Testimonials
We are committed to making your holiday the best it can be and we love hearing your feedback. We ask every Tripsmiths guest to send in honest reviews and feedback on their holiday experience so we can make sure we are doing everything we can to provide the very best service. We have collated some of our guest reviews below.
I would just like to say what an amazing time I had in Jordan - an amazing country - and the rest of the group I am sure feel the same. Would highly recommend Nuwar Jodeh, she is very knowledgeable, had a great sense of humour and fitted in well with us all. Also Mohamed from Alpha coaches was a great driver and very friendly.
- All-female expedition to Jordan, October 2023
I enjoyed being able to view the sites hearing the commentary from Matt - particularly the Battlefield. It was interesting to hear the details along with someone pointing out exactly where to look. The speaker at St Mary's and All Saints was also very engaging. The Matthew Morrison lecture was fascinating - being able to hear first hand experience from someone that was there.
- Richard III Tour with Matt Lewis, October 2023
Just a short note to say how much we enjoyed our recent trip to Stalagluft 3, Colditz and Dresden. Guy Walters was an excellent tour guide and was happy to share his knowledge and experiences with all of us. Susie, the tour manager was outstanding... a great organiser and a credit to your company.
- The Great Escape with Guy Walters, October 2023
Lovely ship, excellent food, good company and extra trips whilst waiting repairs. Even the weather did not affect our trip. Monty Hall was brilliant and very approachable.
- Lord of the Glens with Monty Halls, October 2023
The tour was phenomenal. The experts, local guide, and driver worked together to provide an experience which was not easy to realise. The sites visited were meaningful and the knowledge and passion James brings to the subject, combined with the practical experiences and historical knowledge Mike brings, make every moment a learning experience but in a fun and engaging way.
- Sicily with James Holland, September 2023
James was very kind to me and gave me a bottle of Ponzu. He showed us how he makes ceviche - sadly, there's no chance of me emulating him any time soon! He is an intelligent and accomplished performer and clearly passionate about cooking.
The ship all around was perfect - and James Martin was the icing on the cake
- Guests on the Star Clipper cruise with James Martin, September 2023
Having Mary Beard taking our tour was fantastic. She is such an inspiration. Her passion is totally infectious
Great trip overall. Lovely hotel. Delicious food.
- Guests on Ancient Rome with Mary Beard tour, September 2023
The food, wine, staff and train journey were excellent.
- Belmond Garden of England day trip, August 2023
Francesca, our tour guide, who was with us 24/7 was very good - she knew a lot about the areas we were visiting and if we needed anything she would endeavour to accommodate us. Overall, an excellent, well organised, trip which I would definitely go on again.
- Bocelli Tuscany tour, July 2023
Despite the poor weather conditions, the holiday was excellent and an interesting introduction to the Scillies. The hotel was most comfortable and very accessible to the jetty and town.
- Scillies with Julian Branscombe, July 2023
I enjoyed it all, had a "dam" good time and got to visit places that would be very difficult on my own.
- Dambusters with Paul Beavers, July 2023
We loved Delft - picture-perfect and a good central location. It was good to see The Goldfinch and The Girl without the crowds.
Having private access to the Mauritshuis before the general public was so special.
- Guests on the Dutch Masters with Andrew Graham-Dixon tour, June 2023
We greatly enjoyed the tour, thought that Jo was an exceptional battlefield guide and we also enjoyed Dan's expert contribution. Please pass our thanks to the team at Tripsmiths for making all the arrangements to ensure a comfortable and inspiring visit.
- Normandy with Dan Snow, June 2023
We loved every single bit of it - the food on the train was absolutely delicious, the chance to listen to Joanna was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the wine tasting/vineyard talk was fabulous too! All of our favourite things in one day - and what a way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, it was truly memorable and very special. My only regret was that I didn't join the line for a 'selfie' with Joanna as a special memory from the day.
- British Pullman to Hush Heath Estate with Joanna Lumley, June 2023
The tour guides Fabrizzio and Marius were excellent. We really enjoyed the vineyard and olive farm visits. A lovely touch was being given a bottle of wine at the vineyard and the ice cream later.
- Gourmet Tour of Puglia, June 2023
Home from a short but spectacular holiday in Malta, learning about the island's WW2 history. I strongly recommend the combined talents of James Holland, Mike Peters, Tripsmiths and local expert, Gabriel Gauci. Genuinely the best holiday I've had in well over a decade.
Thank you to the two legends, Mike Peters and James Holland for a superb We Have Ways trip to Malta with Tripsmiths. Outstanding knowledge, delivered in a relaxed and engaging way!
- Guests on the Malta Tour with James Holland, May 2023
We enjoyed the full day trip to the gardens with our guide, who could not have been better and was so knowledgable. It was also so good to have Christine - the expert - to speak to.
- Madeira Flower Festival with Christine Walkden, May 2023
The tour guide was excellent, she pointed out all the things to look at around the lake while on the boat. One to remember!
- Bernina Express & Lake Como Tour, May 2023
The tour guide was amazing! Visiting the island Isola Bella was incredible and the hotel was outstanding.
- Hidden Lakes & Gardens of Italy, May 2023
We loved the whole experience: all the staff, the lectures, the food, the tours - it was a real once-in-a-lifetime trip!
- Hurtigruten cruise to Antarctica, February 2023
The group size was perfect and the tours of the villas were amazing, particularly Villa Anelli where the Cammelia expert was excellent. The family's hospitality was incredible. Carol was a joy to talk to and Kate Williamson, the tour guide was amazing. She has such incredible knowledge and made every visit come to life.
- The Italian Lakes with Carol Klein, March 2024
I liked all of the food excursions and the experiences that were provided on the trip. My possible favourite was the balsamic vinegar producer. Outside of the organised trip, I also enjoyed climbing the cathedral bell tower in Bologna, visiting the cathedral and Enzo Ferrari museum in Modena and taking the San Luca express "train", climbing to the top of the San Luca dome.
- Guest on the Italy tour of Bologna, March 2024
A fabulous trip, with lots to do and fantastic places to visit. Marius and Fabrizio our travel guides were superb, knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful.
- Guest on the Dolce Vita, Puglia tour, April 2024
It was better than I expected. Everything went well and Adam Frost was brilliant.
We loved every minute of this cruise, it was expertly managed, the staff were efficient, friendly and helpful. The accommodation was good and the food was wonderful.
- Guests on the Tulips of Holland tour with Adam Frost, April 2024
Lucy was amazing. Her talk was so interesting and the information she presented during the day was exceptional. It was good that the group could all eat together each evening. Eddie the tour guide was very good. He made the time on the coach very interesting and also the driver was very good.
- Guest on the Little Trains of Norfolk with Lucy Worsley, April 2024
We had a great time. The excursions were fun and all our guides were excellent. The hotel was very comfortable, providing good food and service.
Our guides were delightful and brought the history of the islands to life with their fascinating stories. We loved visiting Tresco to see the red squirrels and enjoying the delightful gardens. The choice of beaches were also amazing and good for walking.
- Guests on the Isles of Scilly tour, April 2024
It was our first experience of a cruise and we were very pleased with the trip. The staff were helpful and the route of the trip was very good. We loved the food and drink onboard. The river itself was fascinating and very interesting offering wonderful scenery. Even though the weather was not good it generally did not detract from the experience.
- Guests on the Douro river cruise, April 2024
A thoroughly entertaining trip lead by a passionate and enthusiastic team with James Holland and Mike Peters.
- Guest on the Brothers In Arms tour with James Holland, April 2024
Madeira in Portugal is a gem. Luisa greeted us each morning with a cheerful and smiley face. She was very knowledgeable about her county, culture, flowers and trees. The drivers were also professional and kind.
- Guest on the Madeira Flower Festival tour, May 2024
Matera was a unique and beautiful place to visit, and the charming hotel arrangement was excellent. The (optional) guided tour and cookery evening made the time we spent there really enjoyable and memorable. Staying in a trulli hotel in Alberobello was fun.
The bakery stop, wine tasting and olive oil visits were professionally delivered and interesting. Finishing the trip in lively, bustling Bari was a great contrast to the history and tranquility of Matera and Locorotondo. I loved this trip - it definitely lived up to my expectations.
- Guest on the Dolce Vita Italy Tour, May 2024
This trip was excellent and we had a knowledgeable guide in Fiona. It was jam packed with amazing experiences, for example seeing the late Queen's brass plaque in Windsor Castle.
The excursions were excellent and the tour guide had a wealth of knowledge. Both visits to Hampton Court with Tracy Borman and Windsor Castle were superb and thoroughly enjoyable.
- Guest on the Royal Palaces tour with Tracy Borman, May 2024
All the areas we visited were amazing. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and also very flexible; changing the itinerary to work around the rainy days as much as possible.
- Guest on the flavours of Slovenia tour, May 2024
Matt and Nicolas could not have been more helpful. Their enthusiasm was infectious.
Thoroughly enjoyed this trip, even though I had visited several of the sites before, each historical site was brought to life by the people who accompanied us and shared their knowledge.
Absolutely fantastic. This is a trip that will stay with me for a lifetime. I travelled on my own to go on this trip and I felt I was looked after and in good company.
- Guests on the Richard III tour with Matt Lewis, May 2024
This was one of the most wonderful days out I have ever had! From start to finish I did not stop smiling. Everything from the arrival at the Pullman Lounge to returning to Victoria Train Station, and sadly having to disembark from the beautiful train was absolutely superb.
- Guests on the British Pullman, A Belmond Train to Highclere Castle day trip, September 2024
We received a nice welcome by Roger, our tour manager. The hotel, accommodation and food was excellent. The coach driver was superb. The itinerary was well devised. We enjoyed meeting Lucy Worsley, what a lovely person she is.
- Guests on the Little Trains tour of Norfolk, September 2024
The hotel location was perfect and the accommodations exceeded my expectations. The local guides were incredibly knowledgeable. It was great!
- Guests on the Pompeii, Italy tour, September 2024
The Belmond train was excellent, nothing was too much trouble and the food onboard was very good. The tour of Highclere Castle was very interesting and we thoroughly enjoyed the talk from Lady Carnarvon.
- Guests on the British Pullman, A Belmond Train to Highclere Castle day trip, September 2024
We enjoyed all the activities and meeting with the other guests. We thought Roger, the tour manager was excellent at his job. We especially loved meeting Lucy who was very approachable.
- Guests on the Little Trains tour of Norfolk, September 2024
Everything was very well organised, from the initial booking arranged by your extremely nice and helpful team who answered my (many) questions. When we arrived on the trip, our everything was so well co-ordinated by our lovely Italian tour manager, Laura who was excellent and accommodated everyone's requests well. Sophie Hay was the main reason I went on this trip and she was brilliant.
- Guests on the Pompeii, Italy tour, September 2024
Sandra was an excellent tour manager, always going the extra mile. It was great having Lucy Worsley on board. The river cruise ship was comfortable with excellent food and lovely attentive staff. I enjoyed the evening entertainment on board with a super nice group of people.
- Guest on the Danube Lippizaners tour with Lucy Worsley, September 2024
A wonderful trip covering beautiful Lake Como with days out and excursions that were a pure joy to experience. The Bernina Express to St Moritz was the highlight of our trip and the main reason why almost everyone had booked this holiday. Our tour manager Lucca went above and beyond for each of us, he was amazing.
- Guest on the Bernina Express tour, September 2024
The trip was very well organised and our guide, Viv Robinson, was extremely knowledgable and helpful. There was a last minute change of plans because of the weather but it didn't have much impact because other things were organised for us. I particularly enjoyed staying at the Star Castle with delicious food.
- Guest on the Isles of Scillies tour, September 2024
This was a fantastic tour with a very friendly group of like-minded individuals. I had the opportunity to see so much of Southern Italy as part of a packed and informative itinerary. James Holland was masterful. The guides went above and beyond to look after everyone.
- Guest on the James Holland tour of Casssino' Italy, October 2024
The coach transfers and travel arrangements to the various places of interest were well organised. The tour manager was also excellent. The historic city of Delft was very beautiful and we were lucky enough to have beautiful sunny weather for the duration of the trip.
- Guest on the Dutch Masters tour with Andrew Graham-Dixon, October 2024
The historians, Clive Harris and Stephen Fisher were excellent. Their knowledge and expertise was outstanding and brought to life so many historic events by recounting first hand accounts from the veterans they had previously spoken to. Clive expertly tailored the tour to the group's interests and did an amazing job of ensuring all the client's relatives were spoken about and considered on the trip. He did this with the right amount of respect and professionalism you could ask for.
- Guest on the D-Day tour with Stephen Fisher and Paul Beaver, October 2024
A very enjoyable trip with the opportunity to experience the incredible food and wine of Puglia. It was lovely to stay in the cave room in Matera and explore the ancient Sassi dwellings. We also enjoyed exploring Alberobello, Locorotondo and Bari too.
- Guest on the Dolce Vita tour of Italy, October 2024
The tour took us to the two pivotal events of WW2. It was interesting to visit an RAF station (Biggin Hill) and the Dunkirk and Normandy beaches with people who could explain in great detail. The historians were able to describe both the build up, the planning, execution and aftermath of these titanic events. Having visited Normandy unaccpamnied without guides a long time ago, it was amazing just how much more I could appreciate the enormity, the tragedy and the eventual success the Allies went through in executing such enormous logistical exercises.
- Guest on the D-Day tour with Stephen Fisher and Paul Beaver, October 2024
Fabulous scenery and a great itinerary with plenty of time at each stop to have a look around and visit the shops or museums. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the hotel. The guide and the driver were both very good. Harrogate was a good base as nothing was too far from here. Overall this was a great trip.
- Guest on the All Creatures Great and Small tour, October 2024
Our Tour Manager and Guide, Clive Hughes was amazing. I have been on a few guided tours but Clive easily surpases any of those tour managers and guides. He is so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and approachable. He asked us to let him know if we had any relatives who had actively taken part in WW2 events in France. He would then do some quick research and would build their unit contributions into his naratives at the appropriate times. I had two Uncles and my Dad take part in the fighting. One Uncle died. Clive went out of his way to show me on the Bayeux Military Cemetery Memorial Wall for the soldiers mising in action, the inscribed name of my Uncle. That was very special indeed. The other guides, Paul Beaver and Stephen Fisher were equally fantastic. I could have listened to all three of them forever.
- Guest on the D-Day tour with Stephen Fisher and Paul Beaver, October 2024
This trip was a bucket list item for me and it did not disappoint. The immersive approach to the sites, situations and tragedies of the escapers gave me so much to take in. The visit to Colditz was amazing! Guy and Susie were the absolute best!
- Guest on the Great Escape tour with Guy Walters, October 2024
A very enjoyable tour with great company. The drawing and walking activities were excellent, in such beautiful surroundings. Most of all, the expert tuition from Alison, the tutor, was clear and she was very very patient with newcomers to drawing such as myself. I definitely want to book another course with Alison and next time possibly try the watercolour course or other. The hospitality was perfect, the food was excellent and the staff could not have been more helpful and polite. The evening entertainment was also very enjoyable. What could I criticize - nothing, a very satisfied customer, thank you.
- Guest on the Peak District Drawing tour, October 2024