Travelsphere26 reviews
This score is based on 26 genuine reviews submitted via BritainReviews since 2019.
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Find companies you have experience with and write reviews about them! Your reviews contribute to a more transparent market and improve the reliability of companies.Stranded on the edge of the parks — a messy experience but some justice done
no follow-up from the tour company, and cash we’d prepaid for day trips was never returned by the guide at the time. I’m still queasy thinking about how bluntly we were treated.
Would I recommend Travelsphere? Not without a big caveat. If you need a reliable, supportive service because of mobility issues or health concerns, be very cautious and get everything in writing.Stranded mid-tour, poor support and slow replies
I didn’t expect to be writing this but here we are. Halfway through a 17-day trip we had to pull out when one of our group tested positive for Covid. That should have meant clear, calm help from the operator — instead we were more or less dumped at a suburban hotel, left to sort ourselves out. There was a 75-year-old passenger with Covid too, barely on their feet, and no proper handover from the guide. It felt chaotic and, frankly, a bit brutal at the time.
When the guide finally made it worth the trip
30 and thinking, "this is going to be a long week" — and for a while it was. I first spotted the Taste of Medieval Italy tour in a Travelsphere brochure at the local travel agent and, on a whim, tipped my sister about it. We booked, expecting the usual guided-tour balance of travel and downtime. What we actually got was a run of long coach days, a resort that felt closed for business, and a lot of small annoyances that added up. The hotel in Lido degli Estensi — Hotel Plaza — was clearly past its prime; dated decor, creaky fittings and a resort that seemed to shut down after the first day because it was, apparently, end of season. The brochure didn’t mention 14 September being the cut-off and that meant empty beaches, sunbeds put away, restaurants closing early and, annoyingly, mosquitos everywhere — the hotel restaurant left windows open and you could see them buzzing in. Meals were a disappointment too: you had to pre-select from a limited menu, and more than once food arrived overcooked or cold. The excursions sounded interesting but they came with an early alarm and a lot of coach travel — at least two hours to get anywhere. The tours themselves were long, detailed and felt quite specialised; fine if that’s what you want, but not what we were expecting. By the time we were allowed some free time, places had shut for siesta and only re-opened as we were heading back, which was frustrating. The brochure described the walks as moderate; realistically we were doing five miles plus some days — not what I’d call moderate. Customer service didn’t help much. I spoke to James in Customer Care and came away feeling dismissed; he said they wouldn’t use the hotel next year because of the travel times, but that didn’t fix the trip. So — not all bad. There was a clear moment when I knew the tour had genuine value: on a small walking stop in a hill town, our local guide told stories about the place, took us off the beaten track, and everyone in the group stopped complaining and just listened. That hour of real local colour made me think, okay, this works — uneven, far from perfect, but it works when the guide gets it right. I’ve travelled with Travelsphere before and I won’t write them off completely, but I’ll be much more careful reading the small print next time and I won’t recommend it blindly again.
Not quite what we booked
the Studio Hotel in Santa Ana. As soon as we realised it wasn’t actually in central San José (despite the brochure implication), it changed the whole day plan. The hotel itself was fine — actually nicer than I expected, clean rooms, decent amenities — and that surprised me in a good way because I’d braced for the usual budget compromise. But being parked out in Santa Ana meant any idea of popping into the city at leisure evaporated. Google suggested twenty minutes to the centre; in reality, with traffic, it was an hour to an hour and a half. That last day, which we’d hoped to use to explore a few museums and parks in San José, was basically wasted. We managed the National Theatre and the Cathedral, and the Gold Museum, but there were loads of places we missed — Jade Museum, the Art Museum, even the insect collection — all because of location and timing. Felt like being promised a city base and being given a suburb instead. I’ve used other tour companies before and they at least flagged these things up in advance — this time, nothing. The Monteverde change was worse. The brochure named Jardines de Monteverde near Santa Elena; what turned up was Burgi Lake View Lodge, miles out, tucked away in the middle of nowhere. The surroundings are beautiful, yes — the view does deliver — but the access is dreadful. We got stuck in mud trying to reach the place, there are endless steps everywhere, and the room was cold with only a tiny heater that hardly made a dent while the wind howled outside. No bar, no proper restaurant — really odd for a remote hotel — so evenings were dull and you feel stranded. The in-room safe was laughable: a small wooden cupboard with a cheap key lock. I mean, come on. Those things add up and they changed the character of the trip. On the upside I’ll give credit where it’s due: some local guides were helpful, and the Studio Hotel staff were pleasant, which was an unexpected relief. If I’m being mildly critical but fair, I’d say the supplier choice and the lack of prior notice about hotel swaps were the main issues, not the people on the ground. A clear heads-up or a nearer city hotel would have made this trip a lot better. As it stands, I’m left with mixed feelings — some good days and a couple of frustrating ones — and a lesson learned: double-check where your accommodation actually is before you travel.
Slightly shell-shocked but glad we went
some proper highs, some unnecessary hassles, and a few things I’d change next time. And yes, I would probably do another group trip, but maybe not this exact one, at least not without a few tweaks.
Excellent value holiday package
I went on a holiday recently and the package was pretty good overall, with only a few areas that could be better. The itinerary was well thought out and the food at the hotel was fantastic. However, I did feel a bit bored because there was too much free time before getting back on the coach. It would have been useful to have the flight booking reference to pre-book our seats as well. But even with these small problems, I still think that it was a good value for money holiday.
Italy tour
Our trip to Italy was just amazing, really. We saw so many incredible sights and got a real feel for the Italian culture in just a week. The schedule was packed full of things to do, from exploring Pompeii to wandering around Herculaneum. Our guide was great, so friendly and really knew their stuff, which made it even better for us. The hotel we stayed in was nice, although it felt more like a 3-star than a 4-star by Italian standards. However, the staff were lovely and the place was well looked after. The food was okay, but we decided to mix things up one evening and try some local dishes outside the hotel. Overall, we'd definitely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to get the most out of their time in Italy.
Escorted Tour to American National Parks
We had such an amazing time on our recent Escorted Tour of the American National Parks. The itinerary was really well planned, and we loved learning from the Tour Manager and local guides. Even though the trip was quite fast-paced, we managed to see all the famous sights we wanted to see. We've been using this tour company for a long time now and they always exceed our expectations.
Escorted holidays review
I've been on 19 escorted holidays since 2013 and I've had an absolutely brilliant time exploring different places, trying out local foods, and meeting new people. The Tour Directors have been outstanding and they've really added to the enjoyment of the trips. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone who's after an escorted holiday experience.
Silk Road tour; Uzbekistan
I recently went on an amazing journey through time with a Silk Road tour in Uzbekistan. The trip was really well-organised, letting us see historic mosques, madrassas, and the Soviet-designed city of Tashkent. One of the best parts of the tour was trying the tasty home-cooked bread and plov in an Uzbek home, and staying in a converted madrassa in old Khiva. Our understanding of this interesting country was made even better by our fantastic guide, Marat, and the help of our tour leader, Damian. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone wanting a special and informative travel experience.
A perfect holiday
The holiday I booked was absolutely fantastic. It had everything I was looking for, with all the activities I wanted to do. The guide who arranged everything was brilliant and made sure every little detail was sorted out. We didn't have to stress about anything, just turn up and make the most of the holiday. I would definitely suggest booking with this company for a stress-free and unforgettable holiday experience.
Solo travel experience, Treasures of Turkey tour
As someone who was travelling solo for the first time, I was a bit worried about going on this tour at first. But those fears disappeared pretty quickly once we met our amazing guide, Uĝur Zaim. He really went all out to plan every little detail of the trip, making it really interesting and immersive. Uĝur took us to see local culture and cool hidden spots that weren't even on the official itinerary. Our driver, Engin, was also really friendly and helpful, making sure the journey was easy and fun. The tour covered a big area, with loads of ancient sites to see and giving us a really well-rounded experience. Even though we had a packed itinerary, most of the hotels we stayed in were really welcoming and the rooms were comfy, so we could relax at the end of each day.
Great tour of a beautiful island
I had a great time on this trip! We saw some amazing mosaics, a snowy volcano, ancient theatres, temples, and a really fancy chapel.
Travel experience feedback
The guide was absolutely fabulous, and the hotel and staff were fantastic. However, I must say that the food left a lot to be desired - it was pretty basic and not very appetising, with rather small portions and not many choices. I reckon this might be down to the company making some cutbacks. Food is a pretty big part of any holiday, especially when you're travelling abroad, so I reckon it would be a good idea to splash out a bit more on the food budget.
Also, having too many optional days instead of included trips, which can end up costing quite a bit, isn't really ideal. It's all about finding the right balance between free time and optional activities. When you're looking through different trips, it's important to keep an eye out for how many things like meals and trips are included so that you can work out any extra costs.
On top of that, it would be really helpful if they could provide more detailed and honest descriptions of optional activities, including things like travel times and how you'll be getting around. This would be a massive help for customers with medical issues or difficulty getting around, to help them make informed choices about what they want to do.Recent holiday at Hotel Aequa, Vico Equense
My stay at Hotel Aequa in Vico Equense was absolutely brilliant. Our holiday director, Dr. Karina, was just amazing. She knew so much about archaeology and the area, which really added to our enjoyment. The hotel staff were also fantastic, they really went the extra mile to make us feel welcome and valued. They even surprised me with a cake and champagne for my 55th birthday. All in all, my fifth holiday with this company was absolutely incredible and I would definitely recommend them to anyone.
Southern Italy history tour
Our trip to Southern Italy was absolutely amazing! We got to see Pompeii and Herculaneum with this archaeologist guide who was just so fascinating. The Amalfi Coast was just stunning, and the hotel we stayed at had the most incredible view. The staff there were all so lovely, especially the waiters who really made our whole experience even more special. It was honestly the best holiday we've ever had!
Ancient Italian Highlights Tour
I've just got back from the Ancient Italian Highlights Tour where we checked out Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Paestum, along with some other cool spots. Our trip was amazing, mostly thanks to our guide Karina. She knew so much, was really interesting, and had everything super well-organised, making sure our journey went smoothly and we learned loads about the history and culture of the places we visited. Staying in Vico Equense was a great idea as it was away from the busy tourist areas but still handy for our trips. The hotel and staff were top-notch, making us feel right at home. Honestly, it's going to be tough to beat this tour in terms of fun and learning!
Uzbekistan Silk Road tour
I've just got back from Uzbekistan after taking part in an incredible Silk Road tour. The country is absolutely stunning, with amazing ancient buildings and a fascinating history. Damian, who travelled with us from the UK, did a fantastic job planning and organizing the trip, along with the brilliant local Tour Guide Marat. The food was delicious, especially the traditional dishes we had in local homes. Staying in the madrassa in Khiva was a particular highlight, surrounded by the old city walls. Overall, it was an exciting and eye-opening journey that I would highly recommend to anyone.
National parks tour with varied hotel stays and coach journeys
The tour of the National Parks was absolutely amazing! We got to see some stunning views and even spotted some incredible wildlife. The best part was definitely when we had the brilliant Crow guide show us around the Little Bighorn battlefield. It was really insightful and made the visit unforgettable.
The only downside was the long coach journeys we had to endure most days. It was pretty exhausting, but I guess it makes sense considering how many national parks we visited. The hotels we stayed in were a bit hit and miss - some were great, others not so much. And don't get me started on the breakfasts, they varied from delicious to pretty disappointing.
Our coach driver was top-notch though, always going the extra mile to make sure our journey was comfy and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the tour manager could have been better. Her communication skills were a bit lacking, which led to some confusion and important changes not being shared with the whole group. It ended on a bit of a sour note when the coach left for the airport without us on the last day, even though we were there ahead of time.Grand Tour of Italy
My daughter and I went on the Grand Tour of Italy in May 2024, and it was honestly amazing. We got to see so much culture, history, and beauty in Italy during our trip. Our tour guide, Paul, was absolutely fantastic. He did a great job, was so professional, and knew so much about all the places we went to. His calm and patient attitude really added to the whole experience and made it even better.
About Travelsphere
Travelsphere is a British travel company that specialises in offering escorted tours to global destinations. Established in 1977, the company has built a reputation for providing well-organised, guided travel experiences, catering primarily to the over-50s market. Travelsphere’s itineraries cover a wide range of interests, including cultural discovery, nature exploration, and culinary experiences. Their tours often include expert guides, carefully selected accommodations, and comprehensive planning, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction. Over the years, Travelsphere has expanded its portfolio to encompass numerous destinations worldwide, maintaining a commitment to quality and customer service.
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Holidays and Trips | Special Trips Reviews & Experiences | Group Holidays Reviews & Experiences
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Last update: November 2025
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Review with most votes
Travelsphere is best for all-t
I had my great experience with Travelsphere, so far so cool. I have been four times,, with my family, friends and even once solo, so I can truly vouch for Travelsphere. Their cu... Read onBy: Frank Hanstle