Britain and Ireland Highlights (No London Overnights)

Traveler Reviews

• T

  Toedtlidr

  December 29th, 2025
  3
  I waited 7 months to write this review to ensure a more practical and balanced perspective. This was a super fast...
  I waited 7 months to write this review to ensure a more practical and balanced perspective. This was a super fast tour of Britain; England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales; we travelled in May 2025. There was no included transport from Heathrow to Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel near Vauxhall Bridge. It was $175 USD just one way. The first night there was NO greeting dinner or reception with the tour guide. The 2nd day of the tour our female tour guide announced she would only use What’s App as the means of communication to guests. Since we use our IPad mini with an ESim card we were excluded from all communications (What’s App only makes products for phone users with an attached phone number) and also What’s App is a Meta product that we are opposed to using. The tour guide refused to accommodate us by using text or email which made us feel instantaneously excluded from basic travel information. I use a IPad mini because I am sight impaired. Then we (all 48 of us) jumped into the bus and drove 254 miles from London to Stratford upon Avon and then to Harrogate. The bus was cramped (my husband and I are in our 60’s, average height and we are both thin), your legs hit the seat ahead of you and I could feel the breath of the passenger behind me on my hair. The next day was drive to the Lake District (208 miles) where we took a chilly and short boat cruise on Lake Windermere, stopped at Ambleside and Gretna Green. The next day we drove 47 miles to Glasgow for 2 nights where we visited Edinburgh Castle (crowded!!!) and Rosslyn Chapel. The day next we took the ferry (The bus drives directly on to the ferry) from Scotland to Belfast, Northern, Ireland (which is still part of the EU). We bus toured Belfast and stopped at the Titanic Museum. Then we drove 245 miles to Dublin where we stayed at the Clayton Hotel for 2 nights. We went to the Old Punch Bowl in Dublin for dinner which was optional. The next morning we went to the Guinness Storehouse and then drove out to Glendalough, which was optional. There was a fatality on the country road on the way to Glendalough, so the coach driver did a 35 point turn around, went back to the highway and got us around the crash. That night we did the optional dinner at Taylor Irish Cabaret. The next day we travelled 107 miles to Waterford. We stopped at the Irish National Stud farm which was interesting but their Japanese gardens were better than Portland’s Japanese garden! Then we stopped at Kilkenny and visited the castle. In Waterford we toured the Waterford Crystal factory. That night we had the optional dinner at a cute place by the coast. The next day we again boarded another deluxe ferry to travel to Cardiff, Wales where went to the Cardiff Castle. Later that day we went to a Welsh winery in the country where the owner and his family served us dinner. The last day we drove to Bath, England, then on to Stonehenge (super crowded!!!!) and back to the hotel. Overall it was a pretty good tour with the exception of feeling purposefully excluded from communique and the lack of airport transfers, which you had to pay extra for. (Most tours include airport transfers as part of the package cost) The tour guide was quite mediocre who seemed to put in the most minimal effort possible. We tipped as per suggestion, but I think we should have left her less because that is what we felt we got, effort wise. All the optional excursions cost $951 for two people.Show more
  Traveled in May 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for travelling with us and for taking the time to share such a considered and detailed review of your experience. We appreciate that you waited before submitting your feedback in order to provide a balanced perspective, and we are grateful for the effort you have taken to outline both the highlights and the areas of concern from your tour. We are pleased to hear that, overall, you found the itinerary to be a good overview of Britain and Ireland and that many of the included visits and destinations were enjoyable. We also appreciate your recognition of the coach driver’s professionalism in managing a difficult and unexpected situation on the road, as well as your comments on several of the sightseeing experiences along the way. That said, we are genuinely sorry to learn that you felt excluded from communications during the tour. We understand how important clear and accessible communication is, particularly when travelling at a fast pace, and we regret the frustration and distress this caused you. Your comments regarding the reliance on a single messaging platform and the lack of flexibility have been noted and will be shared with the relevant teams for review. We also acknowledge your disappointment regarding the absence of included airport transfers at the start of the tour, the lack of a welcome gathering on the first evening, and the overall comfort levels on the coach. We understand how these elements can significantly affect the enjoyment of the journey, especially on longer travel days. Your feedback on the Travel Director’s performance and the perceived value of Optional Experiences has likewise been noted. While we appreciate and value your feedback, if you would like a direct response to your comments or would like your concerns reviewed further, we kindly ask that you contact our Guest Relations Department by email at globalguestrelations@ttc.com. They will be best placed to look into your experience in more detail. Thank you again for sharing your honest feedback. It is through insights such as yours that we are able to review our processes and continue to improve the experience we offer to our guests.

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• J

  john

  September 28th, 2025
  4
  good tour, guide and driver were excellent, Novetel was not worth stopping at to many maintenance issues, no wifi,...
  good tour, guide and driver were excellent, Novetel was not worth stopping at to many maintenance issues, no wifi, not even tissues in the room. Would have like more time in Cardiff did not really get enough time to inspect city.Show more
  Traveled in September 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you very much for travelling with us and for sharing your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour overall and that both your guide and driver made a positive impression. They work hard to ensure our guests feel supported throughout their journey, so your kind words will be greatly appreciated. We are sorry to learn that your stay at the Novotel did not meet expectations. Your comments regarding maintenance issues, lack of amenities and the absence of Wi-Fi have been noted and will be shared with our accommodation team for review with the hotel. We also appreciate your feedback about the time spent in Cardiff, and we will certainly take this into consideration when reviewing our itineraries. Thank you again for your thoughtful comments. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on another trip in the future.

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• 

  David

  September 19th, 2025
  5
  This tour was a fantastic opporunity to see and experience the UK and Ireland. Realizing it was a "highlights" tour,...
  This tour was a fantastic opporunity to see and experience the UK and Ireland. Realizing it was a "highlights" tour, I understood it would sometimes move quickly, and now I have an appetite for a more extensive look at some of the places we saw, particularly Scotland. Our tour director, Selene Tomlinson, was supurb. We encbountered a couple of cancellations and delays for reasons beyond her control, and she was tireless in coming up with alternatives that ensured our opitmum experience.Show more
  Traveled in September 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you very much for travelling with us and for sharing such thoughtful feedback. We are delighted to hear that you found the tour a fantastic opportunity to experience the highlights of the UK and Ireland. It is wonderful to know that the itinerary has inspired you to explore certain places further, especially Scotland. Your kind words about the Travel Director are truly appreciated. We are very pleased that her professionalism, adaptability and dedication helped ensure you still enjoyed the best possible experience despite the unexpected cancellations and delays. We will be sure to pass on your compliments to her. Thank you again for choosing to travel with us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another journey, perhaps one that allows you to delve deeper into the destinations that captured your interest.

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  Ruslana

  August 31st, 2025
  5
  Everything was as expected. Our guide Paul was absolutely stunning. Our driver Alex was great. Our hotels were very...
  Everything was as expected. Our guide Paul was absolutely stunning. Our driver Alex was great. Our hotels were very good. And we've seen everything and even more. Of course, such kind of trips are quite hectic - you're running from place to place to see more, but if your plan is not rush anywhere you'll also find something pleasant to enjoy. I definitely recommend it!Show more
  Traveled in August 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  We appreciate your feedback based on your experience while on tour. A great Travel Director is essential to our guests' overall enjoyment and comfort on any of our trips. For this reason, we take great care to select our team members for their passion for travel and their in-depth knowledge of their given regions. As such, we are pleased that the Travel Director has done so well to serve you. We value your patronage and would like to thank you for choosing Trafalgar. Thank you for being our guest.

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• K

  Kathleen

  August 1st, 2025
  4
  It was really good but think it should be a day or so longer. It was quite rushed and couple of times didn't have...
  It was really good but think it should be a day or so longer. It was quite rushed and couple of times didn't have time to change for dinner. Overall, would definitely recommend it. We saw some fab places. Simone was excellent and a brillant Guide, happy, and put everyone at ease.Show more
  Traveled in July 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for sharing your experience we are so pleased you have enjoyed your Britain and Ireland Highlights tour. We hope you will join us on your next travel adventure.

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• K

  Karen

  July 31st, 2025
  1
  The tour itself was EXACTLY what was advertised. Our Tour Director and drivers were very very good. The 1 star is...
  The tour itself was EXACTLY what was advertised. Our Tour Director and drivers were very very good. The 1 star is because after giving them my money in October 2024, about 6 weeks prior to leaving I am given paperwork that says I can take one checked bag and an 11x12x6inch hand bag. No hand luggage with wheels as it will not fit in the overhead and must go under the seat. I am going to five countries. England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales. Temperatures could have ranged with highs of 80s to mid 50s. Fortunately temps were moderate and even. So packing a variety of clothing, weather gear, meds and items ladies need seemed appropriate. I am a size 14. No room left for additional items. So I called " customer service" to get some help, ideas, suggestions and answers about the restrictions on luggage. Absolutely no help, called several times, told me to speak to my tour director, they will contact me as soon as 12 days before departure. Contacted a couple of days before leaving by text or email. Just an introduction. I took a Foldie. Others came to London early or were extending their tours after and paid the hotel additional to store their bags as they were trying to comply. Many of us bought luggage on the trip. All we had to do was handle it ourselves. Unnecessary anxiety and frustration caused by Trafalgar for not having a functional customer service department. All they did was answer the phone and direct me to my Tour Director. Who I did not have name or contact info and they were on another tour. They have their drivers loading and unloading the checked bag. The hotel porters must be contracted to only handle 1 piece of luggage per guest. Additionally they are saving fuel costs without the additional weight of luggage on the bus. Someone reached out to me, telling me that I could check with my Tour Director on the tour about my concerns, they will be able to help. I was already on the bus and had been for a few days. This customer service person texted me a few times. She was several days late as she did not bother to see I was already on the tour. Frustrating I was going for my 75th birthday to the counties of my ancestors. I booked in October for that time period. Otherwise I would have cancelled and gotten my money back, I bought the travel insurance. The problem being all other tour companies for those dates are booked. July 19-29 I have traveled. This was totally unnecessary anxiety and frustration. Horrible company. Never again!!!Show more
  Traveled in July 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. While we are pleased to hear that the tour itself met your expectations and that you found both the Travel Director and Coach Drivers to be very good, we are sorry to learn of the frustration and stress caused by the luggage policy and your experience in trying to obtain assistance prior to departure. We understand how important it is to feel properly supported when preparing for a trip, particularly one as meaningful as your 75th birthday and a journey tracing your ancestral roots. We regret the anxiety this situation caused and any sense of being let down by our service. Your comments regarding the clarity and timing of the luggage communication, as well as the challenges faced when trying to speak with a representative who could offer meaningful guidance, are of great concern to us. This is certainly not the experience we strive to provide, and we apologise for the impact this had on your holiday preparations and peace of mind. Please be assured that we have shared your feedback with the relevant teams so that we can review our communication processes and pre-trip support. Clear and timely information particularly around important matters such as luggage is essential, and we’re sorry this was not your experience. We value your feedback, even more so given the significance of this trip for you. While we regret that this has led to a decision not to travel with us again, we remain thankful that you gave us the opportunity to be part of such a special milestone.

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• K

  Kyle

  June 9th, 2025
  5
  Very enjoyable tour. Our travel director, Paul Fleming, is hugely entertaining and a great guide.
  Traveled in May 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and your kind words in regard to our on The Road Team. Thank you for being our guest.

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• 

  T

  May 27th, 2025
  5
  Issues with hotel in Glasgow, not up to the standards expected with a Trafalgar tour. Hotel lacked AC, carpet in the...
  Issues with hotel in Glasgow, not up to the standards expected with a Trafalgar tour. Hotel lacked AC, carpet in the room was filthy, furniture was old and banged up.Show more
  Traveled in May 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We sincerely apologise that the hotels did not meet your expectations and acknowledge the variations in hotel standards between countries. We source professional and reputable establishments to partner with, as we want our travellers to have a safe and comfortable experience. Our partnership team will review your feedback with our partner; once again, thank you for being our guest.

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  PARKAN

  May 13th, 2025
  5
  Just as I expected. Was awesome
  Traveled in May 2025
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for being our guest and travelling with Trafalgar.

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• D

  Debra

  July 8th, 2024
  4
  John and Ian were great. It’s a great way to get around a place you don’t know. I would have liked to spend more time...
  John and Ian were great. It’s a great way to get around a place you don’t know. I would have liked to spend more time in some areas. There were a lot more excursions I had to pay to attend than I expectedShow more
  Traveled in June 2024
  

  Reply from: Trafalgar

  Thank you for your valuable feedback. We appreciate your input and are glad you received exceptional service from our On The Road Teams. They are a valuable asset to our company. Visiting several incredible cities and sights within a limited timeframe can be challenging and may make you want to stay longer in the places that resonate with you. Thank you for being our guest.

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