0 out of 5. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY WITH THESE PEOPLE. I would never Book another holiday with this company. When booking The Classic Tuscany trip we specifically discussed the use of a pool for our daughter on the rest days. The agent in Arnott’s store assured us this would not be a problem (we spent several minutes discussing how much our daughter loves to swim and how the holiday would be split one day for the tours and the next day for swimming). When we received the Itinerary we discovered the pool was closed during our visit (at this point it was too late to get a refund). It became apparent that this information is widely known within travel department on further telephone discussions about our Classic Tuscany trip. Deception or incompetence? If this information was given to us at the time of booking we would not have chosen to travel with this company. The response to rectify the problem was abysmal from Travel Department, I was told initially that the problem would be rectified the next day. The next day the "solution” was to use a public pool 1km away from the hotel. Imagine paying 3K on a holiday with a key activity was for your child to swim, only to be told to use a public pool! I asked to speak to the manager as this response was unacceptable. After several phone calls and a day later, that Managers solution was to suggest the public pool again - what a joke. We flew out to Italy on the Tuesday night and on the Wednesday while on the first rest/supposed swim day they still had no solution. I had given up with Travel department at that stage and booked an optional tour which was 70 euros extra each just so we could bring our daughter to a beach to salvage the holiday in some form. In the end they managed to book our family into a single two hour swim in an adjacent hotel. The Grand plaza Hotel staff were lovely, the hotel rooms and facilities were completely outdated to the point of being comical. No sockets, Iron, air-con etc. The Hotel does have charm and is centrally located but very much in the old style.

I recently returned from the four-day Iceland tour. The country itself is fabulous, with some of the most remarkable and pristine scenery you will ever see, accompanied by gorgeous food. Reykjavik itself is an elegant and walkable city loaded with expensive high-end designer shops and restaurants, which adds to the authenticity of the experience, I suppose. However, despite my enjoyment of the trip, there were minor niggling issues with how the guide conducted the tour. Fortunately, it did not detract from the experience. We spent day two on the bus visiting landmarks like the Icelandic president's residence and the pearl Observatory. Both sights are on the city's outskirts, so I understand why transport was necessary. When the guide proceeded to show us around the city centre on the bus, though, it felt unnecessary. Reykjavik is a small place, so it would have been better to have done a walking tour of the city centre. As spectacular as the Northern Lights was, the handling of it by the guide was chaotic. After being dropped off in a large viewing area, many fellow passengers walked down a path using their phones as torches since it was pitch dark. The guide gave us no assistance; I found and left us to fend for ourselves. What if someone fell and broke something? Where was the best viewing point to see them? Those were the types of questions he was not interested in assisting passengers with. Speaking of lack of direct communication, on arrival at Reykjavik airport for our flight home, there was no advance warning given over the abundance of self-check-in machines. Considering the number of older people on tour, it would have been helpful if the guide had been more forthcoming about it and offered help to anyone who needed it. I had to help other older women check-in; such was the lack of support given! There were positives. Skuggi Hotel's central location and generous breakfasts were ideal, making it a valuable base for exploring Reykjavik. During the Golden Circle tour, Andy, the guide, gave lots of helpful information about the Icelandic landscape and culture. Unfortunately, he did not provide the same kind of crystal clear practical communication to passengers who may have needed it most.

Hi, My name is Mary Hayes and Im almost ready to leave Lake Como after a beautiful holiday, staying in Hotel Cadinabbia. I enjoyed every minute of the week between visits to Carlotta Villa, Balbiniella Villa, and Bellagio . But the highlight for me was the long day today visiting the Swiss Alps and St Moritz. It was like Paradise, with the scenes of the snowcapped peaks, blue skies and looking down on the beautiful Swiss villages. I was v happy with Hotel Cadinabbia with its rooftop terrace and swimming pool and its wonderful food. Our experience at Dublin Airport last Wednesday was not good. We were standing in a queue for 'check in' which was totally unacceptable. The desks could have opened earlier and dealt with the crowd. We were told we could not do this online because it was a group booking. But some people we met here during the week did check in online. Our guide Olona did her best during the week but it wasnt easy to catch every word as her sentences faded away at the end. But she gave us a lot of information. Overall it was a great holiday and I would rate it at 4 . 5 out of 5.

Just home from South Africa. Had a brilliant time in a beautiful country. Had a wonderful guide, Gertie and a brilliant bus driver Laurence. Gertie was so friendly, knowledgeable and organised. Safari was definitely the highlight of the trip. Very well organised trip by the Travel Department. Would highly recommend.

I just got back from a trip to Tuscany Florence Pisa. I just want to compliment The Travel Department for this wonderful trip. Hotel staff were so lovely, Food was fantastic. Claudia our tour guide was exceptionally nice, She was so accomadating to all the group. Trips were amazing, I met the most amazing people. Ive just booked my next trip to this amazing country.

Traveled from Ireland to Italy with Travel Dept. A very special thank you to Adriano our travel guide in Italy who went above and beyond to locate my lost phone in Positano. Traveled there via scooter on his day off to pick up my lost phone and return it to me at my hotel in Seiano. You are one in a million Adriano and I hope the Travel Dept . realize what a gem they have in you. A special thank you to Saraccino souvenir shop in Positano who found my phone and went to the trouble of contacting my daughter.There are so many good honest people in the world . Thank you. Thank you. ☘️☘️🤙😇

Experienced a tour of Tuscany in Italy back in 2019 before the world went mad. Our group had a great time. The guide was faultless and incredibly patient given all the different things thrown his way. Highly recommended

I recently returned from an amazing holiday in Vietnam with the Travel Department . The whole experience was great and it was the Local guides who made it very special and memorable. Everything was well organised by Travel Department. Accomodation was excellent while the activities and tours were week researched and most enjoyable. It was the local Guides - Moon in Hanoi Tuan (Tommy) in Hoi An and Hue and Sam in Saigon that made the holiday special with their amazing knowledge, passion, good humour and friendliness. A special mention for Moon who was one of the best guides I have ever encountered in many years of travelling. Thank you everyone.

Been using them for years great value no hassle holidays

Lake Maggiore with Travel Dept As regular visitors to Italy - 15 times since 2000 - we have never before had a reason to complain. This year, decided to book with TD. Never again. Positives first: knowledgeable guide; hotel very central (Baveno); dining room staff very friendly and helpful. Negatives: Breakfast and dinners were very disappointing EVERY night - we were told choice of 4 starters and 4 mains. Reality was a very limited 3, plus very poor quality. Neither of us are fussy eaters, but couldn't eat some of the dishes. Breakfast offered 2 bowls of tinned fruit (Italy!), juice from a machine that was so diluted that nobody drank from it, choice of one pastry most mornings, cheap cold meats- all round budget-priced food for what was far from a budget-priced trip. Emailed company as there were many complaints every night..response was they would inform the rep who would deal with it. Nothing happened, she didn't even refer to it. Another party in the hotel had a different, much more extensive menu for both meals, and what looked like much better quality food altogether. Sorry, Travel Department, you've lost us. Don't expect to get away with supplying budget-priced food at far from budget-priced holidays. Date of experience: 18 June 2023

Absolutely Fabulous from start to finish. A stunning amazing country and we got to see so much thanks to TD active and the amazing itinerary!! Everything ran so smoothly. The hotels were all lovely, well located, spotlessly clean with nice fresh breakfasts included. Moon & Quon greatly added to the experience, they were so friendly, knowledgeable and passionate and went above & beyond to make it a super experience!! From the time we met Moon in Hanoi she just set the tone for the whole trip. Thank You:) Great value for money!! It was a trip that just kept on giving!! Highly recommend this trip to Vietnam and Travel Department.

The escorted trip with Travel Department was excellent. It was extremely safe and their tour guide in designated countries are very friendly caring and kind and helpful. The trip I did with travel department is far the best trip. It was fully guided, everything was recommend by the tour guide everything was dropped and collected off no worries of missing anything or getting lost. You went to the best shops/places because of the tour guide advise - the culture was advise from their perspective - absolutely amazing trip because of the service offered by the travel department was very good for the price and their support was great. Thank you guys 5 star review for the trip and service. Highly recommended for someone looking their next trip.

We had an amazing trip two week to Kerala and Goa in southern India. We saw: * Traditional dance * Cookery classes * Tea plantations * Pineapple/ coco bean/ coconut plantations * Spent the night on a delightful house boat * Three days on a white, sandy beach in Goa * and lots more. Our guide Cleetus was historian, botanist, economist, wild life expert, culture guide. A terrific combination. Thank you to all. Iseult and Des

Love the Travel dept, so we'll organised and great guides. However this trip to Italy in July was a little disappointing. Hotel the Grand Hotel, Moon Valley was still as lovely as always, with great staff, however for those solo travellers it wasn't great to me. On our last tour they had been included at a large table every night for dinner, never left on their own and we all got to know each other and enjoy everyone, but this time they were seated separately on their own. My daughter and I weren't sure if this was what they wanted and only discovered in fact they would have loved company and felt very isolated. Which was a terrible shame, I did mention this and the fact we didn't complete things we were told we would be doing and had two very big tours all in one day which was much too much in the heat of that day. So whole I works still recommend the Travel Dept, I would say don't go in July, too hot, much too busy in tourist areas. May ir early June ir September for Italy and if you are a solo traveller ask how evening meals etc will be organised.

If any person thinking about travelling to Hungary I would like to share with you a little gem where to stay I travelled to Hungary with the travel department in Ireland our base for the week was the village of vistagrad and the owner the wonderful tebor we arrived late on the Monday night but he had kept the dining room open for dinner and at check in we were greeted with champagne and unbelievabl hospitality which made us feel really at home and comfortable as if at home each morning we had a huge selection of cereal hot and cold and a selection of juice teas and coffee each day hiking we were supplied with a packed lunch by the hotel after day one we had to ask them to cut the lunch back as they were supplying us with too much food unusual in this day and age each day after hiking for the day we returned to hotel visegrad to have full use of pools inside and outside sauna and much more and dinner of high quality dishes as much as you wanted after a wonderful week of high class feel good hospitality it was time to leave and on to the bus we got for the journey to the airport leaving with a heavy heart as we were leaving a little bit of love behind and then as we were ready to go arrive tebor on the bus with a tray load of schnapps to say goodbye and words of wisdom Robert talked us through the airport process as we went to airport and everything seemed clear when we got to the airport I realised with horror I had left my passport at the hotel l went into panic mode I told the rep Robert what had happened he made a call back to hotel and yes the passport was there and the brilliant tebor was leaving his hotel and on his way to the airport with my passport I waited with bated breath outside the departure building for tebor he arrived in less than hour with passport in hand I offered him money for diesel but would not hear of it I can not recommend this hotel enough the staff and the owner it was a pleasure and thank you to everyone

Just back from having the most wonderful time in South Africa. The holiday was amazing from start to finish. It was a busy holiday but made enjoyable by our tour guide Gertie - she was incredible! She looked after us from start to finish. She was incredibly well organised, knowledgeable, friendly, kind and had a great sense of humour! Our driver Louwrens was the perfect man for the trip. He is such a skilled driver and a very friendly and kind man. The highlight has to be the Safari, it was amazing! Lots of surprises and treats along the way! You must find out for yourself!!

I just wanted to say thank you to the Travel Department for making my first solo trip to South Africa a trip of a lifetime. I recently travelled from the 3rd of April to the 16th. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and our guide Suzette ( Suzie) was exceptional. She was a wealth of knowledge and she ensured everything ran so smoothly. Lawrence, our bus driver was great, he ensured we got to all of our destinations safely. Due to high winds, we were unable to visit Featherbed Nature Reserve and we travelled instead to Knysna Elephant Park. It was an amazing experience, being so close to the Elephants. I would highly recommend including a visit to the Elephant Park to the itinerary before travelling to the Safari Reserve. I feel it really enhanced our experience at Kariega Game Reserve which was just incredible.Shout out to Wayne & Amber our two guides who were both excellent. All of our hotels were exceptional, however I would recommend an extra night stay in either Arniston/Knysna rather than Port Elizabeth. *If travelling to South Africa in April be prepared for all weathers & bring warm clothes*.

Just returned from a lovely but exhausting week in "Undiscovered Italy/Puglia" with a really tremendous group of people. I was travelling on my own and they made me feel most welcome and were always willing to include me for lunch etc. The Hotel Monte Sarago was very pleasant and the hotel staff were excellent. Unfortunately being based in Ostuni was not ideal as we had 3 leisure days and there was not enough to occupy us. Most days we seemed to have spent an awful lot of time in the bus. Consequently, on the day before we left, half the group did not go on the tour to Trani and Bari as it was 11/2 hours away and we were going to have to go back to Bari the next day to the airport. I was very disappointed that I missed the tour but couldnt face the trip 2 days in a row. Sharon Nicholson We did suggest changing Bari to the day we were departing but were told it was not possible. I am sure Bari would have been a better option for our base and would have made the holiday perfect. Or else perhaps we could have spent the last night in Bari and then we could have had a full day the next day exploring, as our flight was only at round 9 o'clock in the evening and was delayed for 11/2 hours! I took the opportunity to avail of the 2 extra tours to Matera and Polignano A Mare and I must say that I found them to be the highlight of the tour. Alberobello was where I was looking forward to visiting the most, but was very disappointed, as we weren`t given enough time there. Unfortunately, I did not find our guide Anna Maria very informative as she didnt offer any ideas on what to do on our leisure days, but the reception staff in the hotel were very helpful. Unfortunately travelling solo makes it pretty expensive and also there is no choice when you book to have the option of requesting a 20 kg bag. If you request it later, then it is 80 euro. Also, as we were only leaving Ostuni at 5.30 we were allowed to keep our rooms, but at a cost of 50 euro. I did notice other reviews where people also felt Ostuni was not the best base. Hopefully the Travel Department might take these suggestions on board. One very important request that I made, was to have assistance at the airport but for some reason my request was not noted. I felt that that was an important request which was overlooked. This was my 4th trip with The Travel Department and my first solo trip. I do hope to avail of more tours in the future.

Great trip to Tuscany, 3 days of tours, 3 days of free time which was just the right balance. Hotel was a little old fashioned but the food and staff more than made up for it. Laura our guide was brilliant, she did a cracking job of keeping our group together and was very knowledgeable. Would recommend this tour and Travel Department

Fantastic trip to a south Africa made extra special by our wonderful your guide, Leon, who was so knowledgeable about his country and went out of his way to make it a trip to remember Kevin and Fran

Can't say enough about the travel department. I've traveled with them on 5 different occasions. I'd recommend this place to holidaymakers every time. Thank God there is still a great travel agency the care about their clients.

Visited Serenity Cove on a very wet and dull day during a stay in Carlow and had an amazing experience. 👏 sun was shining through the rain on way back to hotel. Would drive back to Csrlow just to have another treatment there.

Excellent service, very smooth guided trip in italy ,wonderful guide Renatta..

Really enjoyed Chelsea Flower Show last week, Frances Mac Donald was an excellent guide, hotel great, thanks for a great experience.

We are just home from Italy with the travel Department. They were absolutely excellent. Everything was taken care of from start to finish. We had a wonderful tour guide Ilona who was excellent. All was fantastic. Our first time booking with them and it won't be our last.

The holiday was very good but there were a few issues. I emailed Traveldepartment but got absolutely no response. Customer service is very important

Easy to deal with when phone queries arise

Beautiful, but bit dangerous with so many people just chatting in the middle of the road as if they were in their garden..

Little gem of a restaurant with fantastic food, service & staff. Would very much recommend this restaurant.

Very good holidays great people I went to America 4 years ago and bulgaria 2 years ago