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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US
I would never do another Trafalgar tour again. I just recently completed a 12 day European whirlwind tour with the tour guide Caroline. Not only was she condescending and rude but also quite belittling. I had informed the company of my dietary requirements when completeing my registration, but I had to constantly ask staff if there was anything dairy and meat free for me to eat. The optional experiences didn’t feel very optional at all as Caroline pressured me into doing them. There were a few I didn’t want to do and would have much preferred doing my own thing, but Caroline responded quite rudely stating “what will you do then, just stay in the hotel because everything is far from the hotel”. On top of that, the fine print mentioned that IF we were satisfied with the service only then were we expected to tip. Both my cousin and I paid for our end of trip transfers, but Caroline pulled us aside and made us pay tips otherwise she wouldn’t take us on the bus to the airport. Honestly, apart from the fabulous group, I was counting down the days!
Date of experience: November 17, 2023
Wish I had read the reviews before booking with Trafalgar - I will NEVER travel with this tour company again. In September 2023 myself and a travel companion traveled to Northern Spain. The experience for the most part was awful. Some hotels were lovely, some meals were good, wine was plentiful but other hotels and meals were terrible. Biggest complaint was the pressure and fast paced walking to keep up with the tour director. It was rush, rush, rush with little to no time to explore, take pictures, etc. There were 52 passengers on the bus and little time to use the restrooms when we stopped, get a refreshment or look around. The whole trip was exhausting and grueling and it was clear the tour director just had a schedule to keep (not his fault). I was so glad when the tour came to an end.
Date of experience: November 10, 2023
US
Not for seasoned travelers, or people who need detail. First and last tour with Trafalgar. We did the Imperial Europe tour, and they don't provide any details as to bus travel time or when you'll be free to do whatever you want until the day of. You will spend about half the tour on a full bus. Trafalgar's response that they send documents with details is a lie - they send the same generic itinerary that is listed on the website - no specific details or even time ranges as to travel/arrival times in each city. A quarter of the bus came down with COVID (including us) and there were no rules to ensure that everyone else wouldn't get sick. Hotels were good (except Salzburg), provided meals were awful. The included morning city tours were awful - you get so much more detail by taking a free tour instead. We didn't get to do the one additional tour that we actually wanted to do. It was canceled on the way, and we wasted the entire day waiting to move on to the next city. Barely had any time to do our own thing. Were hustled from one city to the next, and didn't have one morning to sleep in. The one upside is that they lugged our bags from the room to the bus. Downside: if you arrive early, or leave late, they won't include the airport transfer. So stupid. Never again.
Date of experience: October 31, 2023
US
Three tour directors and 2 drivers within the first 6 days! First director was disinterested gave misinformation, unprofessional to the point of advising who he slept with at a site stop! It took 2 days and repeated requests before he provided his phone number. Then advised wanted to see blood before that number was called. We asked Trafalgar Australia if our small wheeled cabin bags could be accommodated in the hold of the bus as we understood they could not go in the overhead space due to safety. They confirmed this would be OK after checking with management. The tour director advised no when we arrived telling us they would have to stay at the hotel. This was the result of a number of tours being combined and a 100% full bus now not what we were advised were average numbers. The bus driver however next day day got the bags on with no problem after we had spent the night repacking. No effort was made to get people on the bus to get to know each other. The result of this was that groups formed with little interaction with others. A sick couple who started the tour took no precautions to prevent the spread of illness. The tour director offered no assistance when requested for medical help. Trafalgar claimed to have a hygiene policy however this was never advised or implemented. This resulted in a bus load of very sick people who could not enjoy the tour. The accommodation was 3 star at best with some locations well out of the city centres eg: one located in an industrial park, some also very dated. Breakfasts supplied where OK however dinners supplied were hit and miss. Many optionals could not be taken due to illness. One optional was cancelled with no replacement. On the last day we were with the assistance of a guide to "wander" Dublin with a view of Trinity college instead we went around on the tour bus and saw and heard the same commentary as per day one. Tour numbers were large well over what Trafalgar advertise as average numbers. This was due to a number of tours being combined as mentioned earlier. Some day stops were too long and other stops eg: English markets at Cork were pointless. Third Director Pat and second driver Hugo did a good job to try and salvage a sick and unhappy tour. It appeared there was little or no hand over eg: who had already paid for some optionals. At a farewell dinner (arranged by some guests) everyone expressed such dissatisfaction that they would have gladly left the tour and gone home days earlier. I note that if Trafalgar respond at all to the feedback given it is in a very generic and standard response. No Trafalgar we don't have great memories and are still trying to recover some 2 weeks later. We have travelled extensively on our own and on tours. This I would rate as our worst experience which is disappointing as Trafalgar is clearly riding on an outdated reputation. As noted by Maria( on our tour, previous feedback on this site) we should have done more research.
Date of experience: October 28, 2023
US
The Amazing Ireland tour was OK although the luxury coach was not really comfortable or Senior Friendly. Illness very quickly went through the coach. It was not managed. We wore our masks and took our vitamins and thought we had escaped it but the day after the tour I tested positive for Covid 19. As I was having a family reunion in London that day it really spoilt things for us all.My husband tested positive a few days later. He is 83. I have tried to contact Trafalgar on Social Media and other than a stock reply they are just not interested. I have found out since by reading other people's reports that Covid 19 has been going through other Trafalgar Amazing Ireland tours as well. It's not just about legroom on the seating. The steps on the coach were very steep. My husband struggled getting up and down the steps to the coach as did I. The steps near the toilet were even worse. On previous tours with Cosmos the driver would help people alight. There was no sign of this here. I have to admit the poor driver was busy with the luggage. A lot of the accommodation was miles out of town eg. Oranmore in an industrial park. Who wants to stay there? There was nothing there! We were supposed to be in Galway. The same with Donegal. We were miles out in a god forsaken place at an old hotel where nothing worked- Kees Hotel. All these name places were very misleading. And the stopping times! We were supposed to go to Knock Marian Shrine which was meant to be one of my highlights but we only had had 30 min stop there. I had to run from one place to another. I was told later it was only a toilet stop.That was not in the paperwork. I would not do a Trafalgar tour again. All the information received before the tour is misleading. I blame myself for not doing my research properly.
Date of experience: October 23, 2023
Best of Italy, Best of my trips! This trip exceeded my expectations! The tourist guide, Romeo, was a 10! The hotels were very comfortable,(a couple of them luxurious, a couple of them excellent and a couple of them very good./ Food offered pretty good. Dinner in the Tuscany Hills unbelievable. Coach very comfortable and clean. I traveled with the "other " company before, the one starts with "G", and definitely Trafalgar was the best (My second tour with them).Hopefully I can make many more tours with them.
Date of experience: October 17, 2023
Crap Attituded. Spent around $5k for a tour group and now they won't refund 59 euro / $65 USD. I took a Trafalgar tour in September 2023—The best of Germany and Austria tour. First let me say the tour itself was very, good. (Okay some of the hotels needed some reconditioning). I can't say enough good things about the Tour Guide and the Bus Driver. They were great! I arrived in Frankfurt two days before the tour began. I paid $65 for a Trafalgar car service to get me from the airport and take me to the hotel. NO-SHOW CAR SERVICE! Called the DVS car service phone number; it was either printed wrong on the voucher or the number was no longer in service. I Called the Trafalgar Euro Guest Service phone number from the airport. A nice young lady tried to reach the car service and could not reach them either. I was told to take a taxi or whatever means to the hotel and keep the receipt. Called Trafalgar from the hotel and spoke to a nice young man he told me I would be reimbursed for the $65 for the DVS car service and for me to email the Taxi receipt with the cost of the taxi to Trafalgar's Guest Relations department which handles these issues. I got back to the States and sent in the Taxi receipt for the 59 Euro / $ 65 USD taxi expense to... their guest relastions. I received an email back that read... "We are unable to refund your taxi costs as this was purchased outside of your package with us. With this in mind, we are more than happy to reimburse the costs paid to us prior to departure". That's the $65 car service that I didn't receive. Outside of my tour package?????? I wrote back asking Janis... "How was I supposed to get to the hotel"? Janis replied with... You independently purchased and utilized the taxi service so this amount cannot be refunded by us. Along with... We have refunded the monies owed to you for the service that was not provided and consider this matter closed. What great public relations. Of course, there is no phone number to call and speak to someone in the Guest Relations Department. Only email. Why do you think there is only email? My Germany and Austria trip now leaves me with a little sour taste. I'll get through it, it's only $65. It just pisses you off when your told one thing and then get a bit screwed by Janis in Guest Relations. Along with their attitude. If I had spoken to someone or had a kinder email (not the typical corporate email attitude), I probably would not be writing this review. I'm looking into another tour for the spring of 24. I am not sure I will look into Trafalgar again.
Date of experience: October 17, 2023
In general I have a bias against tours as they are 60% more than what I would pay when I set up my own tour, as I would stay in better hotels or B&Bs, eat better quality food and be more comfortable traveling when touring alone. That said, driving on the left was absolutely a non-starter for me to see Britain. I wanted a tour that took us through England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and hit many of the high points that I would have chosen to see. Overall I would give this Trafalgar tour an overall C grade. The Tourguide and Driver: Gary and Sid are top notch. Gary is personable, intelligent and obviously very experienced. Sid was a fantastic bus driver. They would both get 10/10 an A as far as I am concerned. The Bus: I have taken 2 other tours with Globus and never remember being as uncomfortable as I was this trip. I am relatively at the weight for my height but felt so uncomfortable any time we were not in the “special” seats. The sizes of the buses themselves may not vary but certainly the number of the seats does and we were uncomfortable. Additionally there was little room at the top for other belongings. I would rate the bus a D. The sights: we were very happy with the sights we went to most of the places we were supposed to go. Additionally every stop to use the facilities seemed to be carefully chosen and not wasted. However that said some people never got an email at the start of the tour to see the city of London. Personally we had made other plans anyway but just as a matter of principal we along with others were never notified of this tour. Just no excuse really. Sights were B+. The accommodations: I would say a good 1/3 of the places we stayed we would never stay in. A prime example is the Holiday Inn in Edinburgh that was a complete embarrassment (an F). I took pictures and hope I can post them but many of us were pretty disgusted. It was old, run down, carpets dirty, the heat couldn’t be controlled, the furniture was broken, there was mold in the bathroom and the radiators in our room had paint peeling off them which could be a potential health hazard for children if it's lead paint. Almost every hotel had no ice not 1 ice dispenser or mini-refrigerators. On the other hand the hotels in London, Laggan and the Clayton Ballsbridge in Glasgow were outstanding. Several of the others had issues with lack of control for heat primarily and were in various states of dated. Overall a C-. The food: I didn’t go on a tour for the food and it was hit or miss. Breakfasts at every place we went were exactly the same. It was like the same company prepared the food for the entire trip. First the show at Taylor’s in Ireland was great. Alternately I can say for sure the Dinner at the Crowne and Anchor in Plymouth, the Farewell Dinner was horrible. My wife had the fish and I heard many complaints about it as bony and heavily breaded. I had the sausage and bacon pigs in a blanket, but there was no blanket. It was one of the worst ideas for a meal Ive had in my life. Dessert was good though. The food at Dartmoor was very good as was the Laggan. In a couple of places there was uncertainty about drinks such as Durty Nellies we paid 47£ per person and had to pay for the first drink but initially informed it came with 1 drink? We questioned the waitress and she said she was correct that we had to pay except she later came back and apologized and told us we then had a free round. That’s great if you drink more than 1 drink but not so much if you don’t. There was also confusion at the Welsh Dinner as well so there should be more guidance given regarding what will or will not be served for drinks. Lunch on the farm in Scotland seemed forced. I learned nothing about life on a Scotish farm from that experience. Food overall was a C. Finally, there should also be name tags. I get that Trafalgar is worried about plastic but there is a way to recycle the name tags and just change the names with paper or use adhesive backed paper. It least for a few days this would be useful. I would never consider another Trafalgar tour or recommend it to friends in the future based on my experience and the subsequent ineloquent company response.
Date of experience: October 10, 2023
I just returned from Trafalgar's Italy Belisimo. A word of warning for those of you thinking of booking this tour. This trip was a constant go, go, go. Many days we spent 10 hours touring, which includes traveling on the bus for long hours, walking, way too many water taxis in Venice, and city tours that were a waste of time and my money. All of the hotels are very old. This is not a trip for those who cannot walk at least 8-10 miles a day. Even the younger people on my tour were exhausted. So many stairs, with no elevators. Rome is dirty and crowded. Venice...what can I say. We had to depart our bus to take a water taxi to the gondolas (which was only a 10 minute ride through the canals with rude gondolas drivers), then a water taxi to the hotel, which is on an island in venice. this hotel has no elevators, so be aware and no ground floor rooms either. All in all I counted 9 water taxi rides in Venice to get where we were going. I slipped getting into one of them and sprained my ankle. Florence was busy and not worth the visit. Yes some sites were beautiful, but I felt this trip was rushed from day 1. Hardly any down time. 10 days of constant on the go is exhausting. I also did not like the fact that at many of our stops Trafalgar steered us to shops that they have a contract with. In other words, they offer you a discount, but their merchandize is out of my price range, especially the leather shop in Florence and the glass blowing shop in Venice. Many times the tour would run out of time to get to our hotels before we made our dinner stop. So instead of going to our hotel, we had to arrive at dinner hot, sweating, and smelling. Gross. I would not recommend this trip.UPDATE: read trafalgar’s response. I am tired of their platitudes and the company response. I have done 4 other tours with them and each time I contacted them about the various flaws and problems with their tours. they refuse to change. I’m not buying the line about hotels in Europe not up to my standards. There are plenty of hotels in Europe that are far better than what you provide on the tours. You state that I do not have to visit the shops you recommend. The only reason I went in there was because they offered free bathrooms if you listened to their presentations. Really? Trafalgar do you think I am stupid? I see what you are doing with these tours. Charge your guests outrageous prices but skimp on everything else. This is my last tour with you. By the way do you read the reviews? They are not kind . Don’t insult my intelligence by giving me this sort of response. I am done with you.
Date of experience: October 3, 2023
Never will we travel with Trafalgar again. Paid top price and got budget tour from Madrid to Barcelona bus tour. Very little stopping to take pictures and shown very little tourist attractions. All about going from start to finish and nothing in-between. So disappointed after travelling hard way around the world.
Date of experience: September 26, 2023
