Thank you for your help with the organisation for our lovely holiday to the Palladian Villas of Veneto & Northern Italy. We all enjoyed it very much and arrived home safely. The journey back from Bristol faced some problems but due to another fire on the motorway not Tailored Travel! Thank you again.

Sue D, Plymouth October 2025

 

The holiday to Cardiff and South Wales was very successful to the point that many of our participants have already asked where are we going next year. The efficiency of the team at Tailored Travel is to be commended and in particular I give my thanks to Damian Wright and Petra Howes. The itinerary was particularly appreciated by all on the trip. The coach and its driver were excellent as was the Blue Badge guide. I am now looking to compile an itinerary for next September to visit Chester.

Peter S, Rainham October 2025

 

We returned yesterday from our wonderful 5 day trip to Porto. The Hotel was lovely and the staff very helpful and friendly. The weather was perfect - which always helps. In the short time we were there we did some lovely things including - the boat trip on the Douro - the tour of the Aveleda gardens and vineyard - the tour of the Casa da Musica - all memorable. We had a group of 33 very happy customers, but a lot of that was due to our wonderful guide whose happy disposition, helpfulness and knowledge of the City of Porto made it a very successful trip. Thank you so much for organising it for us.

Linda B, Chichester October 2025

 

The Porto holiday went so well. I know I am not alone in thoroughly enjoying all aspects of the very varied itinerary over the five days. It was not too much of any one thing with the fascinating art gallery, the winery, trip on the Douro, the amazing Casa de Musica to name a few as well as getting a good overview of the beautiful city of Porto. Our tour manager was a gem and put across his knowledge so well including amusing anecdotes . He seemed to ‘read’ his audience well.

Diana F, Chichester October 2025

 

Many, many thanks for such a super holiday to Porto. It was truly fantastic - great people, super hotel, splendid itinerary and our tour manager was delightful. So easy for all of us, but I do realise what a huge effort it takes from you and you always do it perfectly and always without a fuss. The added bonus of the last meal was fantastic too. As for the weather - wonderful.

Tricia G, Chichester October 2025

 

We arrived home safely from Yorkshire and had an excellent holiday with good weather! Please thank Vasiliki for her detailed planning - she was most helpful and prompt in answering my queries. Also the team that responded to the two members who had to cancel at the last moment - they were impressed by how they received some money back so swiftly.

Janet W, St. Albans October 2025

 

A huge thanks to all in Tailored Travel for a brilliant trip to Florence & Tuscany. I have received a lot of very positive feedback from those on the trip. Our tour manager and driver were fabulous and very patient even when planned entry times on the itinerary were under pressure given the additional time needed for walking by some of the group. Personally I found them both great to work with and Elaine was very well organised, in particular in giving clear advance information in meeting points & times and liaising with the hotel when changes needed to be made with meal times due to delays/requests etc. All the local guides were very good and the members commented on how knowledgeable they were especially when asked questions. Pisa was a big plus and everyone valued the addition to the itinerary not to mention the effort put in by Elaine in securing a guided tour. We were in good hands with Hilaria (pardon the likely misspelling of her name) she gave a fantastic tour and was very warm & friendly. The trip to the wine tasting farm was enjoyed by all and a few commented specifically on how generous the food and wine portions were and the excellent quality, in comparison to other tastings they had attended. The hotels were both very good and the staff were friendly and attentive. There will always be a few who have complaints about one thing or another but I observed that the overwhelming majority had a fantastic trip and would join again, they are already asking about next year’s trip!

Michelle W, Cork October 2025

 

The tour to Western Sicily & Palermo went very well. Our tour manager was exceptional in every way. From the moment we arrived she took care of everything. Her attention to everyone’s requirements was second to none. She was the absolute best and I had no worries at all apart from personalities within the group which at times was a challenge! She brought the island’s history to life with her enthusiasm and extensive knowledge - we had a professor of the history of ancient art and she was super impressed with her knowledge The hotel was excellent. In a pretty location with restaurants all round. Clean, efficient, very helpful staff and a great breakfast spread. Everyone commented favourably Even EasyJet was fine… Thank you so much, Sandy, for all your assistance and reassurance, this meant so much to me especially as I wasn’t 100% with my new knees…they too survived Erice and Palermo which were challenging walking days.

Elizabeth L, Betchworth October 2025

 

I was a participant in The Friends trip to Florence and Tuscany on the 1st October from Cork, Ireland. Well I had a fabulous time with a well organised itinerary, talented and courteous bus driver and a lovely hotel. All of the above was organised throughout by our kind and professional guide who saw to our every need. No task was too great. A very knowledgeable lady. Thank you again for a successful trip.

Kathleen A, Cork October 2025

 

Thanks so very much for doing so much to make our holiday to North Yorkshire a real success. Our members loved it all. The Blue Badge Guides made it such a success. Having two guides for the York and Harrogate visits was a masterstroke as we could tailor the groups to suit their needs. The visit to The Cathedral was of course great. Our visit to Wentworth Woodhouse was also a huge success and the lunch they provided was fantastic AND we had the lunch in The Long Gallery with delightful old fashioned crockery. It was really lovely. Do recommend it to future travellers!! Linda persuaded Chris the driver to drive across the moors rather than take the coast road.....and that was a masterstroke!! So.....thanks again for all your work on our behalf it was and is greatly appreciated. Off now to study the brochure for next year… Northumberland is looking interesting!!

Anne F, Carshalton October 2025

 

Hi Sandy, I just wanted to write and thank you for organising our trip to Gloucestershire, Herefordshire & Birmingham. It was very successful and everybody enjoyed it. I have received so many messages of congratulation and thanks. I think you and I worked well together to get just the right itinerary. I am now starting to consider next year's trip. Thanks again.

Susanna S, Norwich October 2025

 

I would like to thank you for all the hard work you put into arranging such an interesting and varied programme for us. We were so lucky with the weather and were able to take full advantage of the lovely walks around the gardens of the various stately homes we visited. The coach driver was really co-operative and the Blue Badge Guide was a mountain of knowledge! The staff at the hotel looked after us well and all in all I had no complaints other than praise. Despite the limited numbers we had a wonderful time and I look forward to arranging another holiday for next year. Many thanks.

Beverley W, Ascot June 2025

 

The WFS/Tailored Travel tour of England was great. We received a lot of positive feedback from everyone about the tour. They are looking forward to the next WFS trip. We will be in touch when we plan the next tour.

Stephen C, USA June 2025

 

It does seem that once again you have helped to make one of our Study Tours a great success - thank you so much.  I certainly appreciate your organisational skills which have greatly benefited the participants in this tour.  The messages on our tour group WhatsApp page at the end of the tour include the words “fantastic”, “memorable”, “terrific”, “fabulous”.  There have been no words of complaint as far as I am aware although the word “exhaustion” has been used by a couple of our members, but I think that this is a very happy exhaustion.

David B June 2025

 

We had a great holiday last week! The hotel was the BEST EVER. Members were very pleased with the hotel and their rooms - every one of them was fabulous. Unfortunately it rained for our first day at the Giant's Causeway, but the rest of the week was fine. We enjoyed our time at Stormont. Our guides managed to find a way to go to a side entrance where we allowed to go into the building and even met and shook hands with Michelle O'Neil and Emma Little-Pengally.  The whole holiday went to plan and was well organised. Everyone has been very complimentary to me and thanked me for organising yet another great holiday, thanks to Tailored Travel. Another success.

Louise P June 2025

 

I returned from Northumberland on Saturday after a marvellous time. It was a great trip - not a drop of rain while we were there and some wonderful places to see and experience! Thank you for all the work you put in to make our holidays so enjoyable.

Anna S May 2025

 

The holiday to Northern Italy & Lake Garda last week was a huge success, definitely one of the best I have been on with Tailored Travel. The itinerary was strenuous but covered so much art and history of that part of Northern Italy. The hotel was welcoming and very comfortable with wonderful food and the staff were diligent in making sure that those with particular allergies and preferences were catered for. There was praise from everyone for the range and quality of the food and the prices at the bar in the evening were very reasonable.

Our driver was outstanding. We were very lucky with the weather, sunny and warm everyday.  I must give most praise to our guide, Lara. She is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and made every effort to speak to everyone each day to check that they were enjoying the holiday.

As you know this is my last holiday as group organiser. I will be going on other holidays but I will give advice if the new organiser needs help. Thank you for your support over the last years. Your attention to detail really helps any group leader. I hope to enjoy many more of your holidays but probably from the back of the coach! 

Sally B May 2025

 

We just wanted to say thank you to you, and the committee, together with Tailored Travel, for organising a very successful visit to Vienna. Everything went very smoothly with no hiccups or disasters that we were aware of. We both enjoyed the whole experience and would have no hesitation in recommending Tailored Travel for any future trips.

A & RW May2025

 

We’re now back home after a fantastic trip to the Peak District. Thank you so much for handling everything for us. You were marvellous. Our driver was brilliant and was well liked by the group. He drove very carefully and we all felt safe in his very careful hands. The coach was excellent, the best we’ve ever had. Our Blue Badge guide was a great choice. He was very knowledgeable and he managed the days efficiently and with good humour. Thehotel was very convenient and absolutely adequate. The rooms were good and the staff were brilliant. We are all very happy and you were clever to arrange for the sun to shine every day. Many many thanks to you and the whole team.

Richard L May 2025

 

I just wanted you to know we had a most enjoyable time in Devon. Hotel - excellent location, food and service. I received lots of positive comments and Kerry was most helpfu. Our driver Chris Offer did a great job, particularly on some very narrow lanes and difficult entrances. Our Tour Guide wasa very nice man. Perhaps I could take this opportunity Louise to thank you for your excellent administration. The briefing you gave me prior to our departure was much greater than I expected. I was very impressed.

Ian W May 2025

 

I recently went to the Basque Country with my group and I wanted to leave an appreciation of our tour manager/guide Paul. He was extremely helpful and always unobtrusively keeping an eye out for the slowest member of the group - usually me - and he offered welcome support. The tour ran like clockwork, and if it didn’t we didn’t know about it. The last night in Biarritz was wonderful. The hotel was a magnificent example of Art Deco - even the WC seats were of a design which complemented the style. I just wanted to express my thanks to Paul who was everything a Tour Manager should be. 

Sandie M April 2025

 

Thank you very much for organising the Valencia trip for us. The feedback from those that went was that they thought it was excellent. The hotel was very good and its situation on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento couldn't be better as it is very central and very convenient, especially because it's near the Old City. The rooms are very nice and the hotel staff were very nice and helpful. Our Tour Manager was excellent. Nothing was too much for her and she is very thoughtful in that she took into consideration that she was dealing with a group of older people. She pointed out a few places that we could visit, in our own time, such as el Museo del Ayuntamiento, el Museo de Fallas and el Estacion del Norte. The two tour guides were very good and obviously knew their subjects. The group enjoyed all of the visits which were nicely balanced and we had enough free time to go to the beach/marina, shopping or to go and visit places that were not included in the itinerary or had been pointed out. The restaurant we went to for the first and last evening was very good. All in all an excellent trip, thank you. 

Seanne G March 2025

 

I was a member of the group that visited Naples and am now writing to you to tell you what a very special experience it was for me. Our hotel was splendid, our guide was amazing and our driver who helped to keep us together was quite charming. They were a great team. Our guide’s knowledge and her delivery of it was second to none in my experience. Her knowledge of Naples was extraordinary and that she often met people or friends she knew as we made our way around made Naples seem more like a little country town than à seething city. They say see Naples and die - I felt so beautifully exhausted afterwards just from the sheer pleasure of the whole experience that I felt I knew what that meant. Our group blended very well and in addition to our enjoyment of your program we had great fun together. I have taken many trips with our group and this was the best ever. Thank you so very much for arranging it.

Jackie H March 2025

 

Thank you so much for organising an amazing trip to Naples. By general consent, this was the best trip that you have organised for us. The itinerary was brilliant, with time for coffee breaks and very little tome spent on the coach - that was a real benefit. The sites visited were, of course, extraordinary. You found a very special guide for us. Everyone loved her - she had the expert knowledge and a wonderful personality as well. I cannot praise this trip highly enough. It was truly superb. Finally, a big thank you to Tailored Travel for a fantastic tour.

Bernard A March 2025

 

Just a quick email to thank you for your part in helping to organise such a successful tour to Venice. My sister, Janet, and I had a wonderful week. The group size worked well, our hotel was central and very comfortable, we had some amazing private viewings and recitals, learnt more about the composers and artists, thanks to Peter and Tom, and were well looked after. I could not fault the guides, the tour and the overall organisation. Even the weather was kind. Many thanks for all your work.

Betty S February 2025

 

To Peter Medhurst - I would like to thank you (and your cohorts in Italy and London) for all the hard work that you put into making such a terrific and memorable week in Venice. We really enjoyed talking with our fellow guests, what an interesting group. The thorough research and organisation made everything seem effortlessly smooth. The hotel was the ideal choice, perfect location, super staff, huge comfy rooms and of course our very own lecture room! Your morning lectures set each day off on the right tracks and with the “whisperers” we felt both informed, in the right place and yet unshepherded. We loved the Vaporettos and our time on the water but the highlight has to be your organ concerts, largely in a “private view” as well as the floodlit visit to St Marks. Actually every day had a highlight! Everything seemed thought through and everybody had a great time. Well done, the recipe works faultlessly.

Robin & Sarah B February 2025

 

We are all back safely from a wonderful trip to Derbyshire and Warwickshire.  It went splendidly and we all enjoyed it enormously.  The snow arrived when we visited Chatsworth which added to the magic of Christmas. We thought the hotel was great, very helpful and friendly staff with a good selection of tasty and well cooked meals. The staff at Compton Verney and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre were knowledgeable and interesting. I really appreciate your help and efficiency and wanted to say a big thank you from us.

GT, Newmarket November 2024

 

I thought the whole trip to Lincoln was excellent - very comfortable hotel, good coach driver, wonderful visits with great guides and mostly dry and sunny weather! Who could ask for more? Thank you so much and here’s to next year in Devon! 

WT, Esher November 2024

 

Thank you so much for organising our two trips to Tuscany. As usual the arrangements were impeccable. Both hotels looked after us extremely well. The town of Montecatini Terme was a hit: I think everyone took the opportunity to take the funicular to the high town. Both hotels gave "farewell dinners" which was highly appreciated and helped to create a lovely atmosphere. And the second hotel gave me a superb room. Our tour manager was a sensation! He and I had a wonderful rapport, everyone in both groups loved him. He is definitely the best tour guide we have had. His knowledge of Italian art and culture was amazing and really made a big difference to our enjoyment. PLEASE PLEASE could we have him again next year? (We have two holidays already arranged: Naples in March and the Cote d'Azur in September).

BA, Midhurst November 2024

 

Just letting you know we all got back safely from the trip to Northern Italy yesterday and everyone had a great time. The feedback has been great and we especially liked the guide in Ferrara who was superb, and in Mantova, very knowledgeable. Highlights for me besides the guided tours were the Teatro Olimpico and the Cappella degli Scrovegni. Wonderful. The hotel was lovely and the staff there great. We especially enjoyed the few times we were able to get into the pool. Time was our enemy as we had some long days and one evening some horrible traffic but the warm pools were fantastic. Thank you for organising us so well and to your colleagues for suggesting it.

CS, Reigate November 2024

 

Well our members are still buzzing about Puglia and I'm slowly getting back to all the other things I need to do. One thing I forgot to say in our phone call was just how good the local guides were.

FL, Tonbridge November 2024

 

I have just returned from the Tuscany tour. This was one of the most enjoyable organised tours I have been with. My art knowledge is a work in progress , but I found the tour guide incredibly inspiring. His enthusiasm was infectious and his knowledge and attention to detail was an education in itself. I’m looking forward to my next visit to Italy , hopefully soon.

CK, Midhurst October 2024 

 

Just wanted to say we are back (all in one piece) and had a ball. Andalucia is super part of Spain and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Thanks a mill for all your help and we are already planning next October’s trip!

MW, Cork October 2024

 

Margaret and I have had a get-together to discuss our recent holiday to Norfolk. We think we can safely say that it was a great success. There were so many positive comments from our members and so many enquiries about where we might go next year!! All the visits were well planned and we were well received and taken care of at all the venues. Our Blue Badge Guide was excellent. She certainly deserves a gold star. Not only was she very knowledgeable but she was aware of the various problems we encountered and dealt kindly and sympathetically with them. I think it is fair to say that for our members the holiday could hardly have been better! It was a great trip and thank you so very much for organising it for us. I do hope we can arrange another holiday for next year. 

AF, Carshalton October 2024

 

Just to let you know that the holiday to Wiltshire worked really well. We were congratulated on the choice of hotel with decent breakfast and dinner and for a varied interesting itinerary. The Blue Badge Guide did an excellent job and so did the coach driver.  Therefore, we had no complaints only thanks for a wonderful holiday.

J&MY, Sheffiled October 2024

 

On behalf of the Arts Society, I would like to thank you very much for arranging our group trip to North Wales. It was very successful and I heard no word of complaint during the trip or since! Even the weather was kind to us. The itinerary suited us perfectly: the places visited were varied and interesting, allowing us to have a good experience of this part of the country. Our Blue Badge Guide was delightful and knowledgeable. She worked very well with the Group, understanding the needs of an older audience, and making the visits very entertaining. We learned a lot from her. We felt very safe with our driver - an excellent driver, courteous and punctual, and we were amazed at his ability to squeeze his coach through narrow gates originally designed for a coach pulled by horses. Our thanks to him. The hotel was in a good location and perfect for our needs. The staff were very friendly and the food was good and plentiful. A number of the group enjoyed the spa facilities offered. So thank you once again for arranging a very successful trip and for your help to me as I had never organised this type of holiday before. I shall certainly be looking to arrange future trips with you.

MH, Gidea Park October 2024

 

Our tour to Lincoln was a great success. The hotel was excellent. A good position overlooking the river, we all had very nice rooms. I was very spoilt being allotted a suite with beautiful views! The welcome dinner was in a private room and we were well looked after. Breakfast was also very good. I used the refund from the cancelled river trip for gratuities, which worked well - in fact it was a blessing in disguise that we did not go on the river as the weather that afternoon wasn't great. The Workhouse was very interesting, as was Gainsborough Old Hall. Many thanks to everyone who organised our holiday. It was a great success.

PC, Weybridge October 2024

 

In a nutshell – the trip to Northumbria was a huge success, from the hotel, excursion programme, blue badge guide and Tailored Travel’s very professional management – thank you, we are already in contact with Damian to plan a couple of trips for 2025.

PL, Crawley October 2024

 

Thank you so much for arranging a superb trip to Hidden Umbria for us. Many said it the best trip they had been on. And I will say it was superbly arranged. The travel was smooth and trouble free. The hotel was superb, an interesting historic family hotel with fascinating decoration and superb staff who looked after us very well, including making bookings for us at local restaurants. The initial meal was excellent, as was the final meal, which we all enjoyed very much. We also managed to find excellent food throughout the week. Andrea was one of our best tour guides. He was friendly, knowledgeable about the area, had a good sense of humour, was efficient and well organised and looked after us in all ways with concern. The trip would not have been the same without him. The guides we had were equally good, in particular Maura, who was so knowledgeable, pleasant and good at communicating, we had a separate collection for her at the end of the trip. Whether we can do a 17th trip in 2025 has not been agreed yet, but we will get back to you when we look like having a plan.

J & FB, Ryde October 2024

 

We were part of the tour to Kent which returned yesterday and wanted to say thank you for such an enjoyable holiday. The itinerary and houses/locations visited were so varied and interesting - highlights being Canterbury Cathedral, Chatham Historic Dockyard and Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s House. The staff at the hotel were excellent. The coach provided felt very luxurious and was spotless. Last but not least, we were so pleased to be driven around by David who we felt was a truly excellent driver. We hope he arrived safely home after what was a long drive. 

R & JL, Sheffield October 2024

 

Just wanted to tell you that the tour to Bologna, Mantova, Ferrara & Ravenna was so well received and we all thoroughly enjoyed the cities. Our tour manager was excellent and we don't say that lightly. She organized everyone beautifully. Her knowledge was truly awesome as everyone agreed, we have learnt so many facts about the places, families and the history of the area. Nothing was too much trouble and we all walked where necessary quite happily even though the heat sapped our strength somewhat. Times were perfect and our driver was wonderful in getting us everywhere safely. Thank you, also, for arranging our flight home through the previous one being cancelled. It turned out to be in our favour, it was much appreciated. There will probably be someone else arranging the next tour for our Society but Tailored Travel has done us proud on this Bologna Tour. With many, many thanks.

VR, Bracknell September 2024

 

My wife & I have just returned from the tour of Glasgow - which we thoroughly enjoyed, despite train troubles in both directions! That those troubles didn't greatly inconvenience us is very much thanks to teamwork between you and our group leader, Glenys. Yesterday especially, when not only "our" train but also some later ones were cancelled, could have caused major problems (OK, I'll admit, I wouldn't have been too disappointed had we had to stay another 24 hours...) but when Glenys phoned you and found that you'd already rebooked us a great cheer went up from our group! It was an excellent tour - comfortable room, enjoyable food, very good coach and driver and an interesting programme, but I must direct special praise towards our tour guide. She was so knowledgeable, good company and a great ambassador both for Glasgow and for Scotland. We're both looking forward to more tours with Tailored Travel!

LB, Bromley September 2024

 

We returned on Friday from our very enjoyable week in Oxford and we wanted to thank you for all the hard work that you put into arranging the tour for us. A particular thank you for the ground floor room which was a great help. Pretty well everything went so smoothly - on time, well balanced itinerary and interesting places for lunch and dinners. I know how much behind the scenes work that you have to do for that to happen.   There was a lot of walking which we expected, but we kept up. So very many thanks from us both.

MV & JS, Budleigh Salterton September 2024

 

A belated thank you for all your help in making our trip to Glasgow happen. All in all a success. Your prompt response to our one complaint was greatly appreciated by all as was the Prosecco reception. We were blown away by the content of this trip. Our driver was great and the Blue Badge guide very professional. Very easy to work with both. There is an appetite for a further trip and I shall certainly be recommending that my successor (when identified) works with TT. Big thanks from us all.

JG, Harrogate September 2024

 

That was quite some trip north of the border! Many thanks for organizing such a splendid itinerary which was brilliantly paced. I don't think that we left a stone unturned in the Glasgow area and my "bucket list" benefitted, as both Dumfries House and the Burrell Collection featured high on the list. We were indeed fortunate to have James as our driver and our Blue Badge Guide was perfect in that he did not overload us with statistics. The weather could have been kinder but at least the sun shone for our whistle stop tour of the Dumfries Walled Garden and for my very first encounter with the delights of Gretna Green. With best wishes and here's hoping that there might be another trip in 2025/26?

MA, Knaresborough September 2024

 

Many thanks for yet another very interesting and enjoyable visit to Oxford. I particularly enjoyed the music performed by Peter and William in some wonderful locations. The private recitals and visits make us feel very special and privileged. The care and thought that go into the preparation of these tours makes them flow delightfully, however, I know that this does not happen by chance! I look forward to hearing about the plans for next year. Thank you again.

JR, Falmouth September 2024

 

Thank you so much for all you did to arrange such a good week in Oxford. I really enjoyed it all. It was such a privilege to stay in Christ Church, to ascend and descend the staircase to the great Hall where monarchs and the great and good (some dodgy ones too no doubt) have dined and so did we. My room was very comfortable and easy to access so I was very happy. The joy of coming with your tours is being able to hear music in unexpected places. The Bate Collection was very special as well as piano and super organ playing. It was good to hear William say how much he had enjoyed his time with us too. All best wishes and huge thanks.

JM, Broadway September 2024

 

It was a great tour your arranged to Chester and Welsh Borders which my wife and I really enjoyed. Saw places never before visited and encouraged to return.

JS, Wickham Bishops Sept 2024

 

We all had another wonderful trip, this time to Norfolk. Claire was as usual an excellent guide. She has worked with us for the last three years and got to know us well.

MG, Solihull August 2024

I had a great deal of feedback from those members who participated in the tour to Northumbria, all of which were extremely positive. The holiday was very successful and your itinerary was well planned.

AS, Tenterden July 2024

 

We had an excellent holiday in Suffolk which our Chair and two past Chairs considered was the best Society's Holiday we have ever had! Well done again Tailored Travel! 

JP, Olney July 2024

 

I just wanted to say a big 'thank you' to you for being such a great help to me with the holidays that have been organised by Tailored Travel. After eleven years and thirteen trips it has been fun...mostly...but without your super organisation and trouble shooting skills it wouldn't have been half as successful or as much fun. Thanks again and I hope you are able to build as good a relationship with Liz as I have with all of you at Tailored Travel over the past few years.

MT, Lewes June 2024

 

I went with four friends to Venice with Peter Medhurst last January.  A brilliant tour picking out the viewing of the mosaics at St Mark’s Basilica as a highlight! Despite it being in January we had  blue sky and no wind for the 7 days.  It was good to meet Tom again, having had him as my tour guide for the tour I arranged to Dresden and Berlin in 2014!

SD, Plymouth June 2024

 

The Arts Society trip to Sicily was a huge success, we all enjoyed it tremendously.  Not least due to our excellent guide who - apart from being the most lovely person - was a mine of information, and couldn't have done more for us on any level to make our week more interesting or enjoyable. The coach driver was also brilliant - always in the right place at the right time.  Our two agriturismo lunches out were excellent.

RH, Petersfield June 2024

 

I have now had more time to assess our trip to Northern Italy and received comments from my group which were all complimentary: some days were long but manageable with the weather - from a new member the hotel was fine - I echo this as the staff, rooms, food etc, were all first class. Omar the driver was excellent. Lara was excellent too and must have been shattered at the end. So wonderful that Lara had the ability to share her culture with us. Overall everyone had a super time and thanked me profusely at my organising to which I explained how much I work with you guys at TT. Many thanks for all your help over recent months.

RT, Bishop’s Stortford May 2024

 

Well we are back after a successful tour to Madrid and Salamanca. Once again many thanks for all your hard work in the organisation and planning of the tour. Here are some of the comments I have received from participants since returning home late last night.

“We had a fabulous time. Thanks to all who worked exhaustively to make this happen and everyone for a lovely atmosphere.”

“Great tour with like-minded people.”

“We had a wonderful time, learnt a lot, studied hard, and enjoyed everyone’s company. Thanks to everyone who made it so special.”

“A marvellous trip and wonderful company. Thanks to all involved.”

“A wonderful trip. Thanks for making it such fun….. see you next year.”

“Another AHS triumph. Great itinerary with like-minded people.”

“Well – another triumph! A huge success. Great hotels, lovely cities, and some excellent privileged access.”

We were very lucky to enjoy privileged access to many places that the general public never gets to see. Well now it is time to plan next year’s tour…

DB, Worthing May 2024

 

Your coach, both drivers, the ferry crossings, and the roads on the other side, really were all excellent. The Club lounge on the ferry was a star feature! We 'bad travellers' were nicely surprised and appreciate your organisation of all that (although you probably didn't have a hand in the roads). There is a lot to said for using one vehicle from door to door when it is as comfortable, and as well and safely driven is this was. The latter had been a concern of mine: I'm critical but couldn't fault Dave (nor the local short term driver). Everybody enjoyed the choice of the excellent hotel and its location, and our tour manager was kind, courteous, very conscientious and good company. We enjoyed all the itinerary, and the little known Panorama Mesdag (and its brilliant guide) was rated favourite venue by many, while the Amsterdam boat ride was disappointing, but we're glad to have done it. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and you made it very easy for us. It had also been very easy and pleasant dealing with you and your team to set up the tour.

RG, Ascot May 2024

 

I feel I must put in writing my thanks for the wonderful trip you organised for us in North Wales. We were fortunate with the weather and the whole group seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The holiday was a great success.

BW, Ascot May 2024

 

I am writing to thank you for arranging the holiday to Devon. It was most enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the cruise up the River Dart to Greenway and the visit to Coleton Fishacre. The weather was superb too. Particular thanks to our tour manager. He looked after all our needs and was kind and helpful.

JD, Canterbury May 2024

 

A big thank you for organising our trip to Cornwall. Everyone really enjoyed the trip. May I say thank you to everyone at Tailored Travel for arranging yet another fantastic trip. Looking forward to the next one!

BA, Midhurst May 2024

 

It was such a memorable trip to the Amalfi Coast, many of the travellers have sent me messages and gifts, I am quite overwhelmed.

RC, Leamington Spa May 2024

 

It really was an excellent holiday in Devon but I must mention specifically, the driver of our coach who was courteous and efficient and a very good driver! Also our Travel  Manager who was absolutely on the ball all the time, nothing was too much trouble and he looked after those people with physical problems in a very kind and caring way. He was also very knowledgeable and fed us nuggets of information along the way and kept us safe! The hotel was very good too. We had a very nice room and the staff were absolutely delightful. The food was excellent, and really swiftly served. Everything was done to ensure we were happy. So thank you to Tailored Travel for a really efficient and trouble free holiday, we hope to be part of another Friends Trip in the future 

G & AL, Canterbury May 2024

 

Another hugely enjoyable holiday for our Arts Society. Tailored Travel certainly did us proud with a most interesting and varied itinerary and a brilliant choice of guide and driver.

B&DC, Bristol May 2024

 

We arrived home yesterday form our tour of RHS Garden Bridgewater and Cheshire after what everyone agreed had been a great holiday and much was due to your excellently timed progrogramme and the fully briefed visits where we were expected and greeted on arrival. Best wishes  - and thanks again.

NW, Tavistock May 2024

 

We're on our way back now. The tour to Glasgow has been a triumph. All the venues proved interesting and a feast for the eyes. Our guide was excellent - knowledgeable and entertaining. He made everything run smoothly and went out of his way to find and book places for lunch. He also engaged specialist guides for the Burrell. Our driver was fantastic and took us down country lanes and byways without a flicker. We all felt very safe. We can recommend them both. Good hotel. Very comfortable and clean. Great breakfasts. It was nice to have an area dedicated for our evening meal and be served. We have all enjoyed the trip and thank you and the TT team for all your hard work. Here's to the next time.

SM, High Peak May 2024

 

The holiday to the Amalfi Coast was excellent in every way. The hotel, superb, itinerary perfect, the guides delightful. Two hot days of 26 degrees to start then cooler days, one rainy day. I would like to say what was my favourite place but they all were, Herculaneum amazing. The hotel highly recommended, very nice staff. The guide who met us couldn't have been a pleasanter more helpful man, he made the trip complete. I am now on a roll, everyone asking what am I organizing next. Thank you for all your help with this lovely adventure.

RC, Leamington Spa May 2024

 

Many thanks for organising our visit to Suffolk - everything had been planned perfectly - even the weather!! On behalf of the group I would like to express our gratitude - the hotel was wonderful, the staff there were incredibly obliging. Our guide was brilliant - she became a good friend as well. Driver James was also excellent. The sites visited were interesting and varied with local guides being extremely informative too. Many thanks again.

VM, Ashbourne May 2024

 

Northern Ireland was lovely and so was our group. We had amazing weather, a bit chilly but sunny. All the outings were really interesting and worthwhile. The hotel was lovely, friendly and fed us well. Our guide and the coach driver were delightful. They were informative, funny and very thoughtful. 

FH, East Grinstead April 2024 

 

Just to let you know we have said goodbye to our Blue Badge guide after three exceptionally successful days. Even our driver took the microphone and said ‘after 30 years of driving I have never had such a knowledgeable helpful and cheerful guide’. She was indeed one reason, as well as the program, that it has been so appreciated and enjoyed. 

AW, Cirencester April 2024

 

I’ve forwarded the details [of Glyndebourne Opera Tour 2024] on to members of the committee and offered to advise if anyone else wants to organise a Glyndebourne outing.  The four I did were quite brilliant, and I would love to do it again.

AD, Woodbridge April 2024

 

Now that I have settled back into the cold and the wet,  I wanted to thank you for all your help in putting together our very successful holiday to Naples last week. Everyone enjoyed it from the hotel to the marvellous Eliana. Helped by the near perfect weather and the help from Giovanni as well. Again thank you for your guidance and help, we shall have to think of where to go next.

KO, Malmesbury March 2024

 

I really enjoyed being Visits Secretary and our holidays with Tailored Travel did not disappoint. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed every holiday. The new Travel Organiser will enjoy the holidays. Thank you for organising such interesting and enjoyable holidays for our Arts Society. 

JM, Upminster January 2024

 

It has been great fun running these tours and working with you all. 

DWB, Topsham January 2024

 

We’ve had a really super trip and the arrangements were excellent. I’ve had lots of really good feedback from our members. Our driver was always helpful and friendly. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and went out of his way to make everything run smoothly. Thank you Louise for ensuring I had all the information I needed to make our trip run smoothly. It was a great success. We now look forward to travelling to Lincoln with Tailored Travel in the summer.

MW, Ascot December 2023 

 

Just to let you know our Glyndebourne tour went really well. The hotel staff looked after us superbly, the welcome drinks were provided as requested and food freshly cooked and delicious. We had coach parking on site at both NT properties, our Blue Badge guide was entertaining and the Opera was wonderful. We even had sunshine! Thank you so much for your help.

PT, Crowthorne November 2023

 

Just a note to say how happy our members have been with this year's holidays as is illustrated by the demand for next year.  In particular the number of single rooms is an enormous benefit because of high proportion of single members.

DS, Reading November 2023

 

What a stunning few days, a full itinerary of guided tours which introduced us to some fantastic works of art in Bologna, Mantova, Ravenna & Ferrara. So many delights to choose from but for me the highlights were the amazingly detailed mosaics of Ravenna. The fine art collection in the Pinacoteca Nationale and the Anatomical Museum in Bologna. Also the dramatic, neck aching, frescoes of Giulio Romano’s Room of Giant’s in the Palazzo Te, Mantova. Our main chatty guide was extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited and suggested a choice of local restaurants where we could enjoy the local cuisine, her specialty was the best gelato shop in each city! Our stay in the Hotel Touring was well located with such an easy walk through the beautiful colonnades to the centre of Bologna. Several of us took the opportunity, with a glass of wine, to take in the stunning views over roof tops of Bologna from the hotel’s guest balcony on the 5th floor. The weather throughout was on our side unfortunately the baggage handlers for our return flight were not! With our flight home cancelled Tailored Travel, liaising with Chris and Tamara, booked another flight for the Friday but from Pisa. This gave us all another sunny morning in Bologna but a very late return home. As a group we cannot thank Chris enough for organising us and Tailored Travel for their well organised and caring trip to such a beautiful area of northern Italy. 

SG, Swindon October 2023

 

We had a great tour of Veneto earlier this month. Another triumph for TT!

DH, Stratford-Upon-Avon October 2023

 

Just a quick email to thank you for all your hard work in making our holiday to the Lake District so successful, especially changing our visit from the lake to the Kendal Art Gallery. Everyone really appreciated your efforts. Thank you from all of us.

Dear Michael,

You are aware that during our tour of Worcestershire & Warwickshire last week, my group experienced some difficulties. Once your office was notified of the problems, they worked hard to ensure that the issues were resolved as soon as possible. Vasiliki Fotopoulou was amazing during the "coach breakdown," ensuring that I was fully informed of everything that was happening and giving me details of the various coach companies, which would be transporting us to our final destination. My feeling was that she really cared about my group and was not just doing her job. Your input was very much appreciated both in relation to the breakdown and the issue that arose on the Saturday evening.

It was very generous of you to pay for people's pre dinner drinks on the first evening, for which I am enclosing the receipt and also to pay for porterage, once our suitcases had arrived. However, after asking 3 times at Reception to pay the porterage bill, I was told that there would be no charge. I know that the members of my group greatly appreciated your gestures. I didn't have any complaints about the unfortunate start to the holiday, and I really hope that no one has complained to you since returning.

I have run 5 holidays in conjunction with your company, and never experienced an problems, until this year, but the way the problems were handled has given me ever confidence in Tailored Travel and would certainly recommend it to other people organising group holidays. I am looking forward to working with your company again for our 2024 holiday.

SE, Havering October 2023

 

I have led three successful tours.  It’s been a great experience due to TT’s expertise and planning so thank you.

SS, Stamford July 2023

 

My husband and I joined the holiday 'The History & Heritage of Wallonia'. It was so well organised and didn't have to worry about a thing. We particularly want to mention our tour manager. He was very caring, capable and cheerful and made our holiday.

CP, Tonbridge June 2023

 

Thank you very much for organising our trip to Umbria which has been a resounding success. Even before we left Italy people were asking where our next trip would be. I have received emails and cards from nearly everybody saying how much they enjoyed it. The feedback for the hotel has been good. The staff were friendly, professional and ready to help out with any problems. Andrea was excellent. He put in a lot of work liaising with the tour guides and the places we were going to visit. All of the tour guides were good, and what Mauro does not know about Art History is not worth knowing! Our coach driver Firenze was lovely and because he doesn't speak English I spoke French with him, as did some of the others in the group. The food at the restaurant in Spoleto was good and the staff there were good as well.  The family at the agriturismo were very welcoming and the food was very good. They brought their cars down to where the coach was and ferried people up the long drive to the farm. The welcome drinks and amuse bouche were appreciated after an early start and our visits to Sansepolcro and Arezzo. The members enjoyed the visits to the wine tasting, candle and paper making and the visit to the olive oil tasting was a particular success. The lady there who explained the process was very good and answered a lot of questions from the group and there was more than a bit of a spending spree in the shop! I would recommend this visit for other trips. It was a full itinerary which some found a bit overwhelming though they tended to be the ones that found it difficult walking in some places, but they were made aware of that in the brochure. Some did decide not to join the trips and either stayed at the hotel or went for a coffee while the visit was taking place. Again, thank you very much.

SG, Oxted June 2023

 

This was a really excellent tour, made special by our amazing guide. She was like a walking encyclopaedia of knowledge about the North East and was able to answer all the questions we put to her without needing to look anything up. She is such an outstanding ambassador for the region! And our driver really looked out for our welfare by driving carefully and skilfully and by making sure that we were all at ease and knew exactly what was going to happen and when. They made an excellent team and worked really well together. Thank you!

SM, Ascot May 2023

 

We had a really lovely trip to Scotland - lots of happy memories.

DH, Stratford-Upon-Avon May 2023

 

Just a short note to say how much we all enjoyed the Scottish tour. The houses, galleries, hotel were spot on and Holker Hall on the way up was a precious gem. Thank you so much for all your hard work. Di and I have loved our time with you.

SS, Stratford upon Avon May 2023

 

Just to let you know that we did indeed have a lovely time in Devon and the warmer weather was just the icing on the cake.  Thanks to your expertise everything went smoothly with no panics. The Driver was wonderful and took over all the announcements and suchlike being very knowledgeable about that part of the country. His driving was without fault, especially when negotiating very narrow drives and country lanes. The hotel was good, clean and friendly and the food was appreciated by all the group who seemed well satisfied with the tour. Thank you, but I might be forced to do another one!

KM-D, Maldon May 2023

 

We are back safe and sound! Thanks to all your hard work we have had a great tour to Northern Italy.  As far as I am aware there were no great problems on the tour except for one person who arrived at Heathrow without his passport having left it behind in the photocopier – me! We had perfect weather throughout, excellent guides, stayed in great hotels and overdosed on horology.  What more could you ask for?  Many of your timings went out of the window but “This is Italy”. We are already planning our visit to Switzerland next year and expect to be in touch with Mike within the next couple of months.

DB, Worthing May 2023

 

Thank you very much for re-introducing us to Glasgow. We had no idea that we were going to see such a lot of wonderful things. I had been to the Burrell Collection a long time ago and it is still outstanding and my favourite art gallery of all the ones that we visited. I loved Salvador Dali in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the House for an Art Lover was interesting but I would not have liked to have lived there. I absolutely loved Dumfries House and would have moved in tomorrow. Hill House left me confused and the Hunterian Gallery was very stimulating with its challenging system of exhibiting the paintings and they had such a lot of wonderful works of art. We were so lucky to have the friendly and brilliant driver Pawel and the super duper Ken as our guide. They were both fantastic. Also I loved our bedroom and bathroom which was super comfortable and the hotel staff was very accommodating.

B & R Makin, London May 2023

Pleased to say that everything for our tour to Bristol, Bath & Wells was perfect including the sunshine. To list our praise and thanks, Steve our driver was great and although we hit traffic jams throughout the week he seemed to know his way around it so we weren’t stuck for hours, so highly recommend his company for future trips. We have had quite a few Blue Badge guides over the years but high praise for Liz, she was an excellent guide and such a lovely lady, full of knowledge but didn’t bombard you with endless historical facts that none of us would retain. All the excursions went very well including Worcester and Wightwick Manor, though I think Wells seems to be everyone’s favourite. The location of the hotel was stunning, and the staff, service, cleanliness and food were great so no complaints from anyone. So everyone had a great holiday including Irene and myself, although our group was smaller than we’ve ever had it worked really well with everyone mixing so we could just relax and enjoy the company.

Joan & Irene, Warrington May 2023

 

Yesterday I returned from our tour to Northumbria departing 18th May. I don’t usually do such holidays but have to say that it was excellent. Even the weather was amazing. Our coach driver was incredible. How he got the coach through The Bowes Museum gate was magic and he got a well deserved round of applause. Our Blue Guide is a walking advert for Northumbria. She has a wealth of knowledge which she obviously enjoys sharing and is very proud of her area. She did not appear to have notes a very praiseworthy and impressive thing. Thank you to you all.

PC, Maidenhead May 2023

 

We are all safely back from a most enjoyable visit to Malta. Our Guide surpassed all expectations. She was a very interesting, funny and caring guide who was able to steer us all round with so much diplomacy, which made our whole experience amazing!!! Our hotel was very accommodating and heard no complaints throughout our visit. Tailored Travel have excelled themselves once again. Thank you for all your efforts. Much appreciated.

JB, Ascot May 2023

 

Just a quick email to say that we all had a wonderful time in Slovenia. As you know we had to fly to Venice which meant we didn’t arrive till midnight at our hotel but they had left cold platters in our rooms and we had a leisurely start the next day. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a lovely sense of humour. The coach and driver were excellent and the hotel was very comfortable. We visited a wide range of interesting places but there was also time to relax and socialise. Thanks for all your hard work and organisation. I’m now being asked to plan our next European adventure.

SB, Reigate May 2023

 

Our hotel for our tour of Trieste & North East Italy proved a very happy choice. All the rooms were nice with marble bathrooms and those who had chosen to upgrade to a balcony on the front were delighted. Breakfasts were extremely good with lots of choice, and the dinner on our first night was very adequate. Our itinerary was nicely varied. The highlights were visiting the Castello di San Giusto on a beautiful sunny day, which allowed us to appreciate its wonderful panoramic setting, and the visit to Aquileia where we were blown away by the amazing mosaics and a glimpse into the lost splendour of the Roman Empire. We all enjoyed our time in San Daniele del Friuli, particularly the delicious Prosciutto di San Daniele and pickle lunch we had organised with the help of our tour manager (whose home is in the area). Needless to say, I have always been most grateful for Sandy’s endless patience and efficiency in ensuring our trips run smoothly.

SA, Wimbledon April 2023

 

A belated warm thank you for such a successful holiday. The very comprehensive itinerary was perfectly tailored to our interests with so many well-maintained National Trust houses to admire and it was very good value. I also found the Titanic Experience most impressive and feel it is a "must" for visitors to Northern Ireland. The hotel was the ideal base, very spacious, good and most generous meals and particularly welcoming, helpful and efficient staff. Our most informative guide, excellent driver plus a comfortable coach added greatly to our knowledge and we learnt a great deal of the country's history, agriculture, industry and literature as we travelled. My congratulations on what was an exceptionally well planned and executed six days, coupled with fine weather throughout, gave us all 100% enjoyment, as so often with Tailored Travel holidays.

Fenella S November 2022

 

Our trip to North Wales with glorious castles and the beauty of Snowdonia started with a stop at the poignant National Memorial Arboretum. We saw a lot in limited time with a land train tour - genius. Also a fascinating slate museum and stunning gardens and National trust properties. There was something for everyone and the group loved every minute.

JL, Twickenham October 2022

 

Our Society's holiday to Glyndebourne and the Heritage of Sussex and Kent was my sixth for the Society. After having to cancel our visit to Bologna in 2020 and four years since our last Society holiday, I was anxious about producing another successful event. Loie and I have received much praise and appreciation from our members. I must sincerely thank Tailored Travel (coupled with Louise Ramsden) for organizing a really brilliant holiday for us. The hotel in Eastbourne was excellent again and much liked; our Guide was full of knowledge, humorous but meticulous with details and our coach driver first class and helpful. The programme was full and the visits varied and in their different ways, each one most enjoyable. The visit to Glyndebourne itself for La Boheme was superb with an amazing production. Michael, Tailored Travel is certainly back, after covid, producing great holidays and I wish you every success for the future.

John P October 2022

 

Thank you so much for all your invaluable help and attention to detail for the trip. It was a great success and everything went smoothly and according to plan. Even the weather was in our favour with only a splash of rain on our visits and glorious Autumn sun the rest of the time. The hotel was excellent and the party enjoyed Tailored Travel’s interesting and varied choice of visits. Saturday worked well with Charleston, Lewes, and then Glyndebourne. As you had pointed out it would have been a rush to go back to the hotel to change so the day just melded into one glorious outing. I must congratulate both you and Tailored Travel for the planning and detail of the trip and hope next year to repeat it with different visits.

Ann S October 2022

 

Just wanted to let you know we all arrived back today, having had a really good holiday in Jersey.  Everything about the hotel was good, especially the food and the staff were all very helpful and skilled. Our guide was very good and knowledgeable and a pleasure to be with.  The coach driver also did a good job. Take care and talk soon.

Sue M October 2022

 

The Mendelssohn Tour of Scotland was absolutely wonderful and we both greatly enjoyed the very varied itinerary. We were blessed with lovely weather, giving us beautiful views of the Scottish scenery and the hotel was superb - very comfortable rooms and the food excellent. Peter, as ever, was the perfect host and ensured that everything ran smoothly!

Julia & David C October 2022

 

Our trip to Barcelona was a great success thank you for organising a splendid five days. Everyone thought the week’s programme 1st class. Our tour manager Paul, a larger than life character, kept us well informed and safe so please thank him.

Diane H & Stevie S October 2022

 

I’ve just returned from our trip to the Isle of Man. You might remember that I was very quick to complain about the unsuitable driver on my last trip to The Wye Valley but this time I want to tell you how brilliant our guide and driver were in the Isle of Man. They were friendly, informative and very understanding about our issues re mobility etc. Chris was a safe and capable driver on those tricky roads. Andrew was exceptionally helpful and full of fascinating information. He was very patient with our endless questions too. Their enthusiasm for their island was infectious. They changed things round for us so that we didn’t have to suffer too much on the days with inclement weather and Chris resourcefully organised an extra tour of a Manx kipper smokery which included free hot drinks - what a bonus on a grey dull wet day! You are very fortunate, in my opinion, to have the services of Andrew and Chris at your disposal. They really made this visit memorable and were a perfect example of how the driver and guide combination can make (or break) one of your trips. I thoroughly enjoyed this visit to the Isle of Man having known very little about it beforehand.

Ann D October 2022

 

We had an excellent tour to Nice; everyone seemed to enjoy it not least because the weather was fantastic. Our tour manager managed the group well. The itinerary worked really well. Having Villa Kerylos and the Villa and Gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild on the same day was excellent as it involved less time on the bus. The Musee Picasso and Antibes on the last morning worked well too. An absolute highlight was our guide Cecelia. She was a very knowledgeable art historian who gave us fantastic information. That's all to report. We had a really good trip so thank you for organising it.

Sue W October 2022

 

We much enjoyed our recent trip to Madrid, with art galleries and side visits, organised by you. The use of a tour manager was particularly helpful in the big galleries (the Prado a