Trafalgar Travel has room for improvement based on customer feedback. Customers particularly appreciate service and professional, though some mention concerns about customer service and expensive.
This tour was exceptionally well planned. Our tour director was knowledgeable and organized. The coach was new and comfortable. We hit all the highlights from the brochure and so many wonderful additional surprises. It was a good experience all around.
I booked a trip and got my invoice with 3 days to pay the full amount. I got an email from compny that they can not honor the invoice. Request to speak to customer service i got no response. Very very poor customer service. I got an automated email from customer service stating that some one from their team will reach out to me to dicuss my concern. No one reached out. How can you possibly issues an invoice with full travel information and yet less than 24 hours not honor it. What if I had purchased my air line ticket in the mean time. I have never experienced anything like it. The thing is that i booked directly through Trafalgar not a third party. I was ready to make full payment on the day of booking. Surely this is not the way to start your vacation. 6 days has passed and still not a word from Trafalgar. Words are cheap what is important and counts is action and deeds!
First, our trip to Sistine Chapel and Vatican museums was cancelled which was only one of a couple tours included because of modified museum hours. I had to pay $350 to get tickets to go myself. You ride on a coach alot and when they say you see things, it is from the bus window. Small seats, provided no water and discouraged from using toilet. We were supposed to clap for driver because he did his job and not leave anything for him to clean. We were TOLD where to sit each day, they wanted luggage out an hour before departure time which means you had to get up two hours before breakfast. one hotel was 4 stars, rest were 3. Plan on spending ALOT of money to see things; everything costs more money spent $500 on tours. Food was OK at best. went on leather tour and glass blowing tour. These were sales pitches from store. We did see glass blowing 5 minutes then sales pitch for 15, same with leather store and gold store was not demonstration at all, it was them showing you pieces you can buy. Travel director sent out messages on whats app each day and was reachable. I got an attitude at first because I questioned vatican being closed but could get tickets. She told us we would go back to hotel so we could change, then said no, she changed her mind and so e were gone 12 hours from room and not prepared for day no apologies, just more like...that is that
My family and friend stay at a London hotel, the River park plazq here for a big family celebration, when I came to wait for them in the reception with my wife who not feelinng well. There were no seats, but a girl asleep on a chair. Who look like she just had food. She was with a sign saying Trafalger, is this hotel staff or the hotel agent? I went and told a staff. even if not hotel staff, we were very shock to see this.
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I strongly advise against booking Trafalgar’s Splendors of Japan with Hiroshima tour. While our guide was professional, they spoke to us like we were children, which quickly became condescending and frustrating. The itinerary was poorly planned, with way too much time spent on the bus and not nearly enough time at the actual attractions. Despite the sweltering heat, there were no adjustments made to accommodate the weather, leaving us uncomfortable and exhausted. The hotels were outdated, and no precautions were taken to ensure guests' health, which was especially concerning during a group tour. The experience felt far too touristy and staged rather than authentic, making it a huge letdown for anyone hoping to truly experience Japan. Group meals were also disappointing—unimaginative and lacking local flair. Considering the price, this tour is not worth it. Between the rushed schedule, uninspired itinerary, and lack of concern for guests' comfort and health, it was a major disappointment. I would recommend looking elsewhere if you want a meaningful, well-organized trip to Japan. Additionally, our experience with Trafalgar’s Guest Services was extremely disappointing. We contacted them during our tour with urgent concerns, and it took days for them to respond. When they finally did, their answer was dismissive—they told us we’d have to wait until after the trip for any resolution. This left us feeling helpless and unheard while still on the tour. After the trip, we reached out again hoping for some accountability, but instead received a detailed response that completely brushed off all of our concerns. They offered no remedy or compensation for the issues we raised, despite how much we paid for the tour. It was clear that they were not interested in making things right. We expected better service from a company like Trafalgar, and this experience left us frustrated and dissatisfied. I would not recommend relying on their guest services for any meaningful support.
Date of experience: October 5, 2024
I'm reading all these reviews but already booked, can't cancel now. Im heading to Prague, Vienna and Budapest on November 1-8, 2024 with Trafalgar. Now im having night mare. Im going to keep my fingers crossed and hope everything goes well. Hopefully i could find decent food as i take meds. Im not bringing a lot of extra money to spend as this trip is already above my budget. Does anyone know if i need a converter for to charge my phone? Im traveling from Canada and its 110 v here. Any other advice would be welcome. Thank you. Ray.. Toronto Canada
Date of experience: October 4, 2024
Friends and I just returned from Trafalgar's Great Italian Cities tour. The positives were our travel guide, Laura, who was fun, knowledgeable, engaging, and really good at "herding" 40+ people with a range of personalities, needs and mobility. We saw a lot, and packed in more than we would have done on our own. The local experts who gave us tours of various cities and attractions were, for the most part, excellent. Two of the three hotels were ideally situated, close to city centers, and were all very nice. Now for the drawbacks....we had a lot of issues leading up to the tour date, with hotels not being confirmed, inability for Trafalgar to book us an extra night at the first hotel so we could arrive a day early (we were able to book it w/o a problem on our own), canceling our Vatican tour (which we also had to book on our own). Also, the group meals that were included, and two that were optional that we paid extra for, ranged from just palatable to awful! Most of our tour were Americans. I guess Trafalgar thinks Americans prefer dry, baked chicken legs for their main course! Of real disappointment was one of the optional meals, on Burano. The fish was unpalatable; and guests who had chicken or beef said they were inedible. The best meals we had were during our free time, when we found our own restaurants. I'm glad to have finally tried a bus tour, but I will never take one again and certainly won't be recommending Trafalgar!
Date of experience: September 30, 2024
We did the Paris with highlights of Barcelona tour. The tour was very exhausting and fast paced. Many beautiful sights such as churches were skipped over, and people where only permitted outside photo opps. I ended up excusing myself from the tour early due to exhaustion and never got to see Monaco. I was sad, because I was looking forward to Monaco. I also ended up contracting Covid 19 in Spain. Not a great experience.
Date of experience: September 22, 2024
Most our hotels were downgraded and were on the outskirts of town. We were supposed to stay on Murano Island, a converted monestary, and in a lakeside hotel. Didn't happen. The last hotel was in the middle of nowhere in Rome with no easy access to downtown or the airport. The dinners provided were minimally OK. The Itinerary was changed and we were provided the times only the day in advance. Also, they had Optional Tours that one had to purchase that were scheduled when one was traveling from one city to another. if you didn't purchase it, what did you do, especially as one had little notice of the time. The total of the Optional Tours amounted to an additional 50% of the tour cost if one purchased them all. I would not book with this company again.
Date of experience: September 18, 2024
We booked our Trafalgar trip trough Europe. We paid the amount which included a guide and porterage services - so we thought. Through the trip we were strongly pressured to tip the guide and bus drive - 4 euros per person per day for driver and 6 euros per person per day for guide. We felt somewhat ripped off given how much we paid for the Trafalgar tour to then pay 20 euros per day for 21 days (extra 420 Euros / $714 AUD). It appears that Trafalgar pay their staff peanuts and then we have to pay this charge so that thye get a fair remuneration for the services Trafalgar brochure says are base level inclusions. It felt like an extorsion. We will try another company next time.
Date of experience: September 16, 2024
US
I have traveled with Trafalgar Travels three times, and my experience was a mix of highs and lows. Here’s an honest take on what to expect. **Pros:** - **Hassle-Free Travel:** One of the standout features of Trafalgar Travels is the ease of travel. The entire journey is conducted via a comfortable coach, which makes the experience stress-free. The coaches are well-maintained, ensuring a smooth ride. - **Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guides:** The tour guides are another highlight. They’re not only friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable about the destinations. Local guides are also brought in to provide deeper insights, which added a lot of value to the tour. - **Quality Meals:** Most meals are included in the package, and they are generally of good quality. It’s a relief not having to worry about where to eat, as the food provided was satisfying and diverse. - **Convenient and Comfortable Hotels:** The hotels we stayed at were usually convenient in terms of location and comfort. They were generally clean and provided a good resting spot after a day of exploring. - **Efficient Touring:** The itinerary is well-organized, allowing us to cover large areas in a relatively short amount of time. This efficiency is great for those looking to maximize their sightseeing opportunities. **Cons:** - **Extra Costs for Essential Sightseeing:** One downside is that many essential sightseeing activities are not included in the base package and require additional payment. This can add up quickly, making the trip more expensive than initially anticipated. - **Inconsistent Hotel Quality:** While some hotels were comfortable, others were subpar, akin to the quality of a budget motel. This inconsistency in accommodation quality was disappointing and detracted from the overall experience. - **Complicated Refund Process:** If your tour is canceled, whether by you or Trafalgar Travels, be prepared for a complicated and lengthy refund process. I was quoted 90 days to receive a refund for a tour they canceled, which is frustratingly slow. - **Health Considerations on Coach Days:** Spending long hours in close proximity to others on the coach can raise health concerns, especially in terms of potential illness. It’s something to be aware of, especially if you’re prone to catching bugs.
Date of experience: September 3, 2024
US
We just finished the Contrasts of Switzerland tour. This tour is basically some coach tickets and hotels. You are just traveling in regular coach class. Nothing special about the tour and unlike bus tours they don’t provide any information about the area while you are traveling on the train. Just book the train tickets and hotels on your own and you could save lots of money. In my opinion this tour is a ripoff.
Date of experience: September 2, 2024
US
We recently took the Capitals of Scandinavia tour. Our tour director, Mike was excellent. He is knowledgeable, personable, professional, and friendly. Our driver, Tom, was also excellent. He drove us through 5 countries expertly. We definitely recommend Trafalgar. Wonderful trip!!
Date of experience: August 14, 2024
US
The locations we visited were stunning, and the hotels and experiences were wonderful. The local guides were knowledgeable, professional, and generally guided us well, though they could have been a bit more attentive to the group's needs. However, the main guide we had for the tour seemed somewhat disconnected from the group as a whole. It felt as though he didn't fully appreciate or respect the Trafalgar travelers, as if we hadn't earned the right to be there. When we brought to his attention that some group members were struggling to keep up with his pace or wanted to take more time for photos, he simply continued at the same speed. At one point, he even lectured us on the coach, going so far as to play a podcast about gratitude and happiness. He also made it clear what he expected in terms of reviews and tips, discussing this three days before the tour was over, which felt inappropriate. I've taken many Trafalgar tours before and have always loved the experience, with guides and drivers who were attentive and accommodating. Unfortunately, this was my worst experience so far. It’s worth noting that this guide was not local and had no personal connection to the areas we visited, which may have impacted the experience. This is something I will consider for future trips.
Date of experience: August 9, 2024
