travelled through and visited. I enjoyed the tour immensely and would recommend it to other people that showed an interest. My only proviso is that I believe that the tour is more suited to a couple or group than a single person travelling alone. I often was left out like a shag on a rock.
Both driver and guide made tour very easy to enjoy 1
Irish Discovery
Gordon & Meryl Shiels, Australia, Oct 2011
Had a great time and both tour quide and bus driver were wonderful. Tour guide was very informative, chatty, funny and willing to help in anyway possible and both driver and guide made tour very easy to enjoy. Would have liked a little more time at some attractions and perhaps a little more personal time for shopping etc and some of the hotels did not read more give you information their facilities (i.e. how showers worked, control of heating). Would like to travel again with Global/Cosmos tours as this tour was more than we had hoped for and the tour consultant was very helpful with all questions and extras required in conjuction with tour. Tour information and tickets and extras very complete and well presented when received in useful folder.
We just got married and were hoping to have a memorable honeymoon trip without blowing our budget and after comparing many websites we decided to try Global Journeys. Well, with the same tour and package they give us a much better price. The tour we took was with Cosmos - 13 days in Italy. Before our trip friends and family told us some 'not so nice' read more experiences with Italy and how tiring it would be joining a guided tour, so we got kind of worried. But Cosmos totally changed our perception and it was a magical trip for both of us and definitely worth every of our penny! We would say it was perfect throughout from the beginning to the end. The tour director was very friendly, funny, helpful, responsible and very attentive as well. The whole trip was very well organized down to nuts & bolts and most importantly the pace was really nice. There were no complaints at all. One thing we have to mention about the tour director is that he was swift - if you needed anything at all, straight away he'd arrange/settle it on the spot. In addition to that being local he new everything about Italy, and he had us all cruising through the trip without a bump. Definitely love it and made lots of friends through the trip. We are now planning for another tour to Europe again hopefully by next year.
We had a wonderful trip, as well as the main stops on the itinerary we saw so much more than we expected along the way. It was value for money, very well organised even with a full coach. A few of the accommodations in the smaller townships could have been better, would be nice to have a bit of an upgrade.
All the rooms were clean and comfortable 1
The Best of Europe with London
Brett & Kim Connor, Australia, Sep 2011
The tour was very busy but it was the only way we could see so much in a short space of time. The tour director was very knowledgeable and was able to provide some good advice. No complaints with the accommodation, all the rooms were clean and comfortable.
I can't express my pleasure with the entire trip enough 2
Spain, Portugal & Morocco
Judith Timbers, Australia, Sep 2011
This tour was my 3rd one with Cosmos. Number 1 , I had a couple of issues with. Number 2 was much better, but this tour of Spain, Portugal & Morocco was fantastic. I can't express my pleasure with the entire trip enough. The Tour Director was the best. Amazing person, as was the driver. Both of them involved themselves as family and gave us 1st class read more service. I was travelling alone, but no one would have guessed that as thanks to our amazing Director, we all worked together. It was an amazing trip and I can't say enough about it.
Although we have travelled extensively, this was our first coach tour and we approached it with entirely open minds. It was an easy way to get around and we sure did that - 3,000km in two weeks. The trip booklet we were issued with covered most organisational things so well that we were not having to ask. The hotels were exceptionally good, the coach read more very good and the driver amazing! But it was the tour guide who made the trip run so smoothly and successfully - he was very well organised, extremely knowledgeable, a great communicator, and calm and understanding at all times. The local guides were on the whole very good. We like the way Cosmos offers optional excursions, and also free time in most places with maps and information provided. The videos relating to some cities visited were good. I can think of only one thing that I would have liked - a large-scale map showing our daily routes. And maybe some books/info on the areas we were passing through to peruse as we drove along. All in all, thumbs up Cosmos for an economical and well-run trip.
A good mix of scheduled tours, free time and optional tours 1
Highlights of Germany
Vicki Outten & Carol Pagett, Australia, Sep 2011
Quick prompt service, documents received in ample time and in correct order. Friendly service from Global Journeys. Tour was enjoyable and a good mix of scheduled tours, free time and optional tours. The tour guide was great as was the driver, the bus was clean and new and always maintained by the driver. The guide was friendly and informative about read more all the places visited. She was a credit to Cosmos. Would recommend both without hesitation. (Ed: Review based on slightly different itinerary. Trip name and itinerary updated this season)
Experienced some amazing places 2
Clive & Vida Mackrow, Australia, Sep 2011
Just returned this week from our extended holiday. The tour was wonderful with good to excellent hotels and included meals. We had plenty of sunshine with next to no rain (Amsterdam the exception) and the group were supportive and good company. The tour director was knowledgeable and the driver very competent. As was to be expected it was hectic but read more we experienced some amazing places and it gave us a general overview of many countries. Minor inconvenience was lack of laundry facilities, but you get by. The other thing was not knowing ahead how much you needed to use the toilets, just need to ensure you carry plenty of coins! This was our 3rd Cosmos tour and I would certainly recommend them, just didn't like the amount they charged us to alter our travel dates, as this made the holiday quite expensive. However that aside it was good value for money and very well organised.
Tour guide and bus driver were both a sheer delight 1
Southern Charms & Florida
Eileen & Phillip Paish, Australia, Sep 2011
Very well organised. Planes on time and connections no problem. Hotels well appointed and located. Highly reccomended. Tour guide and bus driver were both a sheer delight. Lots of fun and time to sight see at own leiusure. Don't book anywhere else.
I had a good time travelling throughout Europe. Some of the side excursions that were on offer however I don't think were value for money. The night time Lido show in Paris was a total waste of money and for the extra money would have preferred to have seen the real Moulen Rouge performance. The Amsterdam visit to a fishing village and wind mill tour read more wasn't very good you were bused there and then just left to wonder the streets. No guide or information about the area was a bit disappointing. Some of the food stops were not really appropriate either, not sure if any of the consultants have been on the 19 day tour and actually eaten at these stops. Apart from that a good time was had by all.
Wished last evening meal had been included to say 'farewell' 1
Trans-American Adventure
Jenny McCracken, Australia, Sep 2011
Thought the tour was good. Some of the optional tours seemed to be a bit vague (the tour director didn't have the correct or enough information about some of the optional tours). I would have liked the last evening meal (an optional event) to be included in the cost, so that everyone attends. That would have given us the chance of all being together read more to say 'farewell'. Wouldn't it be great if 'gratuities' were included in the cost... tipping is not something Aussies want to be bothered with. A 'fun' name tag that could be worn for the first few days (optional) as it is difficult to learn everyone's name. Other than one hotel (Chicago) all the hotels were excellent! Thanks, Yvonne, you answered any questions I had promptly. (GJ: Prepaying tips is an option on all tours. If you'd prefer this, let us know and we'll include it in your quote.)
France is a beautiful and fascinating country to start with and being able to travel in comfort and with great companions is just a bonus. Our guide Simeon was the best guide we have ever had, (and we have had quite a few over the years ) with a knack of making history come alive. We were encouraged to use our very rusty school French to at least try read more to order our meals but usually the moment we opened our mouths the waiters reverted to English. It was wonderful to have the cuisines of each region explained beforehand and we enjoyed trying out many new things. I will never forget the early morning climb up Mont St. Michel, the Bayeux tapestry and the sad beauty of the Landing Beaches. What with the wine tasting and the visits to walled towns of stunning beauty, the area around Nice and Cannes and the majestic Alps we felt we had seen and experienced the real France. Of course there is always Paris in all its grandeur and life to finish the tour tired but exhilarated.
Will remain in our memory banks for many years 1
Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland
David & Patricia Garcia, Australia, Sep 2011
Another great Cosmos Tour, one which will remain in our memory banks for many years. The sights of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland were such a treat to see, the couple that we were really taken back by were the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula and The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland as the scenery was so fantastic. That is not to say that the read more UK was out of it , not by the least. We had a wonderful time as we toured through England Wales and Scotland, seeing castles and church's built 100's of years ago and looking for the monster known as Nessie at Loch Ness, not to forget a trip to the home of golf at St Andrews, what a thrill it was to walk upon that hallowed ground.
Our guide was absolutely fabulous 1
Jill Meiners, Australia, Sep 2011
Well organized tour of Spain. Our guide Enrique Longo was absolutely fabulous. Potted Spanish history with a New York twist! Hotels were good, some extras not up to standard. Overall good. (Ed. This trip has changed this season, so this review refers to a slightly different itinerary.)
After a minor hickup at Dover we were on our way. We had an exceptional Tour Director who was quite knowledgeable and gave us history & local knowledge of the area each day we had a great mix of people and got on well with everyone . It was a fast pace but I really think that we would not have been able to see all the wonderful places if we had not read more gone at that pace. I did an extra 8 optional tours and felt that this gave me just the mix to see & do what I wanted to. I have already recommended Cosmos to a few friends. Thank you to Global Journeys for all your help in making this a really wonderful tour.
Wonderful tour of a Wonderful country 1
Trans-American Adventure
Kathryn & Ivor Watson, Australia, Sep 2011
Wonderful tour of a Wonderful country. Tour director France Wray and driver Don Knight worked very hard to ensure no problems, Frances kept everyone well informed. Don drove over 4,000 miles, which is a long way to be responsible for soo many peoples safety, not to mention loading cases on and off! Accomodation ranged from excellent to very good, only read more motel which was uncomfortable, not even a chair in the room, was Red Roof Inn in Chicago, but it was in an excellent position, so I suppose cant have everything. Breakfasts every morning would have been nice, would not have added a great deal to overall cost. Air conditioning on bus was too cold, and air vents could do with some maintenance. Not enough time in Las Vegas. So much to see, another day or two wouldnt have made much difference. Most bitter dissapointment though was being taken to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon is one of the wonders of the world and cant understand why you would take tourists to the North Rim.
Enjoyed the 4 & 3 day stays 1
Peter & June Turner, Australia, Sep 2011
Global journeys staff carried out our bookings accurately and answered all queries politely and correctly, all documents were received and payments acknowledged as stated and on time. The Jewels of Italy tour was very well organised and lived up to our expectations, good standard of hotels were used relative to the cost of the tour. In general the optional read more excursions were good, sometimes the schedule was a little crowded to fit the optionals in. We enjoyed the arrangement of the tour, in particular the 4 & 3 day stays.
Our Tour Director Matthew Bell and Driver Andy were fantastic. Matthew was so knowledgeable and really polite and obliging. Andy was a wonderful driver and deliverer of luggage etc. The coach was always clean but the air conditioning was not working for the last part of the trip when the temperatures were really high and we were all sick with a flu read more bug working it's way around the coach, the lack of cool air was most distressing to all of the passengers and the crew.
