Help picking an escourted tour

ncmc

My parents in law are interested in taking an escourted tour through Scotland this summer. They aren’t very experienced travellers, so they want to take the tour option for the convenience, security and comfort. I have been doing a bit of research for them and there seems to be plenty to chose from. They were going to book the PAB tours one, but to me it doesn’t look like a nice itinerary and the hotel they use gets shocking reviews on Trip Advisor. The Travel Department one looks nice, but it is a lot dearer and doesn’t go until September. Then there are two Pierce Kavanagh ones that look nice. Just wondering if anyone can recommend one of these tours, or even one of the companies. I have never taken a tour like this, so not sure if one company is any better than another.

http://www.pabtours.com/pdf/2012/34.pdf?View_Bro=Brochure
http://www.thetraveldepartment.ie/CMSTEmplates/ttd/resultsengine/individualresult.aspx?id=19379/individualresult.aspx
http://www.kavanaghcoaches.com/files/coach_holidays_2012/Highlands.pdf
http://www.kavanaghcoaches.com/files/coach_holidays_2012/BonnieScotland.pdf

Thanks in advance

coylemj

I have never been on any of those tours but I have heard lots of people talk positively about the Travel Department, they seem to aim their products at the older (50+) section of the population. It looks to me like they get a huge amount of repeat business as they don't advertise as much as a lot of the other tour companies. Word of mouth also seems to deliver lots of new customers so they must be doing something right.

If they are more expensive than the rest, the answer is probably that you get what you pay for.

ncmc

Thanks Coylemj, I think the Travel Department one looks nicest too, and I know people who have used their tours. However, it doesn't depart until September and they want to go in the next month or so. They are leaning towards this one:

http://www.pabtours.com/pdf/2012/32.pdf?View_Bro=Brochure

As it is 7 days and they can depart in the next few weeks. I don't know much about PAB tours, has anyone used them?

rot.donabate

I had a relative who used PAB, and it was terrible. Coach service was very poor quality, constantly late, and they never even got to see the main purpose of the trip - Downton Abbey. Steer far, far clear of PAB.

coylemj

rot.donabate wrote: »

I had a relative who used PAB, and it was terrible. Coach service was very poor quality, constantly late, and they never even got to see the main purpose of the trip - Downton Abbey. Steer far, far clear of PAB.

You register on boards and then resurrect a thread that's four months old to rubbish a company in the travel sector.

Which of their competitors do you work for?

kerry4sam

Locked. ncmc can pm me if they would like their thread re-opened.

Thanks,
kerry4sam