Trafalgar Reviews
The 999 Trafalgar reviews listed below are from past clients of Global Journeys that have traveled with Trafalgar. Each review has been individually verified by our team.
4.6
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
My wife and I had the most amazing experience/holiday. We could not have imagined how smooth and organized the tour operated. The tour Guide, Emile and the Coach driver, Massimo were excellent and both of them made the experience better with their humour, knowledge and personalities. We were very lucky also to have a great and diverse group of people read more on the coach and everyone got along with each other. We were treated like royalty and made to feel very special. Our Tour Guide constantly added extra experiences so as to make our holiday even more special. The only negative was that we were not properly informed of the costs involved in partaking of the Optional Excursions. Luckily we did all of them and found them worthwhile. I cannot find any fault with Global Journeys in the organisation of the holiday as they answered all my questions and arranged accommodation and transport to and from airport.
The whole trip was excellent 5
Highlights of Eastern Europe
Davies Australia, NSW, Australia, May 2015
The whole trip was excellent. We are 'cruisers' rather than 'coachers' but we would certainly recommend this tour very highly. The fact that we stayed in each town for 2 nights was a big bonus, rather than some tours where you are travelling on the bus every day. The countries we visited were beautiful and the local people very friendly and welcoming. read more We had very little problems with the language as most spoke English, or knew enough for us to understand. This is not a shopping tour, it is to see the beautiful sights of Eastern Europe. Our tour director and driver were first class professionals, we had a great group of fellow travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and Asia. The hotels were all first class and close to the town, the food was first rate. We arrived a day early in Vienna to get over our jet lag which I would suggest to do. The only negative would be the cost of the extra optional tours, which prevented us from joining in all of them.
Disappointingly Hilton Danube was cancelled and stayed in another hotel in Vienna. Novotel Centrum hotel in Budapest in very bad, derelict filthy smelly part of town with old men sleeping and urinating everywhere in street, disgusting part of town. Misleading information on brochure "Dine tonight at your hotel in the beautiful 'city of Salzburg'. read more This hotel was miles from the 'city of Salzburg' in the middle of nowhere with nothing to see and nowhere to walk. It had no air conditioning and it was a very hot day and night and many people requested fans and there was an outcry from all on the tour about this so-called 'hotel'. I, amongst many others, requested to be relocated to another hotel in the city but could only get a different room away from the road noise but had to suffer the extreme heat with no relief. The tour guide knowingly ordered that we complete the assessment forms the day before we arrived at this hotel and told us which boxes to fill in - nothing under very good - and many people asked for their forms back so they could be amended.
He was very authoritarian, rude, bossy and under no circumstances was to be interrupted while he kept continually telling us how wealthy he is, is a lawyer (but only practiced for five weeks and been a tour guide for 25 years!!!, calling himself Doctor Q). We heard a terrific bang underneath us on the coach and talking amongst ourselves who was going to tell him no-one had the courage to do so and put up with his wrath for him being interrupted , as one man said 'don't say anything as you know what he's like when he gets interrupted', he'll find out soon enough when the bus breaks down - which it did eventually and a mechanic had to be called - so Dr Q our tour guide had quite an interestingly tyrannical personality and I certainly wouldn't like to have him as a tour guide on any of my future tours. Overall it was a tour of very interesting places.
He was very authoritarian, rude, bossy and under no circumstances was to be interrupted while he kept continually telling us how wealthy he is, is a lawyer (but only practiced for five weeks and been a tour guide for 25 years!!!, calling himself Doctor Q). We heard a terrific bang underneath us on the coach and talking amongst ourselves who was going to tell him no-one had the courage to do so and put up with his wrath for him being interrupted , as one man said 'don't say anything as you know what he's like when he gets interrupted', he'll find out soon enough when the bus breaks down - which it did eventually and a mechanic had to be called - so Dr Q our tour guide had quite an interestingly tyrannical personality and I certainly wouldn't like to have him as a tour guide on any of my future tours. Overall it was a tour of very interesting places.
Not as leisurely as we expected 5
Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside
Graham & Caroline, SA, Australia, May 2015
The Italian Lakes tour was not as leisurely as we expected. Although we spent 5 nights at Lake Garda (which is a beautiful location), we did spend quite a lot of time on the bus travelling to each days attractions which quite often meant starting earlier and returning late in the day. It might have been better for the tour to have stayed 3 nights in read more Lake Garda and 2 nights in Verona which would have cut down the bus travel time and allowed more time at each days attractions. One of the main attractions for many on the tour was the Ferrari Museum but because of the distance from Lake Garda, we only had one hour there which was disappointing. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and did his best to accommodate everybody's wishes and concerns. There was an issue at Lake Garda where for some reason the tour accommodation had to be split across 2 hotels although both were within 50 metres of each other. The planned tour hotel was of a good standard but the other hotel was in my opinion below the standard which was expected on a Trafalgar tour and left some of the other passengers disgruntled.
My wife and I enjoyed the tour very much. The tour guide was exceptional displaying great knowledge and time management skills. The itinerary was as described, accommodation great, overall a trip I would highly recommend.
This was a fast-paced tour that packed a lot into a short time over a considerable distance. Consequently, crucial timing was often hampered by traffic restraints resulting in less time at our destinations. On our visit to Buckfast Abbey, motorway gridlock prompted our driver/director to take a previously untried route along B roads through beautiful read more countryside and villages - a serendipitous detour, but then just half an hour or so at the Abbey. St Ives and Polperro were a joy to visit in glorious sun that brought crowds of half term holidaymakers to their beaches. Beware the aggressive seagulls, though, that were ever ready to swoop on unguarded food. We were warned! Plenty of time in Bath was a bonus for my Jane Austen loving daughter who indulged her Sense and Sensibilities in the dedicated museum. There is never enough time to absorb all this beautiful small city has on offer, but a very formal wedding in the cathedral and some strangely dressed male dancers performing something between a Morris dance and a cheer leaders' routine were welcome extras.
The stunning and contrasting scenery of the South West makes this a must-do tour for anyone wanting an informative and in-depth overview of the area. I can highly recommend it. Not wanting to be 'picky' about this and understanding that tour directors have the ongoing issue of getting everyone back on the coach on time, I didn't feel it necessary for our director to have us all chant the return time, parrot fashion, after her before disembarking. We were, after all, pretty much sensible adults and not a bunch of primary schoolchildren. Thanks to Yvonne at Global Journeys for her efficient handling of our travel and tour bookings - done on fairly short notice. Much appreciated.
The stunning and contrasting scenery of the South West makes this a must-do tour for anyone wanting an informative and in-depth overview of the area. I can highly recommend it. Not wanting to be 'picky' about this and understanding that tour directors have the ongoing issue of getting everyone back on the coach on time, I didn't feel it necessary for our director to have us all chant the return time, parrot fashion, after her before disembarking. We were, after all, pretty much sensible adults and not a bunch of primary schoolchildren. Thanks to Yvonne at Global Journeys for her efficient handling of our travel and tour bookings - done on fairly short notice. Much appreciated.
This tour is an efficient (for time and cost) way to get an overview of Germany, to see some of its main cities, learn about the war crimes, get a sense of the former East, and drive through 2,200km of farmland and forests and wind turbines. Budget for the approx $500 of optional experiences however, as most of the good stuff is on them. The hotels read more were comfortable 4 star with a new one almost every day. However, some did not have decent WiFi (bad signal strength or costing up to 25 per night).
Excellent tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the attractions and sensitive to everyone's needs in the tour group. She really made the tour enjoyable and worthwhile.
Saw so much of England, Scotland and Wales in a short time 3
Best of Britain
Geoff & Maree, SA, Australia, May 2015
We were lucky enough to get the very best tour guide and driver, Michelle and Jamie, who made our holiday one we'll never forget. Our tour numbers were about 45 and every one of them were terrific. They all joined in and really enjoyed themselves. I've been on a number of tours before (not Trafalgar) and this was the best one by far. Our itinerary was read more good as we got to see so much of England, Scotland and Wales in the short time we had for our holiday. Would not hesitate to recommend Trafalgar for a UK holiday.
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip, poor tour director 1
East Coast USA and Canada
Geoff Schuberg, NSW, Australia, May 2015
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. This was our fifth tour with Trafalgar and we had by far, the worst tour director we have experienced. I realise this is beyond your control and we have written to Trafalgar in relation to her attitude, sarcasm and overall unhelpfulness. The standard of optional excursions were well below our previous experiences read more with Trafalgar. Unlike other trips, where we have attended all available, we chose only two. Feedback from those who attended others was average. We did not get the impression that we missed anything worthwhile. The included dinners were below an acceptable standard with the exception of two, the Be My Guest Dinner at Niagara and the included dinner at Quebec. With 48 in the group, it was too much for the tour director to handle, and the space in the coach was uncomfortable for many within our group.
Fantastic way to see a lot in a very short period of time 2
European Whirl
Mick, Tracey, Charlie & Brandon Taylor, Lyn Hutchinson, NSW, Australia, May 2015
This tour is a fantastic way to see a lot in a very short period of time. The pace is tough going, we were up at 6:30 every day and in bed around 9:00pm - 10:00pm. We had the best tour director in the business - Brendan Bush, which made the trip completely seamless, with absolutely no issues and also had a great bus load of fellow travellers who all read more had very good attitudes, adding to the fantastic atmosphere. The tour cost is fairly high per person over AUD $3000 and yes you will be asked to do "additional experiences" on board the bus that do cost a lot of money. My tip here is allow enough extra cash to do them all, most people did and this adds about 25-30% to your initial tour cost. You wont be sorry if you allow for the extra cash, you will be sorry if you don't! All in all, this tour is hard work but an absolute winner - did I mention our tour director? - outstanding!
The tour itself was wonderful. Greece is such a beautiful country! Our Tour Guide (Yannis) was excellent- very knowledgeable about Greek history and culture, responsive to the needs of the group and with a good sense of humour! However the accommodation in some locations was not as good as we have come to expect on Trafalgar Tours. In particular read more the accommodation at Delphi was below standard. Although it was clean and tidy and the management were pleasant, our hotel room was very dated and so many things didn't work properly, the fridge, most power points, the phone to mention just a few things. The other bugbear is that as we were such a large group it seemed to take ages to board and disembark whenever we arrived anywhere. Trafalgar should probably reduce their numbers per tour group to 30-35 people rather than 40 plus.
Really great tour and I would recommend to others 2
Pioneer Adventures of the Old West
Josephine Barbaro, VIC, Australia, May 2015
It was a really great tour and I would recommend to others. It was a good pace although you always want to see more on tours but they are time limited. The accommodation was good. The only part was that the included meals were pretty poor in terms of the food, but the entertainment was great.
Very enjoyable trip. Tour Director (Marisa)and Driver (Maurizio) were both wonderful and extremely professional. Standard of the hotel rooms varied from city to city - but generally very good.
Overall, this was a delightful tour with flowers and gardens all the way. The Chelsea Flower Show was certainly an unforgettable experience in itself and not to be missed. The gardens that were showcased were at their Springtime best and a credit to those who tend them. The Optional Tours were somewhat disappointing in that we didn't get to Alfriston, read more Leeds Castle or Chartwell. There was also some initial confusion about the inclusion of Sissinghurst Gardens, but we eventually fluked a visit there as Chartwell was closed for a Public Holiday. The problems of navigating London traffic meant we were two hours late for a dinner in Picadilly, and that those who had elected a theatre dinner and show had to attend straight after the day's touring with no chance to freshen up or change. Obviously, there is little that can be done about this and the driver/director did the best they could under the circumstances. Yvonne from Global Journeys was her usual efficient self in organising the travel and tour arrangements for myself and my daughter who were in different parts of Australia. (Ed: Review based on slightly different itinerary. Trip name and itinerary updated this season)
All in all a fantastic trip 3
East Coast USA and Canada
Graham & Wendy Douglas, NSW, Australia, May 2015
We had a really great trip. Ben Conte the tour director was wonderful always bright and cheerful, with a wealth of interesting stories about all of the places we visited. Wal the bus driver was great. The group on the bus was a lot of fun. All in all a fantastic trip. We have recommended Trafalgar to our friends and will continue to do so
Great Trafalgar Tour 1
David & Rena, NSW, Australia, May 2015
We had a wonderful trip, not only amazed by the nature's wonders, but also enjoyed colourful city culture and life. Accommodation and included meal were great. The tour director Jay and coach driver Gary are very professional. Many thanks for Yvonne helping us to book this great Trafalgar Tour. We will definitely to book another trip with Global Journeys and Trafalgar.
The tour guide was fantastic, optional extras were generally good although Tyrolean Folklore music night was appalling, it was like something from a bad episode of the Benny Hill Show. The standard of the included dinner was about 50% ok and about 50% rubbish (some inedible). Trafalgar should forget these and suggest patrons find there own restaurants read more for dinner. I was embarrassed daily by tour members (mostly Australian) stealing food from the breakfast buffet. Trafalgar should at least try to put a stop to this by explaining to the punters that this unacceptable behaviour.
A great introduction to many interesting places 1
European Whirl
The Turners, NSW, Australia, May 2015
Definitely a 'whirlwind' tour of Europe but very enjoyable. A great introduction to many interesting places that left us wanting to return at a slower pace maybe one day. The Swiss alps (with snow!) and the Vatican were particular highlights. All the optional excursions were fantastic and worthwhile, adding to the whole experience. Our tour director read more when out of his way to make sure that everyone had the best holiday possible. And we were very confident in the skill of our driver.
Exceeded our expectations 5
Splendours of Japan with Hiroshima
David & Jennifer Salmon, VIC, Australia, May 2015
Our tour guide Kimiko was simply amazing - exceptionally well organised, informed and kept us entertained on the longer coach trips. The tour visited some wonderful castles, gardens, shrines and temples. Some of the meals were a bit of a challenge but added to the fun. Our first time to Japan and with Trafalgar and exceeded our expectations. Only improvement read more would be to include drinks with some of the meals. Thanks to Georgie at Global Journeys for efficient service with our paperwork and booking - will be using Global Journeys again!
