Service rating : All of the staff that I spoke with at Distant Journeys were nothing short of fantastic from the very first phonecall. The knowledge they were able to share with me was invaluable and cemented me booking my trip with them.
I can't thank Alex enough for all of her help and patience and answering my many questions and phonecalls! Nothing was ever too much trouble for her and for me, she is the shinning star at Distant Journeys.
Product : My trip to Australia turned out to be so much more than a holiday - it turned out to be a trip of a lifetime.
A fantastic balance, you could do as much, or as little as you wanted. It really was the perfect itinerary. My tour guide, Sylvia, was amazing! Her knowledge was incredible and her enthusiasm for everywhere we went was infectious.
I could go on all day, but it's far easier to go and find out for yourself!
If I were able to change one thing about the itinerary, it would be to have one night in Uluru and 4 in Sydney instead of three.
Apart from that, pretty perfect!

Service rating : Would definitely recommend as they were very helpful whenever we spoke and made several courtesy calls after booking & after the holiday in case of any queries. Also it was a pleasant change to be able to ring and speak to someone straight away rather than going through an automated menu
Product : Very good itinerary and value for money with the option to chose further additional excursions as required

Service rating : From start to finish this was the most thrilling experience of our lives. We were collected promptly from the airport by a representative in Singapore, taken to our hotel and had a wonderful time. We paid for an afternoon tea at Raffles and was not disappointed. Upon arrived in Australia our guide (Sylvia) was amazing, from her help and patience to her vast knowledge. The whole Australian itinerary was extremely well planned and professionally delivered. All our expectations were met and exceeded. Would highly recommend Distant Journeys to friends and family and would not hesitate to use your company in the future.
Product : An excellent choice/range of excursions with good value for money.

Service rating : The Distant Journeys office staff were all very friendly and helpful. They were very knowledgeable about the forthcoming trip and could easily answer all our questions. We were always kept up to date about any requests or changes, and we received courtesy calls from them immediately before and after our holiday. We felt we were in safe and capable hands.
Product : Excellent holiday! The itinerary was well thought out, and the excursions that we booked were all great. The Coach Captains (Alan, New Zealand South Island; Simon, New Zealand North Island; James, Australia) were all fantastic. Ideal people for the job - friendly, knowledgeable & entertaining and helped to make the holiday fun. Our travelling companions in the tour group were just lovely and added to the enjoyment of the holiday.

Service rating : We enjoyed the whole experience, from beginning to end. The organisation was second to none, considering the complexity of the tour everything went smoothly. From the minute we contacted the office to make our booking, we were made to feel at ease with the magnitude of our trip of a lifetime.
Product : Amazing trip from start to finish. We have made memories that will last forever. The highlights of this tour are far to numerous to mention individually. To sum the whole experience up there’s only one word that would do this justice and that is superb.

Service rating : Excellent support and communication. Follow up calls after trip. Can't recommend highly enough.
Product : Exceeded expectations. Attention to detail was amazing. Hotels were a very good standard. Would recommend this company without any hesitation.

Service rating : Responded quickly to email queries.
Product : Well-organised, informative, polite guides.

Service rating : Well organised & seamless escorted travel
Product : We packed in quite a lot of sightseeing & experiences

Service rating : Most aspect of the service were very good. We did report the poor typing quality of the final dossier. This was resent having been improved.
Product : A very enjoyable and interesting tour. We did think the number on the tour was to large at 46 although DJs report this is normal. Not what we have experienced on tours with other companies. Fortunately we all gelled as a group.

Fantastic well organised holiday. Hectic but needed to be to see the best of both Islands. Great tour managers fab trips, everything arranged easily.

Service rating : Faultless service, would recommend to anybody, excellent holiday, superb tour guides,
Product : Nothing else I could give, five being the highest.

What an epic trip, covered a range of places and was led so well by Ann. Yes I would travel again with distant journeys

Service rating : Superb service from the office staff and on tour. Great value with little extras included to really make it special. Generally very good and convenient hotels and superb service from their staffs. I must recommend this company to others, we will travel with them again to other destinations.
Product : Almost everything was perfect with the exception of the start in Melbourne and the hotel there. After that all was very good. Ann Aston was superb throughout. A charming person with excellent admin skills. We really felt looked after and fully informed throughout.

Service rating : Excilent hotels, well informed guides helpful at all times,
Product : Very good value would recommend Wonders of Australia Tour to friends

Everything - a marvellous holiday

All arrangements were very well organised and the paperwork professional.
A caring and good service was apparent throughout. The itinery was very well balanced.

Service rating : Good communication with customer.
Product : Overall a balanced and an enjoyable tour.

The organisation of our trip was excellent, if you could have arranged better weather for Cairns it would have been ideal! Disappointment was caused by the weather only and nothing to do with Distant Journeys. We would certainly recommend your company & who knows we may travel with you again.

Service rating : Very favourably impressed with the efficient and professional manner in which our holiday was organised from start to finish, Good quality hotel accommodation provided especially at start of main Tour in Christchurch and finish in Sydney where our room view over Sydney Bay was a fantastic and memorable finale to our main tour .

Transport and Tour Managers Robin & Jenny were excellent. The same efficient management and good accommodation can also be credited to our short 'Add On' stays in Singapore & Bali.
We must admit that initially we were very wary re. the integrity of your 'Travel Company' as we had never heard of your existence before.- glad to say that our 'caution' was eventually deemed to be totally unnecessary and unfounded. .

The initial BIG attractions for us to book with 'Distant Journeys' was your Holiday VALUE FOR MONEY and HOLIDAY ITINARIES compared with similar holidays offered by other larger well known and established Travel Companies such as Cosmos etc.

Needless to say that my wife and I ended up as a couple of very 'HAPPY CUSTOMERS' and will be highly recommending your Company to our acquaintances now and in the future.

Finally we wish 'Distant Journeys' and it's Management Staff every success and would not hesitate to avail ourselves of your services in the future. Good Luck and thank you all for a fantastic Holiday professionally managed and at a very COMPETITIVE PRICE. .

Yours sincerely, Roy & Mary Proffitt.
Product : Excellent service from start to finish..

Service rating : Excellent customer service, friendly and helpful personnel. We would definitely recommend Distant Journeys and use them again ourselves.
Product : Well thought out and presented tour. Great accommodation and a friendly and professional tour guide.

Service rating : My brother-in-law handled the majority of our family booking but my own experience of talking with your staff was a pleasure. They were very helpful, efficient and friendly.
Product : This was a family holiday of three couples who had wanted to visit New Zealand for some time. My wife and I were very impressed with the attention to detail of our itinerary that ran like clockwork. Having arrived in New Zealand we were met buy Alan our coach captain who looked after the whole group for the three weeks. Not only was a very knowledgeable guide, he drove the coach, arranged the optional trips in advance, organised the luggage at each stop and was always on hand to help anyone with a problem.
His superb support help us to enjoy this epic adventure where we saw most of the beautiful and varied country New Zealand has to offer. We would fully recommend a holiday to New Zealand and Distant Journeys to organise it for you.

great organisation and customer care. the only downside was the flight times to and from the Bangkok add on.

Service rating : The office answered all of our questions and the call on return is a great touch
Product : We booked this as a holiday of a lifetime and it surpassed all our expectations. Sylvia our tour guide had a wealth of knowledge and contacts beyond belief as the quick dash on ocean road tour to see the koala in a tree demonstrated. We enjoyed all the trips both included and freedom day tours and going off track was also accomated when she could as in the quick dash to Harry's pie van in Sydney. Everything went as it was planned to and you get used to the wake up calls! We still cannot believe just what iconic images places and tales we have experienced. We were with a wonderful group of 24 people which less than normal and we think this was just the right amount in a group. We would recommend Distant journeys to anyone and would use them again

Service rating : The UK office was very proactive both before and after our holiday. Any issues or queries we had were dealt with in a very friendly and sympathetic but professional manner. We received unsolicited calls from the office to check that we had no remaining issues before departure (we didn't) and to welcome us home and discuss our feedback after we returned. All in all, a thoroughly customer-focussed orgaisation that made it a pleasure to deal with them.
Product : Fantastic places visited with a tour captain and driver (Alan) who took care of our every need. Bags were collected at the airport and brought to our hotel room. Every departure morning bags were collected from the hotel room and delivered to the destination hotel room - it was really good not to have to worry about luggage. Alan was extremely knowledgeable regarding the towns and countryside that we passed through and was very careful to ensure sufficient comfort stops along the way. We visited all the places that friends and family had recommended and they were every bit as good as we'd been told. Highlights were Queenstown and the overnight on Milford Sound - we'll never see stars like that anywhere in the UK! Alan took great care to point out eating places and to orientate us on arrival at a new destination. The hotels were for the most part lovely although we felt the one in Rotorua was a bit tired (maybe we're just being a bit churlish) and the one in Wellington lacked a/c which was a pity as it was quite warm while we were there. I could go on and on but suffice to say it was the trip of a lifetime for us, turned into a magical and unforgettable experience by Distant Journeys.

Service rating : Spoke to us about their products at the Destinations exhibition in London. We would recommend them. They were recommended to us by friends.
Product : It gave us a very in depth tour of the North and South Islands of New Zealand with an excellent driver/tour guide.

Service rating : The whole trip was brilliantly organised and professionally delivered. No stone went unturned to ensure that we customers had a wonderful time.
I would certainly recommend Distant Journeys and the only reason that we are unlikely to book with them again is that it is doubtful whether we would take on such an epic holiday in the future.
Product : Fantastic range of locations throughout the whole trip

Service rating : Yes, I have recommended them to friends. I like that they take an interest or take notice of what I have to say.
Product : The NZ tour was lovely, beautiful scenery, even the ferry trip between islands was scenic. Hotels good, location good, guide excellent. We got on well with the people on the tour.

Service rating : From start to finish the whole trip, including planning and adding our requests, and the trip itself was seamless. Just a fantastic experience, brilliant guide, and nice fellow travelers. The value for money was great, and extra excursions the same price as you could buy yourself.
Product : As above. Just fantastic.

Service rating : Standard of hotels excellent all flights etc went on scheduled times, our travel reps were very knowledgeable and went the extra mile to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.
Product : Excellent holiday thought in some stops better planning of free time could have been better and in N.Z.the journey by coach to Milford Sound was too much, a very long day there and back.

Service rating : We decided that the tour was what we wanted from the brochure. When we rang the office our questions were answered by someone who had been on the tour and understood any worries we had. We felt confident that the company could provide for our needs and so booked the tour. The office kept in touch with us and sent out paperwork and the documents to us. We were able to speak to the office and to ask for advice whenever we needed too.
Product : Excellent tour taking us to see the highlights. We were supported, guided and given local knowledge by very good tour guides and coach drivers. We always felt safe and along with our thirty six fellow travellers we had a busy, interesting, enjoyable and wonderful holiday of a lifetime.

Service rating : I have recommended them to colleagues. Well planned. Friendly and supportive staff
Product : breath taking varied scenery, clean, clear air and friendly people who are proud of their Country,and respect it and each other

Service rating : Would recommend again. Well-informed representatives. Nothing too much trouble
Product : good varied itinerary. Website time-consuming. Mostly excellent hotels. Excellent tour captains (3) contrasted with one below average

Service rating : The organisation of the holiday and all personnel involved was very good
Product : Very good on the whole and delivered what was on the box
Tour guides all good albeit different approaches to their roles (not a bad thing )

One or two minor problems but nothing major
Hotel at Rotorua was lacking air conditioning
Adina at Auckland was a bit disappointing from a decor and service point of view
Bars in a number of places including Sydney closed early surprising for major hotel chains but is perhaps a local thing
Might be helpful to be a little bit clearer re all inclusive at Bali and the benefits (local tax is a bit high for direct payments for meals etc) On balance we might have been better off with it

None of the above however greatly distracted from a great holiday

Service rating : Hotels were, on the whole, wonderful.
Excellent organisation.
Guides very knowledgeable.
Product : From the moment we arrived in Singapore, everything was well organised and easy to follow. Coaches were on time, guides were very helpful and informative, and visits were well thought out.

Service rating : Pre holiday service excellent. Post holiday phone call unique in my experience. Tour Manager services in Australia exceptionally good - tour manager/driver in New Zealand not so good (too much for one person in my opinion.
Product : Some hotels were not good enough (Mercure in Melbourne, Regal Kowloon), most were fine but should have matched the standard of those when we were upgraded (Ayers Rock Resort and Frans Joseph). Some optional tours were very poor value (Hong Kong island)

Service rating : Easy to speak to someone in person. Phoned us to wish us a good holiday and rang after to find out how the holiday went. Nice touch.
Product : Very well organised, pace just right and every attention to detail thought about.

Service rating : All the flight and transfer arrangements were well scheduled. The hotels were all of a very high standard. There was an exception which was the Adini apartments, which although the accommodation was good, it was not up to the same standard as the hotels but I understand that this was a temporary arrangement and did not detract overall from the arrangements. The service was average and the food expensive for the quality provided in the Adini. The trip itinerary was well thought out and the included excursions were all excellent and the optional excursions were also excellent and value for money. The coach captains/drivers and guides were all very experienced and knowledgeable and ensured that arrangements went smoothly. An exceptional holiday and I would certainly recommend Distant Journeys.

All the telephone conversations conducted with DJ staff were helpful and informative and paperwork provided was very detailed. The telephone call from the Customer Services Dept one week before we travelled, to ensure we had all our information, was very reassuring. In 40+ years of booking holidays this was a first. Thank you so much for this consideration.
Product : All the flight and transfer arrangements were well scheduled. The hotels were all of a very high standard. There was an exception which was the Adini apartments, which although the accommodation was good, it was not up to the same standard as the hotels but I understand that this was a temporary arrangement and did not detract overall from the arrangements. The service was average and the food expensive for the quality provided in the Adini. The trip itinerary was well thought out and the included excursions were all excellent and the optional excursions were also excellent and value for money. The coach captains/drivers and guides were all very experienced and knowledgeable and ensured that arrangements went smoothly. An exceptional holiday and I would certainly recommend Distant Journeys.

Excellent organisation. Hectic schedule and some tight timing, but managed to fit in a large number of experiences.

Service rating : Good communication at any time we rang.
Product : Such a fantastic trip.So many unforgettable places experienced with a fantastic group of strangers who became good friends.Big thanks to Ken,Peter in NZ and Jim in Australia for there knowledge and organised skills. The holiday will be one we will remember and recommend to friends and family.Well done DG.

Kim & Mary O'Connor

Service rating : Every one at the office was very helpful both before the holiday and afterwards. We received our cheque for the trip we were unable to participate on during to the weather on the Great Barrier Reef on the day we were due to partake. The telephone call upon our return from the holiday was very nice to be welcomed back to the UK.
Product : Although a very long trip we thoroughly enjoyed the holiday in both the stopover in Singapore and the main holiday itself. (our other stopover in Hong Kong on the way home, we didn't really like - too high rise claustrophobic and crowded in places). We got to see a lot of the countryside, cities, wildlife and some of the most amazing icons such as Uluru. My wife got to cuddle a koala, which was also something she had been wanting to do for a long time. Also going over to Rottnest Island near Perth was wonderful, to see the Quokkas. Kangaroo Island was also very good, seeing the Penguins returning from the sea. The Ghan was an experience not to be missed. Sydney one of my must visit cities, and the other cities were equally as good. We would have preferred maybe extra days in Sydney instead of the Hong Kong stopover, as there were still a lot of things we did not get a chance to see or do.

Service rating : From our initial enquiries about the holiday right through to departure we were totally impressed with the knowledge, help and professional approach by the whole team.
Product : The organisation, tours and value for money was without question. The destinations we visited were top class as were the hotels, and our tour guide without doubt the best we have ever known. We would certainly travel with Distant Journeys again and would have no hesitation in recommending them to others.

Service rating : I could recommend them (and do) and will probably purchase another holiday in the future. The office staff were mainly helpful but there were one or two occasions, particularly when discussing the additional trips, when their knowledge was limited. Overall, the service was good.
Product : We thoroughly enjoyed our India experience and it has left us with lasting memories. Go with the flow was the mantra and indeed we had to! The Indian culture means things did not go to plan on occasion. However, mainly plans worked and we experienced the best of this beautiful, yet complex country. Perhaps because of our age, we did feel the pace was rushed! Another night in the hotels were we stayed for 2 nights would have been greatly appreciated. I know this would be more costly but in Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi we didn’t even see the swimming pool at the hotel. Just an observation, but sometimes we felt Creative Travel did not represent the values that Distant Journeys promote. The handling of the Farzi Cafe trip was a classic example. It wasn’t until we got home that common sense prevailed and we received a refund for this particular trip.

All the organisation was spot on, tour director particularly helpful.
Yes would recommend to anyone,content and organisation excellent.

Organisation was good. Hotel in Melbourne was too far out of town.
When the Ghan train failed to operate through no fault of Distant Journeys, their re-organisation of travel was fast and efficient but there was no recognition of the extreme disappointment we all felt. A free excursion or free drinks at the final lunch would have been a nice gesture.

Service rating : The rep Danielle Munro organised all the airport transfers seamlessly. She took care of everyone in the group. She arranged doctors appointments for at least a couple of people Including myself). No matter what time our tours were leaving at or how many were going on them, she was there to see us off. I am aware of someone loosing a camera and she traced the taxi that had taken them to the wharf and also a car within the wharf that had given them a lift and found it for them,
Product : Just so well organised and choice of optional extra tours excellent.

Service rating : What was so noticeable was the way all their staff treated you as 'a name, not a number'. Not only were they always helpful on my phone queries but they also were pro-active in calling to check that I had everything in hand prior to my holiday.
Product : Brilliant tour manager in Ann. Not only was she very informative, but she was very good on practical help and had a great sense of humour. This all helped us all gel together as a really happy group of travellers.
The pace of the tour was perfect in that we could do as much or as little as we felt capable of doing: and this was another thing that Ann was so good at - she would help give alternative ideas for those who did not feel up to the optional excursions.
The content of the tour covered just about everything Australia has to offer - including a few surprises that would not have been obvious from standard guide books (e.g. Kangaroo Island and The Ghan train journey). For me, the highlights were getting close to wildlife on Kangaroo Island, a helicopter ride over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and the very scenic excursion to Kuranda.
One needs to be aware, however, that a tour such as this can only give you glimpses of the various sights, and in that respect this tour makes a superb introduction to Australia and a perfect platform for a more detailed and personalised follow-up trip for the future.

Service rating : Always very helpful and efficient when contacting them.
Product : The whole holiday was fantastic. Our tour guide Anne was amazing. She helped make the holiday a truly memorable experience.

Service rating : All team very helpful and knowledgeable - went the extra mile when I needed help
Product : Very well organised and covered a lot of very interesting places

Service rating : From start to finish, the service from Distant Journeys was excellent. I spoke to them a couple of times beforehand regarding flight options, excursions etc and had a really good chat each time, especially when my requirements for the flights got more complicated!

It’s obvious that whoever I spoke to each time has either done the trip themselves or knows each aspect very well. I had a query about one of the excursions in Sydney and they were able to describe in good detail how to get there from my hotel.

And lastly, the follow-up this morning was a call welcoming me back and discussing a couple of minor points I’d left on the feedback form. I’ve never had that from any other tour I’ve done.

The itinerary itself was fantastic - the best touring holiday my wife and I have ever been on.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Distant Journeys and we’re already starting to plan our next trip with them.
Product : Terrific itinerary. Covers all aspects from the major cities (Melbourne and Sydney being the highlights) to Uluru, Alice Springs and Kangaroo Island. An overnight trip on the Ghan train was also a highlight.

A really good choice of excursions with activity levels to suit all tastes.

Service rating : Very friendly and happy to help with queries/concerns.
Product : Well organised trip allowing lots of free time if desired or choice of excursions to buy into. As single person did feel mealtimes difficult at times, not much opportunity to socialise with group due to above choice of intinerary.