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Travelsphere Reviews

2.5 Rating 36 Reviews
28 %
of reviewers recommend Travelsphere
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About Travelsphere:

Travelsphere offers unrivalled choice, with more than 300 escorted holidays available in more than 70 countries. Choose from favourites such as France, Italy and the US; take an unforgettable trip to China, India or Australia; or go off the beaten track to less-well-known but equally fantastic gems. Our brochures for 2012-13 include Great Sights of the World, Great Sights of Europe by Coach & Rail, Great Sights of Europe & the Middlle East and Cruise Collection, and all of the featured holidays are available on this website.

Phone:

0844 318 8132

Location:

Travelsphere, Compass House, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7QD

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Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
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Anonymous
Verified Reviewer
“The itinerary was good except.... The itinerary was good all through except for the part involving San Jose`. It was a pity being in Costa Rica and not seeing the only town which was worth seeing. We were given time only to view the National Theatre, the Cathedral and the Gold Museum. There are numerous other sites to see in San Jose` which we were not given the time to view such as the Museo del Jade, Museo Nacional, Museo de Arte Costarricense, Insect Museum at the Universidad de Costa Rica, Museo de Arte y diseño and the Parque Zoológico Simón Bolivar. The main problem was the site of the Studio Hotel in Santa Ana. Although the hotel was nice including its amenities, this was not in San Jose` as promised in the brochure. This was in a different municipality of Santa Ana. If the hotel was in the centre of San Jose`, then in our free time especially on our last day we could have visited the city. Because we were out of centre the last day was completely wasted. Google shows you that the hotel was a 20 minutes drive from the centre, whilst in reality because of traffic, this was 60 to 90 minutes away. This was a great pity because it left us with a bad taste. I feel that we were sold one thing and given another. The Studio Hotel is situated in the anonymous municipality of Santa Ana whilst we should have been allocated a hotel in the city of San Jose`. There are numerous hotels which you could have put us in in San Jose` centre. As I said we were sold one thing and given another. Now about the Hotel in Monteverde. The program I purchased from you showed Jardines de Monteverde one kilometre away from the centre of Sant Elena. During the trip we found out that this was changed to the Hotel Burgi Lake view Lodge. First of all, I formally complain that as a minimum I should have been informed beforehand. Secondly, if ever I had a hopeless hotel, then it was this. The surroundings are beautiful, but it is in the middle of nowhere. So much so that we got stuck in the mud to get to it. It is full of steps to come out and into the rooms, and there are no amenities whatsoever. For a hotel in such a place it should have its own restaurant and its own bar as a minimum. There is nothing to do there in the evenings. The room was cold with only a tiny heater to warm the room with wind howling outside. It was too far away from the nearest town of Sant Elena. The supposedly safe in the room was a joke. A small wooden cupboard with a key lock that you can purchase from the nearest ironmonger for a pound or so. There was nowhere to take a walk, without using steps. Very bad choice of a hotel on your part.”
Helpful Report
Posted 3 months ago
Anonymous
Verified Reviewer
“Update to being thrown off the Travelsphere US National Parks tour in Sept 2022 - - for the crime of testing COVID positive on a bus full of coughing people - we have only just settled our claim via the UK Ombudsman who intervened to get the lost tour time covered by our insurance. We have now received over £4000 in compensation on a tour which cost us £7000. It took us many hours of phone and email work to get this done. Many thanks to the Ombudsman, a very competent office. The Ombudsman's office were shocked by the lack of information in the Travelsphere cancellation confirmation, and by that fact we had to repeatedly ask for it for over three months. Travelsphere's lack of customer care was appalling from the moment we paid for the trip. Can't get through on the phone, they don't update file information, and heaven help you if you have a genuine emergency whilst on their bus. The tour guide we had was incompetent, gobby and quick to be aggressively rude. She also lied to the hotel, telling them we were all COVID positive before she ran off. Thus we were obliged to move two very ill people across town to another hotel. Seven months later, we finally have our claim settled, including reimbursement for the cash pre-paid for day tours, which our tour guide kept and never returned to us! Please carefully consider whether you want to book with these people - they literally left us in a cheap hotel in the outskirts of Salt Lake City (might as well have been in the desert) whilst very ill. No follow up, oh, except for the sales rep who randomly called us to say Travelsphere had no liability whatever for our losses, and good luck with our insurance! I haven't even looked at my photos from that trip since the very thought of how we were treated by the guide makes me nauseous. I can't believe Travelsphere continues to employ such people.”
Helpful Report
Posted 10 months ago
Anonymous
Unverified Reviewer
“Fabulous holiday to Australia our tour manager was fantastic you need to keep her nothing to much trouble went over and beyond expectations. After years of traveling FABULOUS”
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Anonymous
Verified Reviewer
“We had to drop out of a tour on day 9 of a 17 day tour, due to one of us testing covid+. We were obliged by Travelsphere to discontinue the tour and rudely dismissed by our hopelessly incompetent tour guide. We were left at a suburban hotel with a fellow passenger aged 75 and all alone, also quite ill with covid. The tour guide wrongly told the hotel we were all covid positive (then later denied it), which meant we were asked to leave the hotel when the patients could barely walk. Fortunately one of us who stayed was healthy and was able to take the patients for testing and medical care, find a new hotel, get food for them, and make alternate travel arrangements. That healthy person gets no reimbursement whatever. Travelsphere management failed to send a cancellation letter until at least two weeks after it was requested, which they were told repeatedly was required by insurance for any coverage. Thus we were obliged to pay for all our alternate arrangements, testing, meds, and travel out of pocket (over £2000). The wording of their letter implied it was our choice to leave the tour which means we may not receive any reimbursement whatever. These people are not only incompetent, but they actively avoid anything but lip service, hiding behind their telephones. Transatlantic phone calls with Travelsphere cost us over £100 because they took ages answering and then talked non stop about how none of it was their liability. No interest in whether anyone was truly ill. Good luck with this lot if you ever have a medical emergency on their tours. By the way, Travelsphere, your hot mess of a tour guide on that National Parks tour really ruined our experience with her non stop drivel and complete lack of knowledge of the places we went. She prolonged each day by at least two hours by misdirecting the driver, and expected us to sit on a bus from 7:30am to 6pm each day, then find our own dinner. Horrible tour, even without Covid. Her racist comments (preserved in an email you are welcome to view) resulted in our blocking her further correspondance, so perhaps that's why she's never sent us the promised day tour refunds?”
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Lorraine Dowey
Verified Reviewer
“Tour to Deep South departing 2 October cancelled start of August and advised refund would take 3 months, 4 months have passed and still no refund. Extremely poor customer service and doubtful if I will book again”
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Valerie Edwards
Verified Reviewer
“Still no refund after 4 months. You are holding onto my money and giving lame excuses for not returning it!! I will never use Travelsphere again! 😬”
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Tony
Unverified Reviewer
“Nightmare getting your money back. Still waiting. Despite their recent guarantee promises., they say you have to wait 90 days for a refund?, nowhere in the small print does it mention 3 months for your money back. To quote the ceo of jet2 " this is tantamount to theft". Does leave you feeling bitter and angry.”
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Linda
Verified Reviewer
“We had a great holiday with them last year. Booked agin this year and have been disgusted how we have been treated. They sent an e-mail early June to say we needle to pay the remainder of the money. As soon as the money had been transferred they cancelled our holiday (2 days later) . I'm sure they knew the holiday was not going ahead, we are having loads of trouble to get the money back, and they won't even answer emails properly, just send out a standard one. Will not use them again, DISGUSTED”
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Anonymous
Unverified Reviewer
“Grand Tour Italy 2019. Would never4 use this company again. Sold us this tour telling us tat we could see the colosseum, Rome. So excited. When we arrived Aideen informed us we would be "able to see it from a distance but would not be able to make a real visit as you have to book that back in the UK" The disappointment was also a shock. DO NOT USE THIS SILLY COMPANY CALLED TRAVELSPHERE! After they have your money, you are left to fend for yourself. We could see pictures of the colosseum sat at home but we were led to believe we were actually going to have a proper life experience. SHAME ON YOU TRAVELSPHERE. DISGUSTING NASTY TRICKS!!!”
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Mr A Cairns
Verified Reviewer
“Travelsphere offshoot Just You treated my father in law extremely poorly. He was abandoned at the airport by the courier when his baggage went missing on arrival at Toulouse and had to find his way alone, aged 82 with mobility problems, via public transport, to the hotel. No apologies, no duty of care and no recompense. The company's approach to the issue has arguably been worse than the initial failings. As his family, our advice would be to avoid this company like the plague.”
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Anonymous
Unverified Reviewer
“Grand tour of Italy May 2019. One hotel in Sorrento offered us THIN SHEETS instead of towels. We were advised before we reached this hotel that because it was full, there would be no point in asking for a room change. We left quickly and the staff asked why we never asked for a room change! Also trip to Rome, the tour guide waited until we could see the colosseum before informing us that "we had no chance of getting inside". Funny how Travelsphere failed to mention this when we booked though. WILL NEVER USE TRAVELSPHERE AGAIN”
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Trudie Thomson
Verified Reviewer
“My daughter and I have just returned from a Travelsphere trip to the Amalfi Coast. The Hotel Villa Romana in Minori, where we were stayed, was excellent and beautiful. The staff were very friendly and efficient, and the facilities were great. Breakfast was self service and offered a good range of options. Dinner was mainly good. Eating on a table with six strangers was not ideal. We did gradually get to know our fellow travellers, but we did eat at other restaurants on two evenings, preferring to eat a deux. We took advantage of two of the included trips to Amalfi/Ravello and to a winery, and one optional trip to Positano. The tour guide and the driver were excellent but two hours in each place was not really enough.”
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Anonymous
Verified Reviewer
“Just returned from Travelsphere’s Taste of Medieval Italy tour. Really disappointed. Stayed in Lido degli Estensi Hotel Plaza. Hotel was very dated and as was the whole resort which was only open for the first day of our holiday. Apparently 14th September is the end of season which is not mentioned in the brochure. Nothing to do in the resort at night, beach deserted, all sun beds were put away even though weather was good. Also the resort is overrun with mosquitos this time of year and we were badly bitten, particularly in the hotels restaurant as the windows were left open, you could see them buzzing around. Food in the hotel was very disappointing, you had to choose from a menu the day before which was sometimes very limited. Often food arrived over cooked or cold and not a lot of choice. We chose the excursion package which sounded interesting only to find ourselves having to get up at 6.30 every morning as everywhere was at least a 2 hour drive from the hotel. On arrival the tours were long and in depth, it felt very specialised, not what we were expecting. By the time the tours were over and we were given free time to explore, everything had closed for siesta, only opening as we were on our long journey home. Each excursion was described as moderate walking, we in fact covered at least 5 miles a day on these tours, is that classed as moderate. This holiday was quite expensive and I feel the description in the brochure was misleading. If I had known we were travelling out of season and the amount of time we would be spending travelling on a coach up and down the same road every day, we would have chosen something else. I have just had a conversation with James a Customer Care Executive with Travelsphere who stated they would not be using this hotel or resort next year due to the excessive travelling. He was very dismissive of my concerns, felt I had no reason for complaint and was quite unhelpful. I have travelled with Travelsphere on numerous occasions over the years, this is the first time I have had reason to complain and feel they were not very helpful at all. If this is how they treat their regular customers, I will not trust them again. Very disappointed.”
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Diane & Brian White
Verified Reviewer
“Travelsphere - Unmissable China & Yangtze Cruise May 2019 Having search the internet for reviews on this trip I find very few and the ones that are available are years old. I have just arrived back from this tour, May 2019, and wish to comment on this and perhaps give others feedback on our experience. I will try to fair and objective as possible. VISAS ….The first hurdle to cross is obtaining visas. From Nov 2018 visas can only be obtained in person from the Chinese Embassy, these are located in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. You have to attend in person with your completed application and if you are 70years of age or below they will take your finger prints. We are both 70, although fingerprints were not required we still had to attend in person, if I remember correctly the total cost for the two of us was £357.00 that includes the cost of returning your stamped passport by post a few days later, or you could collect in person a few days later once your application has been reviewed. In our case we had to travel via three trains to Manchester at a total return cost of £96.00 and a day out. It’s something to factor in the cost of the holiday. We booked this trip in May 2018 and initially agreed to pay Travelsphere £150 each to arrange the visas for us. We had notification on the 22nd November 2018 that the visa application had changed to its current format on the 1st November and we would have to attend the application centre in person. Surely Travelsphere knew in advance this was happening but failed to tell us. If they had have told us we would have probably looked at an alternative holiday. FOOD…This was an issue for us. I still have the original brochure valid at the time of booking it states ‘10 nights full board in 4 star hotels plus one night in flight’ I did contact Travelsphere and asked if a western food option was available. I was assured it was. The new brochures have changed The hotels we stayed in were excellent, can’t fault them, and indeed they did do western food particularly at breakfast time but we did not eat all meals in the hotels, all meals midday and evening were taken at local restaurants and were all Chinese. I accept that we were in China so this should be expected. On a few occasions although we had shows booked we stayed in the hotel and had a ‘proper meal’ and chilled out in our room. These were the best nights. The days were long starting at 8am some mornings arriving back at the hotel at 6 pm to be told we need to be back in reception at 7.30pm to get back on the coach to go for our evening meal wears a bit thin after a long day. The hotels were top class but we only saw our rooms and reception we had no time to take advantage of the hotels other facilities For us we would do away with the midday meal, most people had hearty breakfasts, and have the evening meal, with option of western, in the hotel We opted for the upgrade on board ship this was excellent, a la carte menu, free wine and drinks one hour before the meal, wine with meal. Cruise ship can’t fault. Our Ship was the Victoria Anna FLIGHTS AND TRAVEL…. At the time of booking we did not have the option to fly from our local airport, we had a taxi to Heathrow. If it is possible FLY FROM YOUR LOCAL airport avoid China Eastern at all cost. The food is a disgrace and a few passengers were taken ill on the return flight. Another reason is that China Eastern only fly to London from Shanghai. On the return leg we had to fly from Beijing to Shanghai then on to Heathrow. That day we had a 3am wake up call, I think we were out of the hotel at 4.30am with a breakfast box and on the coach heading for the airport for our 07.35 am flight. We flew two hours to Shanghai then had to wait until 13.20 to board for Heathrow. By the time we boarded the plane back to Heathrow we had been on the go for 10 hours. We then proceeded to follow the same route flying back over Beijing, after 12 hours on the go we were no closer to home. By using your local airport you fly KLM to Amsterdam then onto Shanghai. Return is From Beijing to Amsterdam then on The food will be much better and the return flight time much reduced. Change of itinerary ………originally we were meant to fly between destinations in China but was changed to rail for some reason. Our first journey from Shanghai to Yiching was a nightmare, on the train at 09.30 arrive at 16.16. Travelsphere provided a Subway roll for the journey, it fact this was the case on all rail journeys. Tickets are purchased I believe by the local guide and whilst everything is done to ensure couples sit together it cannot be guaranteed. In our case I had a seat in carriage 2 my wife had a seat in carriage 6. We did manage to find another couple in a similar situation and we swapped tickets and sat together. And indeed we were together for the other rail journeys. Luggage on the train…..Porterage is provided for 1 case each passenger these were loaded onto the train for us we were told the cases were somewhere in Carriages 2 & 6. We were told to locate our luggage because when we arrive at our destination we only have a few minutes to unload the cases before the train departs. With 10 minutes to go before arriving at the station I had only located one of our cases. When the train arrived at the station it was all hands to the deck to remove all luggage with Travelsphere labels, fortunately my second case appeared on the platform. I am not aware of any luggage going missing on the train journeys but it is an anxious time and something you can do without whilst on holiday EXCURSIONS…..We opted to do all the excursions. On reflection we would have been better booking as and when. Sometimes after a long day we just wanted to rest and chill out. Local guides were very good as was our excellent Tour Manager Branwen. I have submitting a separate review earlier about Branwen to Travelsphere along the lines of:- Having just returned from your Unmissable China Tour and being somewhat jet lagged and food lagged l intend to write a more comprehensive review later but for the moment l feel l must make reference to our tour manager, Branwen Having arrived at Heathrow after a long journey we were at a loss as what to do. We eventually found the China Eastern check in not really knowing what to do. Then Branwen introduced herself and we felt instantly at ease and this continued throughout the holiday. She always seemed to appear just at the right moment to guide us on our way and answer our questions, nothing was too much trouble for her. She is knowledgeable, professional and an absolute delight to be with How she does it we do not know, she was with us all day bringing up the rear and shepherding us on our way. If Branwen is representative of your other tour managers we would consider another you holiday with Travelsphere. She is a gem. TOILETS… no problem plenty of opportunity and on a par with Uk …no problem BEST excursions, no particular order…..Shanghai by night, Shanghai Acrobats and Xian by Night. WORSE …Beijing rickshaw ride around Hutongs. Beware some of the excursions involve lots of walking and from the ship involve lots of steps. We didn’t have any problems but you might if you have mobility issues. I think I have covered most things that concerned us, would I go to China again? No. Would I travel with Travelsphere again? Probably I have tried to be fair and objective and answer some of the questions we thought about when we booked the tour To be fair to Travelsphere all the tours to China with other tour companies follow the same itinerary, use the same ships and dine in the same places. You are just as well booking with Travelsphere as any other.”
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
David Boyall / Val Redmond
Verified Reviewer
“Croatia and the highlights of Montenegro - travelled June 13th 2019, excellent holiday, smooth passage through both airports (Gatwick & Montenegro), Travel Guide (Marija) immediately visible at Dubrovnik airport, She was particularly good, excellent personality and readily available to ensure everyone’s enjoyment of the trip. Hotels, Lero in Dubrovnik and Bracera in Budva, good quality with helpful staff - excursions good, well organised. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you”
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Pauline McFarlane
Verified Reviewer
“I have used Travelsphere a number of times during the past 16 years and I can honestly say that for me they are the best tour company. I have used several others and they are o.k. but for me Travelsphere seems to have the edge. The last holiday was the Island of Elba tour last September. It was absolutely beautiful. I am a single traveller but prefer Travelsphere to Just You which is the sister company for solo travellers. I like the fact that there are always people around but if you want to be alone, there is opportunity to do so, it is your choice providing the same hotel is used for the whole holiday. I am very much looking forward to going to Umbria with Travelsphere again in September of this year. Travelsphere always send a satisfaction questionnaire after a holiday, and I can honestly say that they always take notice of the points raised. As I have a slight mobility problem, I have always found the agents to be understanding and helpful. The tours where a number of hotels are used can be quite arduous, I have been on a number of these, and yes, there is the feeling of being herded around but this is inevitable on a touring holiday with various hotels to stay in. Towards the end of a two week holiday it does get very tiring, but I always find the guides to be knowledgeable and informative.”
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
Anonymous
Unverified Reviewer
“Hi I also booked early for a tour. 2 months later I received a brochure that said if I booked before July I could have free transport to the airport if I lived within 70 miles of the airport. I phoned up and said I had booked my holiday before July. I was told it was only applicable when the brochure came out , but I read the small print and it didn't mention that at all. I was also told I lived more than 70 miles away. That was a joke as I live a lot less than that. They then said it was up to the company doing the driving to say which way they would go and they made it more than 70 miles. The route. I live on a straight route down the M4 to Heathrow, the way they would have gone was using back roads and weaving across the M4 and back again. What a joke. Due to set off on holiday soon. I hope the holiday is as good as I am expecting or I won't be using them again.”
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
Malcolm
Verified Reviewer
“I booked a trip for 4 people to do the best west tour in April. I have just received a leaflet from travelsphere with an offer for my trip. ( £125 per person off + free flight upgrade ) I phoned travelsphere to ask why they thought it necessary to tell me I could have got the holiday cheaper and an upgrade if I did not book so early. I booked early as I was told this trip sells out quickly as it is very popular. The agent was particularly unhelpful and refused to directly answer my questions and offered no explanation or sympathy. I feel like I have been misled and cheated and my family and friends will not use travelsphere again. Do not book early .”
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
Anonymous
Unverified Reviewer
“Christmas in the Cinque Terre 2018. Lovely hotel; great bedroom with large balcony overlooking the gardens, the sea, and with a view across to Santa Marguerita Ligure. Excellent breakfasts. Mostly excellent evening meals with fish each evening. Great itinerary. Made the most of all opportunities to explore in my own way, not in a large group. Downside: 40 people in total is not my type of holiday. Required by the Tour Manager to sit on the same table for 8 each meal time so very limited opportunity to socialise across the whole group. Treated like someone with dementia - being given the same information (not always correct information) at least 5 times.”
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
Anonymous
Unverified Reviewer
“Using London City airport was very convenient for me. The tour covered an area of Spain I wanted to see. The coach driver was good although he didn’t help anyone down from the coach as I’ve experienced with other drivers. The hotels were listed as 4* but the food was below par. I think they serve a different menu for tour groups depending on how much the company is prepared to pay. We seemed to be served in the basement which didn’t add much charm to the very average food.”
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
Travelsphere is rated 2.5 based on 36 reviews
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