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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This is my second tour with Trafalgar and it has been exceptional once again. I appreciate the sense of security and safety I have with Trafalgar knowing that I am taken care of from start to end and it is not only the big things but the small things that count. The drivers' skills to maneuve through the winding and smaller roads is remarkable in the huge couch, which is so comfortable and spacious, and always lending a supportive hand to help us off the coach shows kindness and patience. Our tour guide Victor was brilliant, his commanding presence ensured our safety and that we kept to schedule. He is so knowledgeable and I appreciated him sharing all the tidbits of the history of places, people and environment. Trafalgar promotes awareness of the local people, their business and culture as we had at least four experiences included on the tour where we are given the opportunity to learn about how these family businesses started and grew and this showcase from Trafalgar not only highlights these undertakings but also encourages us to take a step back and reflect on how we can give back in our own communities. Support local is huge for me and it helps smaller businesses and families not only thrive but they include their communities in their ventures to expand, educate and shows the true meaning of "Ubuntu" in action. I also love the fact that I am on holiday and the Trafalgar team makes it that much more special as you don't have to plan and scurry about not knowing what is happening. You are kept informed, days are planned out in advance, the communication is on par and if you need anything they are always willing to assist with a smile. It means you get to just enjoy the trip and take it all in. The cherry on the cake is although we travel in a group everyone has their own personalities and the Trafalgar team knows how to manage each person making it a better and smoother experience for all. Thank you Trafalgar and your amazing team. I look forward to book my next trip with Trafalgar and this wonderful experience has uncovered my passion for travel and wanting to share this with my children as I know they will be safe in your capable hands.
Date of experience: July 27, 2024
Our Best of Holland Tour was great because we did one country with a enthusiastic, and knowledgeable Travel Director. Our driver was also a very nice man with a good sense of humor. The coach was spotless and comfortable. Our Travel Director was attentive, personable and gave us insights into this lovely country we would never have had if we had not taken this Trafalgar Tour. The included breakfasts were abundant and had something for everyone and the meals were nice too. We went to many cities and experienced both urban and scenic rural areas. I felt we were given a well rounded trip I will never forget. It was well worth the money.
Date of experience: July 25, 2024
US
We signed up for Grand Italian tour and put on a waitlist as told we would hear back in 7 days. Called and told it could be several weeks but they could switch us to different dates for more $$. Meanwhile they are still advertising for this trip!! Bait and switch. They just lost a potential customer as not organized. We are going back to Globus!
Date of experience: July 10, 2024
Matt Godman and our bus driver Raymond were amazing. Everything ran like clock work even when there are so many variables (traffic/weather). They worked together as a team so well. Trafalgar is so good at preparing you for the experience. They dot the "i's" and cross the "t's". They tell you what to bring for the weather. The give your options to do extras to gain the full culture of the place you are going. We wanted to go to Ireland and Scotland in one fell swoop and check the box without having the drive or plan. This trip was it. The cost is right in line with the value. We are experienced American travelers who've also lived in Switzerland for a period of time. This is not our first rodeo. For many on the trip, it was their first rodeo, and some of them were older with limited physical capabilities. We are 55 and 60 but are in great physical condition for our ages. Matt, our host, handled all of us with great detail and care. If you are limited in physical capabilities, they handle it well, but it is important for you to also realize what you cannot do and not penalize them. They do what they do really well, and we will never forget this experience.
Date of experience: July 9, 2024
I'd like a full refund. On our first day, despite the fact that we were aware of additional extra's, we were forced by our Tour director to pay up front on that very day for additional extras as 'everybody does them' so he said. Most hotels were out of town so there was no restaurant choices should we have not been forced to take up the 'optional experience'. The food at the restaurants was certainly not worth the money we paid . The first was Dinner and Drive to Torpichen at 70.00 pound per person. We were supposed to have a Piper, but the hostess at the Restaurant told us that The Tour Director only paid for the cheap version so the Piper did not play. He was there waiting as a few of us had a chat with him. The hotels were pitiful and some only 3 star, one hotel we stayed in (Plymouth) had pubic hairs on the bathtub and bed bugs in the bed, the tiles were falling off the bathroom wall and there was mould on the ceiling. I sent photos to Trafalgar on Messenger but I have had nil response. Some hotels had no air-conditioning at all. Most comfort stops we were given 15 minutes, we would pull up and there would be another 4 bus loads of people with only 4 ladies toilets. very unacceptable. Additionally, on the bus the next day, we were forced to listed to a Podcast which lasted approximately 20 monutes, on 'gratefulness'. The tour director then advised us we would soon receive a survey which I also posted his comments in Messenger to Trafalgar, he advised us we should rate him 10, what a joke. The Tour director, then name some of the people who had completed their survey, I would have thought this was a breech of privacy?? We had previously completed two tours with another company with another company prior to joining this tour through the British Isles, we had NO complaints whatsoever.
Date of experience: July 6, 2024
I have traveled on 3 Trafalgar tours and have enjoyed all of them. (first was Italy in 2019, second one was Croatia in 2023) I just completed my first USA trip with them and had a fantastic group, driver, and tour director. Hotels were great given the parks we were visiting, mainly in Utah. We had easy access to food/shopping nearby. Lodging is limited in many national park areas due to their remoteness. My favorite was actually the one Best Western in Moab. Perfect location so we could walk and explore, plus the staff were so sweet and attentive. Timings to get the most out of our time in the parks worked smoothly and often we had extra time to do longer hikes/walks. Guessing that would depend on the group, but we had a younger mix. I especially loved the Navajo lunch experience during our time in Monument Valley, that steak was pure perfection and what a beautiful setting we had all to ourselves. Being able to see Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Bryce, and Zion in a week was ideal and has given me ideas for future trips.
Date of experience: June 25, 2024
Too much time spent in rural Japan, and on boring activities such as paper making, gold foil shop visiting, old home and old village visiting. Also considerable time spent in rest areas, free museums, and walking through free parks. Not enough time spent in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. A tour is as good as the tour guide makes it. Our tour guide Keiko was awful. She was opinionated, inflexible, and confusing. She forced the group to do what she wanted, without considering group's suggestions or needs. She was very strict on meeting time, and left four tourists in a busy market area (one was 85 and one was 83 years old). Hotels: The hotels we stayed at were nice, although the rooms assigned to our group did not have nice views and had old furnishings. Food: There was too much raw sea food and too much cooking your own food (often without cooking instructions!). Don't dress in nice clothes during lunches and dinners in Japan with Trafalgar! The optional paid "shabu-shabu" dinner was AWFUL, the meat and the rest of the food were simply non-edible. Activities: Keiko cancelled our Mt Fuji attraction, stating that Mount Fuji "was closed because of rain the day before" (Mt Fuji official tourism website mentioned nothing about being closed during a gorgeous sunny day). There were no included shows in this tour. The optional paid tea ceremony was interesting. Transfers: The transport back to the airport was on a coach bus which our tour guide called "limousine". Japan is a beautiful country worth visiting, but with a better tour and definitely with a better tour guide!
Date of experience: June 16, 2024
My husband and I went on the Best of the Canyonlands - Denver to Las Vegas. It was such a great trip. I enjoyed getting time to hike around the national parks and getting to see so many parks in just a week! And my favorite location was Monument Valley. An absolutely stunning place - the colors, landscape and rich history. It was nice being able to get to all these places and not have to plan the driving ourselves. Can't wait to try out another destination - next on my list is the Northeast!
Date of experience: June 14, 2024
Incredible week in Tuscany on the Rome and Tuscan highlights tour. We loved our travel director Tyson, so knowledgeable and full of stories. The hotel in Montecatini was an excellent location, steps away from the town square. We also enjoyed the relaxed pace of the trip. Would do this trip again in a heartbeat.
Date of experience: June 14, 2024
I have recently returned from a Best of Belgium, Luxembourg and holland with Trafalgar. This was my first trip with Trafalgar and will definitely be my last. I am a seasoned traveller having travelled with different companies throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, north and South America. Trafalgar certainly did not hold up to its reputation. Firstly most of our hotels were too far away from any city centre. Our tour director Roderick, although very knowledgeable was not a good travel director. Several times he left people behind because he did not do a head count. Totally unacceptable. He greeted us each day with a good morning in Dutch. He accentuated his Dutch accent in a loud and disgusting voice. I found this disgusting and annoying and offensive. He also referred to us as his children. Ridiculous. The city tours were pretty well non existent. He would point out the odd cathedral, church or government building but gave very little history. The tours consisted basically of parking the bus a fair distance away from anything, then walking 20 to 30 minutes, Roderick pointing out restaurants and the shops that were closed, giving us approximately 1 1/2 hours free time and then meeting him to walk another 20 or 30 minutes back to the bus and then driving 45 minutes to our hotel. I asked Roderick 3x to find me a pharmacy in Belgium. Each time he said he would get back to me with directions. He never did. The same thing happened in Amsterdam. I asked him about taking a train or bus to Volendam from Amsterdam and again he promised he would. Again he never did. Most of the stores were closed when we were in Ghent and Brugge due to public holidays so the wee bit of free time was basically useless. He sold us on the idea of going to Germany for a day as we would have several hours to shop and the stores were amazing as he put it. They probably were if they were open. Another big disappointment. He led us down the garden path again. Amsterdam was a bust. We parked the bus, walked 30 minutes to the Red light district, had to grab lunch there then walk back to the bus and again drive 30 minutes to our hotel. So disappointing. We drove to The Hague with very little documention but Roderick wanted to show us the βjewelβ of holland. The βjewelβ was his house. Really!!! Note this was the only time the bus parked with only a 4 minute walk. This stop was totally unnecessary as we could have spent the time sightseeing this beautiful city. Then there was keukenhof. Roderick built us up the see the beautiful tulip gardens. The tulips were finished. I realize Roderick had no control over this but please be honest with us. On the flip side we had two nice canal rides, a tour of Luxembourg, a good tour in Brugge and a tour of the windmills. The side trip to Ypres was wonderful. The tour itself was very disappointing but having a really bad travel director made it worse. I will definitely not reccommend Trafalgar tours to anyone.
Date of experience: June 10, 2024
