Classic 4.6

Exploring Scotland & Ireland

12 DAYS

$8,149 pp*

*Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy, tour inclusions and available options may vary based on departure date.
Please select a date below for more details.

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About This Tour

Your Tour Includes

6 Handpicked Accommodations
19 Meals

Included Highlights

Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
St. Andrews
Loch Ness Cruise

Your Tour at a Glance

Stay

12 Days

11 Nights

Meals

19 Meals

11 Breakfasts

1 Lunches

7 Dinners

Activity

3 - Active

What's This?

Travel Style

Classic

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Best Time for travel

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Customize Your Tour

Pre Tour 3 Night London

$2,448.00 pp

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Optional Excursions

Starting at $140.00

View Excursions

Whilst just about any month is great to visit Scotland and Ireland, there are a few prime times of year worth considering. Here’s what to expect, according to our destination experts:

Spring: March through May is a wonderful time to visit the region! The countryside comes alive with flowers and shades of green, and the days grow longer with 13 to 16 hours of daylight, giving you more time to explore. You can expect fewer crowds but be aware of the busier Easter holiday and Saint Patrick’s Day. Be sure to bring a raincoat and layers because the weather changes quickly here, with temperatures ranging from the 40s to mid-50s°F (4-13°C).

Summer: Summer is one of the most popular times of the year to visit Scotland and Ireland, with tourists coming from across the globe to take advantage of the warm weather and flurry of festivals and activities. Both countries come alive with vibrant landscapes, long daylight hours, and a plethora of outdoor activities. In Scotland, you can explore the majestic Highlands, visit historic castles, and enjoy the bustling atmosphere. Edinburgh, in particular, is bustling with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the famous Fringe Festival, which bring thousands of people to the city in August alone. The weather is generally mild, with temperatures ranging from the high 50s to mid-80s°F (10-29°C), perfect for hiking and sightseeing. However, temperatures can still dip at night and in the morning, so we recommend packing in layers just in case. Meanwhile, Ireland offers lush green countryside, stunning coastal views, and lively cities. Summer is also festival season in Ireland, with events celebrating music, arts, and local culture. With the sun setting as late as 10 p.m. and rising as early as 4 a.m., you have plenty of time to soak in the beauty and charm of these Celtic lands. Cities, attractions, and restaurants are at their busiest, so if there is anything you want to see or do outside of the tour, we recommend making reservations or booking tickets in advance. Just be prepared for occasional rain showers and pack a light waterproof jacket to stay comfortable.

Fall: In recent years, September has become one of the most popular times to visit Ireland and Scotland, making top sights busy. By October, tourism begins to slow down, and November is relatively quiet, making these months ideal for those wishing to take advantage of fewer crowds. Fewer hours of daylight and cooler temperatures make late September and October a little less hospitable than the summer, but the changing colours of the foliage make the landscape vivid and inviting. With fewer crowds in October and November, take your time at major sites. Expect more rain showers during this time in both countries, and be sure to pack warm, waterproof layers. Daily temperatures average in the mid-40s to 50s°F (7-13°C).

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Getting Prepared

Know Before You Go

Enhance Your Tour

Optional Excursions

Pre and Post Tour Extensions

Pre and Post Night Stay

Enhance Your Tour

Optional Excursions

Pre and Post Tour Extensions

Pre and Post Night Stay

Accommodation

Arrive Earlier

Pre Night: Radisson Blu Edinburgh
From $280 per night

Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Nights 1-2

Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa

Nights 3-4

Hilton Glasgow

Night 5

Maldron Hotel Belfast City

Nights 6-7

Maldron Hotel Derry

Nights 8-9

Herbert Park Hotel

Nights 10-11

Stay Longer

Post Night: Herbert Park Hotel
From $323 per night

Need More Information?

Call us toll free at 0800 800 219

Trip Reviews

Live, Unedited, & Independent Traveler Reviews

Rating

370 reviews

Overall Trip Rating

4.6

Out of 5

Based on 370 independent reviews

244

Reviewed on 11/08/2023

Trip Rating:

Because it was a 5 Star Trip We loved our Tour Manager Laura Harrington and our bus driver Fergal. We learned a lot, loved the food, the special touches like drive back and forth to the airport, getting the hotel room in the morning that we arrived instead of the afternoon and the people on the bus with us are now our family!

Karen Mckenna

Reviewed on 11/08/2023

Trip Rating:

Start to finish the entire trip was terrific! Enjoyed all the cities, the food, architecture and stories our master Tour director Laura told us from along the way. Want to go back and see some places again for longer to dive deeper. Especially in Scotland.

Rod T

Reviewed on 10/05/2023

Trip Rating:

We saw a lot of sights from the bus, would have liked longer time at stops. Pitlochry needed more than 30 minutes. Overall saw alot, would have liked more time to explore. Our driver Dave, a true gentleman, felt very safe, excellent driving. Collette our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and thoughtful. Additional guides were also very informative and entertaining.

Lisa Uhron

Reviewed on 10/01/2023

Trip Rating:

Great vacation experience with experienced and expert managers and guides.

Terry Cole

Reviewed on 09/17/2023

Trip Rating:

As advertised with a great tour manager and driver. The best memory was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was why I choose this particular tour and it delivered.

Reviewed on 09/12/2023

Trip Rating:

Most of the trip was without issue, and provided great experiences. When a transportation issue arose, the emergency help desk was not very helpful in resolving the problem quick enough.

Douglas Oliver

Reviewed on 09/10/2023

Trip Rating:

Would have liked less tours of the cities. More countryside, ancient architecture

Reviewed on 09/10/2023

Trip Rating:

Military Tattoo is Magical!

Charles Mckinley

Reviewed on 09/07/2023

Trip Rating:

The tour was entertaining and very educational and very informative. Our tour manager and driver were excellent, as were our local guides.

John Spence

Reviewed on 09/03/2023

Trip Rating:

Tatoo and trip variations excellent

Reviewed on 09/03/2023

Trip Rating:

Met all expectations ,exceded some

Dale Owings

Reviewed on 09/03/2023

Trip Rating:

Lots to see and lots to do. This was more of a mission to learn, than a vacation.

Ronald Bultman

Reviewed on 08/20/2023

Trip Rating:

every was great from at airport untill drop off at airport

Stephen Kleiman

Reviewed on 08/21/2023

Trip Rating:

The walking tours lead by the guides in the cities visited and the places of interest with the people that worked or owned the facilities and shared their knowledge, passion with us.

George Wakefield

Reviewed on 08/22/2023

Trip Rating:

Excellent tour guide and bus driver. We enjoyed the tours and most of the hotels were very nice and the breakfasts were good but the dinner choices were outstanding. The tour excursions were also fun and interesting. We saw so many beautiful places and gorgeous scenery.

Connie Rossow

Reviewed on 07/02/2023

Trip Rating:

Traveling next time, I would like to stay longer in each town. Extemely tiring to stay one or two nights in 1 hotel and then move on to the next.

Cynthia Johnston

Reviewed on 07/03/2023

Trip Rating:

Tour itinerary was fabulous

Reviewed on 06/05/2023

Trip Rating:

Some of the hotels could have been better, 3 had twin beds and no air conditioning. Wish dinner menus would have featured more local food and not Americanized food. Some of gift shop stops could have been eliminated and more time could have been spent at venues. There was not enough time at Guinness experience. The food at pub prior to Guiness, was the best! Overall what a great experience and I have recommended to friends.

Patricia Donald

Reviewed on 06/18/2023

Trip Rating:

Excellent tour manager very attentive, fun and knowledgeable.The bus driver was extremely proficient in his driving. Made everyone feel very safe. Good choices of places to see, hotels were good but be prepared for no air conditioning so room will feel warm at night. The Collette the app was very helpful. I love all the reminders and options. Attention to details is what made this 5 stars. Overall an excellent experience. Would highly recommend this company again.

Claire Prudhomme

Reviewed on 06/18/2023

Trip Rating:

Well planned trip. Graham was informative but not overly talkative You could relax during the bus ride I did take one day just to rest rejuvenate Hotel choices good Modern and traditional

Reviewed on 06/26/2023

Trip Rating:

The trip included many memorable experiences- castles and cathedrals with hundreds of years of history, the beautiful terrain of both countries and the cultures of both. Especially interesting was the Giants Causeway- so unique and beautiful.

Carol Lohman

Reviewed on 05/14/2023

Trip Rating:

I enjoyed all aspects of this journey, new places and more understanding of history.

Mary Kinney

Reviewed on 05/14/2023

Trip Rating:

Both Conor and Billy did everything possible to accommodate everyone’s needs. The sights were amazing, Conor’s info on places we visited, and Billy’s driving and sense of humor added to the incredible experience. It’s really difficult to mention one memorable experience since they were all so unique. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Collette, this team, and the new friends I made on this journey. They are all a special group of people!

Reviewed on 05/14/2023

Trip Rating:

We needed more free time for exploration; we ususally had to choose between eating or wandering. If I had known how tight the timing would be, I would have included fewer add-on events.

Reviewed on 05/14/2023

Trip Rating:

Conor paid attention to the needs of people on the tour. Great explanation of sites and tremendous information. Billy was an excellent driver and very considerate of the people on the tour. I had a wonderful time! The entire tour was memorable.

Reviewed on 07/18/2023

Trip Rating:

Tour manager was great. Some accommodations were just okay and some of the optionals were over priced.

Reviewed on 07/18/2023

Trip Rating:

The tour manager and the driver were extraordinary. Some of the hotels and the optional excursions were just okay.

Ellen Gillis

Reviewed on 07/20/2023

Trip Rating:

The tour was well managed and well paced with only one exception. We got a good snapshot of both countries. We especially enjoyed the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, and the Causeway of the Giants. We would have liked more time in St. Andrews, and a distillery tour later in the day.

Reviewed on 07/03/2023

Trip Rating:

The tour guide in Derry Ireland.. he was wonderful.

Reviewed on 07/02/2023

Trip Rating:

We had traveled with Collette; we expected better.

Reviewed on 07/16/2023

Trip Rating:

Did not enjoy city tours. Expected more of countryside. Dinners should have included wine or beer. No AC in some hotels.

Pamela Wilson

Reviewed on 05/29/2023

Trip Rating:

Loved our guide and having all the travel and arrangements taken care of by someone else. Great driver also. Would not recommend bookings thru an agent as you don't get all the information like add on side trips til later.

Susan Baker

Reviewed on 05/14/2023

Trip Rating:

Although I paid over $1,000 extra to travel as a single, some of my hotel rooms were inferior to those the rest of the group had. My rooms were in a separate building, above a noisy delivery garage, and in a handicap-access room without a bathtub.

Reviewed on 04/02/2023

Trip Rating:

I would eliminate the cider farm tour - the ferry and train rides were very nice. It is a shame that many things since we booked the tour were cancelled and the Guinness tour. I prefer hotels that are in small towns that are walkable than the one hotel out in the country. We loved our London extension and our guide was fantastic. We loved Laura Goodman as our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, personable and funny.

Barbara Skowronski

Reviewed on 06/14/2022

Trip Rating:

See above discussion, regarding end of tour experience and obtaining resolution of quarantine related issues.

Thaddeus Szymankiewicz

Reviewed on 06/02/2022

Trip Rating:

We had a wonderful time because Lorraine and Joe did a great job going over everything. We were fully briefed and prepared for each stop. We enjoyed most stops and the dining provided was very good. Only one hotel was not up to par (based on all the others). My favorite stop was Edinburgh. The tour itself was laid out well but for me, personally, I would preferred a little less shopping. Many enjoyed the shopping though.

Gerardette Condon

Reviewed on 05/22/2022

Trip Rating:

Wonderful trip. Can’t wait to go back

Reviewed on 05/14/2022

Trip Rating:

Problems with information from Collette while quarantined for Covid

Reviewed on 05/13/2022

Trip Rating:

Excellent from start to finish.

Susan Steele

Reviewed on 05/13/2022

Trip Rating:

Great trip and great guide!

Spencer Sealy

Reviewed on 10/23/2019

Trip Rating:

Dinner show in a castle included singing, harpist and dancing

Diane Hendrickson

Reviewed on 10/22/2019

Trip Rating:

Again Laura was great, some of the hotels were too far off the beaten path and a couple of the excursions were less than other groups I have been on in Ireland

Susan Marie Piazza

Reviewed on 10/17/2019

Trip Rating:

Well planned, great sites, tour manager, bus and driver!! MOST hotels were really good in accommodations, service and location! Loved the "extra choice" events!!

Reviewed on 10/14/2019

Trip Rating:

The tour and experiences were amazing.

Reviewed on 10/13/2019

Trip Rating:

Sites were very good. I learned a lot about the two countries and the tour was very well laid out.

Reviewed on 10/13/2019

Trip Rating:

Liked the variety of places and history. Even the weather cooperated,

Reviewed on 10/03/2019

Trip Rating:

Tour was exceptional. View of Scotland/Ireland phenomenal. Just great overall! Giant's causeway, ocean, titanic museum were great.

Reviewed on 09/29/2019

Trip Rating:

The included tours were amazing. The optional tours were overpriced and didn't deliver as advertised.

Reviewed on 09/30/2019

Trip Rating:

I enjoyed all of our trip but I most liked the boat ride on Loch Ness and the visit to the castle - I loved driving though the Highlands seeing the bogs with heather springing out.

Deborah Boschock

Reviewed on 09/29/2019

Trip Rating:

I’m not sure I had a favorite but I was surprised and enjoyed thoroughly the Giants Causeway and found the history in Ireland fascinating. The history of Belfast was amazing. I was disappointed our stay in Dublin was short and the hotel was too far out of the city. Loved Scotland and Inverness was beautiful but the stay there was too short as well.

Reviewed on 09/21/2019

Trip Rating:

This was done earlier I this request.

Reviewed on 09/19/2019

Trip Rating:

The military tatoo was a highlight

Linda Chapman

Reviewed on 09/18/2019

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo in Edinburgh!

Marilyn Schwartz

Reviewed on 09/15/2019

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo was breathtaking!

Kenton Griffin

Reviewed on 09/13/2019

Trip Rating:

Military Tattoo program was excellent and a thrilling experience. However there was too much free time.

Jo Clardy

Reviewed on 09/13/2019

Trip Rating:

The group was too large for the accommodations. The driver schedule was limited which fine but than to much travel was scheduled so the stops didn't make sense.

Marcus Colson

Reviewed on 09/13/2019

Trip Rating:

Very good. Tattoo in Edinburgh and tour of Buckingham Palace in London.

Reviewed on 09/12/2019

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

Reviewed on 09/11/2019

Trip Rating:

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was a highlight.

Leta Hatfield

Reviewed on 08/22/2019

Trip Rating:

Northern Ireland was fantastic with local guide

Estelle Davison

Reviewed on 08/12/2019

Trip Rating:

Landscape in and around Inverness

Reviewed on 08/11/2019

Trip Rating:

Been on many tours, I think this was the best.

John Blom

Reviewed on 08/11/2019

Trip Rating:

I loved the Scorrish highlands and Edinbrogh. Beautiful country and very hospitable.

Dianna Wilson

Reviewed on 08/11/2019

Trip Rating:

Most memorable was St.Andrews Scotland and Enniskillan Ireland. I was able to play golf right outside my hotel in Ireland Love seeing Portrush too

Billy Beavers

Reviewed on 08/11/2019

Trip Rating:

My most memorable experience was the Scotish Highlands and Irish Coastline! They were amazingly beautiful!!!

Teressa Beavers

Reviewed on 07/14/2019

Trip Rating:

Great itinerary and experienced and knowledgeable tour guide, Marc Pastucci. We saw more than we expected and never felt rushed or feeling we missed anything portrayed in the travel outline, which was filled with good information.

John Rice

Reviewed on 06/24/2019

Trip Rating:

we saw many places we would not have if we booked the trip ourselves -

Reviewed on 06/17/2019

Trip Rating:

we knew it would be a busy trip; however, there were several places/stops we would have liked to spend more time.

Reviewed on 06/16/2019

Trip Rating:

Read previous comments. I have already commented.

Reviewed on 06/10/2019

Trip Rating:

Visiting the small towns along the way.

Gail Jackson

Reviewed on 05/22/2019

Trip Rating:

the castle accomdation was not at all a castle experience from what it adevertised so i was a bit disappointed but the hotel was not bad my favorite place would be the derry town, the Maldron hotel was excellent food was great,room was spacious, nice & clean located in the center of town easy to explore

Reviewed on 05/22/2019

Trip Rating:

Extremely enjoyable trip.

Patricia Fichtner

Reviewed on 05/22/2019

Trip Rating:

The whole tour was my faverite memorial experience.

Edwin Fichtner

Reviewed on 05/05/2019

Trip Rating:

Very informative tour. Optional tours were also wonderful. Tour guide, Chad, and driver, Tommy, did a wonderful job!

Harriet Litvack

Reviewed on 05/05/2019

Trip Rating:

Loved the itinerary.. did all the optional tours which are great except in Dublin which we did last year on a different itinerary..Loved being on the Royal Yacht Britannia.. Titanic Museum & Bagpipe lessons..

Patricia Hess

Reviewed on 04/07/2019

Trip Rating:

Excellent, caring, and expert tour guide and coach driver. Rated accommodations "good" because of Ballachulish Hotel. Personnel were surly a couple of times. Room heat nearly impossible to regulate. Food not as good as all other venues. Regarding tours: Coach tour guide in Glasgow was very poor. Ronan in Londonderry was the absolute best. The Guinness Storehouse tour was disappointing. We did not get to see actual brewery operations, which we thought we would. Large and loud groups interfered with each other. The tour guide presented very little substantive information on the process. More "ooh and ahh" factoids than anything else. The special event meals were uniformly excellent. Suggestion: Let people know up front that if they purchase all of the options, they will be on the go almost continuously. If they want to do serious shopping or seeing things and meeting people at a more leisurely pace, they will need to pass on an option now and then. It was truly a wonderful trip.

Paul Galli

Reviewed on 04/07/2019

Trip Rating:

The countryside was beautiful. We learned so much History. Things we would have never learned.

Delbert Chase

Reviewed on 04/01/2019

Trip Rating:

Titanic, Britania, Parks, Edinburg

Joelle

Reviewed on 01/22/2019

Trip Rating:

Collette customized the tour to work with our radio station to include music stops. Edinburgh was our favorite stop.

Richard Towson

Reviewed on 01/04/2019

Trip Rating:

The military ratio was unimaginable and spectacular. Love the varied modes of transportation through the Highlands across the Irish Sea to the Titanic, Derry, to Guinness.

Reviewed on 11/11/2018

Trip Rating:

The tour guide did an excellent job. The tour was well organized.

Thomas Mccartin

Reviewed on 11/11/2018

Trip Rating:

We had a wonderful time exploring places we had never been before

Lea Conner

Reviewed on 11/11/2018

Trip Rating:

Seeing Scotland for the first time.

Bernadette Mccormick

Reviewed on 10/22/2018

Trip Rating:

Everything was memorable!

The Kemmerleys

Reviewed on 10/21/2018

Trip Rating:

I liked many parts of the tour. It was a great time.

Reviewed on 10/14/2018

Trip Rating:

It was a good over-all exploration of both Scotland and Ireland

Carol Taylor

Reviewed on 10/07/2018

Trip Rating:

Interesting and friendly tour members of all ages. The Titanic center in Belfast and the Guinness brewery in Dublin were my favorites, but everything else was very close behind!

Glenn Lausch

Reviewed on 10/07/2018

Trip Rating:

Good food. Great hotels. Loved Marc and Brian. We were well taken care of! Saw things I thought I would never get to see, like Northern Ireland.

Joanne Pruett

Reviewed on 10/07/2018

Trip Rating:

A few of the hotels were not that good

Terrance Gleman

Reviewed on 09/16/2018

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo was great, loved it!

Jeanine Owens

Reviewed on 09/16/2018

Trip Rating:

I have already provided feedback directly to Collette

Harry Hurley

Reviewed on 09/11/2018

Trip Rating:

Great itinerary and hotels but needed experienced tour manager to complement those positives. Tattoo was outstanding, day in Glasgow was a wasted day due to the locale and mix-up with scheduling local guide. Derry train trip was not ho-hum and not worth the time. The rest of the trip was above average.

Reviewed on 09/10/2018

Trip Rating:

Tour manager was incompetent and I’ll prepared. Places visited, especially in Ireland, were good. Spent too much time in Scottish Highlands. Boring. Glasgow was a very uninteresting stop. Train ride was not scenic as promised.

Jean Kudra

Reviewed on 09/10/2018

Trip Rating:

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was one of the best parts of the tour and the rest of Scotland was great. Ireland was rich in history and so interesting we loved it

Andrew Andrews

Reviewed on 09/09/2018

Trip Rating:

Tattoo, Loch Ness and Belfast.

Frances Mower

Reviewed on 09/09/2018

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh Military Tattoo was the hi-lite.

Susan Yarber

Reviewed on 08/12/2018

Trip Rating:

Nice job by tour manager interesting tours bus drivers good other people on tour very friendly hotels mostly ok food ok

Andrew Scopelitis

Reviewed on 06/18/2018

Trip Rating:

The countries are beautiful, the coach and driver, fantastic. Our guide, second to none. If the hotels had been exceptional, I would have rated the tour a 5. Dublin and Derry hotels were located 30 minutes from city center. We could not stroll around the city in our down time. One hotel was at most, 2 stars. The views from our rooms at different hotels included a fire escape, rooftop kitchen vents, a brick wall, railroad tracks with all night trains and a parking lot. The Irish music and dancing at the Folk Park was my favorite event.

Reviewed on 06/19/2018

Trip Rating:

The whole trip was memorable.

Sharon Neal

Reviewed on 06/19/2018

Trip Rating:

Pricing for the tour was very fair. A couple of the hotels, especially Barberstown Castle, were too far from the city or town we were touring. Again, the optional evenings were very expensive. However, we did take advantage of the Dublin lunch and Guinness tour and felt the pricing on that provided good value. Our favorite city was Edinburgh and we purposely arrived there three days before the tour began. We also really liked seeing St. Andrews and the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, Lochness, and were impressed by Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and Dublin. We also scheduled three days in Dublin post-tour and found that a good decision, as well. Tour guides hired for some stops were very good, except for the one in Glasgow. She initially failed to keep track of our group and raced through tour. The others were very entertaining, armed with enlightening stories and history.

Reviewed on 06/18/2018

Trip Rating:

We had the best tour guide he was fantastic would do a tour with him again

Reviewed on 05/21/2018

Trip Rating:

Exceeded expectations....

John Clay

Reviewed on 05/20/2018

Trip Rating:

So so on extra trips. Not sure may be overpriced for what you see and eat

Reviewed on 05/20/2018

Trip Rating:

Exceeded expectations and provided amazing information as well as gorgeous scenery

Michael Bincsik

Reviewed on 05/12/2018

Trip Rating:

First and foremost, our tour guide was excellent. Marc knew the history of the area quite well and was able to answer almost all of the questions asked by the group. Our time In Edinburgh was interesting especially the "vaults" in the old town. The lake boat ride on Loch Ness was very nice, and no, we did not find the monster. Of particular interest to me was the "local guide" in Belfast. Our Irish, Chinese, Buddhist guide was so interesting when he was telling us about "The Troubles" period in Northern Irish History. Walking the wall there was quite an experience. Londonderry was just as interesting. When you go, look for the statue of the two children trying to touch hands, indicating that the children will solve the problems between the Catholics and Protestants. As usual the accommodations were quite excellent, especially Colloden Inn and Spa. I hope they keep this in the future. This experience is interesting for the history education you will get. The food, as usual, is excellent. The haggis is an acquired taste and one not for me. It can be had at most breakfasts and dinners. I usually went for the fish and lamb which are the specialties in all three countries. Breakfast is usually the typical European offerings -- baked beans, ham, sausage, cheese, roasted tomatoes, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, excellent breads, etc. You'll always be able to get a good start on the day.

Reviewed on 05/12/2018

Trip Rating:

First and foremost, our tour guide was excellent. Marc knew the history of the area quite well and was able to answer almost all of the questions asked by the group. Our time In Edinburgh was interesting especially the "vaults" in the old town. The lake boat ride on Loch Ness was very nice, and no, we did not find the monster. Of particular interest to me was the "local guide" in Belfast. Our Irish, Chinese, Buddhist guide was so interesting when he was telling us about "The Troubles" period in Northern Irish History. Walking the wall there was quite an experience. Londonderry was just as interesting. When you go, look for the statue of the two children trying to touch hands, indicating that the children will solve the problems between the Catholics and Protestants. As usual the accommodations were quite excellent, especially Colloden Inn and Spa. I hope they keep this in the future. This experience is interesting for the history education you will get. The food, as usual, is excellent. The haggis is an acquired taste and one not for me. It can be had at most breakfasts and dinners. I usually went for the fish and lamb which are the specialties in all three countries. Breakfast is usually the typical European offerings -- baked beans, ham, sausage, cheese, roasted tomatoes, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, excellent breads, etc. You'll always be able to get a good start on the day.

Edward Blotzer

Reviewed on 05/12/2018

Trip Rating:

Great organization. Knowledgeable tour guide. Excellent driver.

Reviewed on 05/10/2018

Trip Rating:

Wonderful tour guidebut phone app from Collette was horrible

Cynthia Bernier

Reviewed on 05/10/2018

Trip Rating:

I love that everything is organized and I don’t have to be considered with any of the details. I just show up and enjoy. It was perfect

Constance Nielsen

Reviewed on 11/04/2017

Trip Rating:

A great bargain for the experience. Chose this tour from Collette because they went to both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Reviewed on 11/02/2017

Trip Rating:

Great selection of city to visit

Reviewed on 10/29/2017

Trip Rating:

My highlight was the Giants Causeway. Our tour director, **************, was excellent and very knowledgeable.

Irene Gavriluk

Reviewed on 10/30/2017

Trip Rating:

St Andrews and the Titanic Museum

Betty Fitzgerald

Reviewed on 10/09/2017

Trip Rating:

Favorite was the entertainment at the Irish pub in Dublin on last night of trip Least favorite: my fall in Edinburth hotel room on first night of trip.

Avonne Mcclure

Reviewed on 09/20/2017

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh Military Tatoo at the Edinburgh Castle. It was a fabulous show of bagpipers, bands, and dancers.

Cynthia White Borer

Reviewed on 09/14/2017

Trip Rating:

This is a MUST if you are going to Edinburgh. It was pure magic.

Karen Meiring

Reviewed on 08/13/2017

Trip Rating:

Beautiful countries and great people on the tour.

Patricia Charley

Reviewed on 08/13/2017

Trip Rating:

We were very satisfied from the beginning to the end of our tour!

Mary Tschosik

Reviewed on 08/13/2017

Trip Rating:

St Andrews and Glenleigh Castle

Hoyt Mcclure

Reviewed on 07/23/2017

Trip Rating:

I loved seeing Belfast, but the entire tour was excellent.

David Grover

Reviewed on 07/09/2017

Trip Rating:

End of tour staying in rooms attached to the castle

Gregory Martucci

Reviewed on 06/13/2017

Trip Rating:

I enjoy castles and glad when there is enough time to see it all. Would have like to see the castle/abbey in St Andrews but it was not offered.

Joanna Balne

Reviewed on 06/13/2017

Trip Rating:

Generally very good. Some tours I thought were lacking. I St Andrew they just dropped us by the golf course which very few seemed interested in. Nobody knew but the castle ruins were just down the street. It might have been nice to drop those interested down there. The local guide in Derry showed us very little but talked a lot about the protestant-catholic tensions in Ireland.

Thomas Balne

Reviewed on 04/30/2017

Trip Rating:

Great trip, enough time to do some exploring on my own.

Beatrice Naylor

Reviewed on 07/21/2016

Trip Rating:

Loved Belfast. Enjoyed Uroquadt

Reviewed on 10/24/2016

Trip Rating:

Favorite was the Coastal Causeway and the walled city of Derry.

Victory Boone

Reviewed on 10/23/2016

Reviewed on 10/10/2016

Trip Rating:

The only thing that I would say that keeps this trip from being excellent is the limited amount of time we have at our many destinations. In stating this, I also realize that in order to cover the places we saw that this unfortunately, with the time we have to tour, is necessary. Loch Ness boat trip and Edinburgh were my most favourite parts. Northern Ireland was so steeped in history, Titanic was amazing.... it probably would have been easier to ask what was my least favourite ...which was Glasgow but probably only because we were there for such a short time and the City tour was impeded by something going on which closed main streets while we were there.

Debra Mcarthur

Reviewed on 09/07/2016

Reviewed on 09/06/2016

Reviewed on 08/15/2016

Trip Rating:

Saw so many amazing things on this fast-paced tour, but my favorite place was Edinburgh--so rich with history!

Marie

Reviewed on 08/15/2016

Reviewed on 08/14/2016

Trip Rating:

My most memorable experience was walking up the 18th fairway at St Andrews Golf Course and taking my picture on the Swilcan Bridge. I am an avid golfer and ot was a dream come true.

Elaine

Reviewed on 08/14/2016

Reviewed on 07/20/2016

Trip Rating:

Our only complaint was our arrival in Edinburgh. Our flight was 15 minutes early and we cleared customs in 45 minutes. When we got to the arrival area and had no idea what to do. The driver said they planned to pick up an hour after scheduled arrival time.

Michael

Reviewed on 07/18/2016

Trip Rating:

More time at sights. Maybe check in at hotels a bit later.

Reviewed on 05/19/2016

Trip Rating:

1. Royal Yacht was an excellent stop. 2. Edinburgh Castle should be included. We went on our own. 3. Giant's Causeway and the tour of Derry and Belfast. 4. Hotels were excellent except for The City Hotel in Derry. Service in restaurant was unacceptable. Waiter lost our tables order and we had a very long wait to be fed. At breakfast, it took forever to get coffee and tea. 5. Ulster American Folk Park was great but we felt we needed more time to see the entire park. 6. The Farewell Dinner and show was definitely not a highlight. The venue was overpacked(at least 6 tour buses). It was difficult to see the show because the waiters decided to collect for the bar orders at that time. They were all standing in our way.

Frances S.

Reviewed on 05/11/2016

Reviewed on 2025-08-10T12:33:03.815Z

Trip Rating:

Everything was grest, both Andrew and Davie the bus driver.

Reviewed on 2025-07-15T22:44:13.054Z

Trip Rating:

excellent in every way

Catherine Alexander

Reviewed on 2025-07-14T20:29:20.442Z

Reviewed on 2025-07-13T22:27:53.566Z

Trip Rating:

The tour was great. The tour guides were fantastic. The town and cities where we stayed were educational and a lot of fun. We had an adequate mix of time together anf time in our own. I would have liked to spend more time in Glasgow (we got in late afternoon one day and left after a bus tour of the City Centre the next day). This was a motor coach tour. The coach stopped the right amount to stretch our legs, use facilities, and do a bit of sightseeing, eating, and shopping. Collette was helpful when our flight from Dublin to Chicago was cancelled. The pre-tour assistance from Collette lacked. We were ticketed late and they offered no help with seat upgrades.

Reviewed on 2025-07-13T15:46:38.004Z

Trip Rating:

Sheep dog demonstration at sheep farm in Northern Ireland was great and very entertaining.

Charles Claycomb

Reviewed on 2025-06-16T21:14:58.823Z

Trip Rating:

The best experience was the food which was much better than I expected. The visit to Loch Ness and the ruined castled was memorable.

Reviewed on 2025-06-16T15:31:58.151Z

Trip Rating:

This is my third trip with Colette and I must say it was no where as good as the other two. I would prefer less included meals as the options are not good. The hotels this time were not good as well. They were never prepared for us at breakfast the buffets were always empty. The only good hotel was the one I. Glasgow unfortunately we were only there for a few hours. The trip was very repetitive with the history. I would not recommend this tour as very little free time and a lot of the same stuff over and over. Michael Art tour guide and Lee our bus driver were great. They made the long bus rides somewhat enjoyable. My recommendation would be to pick different hotels that can handle it. They know how many people are coming in and they’re still not prepared and to put us into a hotel that’s on under renovation for the prices that we paid to me is unacceptable.

Reviewed on 2025-06-15T15:55:46.557Z

Trip Rating:

My times in the pubs were unplanned , but great. I could have been happy with less tours of bottling companies and a visit to a farm.

Gail Lingenfelter

Reviewed on 2025-06-15T12:54:15.092Z

Reviewed on 2025-06-15T12:52:44.787Z

Reviewed on 2025-06-10T17:37:51.908Z

Reviewed on 2025-06-08T15:11:28.322Z

Trip Rating:

Experiencing all the beautiful countrysides, hearing local tour guides relate history of each area we traveled , entertainment from local artists .

Reviewed on 2025-06-08T14:26:50.160Z

Trip Rating:

Overall we had a great experience. They could have done better with our Hotel in Derry. It was unsafe to stay there during their renovations. Also dinners were a special Collette menus which. Same fish or chicken and no drink included.

Reviewed on 2025-06-08T14:20:39.763Z

Trip Rating:

Overall a great experience. A few hotels were not great and menus for included dinners were awful. They gave you a special Collette menu which was 2 options chicken or fish and you had to pay extra for a drink.

Lonnie Harris

Reviewed on 2025-06-08T12:38:51.899Z

Reviewed on 2025-06-06T00:38:25.639Z

Trip Rating:

Loved the trip. A little disappointed with the hotel in Derry it did not meet Collette standards

Barbara Hutchison

Reviewed on 2025-06-04T16:43:03.905Z

Reviewed on 2025-06-03T17:33:28.743Z

Trip Rating:

I had a wonderful tour experience, with Scotland being the highlight of the trip. The tour director and bus driver worked seamlessly together, providing excellent support. The extras were very entertaining. Overall, the hotels were comfortable, though there were a few challenges. Many rooms lacked conveniently located plugs near the bed, which was inconvenient. Additionally, for travelers our age, getting in and out of the bathtubs posed some difficulties. One hotel was under construction and was merely okay—the staff there could have been more helpful. Despite these minor issues, the tour was well-organized, and the experience was truly enjoyable. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore beautiful destinations with a capable and accommodating team.

Reviewed on 2025-05-25T21:03:30.899Z

Reviewed on 2025-05-25T14:12:06.477Z

Reviewed on 2025-05-11T23:11:25.510Z

Trip Rating:

The tour was actually fantastic, but if I could do it again, I would choose a tour that did not change hotels so frequently, like every other day. It was too much packing and unpacking. I also was surprised that there were a total of 42 guests when I thought Collette was smaller groups of people. My favorite experiences were the Giants Causeway, walking the beach at Saint Andrews/ Inverness, the city of Edinburgh, and our 3 day extension in London.

Catherine Dahlem

Reviewed on 2025-05-11T13:01:48.173Z

Reviewed on 2025-05-04T13:58:02.201Z

Trip Rating:

There were 41 people on the bus, average age 65, maybe higher. Too many people, just the amount of time to load and unload the bus was unacceptable. The extra excursions were way overpriced. We stayed at a hotel under renovation, not good.

Reviewed on 2025-05-04T11:32:39.692Z

Trip Rating:

Except for one hotel that was in the middle of a remodel which was unacceptable all other lodging and food was excellent

Reviewed on 2025-04-27T23:11:05.569Z

Trip Rating:

Enjoyed tour manager, driver, and all additional tour guides.

Reviewed on 2025-04-27T14:19:09.064Z

Trip Rating:

Titanic Museum

Reviewed on 2025-04-27T12:36:56.628Z

Trip Rating:

All areas were beautiful and we had perfect weather. However, the tour itself was not my favorite out of 11 others I've done with Collette. Tour manager wasn't knowledgeable about the areas. Asked questions and said he didn't know and didn't get answers for you. Bus driver gave more info than TM. Too many city tours on bus. Only Radisson Blue in Edinburg was located to take advantage of down time. Too many self guided tours. Add on experiences not worth the price...charged for transportation but none included. Paid to do a self guided tour. Too many "lunches...grab a bite to eat' at gas stations/bathroom stops. Some hotels were not up to expected standards of Collette tours. Best experience was hiring a private driver to see the Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel and highland cows.

Reviewed on 2025-04-21T19:16:56.162Z

Reviewed on 2025-04-20T19:42:11.581Z

Trip Rating:

The main concern I had with this trip were the issues we had with the connections getting to Scotland and returning home at the end of the trip. Four of the people from our group were not able to make the connecting flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh and I made it to the gate as the flight was closed (but they let me on). Our flight had landed on time, but we needed to be bussed to a different terminal and go through long security lines again. Enough time was not allotted for a smooth transition between flights. Also, we were not scheduled to arrive at the airport in Edinburgh until 5 pm but the first meet & greet and meal was scheduled for 4 pm. We were not provided with the promised meal that evening. On the return trip home, members of our group were scheduled on three different flights from three different cities arriving in Spokane at three different times. No one on the bus (including the driver) returning us to our hometown knew how many were supposed to be picked up. As a result, we had to turn around 20 miles into our 80-mile trip to return to the airport to pick up two people. Finally arrived home after midnight. The time in Scotland and Ireland was well-planned and well-executed. The tour manager was knowledgeable and personable, the coach and driver were excellent, and the accommodations were first-class and in great locations for doing some exploring on our own. The activities were fairly diverse, and the inclusion of local guides was a nice touch, especially enjoyed the guide/walking tour in Derry.

Reviewed on 2025-04-14T16:47:16.477Z

Reviewed on 2025-04-13T14:56:46.027Z

Reviewed on 2025-04-13T11:34:53.562Z

Trip Rating:

Loved the countryside of Scotland and Ireland! Enjoyed listening to all of the history! Food and entertainment was excellent

Reviewed on 2025-01-15T04:28:22.792Z

Reviewed on 2024-11-11T18:11:19.527Z

Reviewed on 2024-11-10T20:18:51.329Z

Trip Rating:

Air travel was terrible. Too crowded. At my age, London was difficult to maneuver. Thank goodness for our catholic Charities group leaders and some of my fellow travelers. Our tour director was awesome. He had definitely prepared for this tour. And, our bus driver was very skilled and so much fun to be on our tour with as well. I enjoyed the tour and learned a lot. The food was excellent. I signed up for the extra offerings and was not disappointed. Some of the hotels were not the cleanest. ( City Hotel ) comes to mind. Loved Scotland….it was so beautiful.

Reviewed on 2024-10-28T17:41:32.672Z

Trip Rating:

JImmy, our tour guide was great. He took care of everyone and one night I was not at dinner, and he called the room to make sure that I was ok. He told many stories of the area that we traveled and was always glad to answer any questions. Pat was our motorcoach driver, a great and entertaining driver.

Rick Schmierer

Reviewed on 2024-09-22T19:36:15.331Z

Trip Rating:

Collette did not choose a good airline for this trip. Aer Lingus showed me it was not trusted airline. It messed up the whole group at boarding time. Some would take a later flight. some sent to London, nine of us would wait for another day. Nine of us also missed luggage for 4 days. The weather in United Kingdom was rain. cold, and we did not have medicines and clothes. I was worried things for 6 days of this trip. I really cannot say I enjoyed it. I hope Collette will make better decision in the future.

Frances WEI

Reviewed on 2024-09-22T15:47:07.894Z

Trip Rating:

Wonderful first time tour. Tour manager Satyen Kells was informative and accommodating. Individual tour guides were very knowledgeable Pace of the tour was good. I was able to meet my cousin in Ireland Highlight. Made good friends

Kathleen Williams

Reviewed on 2024-09-16T02:54:33.871Z

Reviewed on 2024-09-15T20:30:29.440Z

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle was amazing!

Reviewed on 2024-09-15T17:53:50.897Z

Trip Rating:

our age made traveling hard. misjudged amt of walking IN THE RAIN ALMOST DAILY

Reviewed on 2024-09-15T16:39:39.700Z

Trip Rating:

Military tattoo

Carl Gordon

Reviewed on 2024-09-15T09:15:09.087Z

Trip Rating:

Bogbain farm event was fun for everyone and you actually learned about the culture of the area. Entertainment was top notch and the food was great. I found myself eating parsnips and had no idea what it was...lol

Reviewed on 2024-09-15T05:11:15.692Z

Trip Rating:

Excellent overall tour and wonderful guides.

Reviewed on 2024-09-11T23:24:39.830Z

Reviewed on 2024-09-11T23:23:10.713Z

Reviewed on 2024-09-10T19:26:55.338Z

Reviewed on 2024-09-08T13:26:23.008Z

Trip Rating:

Loved the trip although the first night’s meeting was confusing. The host seemed to rattle on and he seemed to think we knew what he was talking about. He had just hosted some of the group in London on a pre tour and I think he forgot we all were not on that trip. However, the things we saw and did were great. I enjoyed the Tour of Edinburg Castle. The Military Tattoo show was awesome, all it was advertised as. The visit to St. Andrew’s was nice but we were given way too much time there. There was not that much to see or do. I enjoyed the visit to Urquhart Castle. The private tour of Belfast was very good. I did not enjoy the giant causeway, but it rained that day, no way to control that. The trip through the highlands was great! The visit to the Titanic Museum was wonderful. The time allowed there was perfect. The host was very knowledgeable and answered all questions. His monologue as we drove was great although it was hard to hear and understand if you were towards the back of the bus. The local guides were wonderful.. Sometimes I felt we were given too much time at the rest stops. The included restaurants were good and the hotels we stayed at were very good. All in all, it was a great trip.

Elizabeth Aikens

Reviewed on 2024-08-27T17:56:46.487Z

Trip Rating:

Best Hotel: Radisson Blu Edinburgh Best Excursion: LongMeadow Cider Armagh, UK Best Meal: Bogbain Farm, Inverness

Reviewed on 2024-08-22T00:12:54.968Z

Reviewed on 2024-08-20T10:58:27.864Z

Trip Rating:

Meals that were provided were limited to what the tour wanted to provide with no options for the guests.

Reviewed on 2024-08-18T21:09:12.629Z

Trip Rating:

The most memorable experience was the dinner, dancing, and storytelling in Inverness.

Susan Ochs

Reviewed on 2024-08-18T12:04:28.490Z

Reviewed on 2024-08-10T12:51:21.331Z

Trip Rating:

Was a wonderful, better-than-I-expected tour in so many respects. Despite the uncooperating weather at times, our tour was fun, engaging and informative covering centuries of European history and iconic historical sites. Our tour guide, Colette, had encyclopedic knowledge of the areas we visited and covered the "sensitive" issues of English/Scotish/Irish history and their religious struggles with exceptional grace and depth. She also well-managed timetables so we were where we needed to be on-time, at all times. Her on-tour suggestions for things to do during free time were always spot-on! And a surprise "keile" was tons of fun! Northern Ireland was a beautiful and wonderful place to visit. Food and restaurants were quite good, even for an Italian native! Accommodations were also very good and always centrally located. Well done, Colette and Collette!

Michael

Reviewed on 2024-08-04T22:54:47.529Z

Trip Rating:

Very knowledgeable tour manger (who served as guide and educator every day except for individual city tours). Loved Edinburgh - best hotel location on Royal Mile. Enjoyed St Andrews and Inverness, Loch Ness adn Urquhart Castle, Glencoe Valley. Too short a time in Glasgow - would have like some time to look at Charles Rennie McIntosh stuff - a few extra hours would have been nice. Belfast was gritty and a bit sad-looking, no doubt related to "the troubles". Antrim Coast and Giant's Causeway were 5-star. Derry and Donnegal were lovely. Needed more time in Dublen, would have appreciated a tour of Trinity College and Book of Kells as a trip inclusion or option. Nice hotel there as well.

Carolyn Chase

Reviewed on 2024-07-21T18:47:14.055Z

Trip Rating:

Covered to much area. People on bus were all sick. Not enough down time. Hotel stays to short. Did not see much of Ireland, if you don't include Northern Ireland. To much time spent on the "Troubles".

Mary Wright

Reviewed on 2024-07-21T15:50:26.793Z

Reviewed on 2024-07-10T16:26:29.132Z

Trip Rating:

Loved the short cruise on Loch Ness.

Reviewed on 2024-07-09T14:11:49.503Z

Reviewed on 2024-07-07T14:34:13.886Z

Trip Rating:

Our guide, Laura G was excellent. She was very knowledgeable, funny and attentive to participants. The local guides were also excellent. The coach driver was great too. I really enjoyed learning the history of the countries and cities. I enjoyed all of the locations and hiking Giant’s Causeway. It would have been nice to have another 2 hours in St. Andrews and more time in Glasgow. I also would have liked to stop for pictures as we drove through Glencoe valley. The panorama city tours are good but you can’t take good pictures from the bus due to window glare, so I would have liked more stops for pictures. Overall a great experience. Collette does a great job. Note that you need to be fit for walking and climbing but a few participants were not very mobile. This caused more work for our guide to accommodate them.

Lynn Sonnack

Reviewed on 2024-06-17T14:43:55.027Z

Trip Rating:

Hop on hop off bus tour in London

Reviewed on 2024-06-17T13:52:04.162Z

Trip Rating:

Loved all the history. Loved the tour manager’s stories, explanations and experience.

Reviewed on 2024-06-16T12:44:33.217Z

Trip Rating:

Exploring Scotland and Ireland was a fantastic tour. From start to finish we had lovely views, kind locals, and interesting excursions. While we didn’t spend a ton of time in every city I felt satisfied with the time we did spend and have already decided which ones I’d like to return to again. Our tour manager Andrew was excellent and I hope I cross paths with him again. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited, was open to questions, and provided a lot of cultural context as well as historical background. Overall, I’d recommend this tour to anyone who’s looking to get a little bit of everything in Scotland and Ireland

Colleen Sullivan

Reviewed on 2024-06-09T12:27:48.604Z

Trip Rating:

Learning and connecting historical events to the land. Experiencing the landscape - and the plants that occupy only wish would’ve have spent more time understanding and experiencing 5he natural environment close up. But this was not the focus of this trip’s itenerary.

Reviewed on 2024-06-09T11:40:44.499Z

Reviewed on 2024-06-03T15:46:01.022Z

Trip Rating:

While we have traveled to over 50 countries , this was our first tour with Collete . We fell into a rhythm after the first few days with Robert our guide and Mick our driver , as they learned our quirks and we adjusted to the accent . We purchased all the extra events and found only two that were too similar ( Irish dancing ) and the food was good and plentiful . We would suggest getting hotels that have air conditioning, since we had days of 80 degrees where a fan in the room is not enough to make it sleepable . Likewise, the tub/shower combos are not user friendly … as we would prefer to sacrifice “ historic “ hotels for modern conveniences . I would suggest you have your guides , especially the locals, ride in the middle of the bus as passengers during training to see what it’s like to hear” if you look to your right “ and only get a glimpse if you’re sitting on the left . It may be familiar to them , but with people blocking the windows, and parked tour buses blocking the streetscape, it’s frustrating to miss things . That’s why we loved the “ hop off for a quick photo “stops . We saw several companies posting their daily itinerary of bags out, breakfast , bus leaving schedules by the elevators , and thought that was smart so you could take a photo on your phone and have the info . We had to wait a few times for tour members who had the wrong departure time . We loved the churches and highlands . All in all , a great trip , and if you have a tour of just European cathedrals , , send me info !

Reviewed on 2024-06-02T13:22:20.161Z

Trip Rating:

The beauty of the countryside in both Scotland and Ireland. Walking on the fairway at St. Andrew’s was the topper.

Dennis McConaughay

Reviewed on 2024-06-02T12:57:10.842Z

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh was great. Titanic Experience and Guinness were wonderful. St. Andrew’s was a huge disappointment, a tour would have been much appreciated. Hotels were great. Driver was excellent (Michael).

Reviewed on 2024-05-27T12:38:29.863Z

Trip Rating:

The Titanic experience was very good. Also, the Tower of London on the "pre" tour. The beautiful landscape of the High Lands in Scotland.

Reviewed on 2024-05-26T18:20:27.590Z

Trip Rating:

Giant causeway

Raymond Disterhaft

Reviewed on 2024-05-26T18:04:45.827Z

Reviewed on 2024-05-26T14:30:01.932Z

Reviewed on 2024-05-26T12:31:31.158Z

Trip Rating:

Loved Edinburgh but seeing big cities and traveling on a bus wasn't the best way for us to travel. I would have enjoyed seeing smaller towns and having more time for shopping etc.

Edwin & Kathleen Greeves

Reviewed on 2024-05-26T12:11:05.431Z

Reviewed on 2024-05-13T03:42:03.136Z

Trip Rating:

First tour for me and exceeded my expectations… traveled with 3 of my sisters and 4 great friends

Deborah Moser

Reviewed on 2024-05-13T03:18:29.297Z

Reviewed on 2024-05-13T00:30:52.842Z

Trip Rating:

Tour Manager was great and our driver

Richard Murray

Reviewed on 2024-05-12T16:55:14.930Z

Trip Rating:

Great tour enjoyed every minute. Should make sure everyone knows there’s a lot of walking. Loved Edinburgh. Would have liked a little more free time.

Daniel Moser

Reviewed on 2024-05-12T14:33:05.273Z

Reviewed on 2024-05-05T21:29:40.354Z

Reviewed on 2024-05-05T19:36:10.170Z

Trip Rating:

I would not recommend this particular trip to any of my friends because it was clearly advertised as a level 3 tour. According to your brochure this means you are an on the go traveler who can stand and walk and climb for prolonged periods on uneven surfaces and inclines and stairs. Walking 4 miles over the course of the day is very doable. There were people on this trip who could barely get on the bus and it was very extremely unfair to the rest of us who wanted to see more and do more. We could only go as fast as the slowest person and we felt this tour was advertised all wrong. Or the people were accepted all wrong. I'm not quite sure where the disconnect happened but I would not take another Colette bus based tour. We wasted an incredible amount of time just getting on and off the bus and using restrooms. And then at the end of the day we had no free time to explore the areas we were visiting as the brochure had promised. We will be looking elsewhere in the future for tours that more accurately meet the advertised criteria.

Reviewed on 2024-05-05T11:41:38.441Z

Reviewed on 2024-04-14T02:03:24.736Z

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh was a favorite. Walking the Royal Mile, the historical buildings, neat little shops, just a great experience. Have never been on a tour so the tight scheduling was not something I was accustomed to, although it was fine.

Reviewed on 2024-04-08T23:45:30.689Z

Trip Rating:

Overall, this is a wonderful tour. Full of sights, scenery, and memorable moments. We visited the major cities and the city tours coupled with a lively and entertaining tour guide made for an amazing trip. The excursions to castles, breweries and churches added to our enjoyment. Would highly recommend this trip.

Reviewed on 2024-04-08T13:27:58.724Z

Trip Rating:

Excellent tour, made even better by our tour director, Rob Lippitt. Rob made every experience even more memorable. Hard to say what was my favorite as it was all very good.

Reviewed on 2024-04-07T23:33:04.995Z

Trip Rating:

Our tour was amazing! All of our local guides were very knowledgeable and took time to answer our questions. Josephine in London even spent time with us after her end time to show us how to use our Oyster card. Rob, our tour director, was very well organized and made our moves to each hotel an d town easy and enjoyable. He went the extra mile to make our tour fun and became our friend! Our bus driver Dennis also was not only a safe and courteous driver but became our fiend! I have already recommended several friends travel with Jamie Gillmore and Freeman Advantage and Collette! Thank you for a trip I will never forget!!

Brenda Reynolds

Reviewed on 2024-04-07T16:18:02.100Z

Trip Rating:

The Tour director and coach driver were excellent they made the trip Can’t pick just one thing Some of the hotels could have been better

Deborah Mitchell

Reviewed on 2024-04-07T11:33:04.476Z

Reviewed on 2023-11-08T23:26:43.499Z

Trip Rating:

Start to finish the entire trip was terrific! Enjoyed all the cities, the food, architecture and stories our master Tour director Laura told us from along the way. Want to go back and see some places again for longer to dive deeper. Especially in Scotland.

Rod T

Reviewed on 2023-11-08T23:22:33.293Z

Trip Rating:

Because it was a 5 Star Trip We loved our Tour Manager Laura Harrington and our bus driver Fergal. We learned a lot, loved the food, the special touches like drive back and forth to the airport, getting the hotel room in the morning that we arrived instead of the afternoon and the people on the bus with us are now our family!

Karen Mckenna

Reviewed on 2023-10-05T23:42:58.351Z

Trip Rating:

We saw a lot of sights from the bus, would have liked longer time at stops. Pitlochry needed more than 30 minutes. Overall saw alot, would have liked more time to explore. Our driver Dave, a true gentleman, felt very safe, excellent driving. Collette our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and thoughtful. Additional guides were also very informative and entertaining.

Lisa Uhron

Reviewed on 2023-10-01T17:52:12.504Z

Trip Rating:

Great vacation experience with experienced and expert managers and guides.

Terry Cole

Reviewed on 2023-09-17T14:56:38.533Z

Trip Rating:

As advertised with a great tour manager and driver. The best memory was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was why I choose this particular tour and it delivered.

Reviewed on 2023-09-12T01:14:05.667Z

Trip Rating:

Most of the trip was without issue, and provided great experiences. When a transportation issue arose, the emergency help desk was not very helpful in resolving the problem quick enough.

Douglas Oliver

Reviewed on 2023-09-10T16:15:51.079Z

Trip Rating:

Military Tattoo is Magical!

Charles Mckinley

Reviewed on 2023-09-10T10:54:01.924Z

Trip Rating:

Would have liked less tours of the cities. More countryside, ancient architecture

Reviewed on 2023-09-07T01:44:55.249Z

Trip Rating:

The tour was entertaining and very educational and very informative. Our tour manager and driver were excellent, as were our local guides.

John Spence

Reviewed on 2023-09-03T21:26:15.479Z

Trip Rating:

Lots to see and lots to do. This was more of a mission to learn, than a vacation.

Ronald Bultman

Reviewed on 2023-09-03T17:09:51.277Z

Trip Rating:

Met all expectations ,exceded some

Dale Owings

Reviewed on 2023-09-03T15:32:31.615Z

Trip Rating:

Tatoo and trip variations excellent

Reviewed on 2023-08-22T01:57:55.566Z

Trip Rating:

Excellent tour guide and bus driver. We enjoyed the tours and most of the hotels were very nice and the breakfasts were good but the dinner choices were outstanding. The tour excursions were also fun and interesting. We saw so many beautiful places and gorgeous scenery.

Connie Rossow

Reviewed on 2023-08-21T20:09:52.412Z

Trip Rating:

The walking tours lead by the guides in the cities visited and the places of interest with the people that worked or owned the facilities and shared their knowledge, passion with us.

George Wakefield

Reviewed on 2023-08-20T12:42:09.583Z

Trip Rating:

every was great from at airport untill drop off at airport

Stephen Kleiman

Reviewed on 2023-07-20T17:02:53.016Z

Trip Rating:

The tour was well managed and well paced with only one exception. We got a good snapshot of both countries. We especially enjoyed the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, and the Causeway of the Giants. We would have liked more time in St. Andrews, and a distillery tour later in the day.

Reviewed on 2023-07-18T19:05:50.780Z

Trip Rating:

The tour manager and the driver were extraordinary. Some of the hotels and the optional excursions were just okay.

Ellen Gillis

Reviewed on 2023-07-18T19:04:26.593Z

Trip Rating:

Tour manager was great. Some accommodations were just okay and some of the optionals were over priced.

Reviewed on 2023-07-16T12:41:33.503Z

Trip Rating:

Did not enjoy city tours. Expected more of countryside. Dinners should have included wine or beer. No AC in some hotels.

Pamela Wilson

Reviewed on 2023-07-03T18:08:42.726Z

Trip Rating:

Tour itinerary was fabulous

Reviewed on 2023-07-03T00:25:59.357Z

Trip Rating:

The tour guide in Derry Ireland.. he was wonderful.

Reviewed on 2023-07-02T17:13:01.276Z

Trip Rating:

Traveling next time, I would like to stay longer in each town. Extemely tiring to stay one or two nights in 1 hotel and then move on to the next.

Cynthia Johnston

Reviewed on 2023-07-02T12:21:21.759Z

Trip Rating:

We had traveled with Collette; we expected better.

Reviewed on 2023-06-26T17:59:14.512Z

Trip Rating:

The trip included many memorable experiences- castles and cathedrals with hundreds of years of history, the beautiful terrain of both countries and the cultures of both. Especially interesting was the Giants Causeway- so unique and beautiful.

Carol Lohman

Reviewed on 2023-06-18T11:58:00.697Z

Trip Rating:

Well planned trip. Graham was informative but not overly talkative You could relax during the bus ride I did take one day just to rest rejuvenate Hotel choices good Modern and traditional

Reviewed on 2023-06-18T06:19:36.170Z

Trip Rating:

Excellent tour manager very attentive, fun and knowledgeable.The bus driver was extremely proficient in his driving. Made everyone feel very safe. Good choices of places to see, hotels were good but be prepared for no air conditioning so room will feel warm at night. The Collette the app was very helpful. I love all the reminders and options. Attention to details is what made this 5 stars. Overall an excellent experience. Would highly recommend this company again.

Claire Prudhomme

Reviewed on 2023-06-05T00:35:19.980Z

Trip Rating:

Some of the hotels could have been better, 3 had twin beds and no air conditioning. Wish dinner menus would have featured more local food and not Americanized food. Some of gift shop stops could have been eliminated and more time could have been spent at venues. There was not enough time at Guinness experience. The food at pub prior to Guiness, was the best! Overall what a great experience and I have recommended to friends.

Patricia Donald

Reviewed on 2023-05-29T01:12:51.052Z

Trip Rating:

Loved our guide and having all the travel and arrangements taken care of by someone else. Great driver also. Would not recommend bookings thru an agent as you don't get all the information like add on side trips til later.

Susan Baker

Reviewed on 2023-05-14T19:08:29.825Z

Trip Rating:

Conor paid attention to the needs of people on the tour. Great explanation of sites and tremendous information. Billy was an excellent driver and very considerate of the people on the tour. I had a wonderful time! The entire tour was memorable.

Reviewed on 2023-05-14T18:52:14.933Z

Trip Rating:

We needed more free time for exploration; we ususally had to choose between eating or wandering. If I had known how tight the timing would be, I would have included fewer add-on events.

Reviewed on 2023-05-14T14:33:03.431Z

Trip Rating:

Both Conor and Billy did everything possible to accommodate everyone’s needs. The sights were amazing, Conor’s info on places we visited, and Billy’s driving and sense of humor added to the incredible experience. It’s really difficult to mention one memorable experience since they were all so unique. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Collette, this team, and the new friends I made on this journey. They are all a special group of people!

Reviewed on 2023-05-14T14:17:04.784Z

Trip Rating:

I enjoyed all aspects of this journey, new places and more understanding of history.

Mary Kinney

Reviewed on 2023-05-14T10:52:24.644Z

Trip Rating:

Although I paid over $1,000 extra to travel as a single, some of my hotel rooms were inferior to those the rest of the group had. My rooms were in a separate building, above a noisy delivery garage, and in a handicap-access room without a bathtub.

Reviewed on 2023-04-02T14:00:33.852Z

Trip Rating:

I would eliminate the cider farm tour - the ferry and train rides were very nice. It is a shame that many things since we booked the tour were cancelled and the Guinness tour. I prefer hotels that are in small towns that are walkable than the one hotel out in the country. We loved our London extension and our guide was fantastic. We loved Laura Goodman as our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, personable and funny.

Barbara Skowronski

Reviewed on 2022-06-14T18:46:15.522Z

Trip Rating:

See above discussion, regarding end of tour experience and obtaining resolution of quarantine related issues.

Thaddeus Szymankiewicz

Reviewed on 2022-06-02T17:02:36.695Z

Trip Rating:

We had a wonderful time because Lorraine and Joe did a great job going over everything. We were fully briefed and prepared for each stop. We enjoyed most stops and the dining provided was very good. Only one hotel was not up to par (based on all the others). My favorite stop was Edinburgh. The tour itself was laid out well but for me, personally, I would preferred a little less shopping. Many enjoyed the shopping though.

Gerardette Condon

Reviewed on 2022-05-22T13:36:44.386Z

Trip Rating:

Wonderful trip. Can’t wait to go back

Reviewed on 2022-05-14T01:32:53.245Z

Trip Rating:

Problems with information from Collette while quarantined for Covid

Reviewed on 2022-05-13T19:01:18.886Z

Trip Rating:

Excellent from start to finish.

Susan Steele

Reviewed on 2022-05-13T18:46:42.029Z

Trip Rating:

Great trip and great guide!

Spencer Sealy

Reviewed on 2019-10-23T23:13:34.283Z

Trip Rating:

Dinner show in a castle included singing, harpist and dancing

Diane Hendrickson

Reviewed on 2019-10-22T20:36:52.359Z

Trip Rating:

Again Laura was great, some of the hotels were too far off the beaten path and a couple of the excursions were less than other groups I have been on in Ireland

Susan Marie Piazza

Reviewed on 2019-10-17T15:53:03.155Z

Trip Rating:

Well planned, great sites, tour manager, bus and driver!! MOST hotels were really good in accommodations, service and location! Loved the "extra choice" events!!

Reviewed on 2019-10-14T14:17:42.381Z

Trip Rating:

The tour and experiences were amazing.

Reviewed on 2019-10-13T19:36:39.752Z

Trip Rating:

Sites were very good. I learned a lot about the two countries and the tour was very well laid out.

Reviewed on 2019-10-13T10:56:31.581Z

Trip Rating:

Liked the variety of places and history. Even the weather cooperated,

Reviewed on 2019-10-03T17:58:40.531Z

Trip Rating:

Tour was exceptional. View of Scotland/Ireland phenomenal. Just great overall! Giant's causeway, ocean, titanic museum were great.

Reviewed on 2019-09-30T15:15:27.041Z

Trip Rating:

I enjoyed all of our trip but I most liked the boat ride on Loch Ness and the visit to the castle - I loved driving though the Highlands seeing the bogs with heather springing out.

Deborah Boschock

Reviewed on 2019-09-29T14:13:47.738Z

Trip Rating:

I’m not sure I had a favorite but I was surprised and enjoyed thoroughly the Giants Causeway and found the history in Ireland fascinating. The history of Belfast was amazing. I was disappointed our stay in Dublin was short and the hotel was too far out of the city. Loved Scotland and Inverness was beautiful but the stay there was too short as well.

Reviewed on 2019-09-29T11:48:23.583Z

Trip Rating:

The included tours were amazing. The optional tours were overpriced and didn't deliver as advertised.

Reviewed on 2019-09-21T23:49:26.741Z

Trip Rating:

This was done earlier I this request.

Reviewed on 2019-09-19T13:22:57.856Z

Trip Rating:

The military tatoo was a highlight

Linda Chapman

Reviewed on 2019-09-18T16:06:00.620Z

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo in Edinburgh!

Marilyn Schwartz

Reviewed on 2019-09-15T21:05:18.076Z

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo was breathtaking!

Kenton Griffin

Reviewed on 2019-09-13T21:41:37.972Z

Trip Rating:

Military Tattoo program was excellent and a thrilling experience. However there was too much free time.

Jo Clardy

Reviewed on 2019-09-13T17:04:17.918Z

Trip Rating:

Very good. Tattoo in Edinburgh and tour of Buckingham Palace in London.

Reviewed on 2019-09-13T15:54:52.708Z

Trip Rating:

The group was too large for the accommodations. The driver schedule was limited which fine but than to much travel was scheduled so the stops didn't make sense.

Marcus Colson

Reviewed on 2019-09-12T00:41:52.583Z

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

Reviewed on 2019-09-11T20:53:50.353Z

Trip Rating:

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was a highlight.

Leta Hatfield

Reviewed on 2019-08-22T17:38:45.859Z

Trip Rating:

Northern Ireland was fantastic with local guide

Estelle Davison

Reviewed on 2019-08-12T06:44:05.784Z

Trip Rating:

Landscape in and around Inverness

Reviewed on 2019-08-11T17:29:21.193Z

Trip Rating:

Been on many tours, I think this was the best.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-08-11T16:10:43.290Z

Trip Rating:

I loved the Scorrish highlands and Edinbrogh. Beautiful country and very hospitable.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-08-11T12:09:44.762Z

Trip Rating:

Most memorable was St.Andrews Scotland and Enniskillan Ireland. I was able to play golf right outside my hotel in Ireland Love seeing Portrush too

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-08-11T11:55:01.568Z

Trip Rating:

My most memorable experience was the Scotish Highlands and Irish Coastline! They were amazingly beautiful!!!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-07-14T05:53:20.563Z

Trip Rating:

Great itinerary and experienced and knowledgeable tour guide, Marc Pastucci. We saw more than we expected and never felt rushed or feeling we missed anything portrayed in the travel outline, which was filled with good information.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-06-24T17:55:00.747Z

Trip Rating:

we saw many places we would not have if we booked the trip ourselves -

Reviewed on 2019-06-17T17:45:53.407Z

Trip Rating:

we knew it would be a busy trip; however, there were several places/stops we would have liked to spend more time.

Reviewed on 2019-06-16T14:04:10.603Z

Trip Rating:

Read previous comments. I have already commented.

Reviewed on 2019-06-10T02:42:40.332Z

Trip Rating:

Visiting the small towns along the way.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-05-22T23:42:11.538Z

Trip Rating:

the castle accomdation was not at all a castle experience from what it adevertised so i was a bit disappointed but the hotel was not bad my favorite place would be the derry town, the Maldron hotel was excellent food was great,room was spacious, nice & clean located in the center of town easy to explore

Reviewed on 2019-05-22T18:50:07.926Z

Trip Rating:

Extremely enjoyable trip.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-05-22T18:39:29.770Z

Trip Rating:

The whole tour was my faverite memorial experience.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-05-05T20:12:41.687Z

Trip Rating:

Very informative tour. Optional tours were also wonderful. Tour guide, Chad, and driver, Tommy, did a wonderful job!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-05-05T12:54:00.665Z

Trip Rating:

Loved the itinerary.. did all the optional tours which are great except in Dublin which we did last year on a different itinerary..Loved being on the Royal Yacht Britannia.. Titanic Museum & Bagpipe lessons..

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-04-07T19:50:16.265Z

Trip Rating:

Excellent, caring, and expert tour guide and coach driver. Rated accommodations "good" because of Ballachulish Hotel. Personnel were surly a couple of times. Room heat nearly impossible to regulate. Food not as good as all other venues. Regarding tours: Coach tour guide in Glasgow was very poor. Ronan in Londonderry was the absolute best. The Guinness Storehouse tour was disappointing. We did not get to see actual brewery operations, which we thought we would. Large and loud groups interfered with each other. The tour guide presented very little substantive information on the process. More "ooh and ahh" factoids than anything else. The special event meals were uniformly excellent. Suggestion: Let people know up front that if they purchase all of the options, they will be on the go almost continuously. If they want to do serious shopping or seeing things and meeting people at a more leisurely pace, they will need to pass on an option now and then. It was truly a wonderful trip.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-04-07T18:41:27.871Z

Trip Rating:

The countryside was beautiful. We learned so much History. Things we would have never learned.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-04-01T02:34:32.640Z

Trip Rating:

Titanic, Britania, Parks, Edinburg

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-01-22T11:24:58.629Z

Trip Rating:

Collette customized the tour to work with our radio station to include music stops. Edinburgh was our favorite stop.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2019-01-04T15:41:48.789Z

Trip Rating:

The military ratio was unimaginable and spectacular. Love the varied modes of transportation through the Highlands across the Irish Sea to the Titanic, Derry, to Guinness.

Reviewed on 2018-11-11T16:05:53.513Z

Trip Rating:

The tour guide did an excellent job. The tour was well organized.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-11-11T12:56:51.542Z

Trip Rating:

We had a wonderful time exploring places we had never been before

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-11-11T10:37:35.618Z

Trip Rating:

Seeing Scotland for the first time.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-10-22T02:53:28.528Z

Trip Rating:

Everything was memorable!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-10-21T00:24:32.755Z

Trip Rating:

I liked many parts of the tour. It was a great time.

Reviewed on 2018-10-14T21:47:30.199Z

Trip Rating:

It was a good over-all exploration of both Scotland and Ireland

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-10-07T18:22:05.550Z

Trip Rating:

Interesting and friendly tour members of all ages. The Titanic center in Belfast and the Guinness brewery in Dublin were my favorites, but everything else was very close behind!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-10-07T13:30:29.767Z

Trip Rating:

Good food. Great hotels. Loved Marc and Brian. We were well taken care of! Saw things I thought I would never get to see, like Northern Ireland.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-10-07T12:33:04.361Z

Trip Rating:

A few of the hotels were not that good

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-09-16T12:46:57.659Z

Trip Rating:

The Military Tattoo was great, loved it!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-09-16T10:48:49.050Z

Trip Rating:

I have already provided feedback directly to Collette

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-09-11T15:06:35.122Z

Trip Rating:

Great itinerary and hotels but needed experienced tour manager to complement those positives. Tattoo was outstanding, day in Glasgow was a wasted day due to the locale and mix-up with scheduling local guide. Derry train trip was not ho-hum and not worth the time. The rest of the trip was above average.

Reviewed on 2018-09-10T13:49:05.140Z

Trip Rating:

Tour manager was incompetent and I’ll prepared. Places visited, especially in Ireland, were good. Spent too much time in Scottish Highlands. Boring. Glasgow was a very uninteresting stop. Train ride was not scenic as promised.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-09-10T01:28:26.493Z

Trip Rating:

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was one of the best parts of the tour and the rest of Scotland was great. Ireland was rich in history and so interesting we loved it

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-09-09T16:16:29.582Z

Trip Rating:

Tattoo, Loch Ness and Belfast.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-09-09T16:08:47.966Z

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh Military Tattoo was the hi-lite.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-08-12T15:32:41.174Z

Trip Rating:

Nice job by tour manager interesting tours bus drivers good other people on tour very friendly hotels mostly ok food ok

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-06-19T20:46:40.147Z

Trip Rating:

The whole trip was memorable.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-06-19T17:48:51.808Z

Trip Rating:

Pricing for the tour was very fair. A couple of the hotels, especially Barberstown Castle, were too far from the city or town we were touring. Again, the optional evenings were very expensive. However, we did take advantage of the Dublin lunch and Guinness tour and felt the pricing on that provided good value. Our favorite city was Edinburgh and we purposely arrived there three days before the tour began. We also really liked seeing St. Andrews and the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, Lochness, and were impressed by Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and Dublin. We also scheduled three days in Dublin post-tour and found that a good decision, as well. Tour guides hired for some stops were very good, except for the one in Glasgow. She initially failed to keep track of our group and raced through tour. The others were very entertaining, armed with enlightening stories and history.

Reviewed on 2018-06-18T21:48:36.174Z

Trip Rating:

The countries are beautiful, the coach and driver, fantastic. Our guide, second to none. If the hotels had been exceptional, I would have rated the tour a 5. Dublin and Derry hotels were located 30 minutes from city center. We could not stroll around the city in our down time. One hotel was at most, 2 stars. The views from our rooms at different hotels included a fire escape, rooftop kitchen vents, a brick wall, railroad tracks with all night trains and a parking lot. The Irish music and dancing at the Folk Park was my favorite event.

Reviewed on 2018-06-18T21:33:21.731Z

Trip Rating:

We had the best tour guide he was fantastic would do a tour with him again

Reviewed on 2018-05-21T14:34:05.057Z

Trip Rating:

Exceeded expectations....

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-05-20T13:40:36.366Z

Trip Rating:

Exceeded expectations and provided amazing information as well as gorgeous scenery

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-05-20T12:48:21.616Z

Trip Rating:

So so on extra trips. Not sure may be overpriced for what you see and eat

Reviewed on 2018-05-12T21:03:07.513Z

Trip Rating:

First and foremost, our tour guide was excellent. Marc knew the history of the area quite well and was able to answer almost all of the questions asked by the group. Our time In Edinburgh was interesting especially the "vaults" in the old town. The lake boat ride on Loch Ness was very nice, and no, we did not find the monster. Of particular interest to me was the "local guide" in Belfast. Our Irish, Chinese, Buddhist guide was so interesting when he was telling us about "The Troubles" period in Northern Irish History. Walking the wall there was quite an experience. Londonderry was just as interesting. When you go, look for the statue of the two children trying to touch hands, indicating that the children will solve the problems between the Catholics and Protestants. As usual the accommodations were quite excellent, especially Colloden Inn and Spa. I hope they keep this in the future. This experience is interesting for the history education you will get. The food, as usual, is excellent. The haggis is an acquired taste and one not for me. It can be had at most breakfasts and dinners. I usually went for the fish and lamb which are the specialties in all three countries. Breakfast is usually the typical European offerings -- baked beans, ham, sausage, cheese, roasted tomatoes, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, excellent breads, etc. You'll always be able to get a good start on the day.

Reviewed on 2018-05-12T21:01:56.401Z

Trip Rating:

First and foremost, our tour guide was excellent. Marc knew the history of the area quite well and was able to answer almost all of the questions asked by the group. Our time In Edinburgh was interesting especially the "vaults" in the old town. The lake boat ride on Loch Ness was very nice, and no, we did not find the monster. Of particular interest to me was the "local guide" in Belfast. Our Irish, Chinese, Buddhist guide was so interesting when he was telling us about "The Troubles" period in Northern Irish History. Walking the wall there was quite an experience. Londonderry was just as interesting. When you go, look for the statue of the two children trying to touch hands, indicating that the children will solve the problems between the Catholics and Protestants. As usual the accommodations were quite excellent, especially Colloden Inn and Spa. I hope they keep this in the future. This experience is interesting for the history education you will get. The food, as usual, is excellent. The haggis is an acquired taste and one not for me. It can be had at most breakfasts and dinners. I usually went for the fish and lamb which are the specialties in all three countries. Breakfast is usually the typical European offerings -- baked beans, ham, sausage, cheese, roasted tomatoes, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, excellent breads, etc. You'll always be able to get a good start on the day.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-05-12T03:17:07.772Z

Trip Rating:

Great organization. Knowledgeable tour guide. Excellent driver.

Reviewed on 2018-05-10T14:29:31.307Z

Trip Rating:

Wonderful tour guidebut phone app from Collette was horrible

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2018-05-10T13:32:43.675Z

Trip Rating:

I love that everything is organized and I don’t have to be considered with any of the details. I just show up and enjoy. It was perfect

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-11-04T12:18:18.289Z

Trip Rating:

A great bargain for the experience. Chose this tour from Collette because they went to both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Reviewed on 2017-11-02T12:22:31.578Z

Trip Rating:

Great selection of city to visit

Reviewed on 2017-10-29T11:59:45.725Z

Trip Rating:

My highlight was the Giants Causeway. Our tour director, **************, was excellent and very knowledgeable.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-10-30T13:46:26.152Z

Trip Rating:

St Andrews and the Titanic Museum

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-10-09T18:42:44.241Z

Trip Rating:

Favorite was the entertainment at the Irish pub in Dublin on last night of trip Least favorite: my fall in Edinburth hotel room on first night of trip.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-09-20T20:05:56.290Z

Trip Rating:

Edinburgh Military Tatoo at the Edinburgh Castle. It was a fabulous show of bagpipers, bands, and dancers.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-09-14T12:29:57.580Z

Trip Rating:

This is a MUST if you are going to Edinburgh. It was pure magic.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-08-13T19:01:03.807Z

Trip Rating:

Beautiful countries and great people on the tour.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-08-13T19:32:45.768Z

Trip Rating:

We were very satisfied from the beginning to the end of our tour!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-08-13T14:35:04.071Z

Trip Rating:

St Andrews and Glenleigh Castle

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-07-23T13:57:26.226Z

Trip Rating:

I loved seeing Belfast, but the entire tour was excellent.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-07-09T11:39:10.817Z

Trip Rating:

End of tour staying in rooms attached to the castle

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-06-13T01:32:10.708Z

Trip Rating:

I enjoy castles and glad when there is enough time to see it all. Would have like to see the castle/abbey in St Andrews but it was not offered.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-06-13T01:25:08.462Z

Trip Rating:

Generally very good. Some tours I thought were lacking. I St Andrew they just dropped us by the golf course which very few seemed interested in. Nobody knew but the castle ruins were just down the street. It might have been nice to drop those interested down there. The local guide in Derry showed us very little but talked a lot about the protestant-catholic tensions in Ireland.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2017-04-30T22:01:24.701Z

Trip Rating:

Great trip, enough time to do some exploring on my own.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2016-07-21T10:47:04.822Z

Trip Rating:

Loved Belfast. Enjoyed Uroquadt

Reviewed on 2016-10-24T03:02:57.505Z

Trip Rating:

Favorite was the Coastal Causeway and the walled city of Derry.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2016-10-23T15:44:17.571Z

Reviewed on 2016-10-10T16:21:27.075Z

Trip Rating:

The only thing that I would say that keeps this trip from being excellent is the limited amount of time we have at our many destinations. In stating this, I also realize that in order to cover the places we saw that this unfortunately, with the time we have to tour, is necessary. Loch Ness boat trip and Edinburgh were my most favourite parts. Northern Ireland was so steeped in history, Titanic was amazing.... it probably would have been easier to ask what was my least favourite ...which was Glasgow but probably only because we were there for such a short time and the City tour was impeded by something going on which closed main streets while we were there.

Debra Mcarthur

Reviewed on 2016-09-07T20:19:44.986Z

Reviewed on 2016-09-07T20:19:00.136Z

Reviewed on 2016-09-06T19:15:16.446Z

Reviewed on 2016-09-06T16:31:19.603Z

Reviewed on 2016-08-15T16:15:02.839Z

Trip Rating:

Saw so many amazing things on this fast-paced tour, but my favorite place was Edinburgh--so rich with history!

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2016-08-15T13:09:08.141Z

Reviewed on 2016-08-14T19:24:12.471Z

Trip Rating:

My most memorable experience was walking up the 18th fairway at St Andrews Golf Course and taking my picture on the Swilcan Bridge. I am an avid golfer and ot was a dream come true.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2016-08-14T14:38:36.544Z

Reviewed on 2016-08-14T05:34:59.258Z

Reviewed on 2016-07-20T23:44:08.455Z

Trip Rating:

Our only complaint was our arrival in Edinburgh. Our flight was 15 minutes early and we cleared customs in 45 minutes. When we got to the arrival area and had no idea what to do. The driver said they planned to pick up an hour after scheduled arrival time.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2016-07-18T17:26:17.322Z

Trip Rating:

More time at sights. Maybe check in at hotels a bit later.

Reviewed on 2016-05-19T20:27:17.345Z

Trip Rating:

1. Royal Yacht was an excellent stop. 2. Edinburgh Castle should be included. We went on our own. 3. Giant's Causeway and the tour of Derry and Belfast. 4. Hotels were excellent except for The City Hotel in Derry. Service in restaurant was unacceptable. Waiter lost our tables order and we had a very long wait to be fed. At breakfast, it took forever to get coffee and tea. 5. Ulster American Folk Park was great but we felt we needed more time to see the entire park. 6. The Farewell Dinner and show was definitely not a highlight. The venue was overpacked(at least 6 tour buses). It was difficult to see the show because the waiters decided to collect for the bar orders at that time. They were all standing in our way.

Trusted Customer

Reviewed on 2016-05-11T17:24:51.965Z

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