Trafalgar Reviews
The 1,795 Trafalgar reviews listed below are from past clients of Global Journeys that have travelled with Trafalgar. Each review has been individually verified by our team.
The 1,795 Trafalgar reviews listed below are from past clients of Global Journeys that have travelled with Trafalgar. Each review has been individually verified by our team.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour with Trafalgar Tours, very good knowledgeable guide who kept the whole coach of very diverse people engaged to the very end. Would highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to take in the varied sights of UK and Ireland without the fuss of lineups and tickets etc, as well as the variety of places you read more visit that you may not have necessarily stopped at if you were travelling on your own. The hotels and meals included were of a high standard as well as the extra excursions you could take which were also very worthwhile considering.
We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of the 14 days Country Roads of Croatia. Definitely happy that we did not go in the peak summer season, as the crowds were still packed. Out Tour Director Irina was amazing and very attentive to all of our needs. Even though we have travelled quite a bit, we were still amazed to see and hear about the lakes read more and waterfalls and the beautiful caves in Slovenia, that we were previously unaware of. Thank you for organising our booking.
Country Roads of Southern Italy 10
Country Roads of Southern Italy & Sicily
Chris, VIC, Australia, Oct 2018
The itinerary of this tour gave a comprehensive coverage of Southern Italy and Sicily that could be achieved comfortably in 14 days. In Rome we particularly enjoyed visiting the Pantheon and then the Sistine Chapel with a taste of other areas of the Vatican Museum. Then south to Puglia via other well-known towns and sites to the area around Alberobello read more with their unique, conicle-roofed houses. The agricultural emphasis in Puglia was an interesting variation to many other areas of Italy. And the history of previous civilisations was showcased throughout our tour and was different as we journeyed along.
From Puglia it was on to Sicily with its evidence of the early habitation by the Moors and Greeks. We appreciated the sightseeing at Taormina, Syracusa and Agrigento as examples. As Sicily had experienced heavy rain, our tour director, Margaret, changed the itinerary enabling us to safely see all our planned sights. Personally, we would have liked to reach the top of Mt Etna; but maybe another day. Margaret also ensured we all enjoyed our tour. The coach was very comfortable and always spotless. Our driver, Massimo with his excellent driving skills, made us feel safe and was always there to provide assistance off the coach as required. Thankyou Margaret and Massimo! This tour was filled with great variety, excellent direction and comes highly recommended.
From Puglia it was on to Sicily with its evidence of the early habitation by the Moors and Greeks. We appreciated the sightseeing at Taormina, Syracusa and Agrigento as examples. As Sicily had experienced heavy rain, our tour director, Margaret, changed the itinerary enabling us to safely see all our planned sights. Personally, we would have liked to reach the top of Mt Etna; but maybe another day. Margaret also ensured we all enjoyed our tour. The coach was very comfortable and always spotless. Our driver, Massimo with his excellent driving skills, made us feel safe and was always there to provide assistance off the coach as required. Thankyou Margaret and Massimo! This tour was filled with great variety, excellent direction and comes highly recommended.
A very comprehensive look at the Scenic Parks 9
Scenic Parks Explorer
Roslyn & Alan, QLD, Australia, Oct 2018
The travel guide Kristen was extremely organised and the driver Ronald managed his duties with great dedication and accuracy (regardless of what was thrown at him). The weather was not what was expected and temperatures dropped so we had the added experience of snow falling on Mt Rushmore and the Grand Canyon; even Yellowstone was icy and the walk around read more the geysers was a challenge. Accommodation was excellent and always ready. Overall, a great experience.
This tour was the best. If you love exploring old castles or ruins then this is the tour for you. I was totally enthralled every step of the way, from the amazing scenery to the beautiful motels we were privileged to stay in. The coach driver was an ideal driver and the tour director was never lost for words. I would definitely recommend this tour. read more Ireland was what I expected and much more. Hannah Campbell from Global Journeys was amazing in how she booked and prepared everything. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Thank you Hannah. I would definitely recommend Global Journeys for all your holiday needs.
First timer to the UK - this seemed to be the perfect length & covered a good part of what I wanted to see. Accommodation was pretty good & centrally located but given that a lot was packed into the day - all you wanted to do was rest when you got back by 8/9 pm (unless you opted out of dinners). Buffet breakfast all included & not much variation in read more offering. Other included & optional meals were good generally.
Not enough time spent in must see places like Stonehenge, Bath, Polperro (Cornwall), The Lakes District & York but excessive time in pretty boring places like Gretna Green, Fort William & Culloden (looks like a grazing meadow with coloured flags). This disappointment was echoed by many in our tour group & this could have been varied as it was at the discretion of the Tour Director. There was an optional boat cruise on Loch Lomond but not Loch Ness (the coach halted & we were told to get out & take pics - hello!! It could have been any old Loch).
Overall be prepared to spend some time dozing out of tiredness & in the coach whizzing at good speed to make it to next place on itinerary. The highlights that were delightful was the Be My Guest lunch with Dyer family on their centuries old farm, optional dinner at an ancient pub on 1st night with visit to nearby more ancient St Andrews Church, Kenn and the 2 night stay at the rustic & basic but very picturesque Hotel Laggan in Cairngorm National Park, Scotland with stunning views & highland style interior and reasonably priced drinks bar.
The tour group really chilled out here and mingled. Mostly Americans, Canadians with a sprinkling of Aussies - we got on well. Jemma Rosen from Global Journeys was awesome with her prompt responses & I would be happy to book other tours - definitely ones that are not so rushed.
Not enough time spent in must see places like Stonehenge, Bath, Polperro (Cornwall), The Lakes District & York but excessive time in pretty boring places like Gretna Green, Fort William & Culloden (looks like a grazing meadow with coloured flags). This disappointment was echoed by many in our tour group & this could have been varied as it was at the discretion of the Tour Director. There was an optional boat cruise on Loch Lomond but not Loch Ness (the coach halted & we were told to get out & take pics - hello!! It could have been any old Loch).
Overall be prepared to spend some time dozing out of tiredness & in the coach whizzing at good speed to make it to next place on itinerary. The highlights that were delightful was the Be My Guest lunch with Dyer family on their centuries old farm, optional dinner at an ancient pub on 1st night with visit to nearby more ancient St Andrews Church, Kenn and the 2 night stay at the rustic & basic but very picturesque Hotel Laggan in Cairngorm National Park, Scotland with stunning views & highland style interior and reasonably priced drinks bar.
The tour group really chilled out here and mingled. Mostly Americans, Canadians with a sprinkling of Aussies - we got on well. Jemma Rosen from Global Journeys was awesome with her prompt responses & I would be happy to book other tours - definitely ones that are not so rushed.
Southern Italy and Sicily 5
Country Roads of Southern Italy & Sicily
Teresa, SA, Australia, Sep 2018
Enjoyed the tour and saw some amazing places and met some great people. Had a few hiccups due to weather and a landslide on the Amalfi Coast and earth tremor in Sicily. Tour director was OK but not as good as ones I have had on other trips.
Highlights of less-travelled Benelux countries 7
Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg
Janet, QLD, Australia, Sep 2018
A good value Trafalgar trip showcasing the cities of Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Bruges (who could not love this charming medieval city?) and Brussels. There were shorter stops in other interesting, lesser-known and less-busy places: Rotterdam, Maastricht, Orval Abbey (delightful, many left with beer samples), Trier (optional tour and dinner excellent value), read more Dinant (splendid views along the Meuse River from the cable-car ride to the citadel above), Ghent (busy) and Antwerp (optional, much less so). Waterloo was also a worthwhile optional extension.
I found the optional excursions overall good value except for the Muiderslot castle which was expensive given the very limited time we had there. The hotels were very comfortable and the included meals very good. A criticism I had was that the Kinderdijk trip was an optional excursion, it really should have been part of the tour as if you decide not to do it, there is literally nothing to do nearby for 2 hours. Perhaps the Euromast in Rotterdam (with amazing views of this extensive port city) could be the optional excursion instead - I noticed many did not want to take the ride right to the top, but admission was paid anyway.
The tour in Amsterdam included the Rijksmuseum (wonderful) and a canal cruise with dinner. One optional excursion did not go ahead due to lack of numbers. Not a problem as there is so much to enjoy, but some travellers on the tour were not aware that two main attractions in Amsterdam require pre-booking and so they were disappointed they did not get to see them in their free time: The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's House. Travellers need to know that it is necessary to book online at least a few days out to ensure a visit to these very popular museums which are not included on the tour.
I found the optional excursions overall good value except for the Muiderslot castle which was expensive given the very limited time we had there. The hotels were very comfortable and the included meals very good. A criticism I had was that the Kinderdijk trip was an optional excursion, it really should have been part of the tour as if you decide not to do it, there is literally nothing to do nearby for 2 hours. Perhaps the Euromast in Rotterdam (with amazing views of this extensive port city) could be the optional excursion instead - I noticed many did not want to take the ride right to the top, but admission was paid anyway.
The tour in Amsterdam included the Rijksmuseum (wonderful) and a canal cruise with dinner. One optional excursion did not go ahead due to lack of numbers. Not a problem as there is so much to enjoy, but some travellers on the tour were not aware that two main attractions in Amsterdam require pre-booking and so they were disappointed they did not get to see them in their free time: The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's House. Travellers need to know that it is necessary to book online at least a few days out to ensure a visit to these very popular museums which are not included on the tour.
A great itinerary, although we didn’t get to experience the incredible Alhambra 5
Highlights of Spain and Portugal
Jill, VIC, Australia, Sep 2018
First of all – excellent organisation of the booking by Global Journeys – 5 stars. I have booked with Global Journeys on a number of occasions and have had positive experiences every time. Great service. Will definitely continue to use them in the future.
Unfortunately, although the Highlights of Spain and Portugal itinerary was excellent, I feel read more that I can only give the tour a score of 3 (maybe 3.5) stars, due to the fact that our group did not get to experience a visit to the Alhambra, which meant that we missed one of the major highlights of the published tour. On the first day of the tour, we were advised that Trafalgar had not been able to secure tickets to the Alhambra. Perhaps this was due to the fact that Trafalgar had chosen to run two parallel groups starting on the same date and following the same itinerary? Our group had 48 people and the other coach probably had about the same number. This was extremely disappointing, as I had booked this tour 11 months prior to the departure date and was looking forward to seeing the palaces, gardens, fountains, courtyards etc of the Alhambra.
Apart from that, the tour was interesting and enjoyable. The Travel Director, Tiago, was friendly and efficient and our coach driver, Amaro, was excellent. There were lots of varied ‘cultural’ experiences, informative visits to historical sites, plenty of ‘foodie’ experiences (loved the authentic pasteis de nata - creamy Portuguese custard tarts), and great scenery, particularly in the Algarve region of Portugal. The Regional Meal in Granada was highly enjoyable, and the Be My Guest lunch at the traditional Lusitano Stud Ranch was delicious. The information about the Lusitano horses was very interesting. The majority of hotels were of a very good standard. The Local Specialists who took the included tours were extremely knowledgeable. Due to the large size of the group (48), it would have been better to halve the group and have two guides for each of these tours.
A good variety of ‘optional experiences’ was available and they were an enjoyable way to extend the variety of experiences available on the tour. I participated in all of the ‘options’ and particularly enjoyed visiting the Alcazar of Seville, the coastal region of the Algarve, Sintra and the world heritage site of Segovia. The ‘options’ that included meals were expensive, while the others were reasonably priced. This is a very comprehensive tour and the pace was quite busy, which was to be expected, given the nature of the itinerary. I would recommend this tour and hope that in the future, other travellers do not have to experience the disappointment of not being able to visit the Alhambra.
Unfortunately, although the Highlights of Spain and Portugal itinerary was excellent, I feel read more that I can only give the tour a score of 3 (maybe 3.5) stars, due to the fact that our group did not get to experience a visit to the Alhambra, which meant that we missed one of the major highlights of the published tour. On the first day of the tour, we were advised that Trafalgar had not been able to secure tickets to the Alhambra. Perhaps this was due to the fact that Trafalgar had chosen to run two parallel groups starting on the same date and following the same itinerary? Our group had 48 people and the other coach probably had about the same number. This was extremely disappointing, as I had booked this tour 11 months prior to the departure date and was looking forward to seeing the palaces, gardens, fountains, courtyards etc of the Alhambra.
Apart from that, the tour was interesting and enjoyable. The Travel Director, Tiago, was friendly and efficient and our coach driver, Amaro, was excellent. There were lots of varied ‘cultural’ experiences, informative visits to historical sites, plenty of ‘foodie’ experiences (loved the authentic pasteis de nata - creamy Portuguese custard tarts), and great scenery, particularly in the Algarve region of Portugal. The Regional Meal in Granada was highly enjoyable, and the Be My Guest lunch at the traditional Lusitano Stud Ranch was delicious. The information about the Lusitano horses was very interesting. The majority of hotels were of a very good standard. The Local Specialists who took the included tours were extremely knowledgeable. Due to the large size of the group (48), it would have been better to halve the group and have two guides for each of these tours.
A good variety of ‘optional experiences’ was available and they were an enjoyable way to extend the variety of experiences available on the tour. I participated in all of the ‘options’ and particularly enjoyed visiting the Alcazar of Seville, the coastal region of the Algarve, Sintra and the world heritage site of Segovia. The ‘options’ that included meals were expensive, while the others were reasonably priced. This is a very comprehensive tour and the pace was quite busy, which was to be expected, given the nature of the itinerary. I would recommend this tour and hope that in the future, other travellers do not have to experience the disappointment of not being able to visit the Alhambra.
Very happy with both the tour and the booking experience with Global Journeys. Highly recommended and definitely will use them again.
As a solo traveller I am Just back from 16 day Eastern Canada and USA tour with tour director Todd and driver Joe. I highly recommend this tour and we even had one lady who was doing it for the second time! Nothing was too much trouble for Todd and Joe who were both extremely professional. We had the added bonus of driver Joe's hometown knowledge read more of Boston.
Todd was a walking encyclopedia throughout the entire trip. I'm sure we were very lucky to have a really friendly group of people and I must commend Todd for very efficiently dealing with a medical emergency with one of our ladies whilst in Washington.
A useful point to note was the use of a free laundry at our hotel in Bar Harbour. The main purpose of the trip for me was to see the autumn colours but I think a later trip may have had a better show. There was plenty of colour but I did expect more (can't predict the weather) and a couple of our travel days were wet which didn't impact too much.
Although this was a quite long tour I would have liked more time in Quebec and with hindsight should have spent an extra couple of days in New York. I chose to return to Washington and spent 4 days trying to cover the Smithsonian Museums but barely scratched the surface. The tour did cover visits to most of the monuments.
Todd was a walking encyclopedia throughout the entire trip. I'm sure we were very lucky to have a really friendly group of people and I must commend Todd for very efficiently dealing with a medical emergency with one of our ladies whilst in Washington.
A useful point to note was the use of a free laundry at our hotel in Bar Harbour. The main purpose of the trip for me was to see the autumn colours but I think a later trip may have had a better show. There was plenty of colour but I did expect more (can't predict the weather) and a couple of our travel days were wet which didn't impact too much.
Although this was a quite long tour I would have liked more time in Quebec and with hindsight should have spent an extra couple of days in New York. I chose to return to Washington and spent 4 days trying to cover the Smithsonian Museums but barely scratched the surface. The tour did cover visits to most of the monuments.
We really enjoyed our Insight Country roads of France tour. Plenty of time to relax and plenty of free time to explore. Would recommend this tour in late September. The temperatures were ideal and very little rain. We do feel some of the Optional Excursions should have been included in the tour. We would highly recommend the optional dinner at a winery read more about 30 minutes from Dijon. Phillips and his family were very welcoming and the food was excellent. Making our booking with Georgie from Global Journeys was easy and efficient.
Fabulous overview of Greece 2
Best of Greece with 3-Day Aegean Cruise
Victoria , QLD, Australia, Sep 2018
September/October is possibly the best time to travel to Greece, as the weather is comparable to that in Australia for the time of year. The combination of coach tour followed by a 3-night cruise to some of the Greek islands makes this an excellent way to get a real taste of the history, arts, politics, colour and culture that Greece offers. Great, read more friendly, knowledgeable and often humorous tour guides throughout, and good quality accommodation in general.
I found that my room onboard the ship was a little depressing... a tiny windowless, noisy space way down on level 2, so I’d definitely change that if ever cruising again. Having said that, I decided that future ship travel is not for me, as the dining and clocking-on/off experiences were a little too regimented while on holiday, and onboard entertainment was more aimed at much older folk... and I’m only in my sixties!! Hotels were all top class, and the optional experiences were definitely well worth it. We had 46 people booked on the first stage of the tour so the coach was always filled, and I prefer a little more space to be able to stretch out when travelling alone.
The people I met on this tour were a delightful friendly mix of Canadian, US, NZ and Australians, and this mix made for very interesting conversation and many laughs. We encountered a little rough weather (a hurricane) during the cruise and on land while in Mykonos and Santorini, however it didn’t hold us back from exploring the picture-postcard islands. Trafalgar Tours certainly are very well organised and they ensure that bookings and transfers are sorted out swiftly and efficiently. Oh, and I discovered ouzo... that was a rather happy discovery!
I found that my room onboard the ship was a little depressing... a tiny windowless, noisy space way down on level 2, so I’d definitely change that if ever cruising again. Having said that, I decided that future ship travel is not for me, as the dining and clocking-on/off experiences were a little too regimented while on holiday, and onboard entertainment was more aimed at much older folk... and I’m only in my sixties!! Hotels were all top class, and the optional experiences were definitely well worth it. We had 46 people booked on the first stage of the tour so the coach was always filled, and I prefer a little more space to be able to stretch out when travelling alone.
The people I met on this tour were a delightful friendly mix of Canadian, US, NZ and Australians, and this mix made for very interesting conversation and many laughs. We encountered a little rough weather (a hurricane) during the cruise and on land while in Mykonos and Santorini, however it didn’t hold us back from exploring the picture-postcard islands. Trafalgar Tours certainly are very well organised and they ensure that bookings and transfers are sorted out swiftly and efficiently. Oh, and I discovered ouzo... that was a rather happy discovery!
September was far too hot in Italy this year. Most beautiful sights imaginable, the best places were Bellagio, Sirmione, Isle of Capri, Positano, Stresa, Milan Duomo, Venice staying at The Hilton. Best hotels were Splendido, Baveno, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice & Regina Elena Santa Margarita.
The experience starting with Global Journeys right through to the departure from the group back in London was outstanding. Our guide Philip Orna was one of our best experiences. His knowledge was first rate and he knew how to avoid the crowds particularly in Venice. The Insight coach and driver made for a comfortable trip, the extra room being appreciated read more by all. We rated the hotels out of 10 all above 7.5 with the hotel in Baveno to die for. 10 plus. The pace was a little faster than we thought it would be but once we got into a routine not a problem. When we handed over the bags at the start of the tour we virtually did not have to touch them again until it was over. Most cities have wonderful features, Venice itself was the feature and Insight knew how to give us the best time in what is a very crowded place.
This was our first coach trip and to be honest we were a little sceptical as to how good it would be. We are now converts and would not consider touring any other way. There are so many things that are taken care of that when you book you don't appreciate, everything from road tolls to parking fees and for that matter finding a place to park, to important information that allows you to maximise the value of your trip.
We would have no hesitation in recommending the whole experience we went through to everyone.
This was our first coach trip and to be honest we were a little sceptical as to how good it would be. We are now converts and would not consider touring any other way. There are so many things that are taken care of that when you book you don't appreciate, everything from road tolls to parking fees and for that matter finding a place to park, to important information that allows you to maximise the value of your trip.
We would have no hesitation in recommending the whole experience we went through to everyone.
I would recommend & book with Global Journeys again, Yvonne was quick to reply to any queries & to forward anything relevant to our booking as soon as feasible. I would recommend & travel with Insight Vacations again as they also provided excellent customer service. The tour was very busy but in saying that I did take all the optional activities, experiences read more & tours. I now have no regrets, knowing I made the most of my time, and possibly money, in doing all I could whilst being at each destination.
Our tour director was very experienced & informative. He ensured that all on this tour were included & catered for as best as was feasible. He made the most of our itinerary, timing each day for maximum use of time, trying to time our daily tours/activities to avoid peak crowd times, when possible. As we travelled each day he spoke of the history & gave interesting information about areas we were travelling through, as he did on any included tour. Our coach driver was very competent, kept the coach fresh & clean each day, adding to my enjoyment & relaxation whilst travelling.
There were many aspects to this tour that made it an "all around experience", the general sightseeing, cultural experiences, included & optional meals, entertainment, and enjoyable surprise inclusions. It is a busy tour, made more busy by the number of optional tours/activities l chose to take - but no regrets! Relaxed starts are not really feasible but our tour director did his best to include these where possible & to give us some "down time" when possible. I would recommend an ability to walk a few kilometres & climb steps with reasonable ease for anyone wishing to take/enjoy and make the most of this tour.
Our tour director was very experienced & informative. He ensured that all on this tour were included & catered for as best as was feasible. He made the most of our itinerary, timing each day for maximum use of time, trying to time our daily tours/activities to avoid peak crowd times, when possible. As we travelled each day he spoke of the history & gave interesting information about areas we were travelling through, as he did on any included tour. Our coach driver was very competent, kept the coach fresh & clean each day, adding to my enjoyment & relaxation whilst travelling.
There were many aspects to this tour that made it an "all around experience", the general sightseeing, cultural experiences, included & optional meals, entertainment, and enjoyable surprise inclusions. It is a busy tour, made more busy by the number of optional tours/activities l chose to take - but no regrets! Relaxed starts are not really feasible but our tour director did his best to include these where possible & to give us some "down time" when possible. I would recommend an ability to walk a few kilometres & climb steps with reasonable ease for anyone wishing to take/enjoy and make the most of this tour.
Very good trip, excellent tour director and coach driver and the route of the trip. We only feel the coach seat a little bit narrow for leg movement; the schedule of the trip was a little tight for aged people over 70.
Fantastic tour and you see so much in the 16 days 2
Mediterranean Journey
Marina, QLD, Australia, Sep 2018
The tour was fantastic you see so much in the 16 days, the group we had on the coach were great we all got on very well, the tour director was very good and he pushed us very hard. But as he said we paid a lot for the tour so we should see as much as we can, which we did. The coach driver was excellent he got us out of some very tight corners. The weather read more was perfect.
The only other thing I would say about the tour is, people in their late seventy's early eighties (depending on their fitness) should be aware of how much walking is involved how many hills to climb, and how many steps to climb, I must admit I found it very hard (being in my early eighties) I was exhausted, and had to have a day off to recuperate. There was only one hotel that was not suitable for people or the coach was in Tuscany, the rest were great.
I think some of the Optional Extras could have been included in the price.Those useless badges with the clip they had on them, nobody wore them, they should have had a pin or a magnet, then they could be worn.
The only other thing I would say about the tour is, people in their late seventy's early eighties (depending on their fitness) should be aware of how much walking is involved how many hills to climb, and how many steps to climb, I must admit I found it very hard (being in my early eighties) I was exhausted, and had to have a day off to recuperate. There was only one hotel that was not suitable for people or the coach was in Tuscany, the rest were great.
I think some of the Optional Extras could have been included in the price.Those useless badges with the clip they had on them, nobody wore them, they should have had a pin or a magnet, then they could be worn.
Lots of time on the coach. San Sebastian tapas bar hopping was the best. Briefly saw the outside of Gaudi's houses as the coach flashed by. Florence was extra crowded. Hotels were not as great as Insight has arranged in the past. Guide at the Vatican made fun of the Australian accent. It's hard to imitate even if you are an expert. In general local read more guides were "just doing their job" and showed no real enthusiasm or ability to impart interesting material.
The Italian Lakes region is stunning. My Trafalgar tour was everything I expected. The Hotel Deno at Lake Maggiorie was one of the best hotels I have stayed in. Our tour director Roberto was brilliant with his great sense of humour and knowledge of all the places we visited. He worked very hard to make sure all our needs were met. The coach driver Andrea read more was brilliant. Couldn't have asked for anything more.
