Has anyone booked a holiday with The Travel Department?

My parents have used them for 3 trips so far and have had no problems. They haven't mentioned any problems to me anyway regarding the accomodation or food. I think the age group tends to be 'mature' so its definitely not for anyone thinking of partying 24 hours a day.
 
Have used them for "New England in the fall". A few days in each of 3 centres starting in Boston. Need a strong constitution for this one as there is an exceptional amount of travelling. Hotels good but not excellent. Driver excellent. Guide good. Keenly priced. Overall good value for money, but I'd prefer to pay a little extra and get a better hotel.
 
Lake Como.

Three years ago I travelled to Lake Como with The Travel Dept.
I found the guide unhelpful and detached.
The trip to St. Moritz was a complete waste of a day.
It was off season and the shops, restaurants etc. all closed. Window shopping was out, as there were grids on all the windows.
We waited 2 hrs. for the coach back to the hotel.
The hotel was comfortable, however it had just one small, slow elevator.
Rooms comfortable but the evening meal left much to be desired.
 
I have travelled before with this Company. I have been impressed by their organisation and full excursion programmes.
However, a word of warning, this is a firm which uses Budget hotels, and consequently quite often requires it's guests to dine as a group.
O k. if you like that sort of thing, but certainly not for many others.
 
shooie said:
O k. if you like that sort of thing, but certainly not for many others.
Click to expand...

In fairness, if you don't like that sort of thing you shouldn't book travel with a company that specialises in group trips.
 
I think at least with the Travel Department there is a choice on the menu.

I went to France with PAB Tours once and you got the menu du jour in the hotel you were staying, like it or lump it!
As I like French cuisine, this did not present an issue for me but I think it would for many.

If considering a group tour, if you can find out the name of the hotel and check it out on Trip Advisor, you should get the low down from other group tourists.
 
Since I last contributed to this thread in 2008 I have not travelled with The Travel Department but I have enjoyed many DIY holidays abroad. Most airports now have Aircoach type operations that will bring you from the airport in to the city centre and beyond. Local buses, costing a couple of Euro can bring you to most places.
 
We have used the Travel Department on several occasions (they suit our age group i.e. over 65's). No complaints, they don't pretend and they deliver on their advertising.
 
We use Travel Department on a regular basis twice a year for short breaks and have never had any problems just back from Istanbul fantastic. Others on trip are always friendly
One thing that annoys me is in their travel documents they tell us what tip is expected we give to guide
 
Family relations of ours have been using Travel Department for years & years. Not my kinda holiday but if you want everything arranged they provide a great option.
 
Hi,

We've used them in the past, found them to be good value and well organised. Even with skipping one or two tours, we still found the overall package worthwhile.
 
Went on 3 night trip to Lake Garda, transfer, hotel & half-board. No trips included and none required. There were many trips optional but in my experience they are somewhat overpriced, which is a general comment on many tour companies and not just the Travel Department. We stayed in the Grand Hotel Liberty and we're impressed with the food and the hotel. We have said that if we return to Lake Garda we will try to get the same hotel.
 
Can we keep this on-topic? It goes without saying that booking all the elements of a trip yourself will be cheaper than booking a package via a travel agent, and booking your own trip is a much different prospect than travelling on a group tour.
 
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