RSD Travel Reviews

We have just returned from an amazing holiday in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Our guide Nicolette Lehmann and coach driver Sonnyboy were also as amazing and couldn't do enough to satisfy our group. Nicolette was a wonderful leader and her knowledge of historical and geographical facts was extremely well presented during our tour. She set up a WhatsApp group so that we could converse with each other and display photographs of the incredible animals that we saw on our visit to 3 game parks and Victoria Falls. This greatly benefitted those with only mobile phone cameras who were able to see photographs taken by members of the group with their sophisticated cameras! It is difficult to understand why 2 members of the group were so negative about their experience and this caused much anguish and upset to the rest of the party. Their lack of appreciation of both African culture and wildlife begs the question of why they were on this holiday! We have travelled around the world many times and adventure abroad about 6 times a year. This was one of the most memorable holidays that we have embarked on and would RSD for arranging such an incredible trip with super accommodation and food. Jenny & Roger Stocks

What can I say but WOW, WOW, WOW. 3 Countries in 2 weeks & over 3000km in a coach. It was a tough call but we made it. The whole experience outdid what I was expecting. I know from previous long journey trips with RSD (Cappadocia) that there would be early morning starts & you can't do a Sunrise safari if you don't get up at 4am, but I was fine with this. Saw things I will probably never see again. The guide Nicolette was very informative, when we could hear her, as some individuals thought it right to talk throughout the commentary, alot of us found their actions totally inappropriate. Nicolettes information on culture and history was far better than a guide book. I'm a disabled traveller and both Nicolette & Sonnyboy (driver) were very helpful and both always had a smile on their faces. Nicolette even managed to arrange airport assistance for 3 of us from South Africa via Dubai & again at Manchester, I've never had a transfer work so we'll. I managed to do all the sights the same as he rest of the group, just a bit slower but this wasn't a problem for the guide & driver, plus the rest of the group were accommodating and very friendly with the odd exception. The roads to Zimbabwe were bumpy to say the least but the driver did an excellent job. They did warn us beforehand. I paid for extra excursions because I felt this was a once in a lifetime trip & it truly was. The helicopter trip over Victoria Falls was breathtaking and Kruger National Park was like nothing I've ever seen before. In total we covered over 3000km and for anyone asking if its a trip worth doing, I personally will say yes & its money well spent.

This was a fantastic trip, 3 countries in 14 days. It is a full on trip but you see so much. The safari drives were great and Victoria Falls amazing. The other stops were great too. Nicotte the tour guide was very informative about the local area and very helpful. The driver Sonnyboy did a brilliant job especially with the roads in Zimbabwe. He was always friendly and happy. The trip does include early rises but all safari drives start early. Nicolette organised a WhatsApp group which was great as we could all share photos. The next days information was always on there too so we all knew what was going on and timings. We also had two extra trips to local towns which was lovely of Sonnyboy. The hotels were all lovely with some exceptional.

Tried booking a holiday as a solo traveller with RSD. The single supplement meant that the cost to me was £658 vs £618 had I been a couple. When I called customer service I was told RSD cannot do anything about it as the single supplements are set by the hotels. Can't get my head round it! The person I spoke to said that many solo travellers have similarly complained

Tour guide NIC L DRIVER SONNYBOY South Africa it was totally full on with no break,starting at times 5am . some of the food in the lodges/ hotels was like school dinners and hardly any Gluten & dairy free food. Breakfast was recycled from dinner.some of the lodges But we coped. The tour guide was knowledgable but said things in south africa and so didn't understand some of what she was saying. Coach was meant to be luxury that's what you advertise well it definitely was not, seats were well warn so it felt like you were sitting on the bare plastic no USB no toilet so I thought.The roads were not good and very bumpy some of the roads were only half done with lots of potholes,as the driver lived there it was second nature to him so I thought he was driving quite fast to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe and we had been in the Coach for over 12 hours. take into account that animals were loose to roam freely as he new he new but he still managed to knock a goat down that went under the wheels, that could of gone horribley wrong for all of us if that had been an elephant. The tour guide did not make it known that there was a toilet on board and we were in the Coach for 2 hours or more and when we went over the boarder from Botswana to Johannesburg it was a good 12 hours. On the 2nd day my husband stomach wasn't good due to the flights and the early morning 4am. Unfortunately due to being on the coach for over 2 hours before stopping he had an toilet accident.i rang the tour guide servral times but she refused to pick up the phone and yes I could here it ring and so could others. They got to the restaurant for lunch everyone got off including tour guide I asked the driver to get my case out and I also said not to go back on and in all fairness he didn't , I got some clothes and wet ones and water to clean him up and the the tour guide came out wasn't really bothered and I said I rang you serveal times and you didn't pick up the phone she said she was working sitting down talking and she looked at the phone and cut me off twice. That very much upset me but the worse is to come, I told her not to go back on the coach as my husband was not dressed that's why the curtains were drawn AND SHE DISREGARDED WHAT I SAID AND WENT ON WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS NAKED I WAS FUMING. I was cold for the whole of the 11 days due to having the air-conditioning on full speed and I asked her and the drivers if they could turn it down not off but down that landed on deaf ears didn't want to know. Please note when her favourite people asked for the air-conditioning to be turned down it was don't straight away. The other worse thing was in the 2 rivers hotel apparently the FIRE ALARM WENT OFF around so we were told 1-2am fire engines turned up most of the rsd people heard it and came out and evacuation without order and the young girl on reception didn't know what to do ,5-6 of us didn't here anything no one knocked on the door.THE TOUR GUIDE so I was told by all the rsd people that she didn't do any checks nor did she come out she looked out of her window and then went back to bed.5 of us sleept straight through. That was absolutely disgusting disgraceful she is not fit to be a tour guide she did not do here job she should be bard from being a tour guide from rsd and any other tour companies. Rsd needs to look into there tour guides and listen to there customers also the hidden extras your not told about. Do not go if there tour guide is NICOLETTE LEHMANN one couple had there mother with them she helped with her along with everyone else and then on the last day going to the airport the couple asked if she could arrange a wheelchair as its a long walk and she told them that was down to them to arrange it,in other words she was done and didn't have to help them anymore as it is the end of her shift.funny how people change when there not getting payed for it, she has no heart.

Travelled with RSD to Nepal in June. Very good holiday, saw lots of interesting places, guide was superb and hotels were of a good standard. I would recommend the RSD holiday to Nepal

I have travelled with RSD a few times and have never had a bad experience. An excellent way of seeing a country at an affordable price.

Went to Sri Lanka with RSD - fantastic countryside, amazing friendly people, good hotels and an amazing journey around the country in all its guises - one of the best trips of my life (I travel 10 mths a year) - why so good - people, no hassles of any kind going out, low cost economy, wonderful weather - an absolute gem of a holiday full of variety with something for everyone.

We had a wonderful holiday seeing so many UNESCO sites in Kosova, North Macedonia, Montenegro & Albania. Except for the last one, which was a little bit "Soviet era", the hotels were lovely with excellent food, very comfortable indeed. Our Turkish guide Gdoikca went above & beyond to help all passengers on her coach, even rescuing a hearing aid, which had fallen out in Cafe Mozart in Budva, Montenegro & organising for someone to drive it to our hotel at least 2 hours away so we had it before the coach left next morning.

I have just read Marion Watkinsons review of the All Senses Nautica Blue Hotel and completely agree that it is nowhere near 5* as it claims. I complained about my room condition and eventually got moved to a better room, bur till not 5* standard. On returning to UK on 13th May I sent my comments and complaints to RSD and requested a refund of the extra climate tax paid on the grounds that we were placed in an inferior hotel. Their response was to say that it was up to the hotel as to what they charge and that they had stated in the itinery sent out on 11 April the change of tax to 15 Euros. Therefore they deny that we were misled and so do not agree we should be refunded the excess tax I intend to take my case to ABTA. My advice is Do not touch this Hotel..

Having travelled extensively and fruitfully with RSD over quite some years - and defended them against unreasonable criticism, this time I enquired about the Abu Dhabi etc trip which looked attractive. Noting the 'from' price quote per person, and finding no reference to any single supplement I phoned to find that there is none; except there are no single travellers; only groups of 2, 4, or 6 can book. What is this: ageism, sexism, singleism, bereavementism, divorceism or whatever???? This is hugely shabby and concealed on the flyers. If anyone feels disadvantaged or saddened by such personal circumstances, this clearly is not the direction in which to find solace. I doubt whether I - for one - will ever travel with them again.

Tempted by a voucher offer in my NRLA landlord magazine, we booked a 7 night tour around the Balkans in May 2025. I was nervous, tbh. Was a coach tour my thing or was it soley for oldies?! Honestly? I loved it. Non-stop, a different hotel every night, tonnes to see, a great guide, beautiful scenery, historic heritage sights to see, coastal and mountain drives, friendly fellow travellers or different ages, lovely local people, decent food and an all round well organised and good experience. The hotels aren't luxury but for the price of the RSD holidays that can't really be a complaint. There's a lot of time on the coach for this particular tour, so take a good book if you don't like window gazing. Our holiday was incredibly good value, which rare these days. I wouldn't hesitate to book again, so that's always the best sign isn't it!

We have previously travelled with RSD and knew what to expect on the two week tour ~ first week coach travelling to the historic sites and then the second week relaxing in a beach hotel. Our first week was a lot of coach travelling ~ this was very well organised and both the tour guide and coach driver were excellent. The sites visited were very good. Of course in between the visits were the ‘obligatory’ visits to the carpet, leather and jewellery ‘factories’. If you are not wanting to buy anything then these venues are not the place to be unless you have a strong will and forceful but pleasant voice to be able to say ‘NO thank you’. The second week is generally a beach hotel ~ but these we have found tend to be in more remote areas so the additional cost of the full board/all inclusive tend to be worthwhile. Would we travel with RSD again ~ yes ~ we’ve just booked two further trips ~ Cappadocia and China.

Traveled to Rhodes with RSD in April 2025. First hotel had no outdoor space, the pool area being a building site. We couldn’t get any information from the rep about the hotel for the second week, they seemed very cagey about giving us a name. We found out why when they eventually told us as it had terrible reviews. The rep was rude to almost everyone on the tour. I was seriously ill and couldn’t complete the trip to Turkey mid tour, I was left to just book myself into an alternative hotel for 4 days and was literally told that I was ‘on my own’ if I didn’t stay with the tour. I wasn’t checked up on in any way. Expect to be given the hard sell by the carpet, leather and jewellery shops you are taken to and locked in until they have squeezed enough money out of the group. People were in tears afterwards having been pressure sold £2k leather jackets. Shameful practice. The actual tours are very short, in some cases just an hour, which is very disappointing. The second ‘free’ week actually ends up costing you a lot of money for the ‘all inclusive food package’ which you have to pay for as the hotel was in the middle of nowhere, no alternatives for food available. It was shabby, badly maintained and there were actual fist fights in the bar, a sign of the type of customer they take. 2/3 star at very best. In all I’d say what looks like a bargain actually isn’t by the time you have paid for all the extra stuff they charge you for. Customer service is non existent so pray you aren’t ill whilst away, they won’t care, and will abandon you. Would NOT recommend at all. Steer clear!!!

I recently completed Rhodes and Turkey tour with RSD. We were the last group this spring. I don't know why some people are so ungrateful and unkind when writing review. This was my 3 rd RSD excursion and going to write a balanced review. If you want a super luxury holiday and 5 star tour , look for expensive travel company. If you have very tight budget and willing to spend plenty of times to search cheap flight tickets and hotels and transport option ,you go on your own please don't tour with a tour company. But if you are looking for hazel free travel with a reasonable budget I can't find any other company apart from RSD.I also have positive and negative remarks which I am going to explain now.( For a specific reason I will document negative features first) 1. Extra one week ( after one week of guided tour RSD offer an extra week free room in a hotel but customer has to pay meals. If this hotel is far from town you are stuck in a hotel far from town and attractions. Also this hotel is not 5 star as mentioned in the literature. Due to this reason and I don't have annual leave to waste 7 days ,I pre booked my return flight from Rhodes to London on my own. 2.Time allocated to all important cultural sites not enough ( roughly 2 -3 hours ), Wasting collectively one whole day for carpet factory, jewellery shop, Leather factory. These items are very expensive but exceptional qualities. Might be good experience for first timers. but not for repeated travellers like me.So it is not 7 days cultural tour actually 6 days. 3. RSD don't mention hotels until we arrive the respective country although they say 4-5 star hotels.( Definitely not 5 stars but quite understandable due to what we pay) 4.Seventh day they offer an extra excursion which cost me £ 75. Although it was an interesting one total cost for this tour was £674+ 75 =£749.00 So those who didn’t go this excursion , had to stay in the hotel and this was actually 5 days cultural tour not 7 days tour. I have positive remarks as well. 1. Chartered flight is very good and always at a convenient time. 22 kg luggage allowance with cabin bag are far from flying with a budget airline. 2.Air port transfers very smooth. 3.Guides are very professional , educated , friendly and can speak English very well. Our guide this time was Mr Volken .He is exceptional. During travel He explained anything from history, demography, Mythology. I was not fed up to listen to his descriptions. 4.Coaches were modern and drivers were very professional and helpful. 5.No hazel to enter in to historic sites as during this time of year very crowded. Guide had prepaid tickets and capable to entry beating the queue. 6.We totally drove about 1500 miles during this tour. So my hands free during travel either I could take pictures or could sleep. 7. Hotels ( obviously not 5 stars . But what you get for what you pay ). We stayed in 5 Hotels and resorts. They were acceptable and in nice locations. Nobody could complain about food in every hotels. 8.RSD had organised this tour very well we went to all the historical world heritage sites as described in their literature. 9.RSD customer care team in UK also very supportive and friendly.We can very easily contact them via email or telephone call.I even changed my travel partner as late as 2 months before departure. So you can see that positive features of this tour were more than negatives. If you ask me whether I travel with RSD again. Yes certainly if it is a one week tour. I don't have leave to waste extra 7 days as I am a permanent employer. In summery RSD is a great choice if you don't want to spend a luxury holiday and don't expect luxury having paid not much. Also if you don't want to bother spending hours and days looking for budget airlines ,hotels rental cars, checking sat nev to find the ways in a foreign country and to stay in long queues to enter a all important site. Why I didn’t give 5 stars because of extra week not to my liking. All in all if you want to book with RSD you have to think hard and every aspect.

The hotels and coach were excellent both for quality and cleanliness. Our guide Dhirendra, was knowledgeable and friendly, making the holiday an enjoyable experience for not only us but all our fellow travellers.

Was SO impressed with RSD Travel Ltd on a recent cultural tour of the Balkans. The tour guide and driver were absolutely fabulous! The itinerary was stunning! Hotels and food great! Value for money and organisation spectacular. So much so, we have booked again for later in the year! Only negative was the weather but can’t blame RSD for that

RSD are an award winning arts and cultural holiday travel company. We recently returned from an 8 day tour of Northern Cyprus provided by them through Northern Travel Cyprus. RSD do not inform you of your hotel details before you travel which leads to uncertainty on locations and can worry the nervous traveller. The two hotels we stayed in were ok but not really the promised 4 star but at the price we paid this was hardly surprising. Overall the tour was very good and we saw a lot in a short time. There was however some discontent with the many very expensive shopping stops we were obliged to endure. We realise that this is part of the financing of the tour but these visits were too long and too much hard sell was evident. It was also not explained that on thr return journey we would have to go through security again in Turkey. Most felt that this was unnecessary and did not realise that this was a UK government security requirement. The so-called Gala evening towards the end of the tour was an embarrassing "dance show" featuring a male belly dancer and frankly poor folk dancers. All this being said we have booked another tour with this company and were satisfied with the value for money we recieved

Advertised as a 5 star tour! Well unfortunately it was anything but! We booked this relatively inexpensive holiday thinking bargain! that should’ve been a red flag. Beware the glossy marketing literature! for its content is generalised & open to interpretation. We should have known better. We arrived at our destination airport with no representative from the company to direct us where to go? Finally we found a guide outside of the airport vicinity. Coach allocation proved chaotic with coach numbers getting mixed up, we were herded like sheep. After travelling all day on a basic flight with freebird it was the last thing we needed. So this was the start of the holiday. We arrived at the 3 star hotel. Dinner was served at around 12 midnight, the following morning we were up at 7 o’clock for breakfast, in the coach by 8am so we could start the day’s itinerary! We had no time to unpack clothes or rest before the excursions commenced. This must’ve been particularly difficult & tiring as most of the travellers were over 65 of age on average. First day of the tour was good/bearable, we were glad to be back at the Hotel in the evening so we could rest up. We did Visit various sites of interest, the downside was the lack of the guided actual knowledge and ability to explain the history of the region in a balanced and concise way. Rather giving sway to political bias on the various Greek - Turkish issues, cleverly manipulating the narrative to suit his own Turkish national bias. Not what we wanted to hear from the guide. The guide told us how much to tip him within our first 3 days! Several times! He was rude, bullying & obsessed with making money out of us. He took us to a leather shop, a rug shop and a jewellers, these were not cultural experiences! once inside these premises we were pounced on by swarm of hard nose sales people trying to make us purchase products. Several people felt intimidated. All the products were extremely over priced, ruthless tactics used to entice people to part with their money. On day 6 & 7 the guide sold additional excursions. I witnessed hard nosed selling & intimidation to get pensioners to buy into these extra charge days. It was disgusting to see. Health & safety on the coach and at the second hotel was poor, as was the food choices & quality of food. Definitely would not recommend this tour company. Avoid! Avoid avoid!

Rhodes and the Aegean including the All senses Nautica Blue hotel This was my fifth trip with RSD as it was for most of the guests who had travelled with RSD previously and were well aware of the sales pitches at the outlets in Turkey. One guest had purchased 10 carpets on previous visits and I bought a second leather coat. I know of one couple who spent £10,000 previously on wedding rings so for some people it’s a good shopping experience . We spent our ‘free’ second week at this isolated west coast resort location near the power station and only 20 minutes away from the airport on an extensive rocky beachfront location looking directly out to sea. Dated design and very basic amenities the outdoor pool is tepid and surrounded by sunbeds and beach towels FOC for guests. FRAM the French travel company promotes an animation company to play pop music in front of the pool area which is really annoying if your room is too close. Extending for over 400m the grounds contain many coloured maisonettes many with stairs and no lifts to the upper floor and is 1 km (only 7 minutes) from the sandy Fanes beach renowned for wind surfing and aero sports but now deserted. Access is just past the Fanes mini port which has been battered by winter storms just beyond the hotel beach with shingle covered in debris. A useful taverna Akrogiale serves drinks and lunches. This is where the RSD clients not on the fully inclusive hotel package hang out when not on a tour. There are other eateries on Fanes beach but not yet open at this time. Lots of flies and ants in abundance due to being surrounded by farmland including an aloe Vera farm close by on the access road to the main bus route into Rhodes. The owner is young and charming giving me a one to one tour of all the herb plants and products to buy. I spent 24€ on a variety of items because I enjoyed the experience so much. The hotel can provide a packed lunch for guests who book all day tours or car hire. Book a day in advance from reception. Sadly this hotel is rather dated with little kerb appeal as the frontage windows are of the tiny toilet windows. The patio doors however are facing the pool or the sea. Furnishings are the most basic of reception and bar furniture but the outdoor dining terrace has wonderful views and sunsets. 4 or 5 star it is NOT but is charging €15 per night hotel tax when clearly it should be in the 3 star tax rate. The tourist board needs to inspect and downgrade the 5 star rating. This amounts to FRAUD otherwise. The unattended scruffy hotel beach with sun beds and umbrellas desperately needs cleaning up from the spring storms of flotsam and jetsam. The food varies from tinned fruit and commercial deli concoctions and no fresh green vegetables to nice traditional Greek specialties alternating with an oriental night and a seafood night. It was noticeable that croissants only appeared when the French group arrived and they were the only group provided with entertainment in the evening only in French of course. The special Italian night cuisine was not as advertised on the menu and was decidedly less than acceptable. It was held in the snack bar not in the rustic Italian taverna near the sea which was looking almost derelict. Soft drinks include fruit squash but not fresh fruit juice. The locally produced alcoholic drinks are noticeably weak and strange tasting. Most guests have found the tonic water leaves an unpleasant taste and smell so bring your own Schweppes and ask the helpful bar staff to put it in the bar fridge. Altogether an acceptable weeks stay but I wouldn’t pay for full board again at €270 as the food and drinks package is not good value if you spend days away on excursions or book in with friends overnight on other islands accessible by Ferry from Rhodes port such as Symi. RSD who booked this hotel should have their tour managers stay at the hotels to gain an insight into their guests experience out of season but I was soooo grateful not to be staying at the brutalist tower block that is the Rhodes palace hotel having read their reviews. Michael our guide for the week was excellent in every way. The previous week was a succession of excursions to archaeological sites both in Rhodes and Turkey such as Ephesus Afrodisias and Pamukkale all of which were stage managed perfectly and with great humour by Sami with hotels that ticked most people’s boxes. The only downside was that my suitcase needed repair to the rivets of a broken handle after dragging it along so many rough paths in the large resort accommodation. The rivets holding the now wobbly wheels may not survive another trip. Frankly I may not be fit enough to lift it without adequate help on such a strenuous programme as this or any other touring company in future but I’ve certainly enjoyed most of RSD holidays.