Service rating : Excellent service from the start, nothing was too much trouble. First class. Product : Superb holiday, everything was excellent, tours were brilliant.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you for your lovely review, we are so pleased your experience was so positive. With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you once again for your wonderful feedback. We are so pleased you enjoyed your tour. With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
Service rating : A holiday of a lifetime. Communication was great prior to booking which made us feel very secure. All pre-holiday questions were answered promptly and professionally. The only negative was right at the end of our holiday. We’d planned to go on some of the trips in the booklet that we received prior to our holiday extension to Dubai. Unfortunately, the tour partner in Dubai wasn’t offering any of the trips in the pre-trip booklet. They were offering other trips at a much higher cost. We managed by finding another tour operator and booked our own. The reason for a four star review rather than a five star review is that the transfer from our hotel in Dubai to the airport didn’t arrive for ourselves and another couple. When we telephoned the company providing the transfer, they told us that they had no record of the booking. We phoned Distant Journeys who phoned the company and told them that they had looked for us at the hotel but we weren’t there! This was completely untrue as we waited in the hotel lobby from half and hour before the pick up. This experience was so stressful because we had to ask the hotel to help us to book a taxi to get us to the airport. We almost missed our flights because we had no idea which terminal to go to. My husband is disabled and was in pain trying to rush around looking for our flight. It was such a shame that this happened because otherwise it was the perfect holiday. Feedback would be for Distant Journey’s to review their partners in Dubai to ensure the quality service that we experienced prior to this is consistent throughout. Product : The perfect holiday. A trip around Australia with so many excellent trips included and quality hotels. Some of the changes to the itinerary didn’t quite make sense and the order of the destinations for future trips is now much improved. The tour guide was second to none, she was professional and friendly. The only negative as previously mentioned was that the transfer on our holiday extension to Dubai to the airport didn’t arrive. Such a shame as otherwise this would have been a five star review.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you for your kind comments, we are delighted you were so pleased with our service. Whilst we're pleased to hear your tour went very well, we were naturally disappointed that the service provided by our Dubai partners which resulted in you having to book your own taxi to the airport. This is not the standard of service we expect and based on the feedback and continuous review of our partners; we no longer work with this partner in Dubai. I hope this issue did not detract too much from your overall enjoyment of Australia. With best wishes. Distant Journeys.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you for your kind words and for choosing to holiday to Australia with us! We are so pleased you enjoyed the tour and will make sure we share your feedback with the wider team both here and on the ground in Australia. With best wishes, Distant Journeys
Service rating : The staff I spoke too were all very nice and knowledgable and not pushy like some sales people are. I was hesitant to book as I was a solo traveller for the first time and they were patient while I took my mind to decide. Product : An excellent holiday that exceeded my expectations. I was a solo traveller and discovered 14 other solo travellers on my chosen holiday. The group was 43 people a mixture of couples and solo travellers and we all got along brilliantly. The tour guide Jim Diaz was very knowledgeable about the places we visited. The holiday was a good balance of organised trips that were booked as part of the holiday and freedom days where you could do your own thing or choose another trip which Jim would book for you. My highlight was an organised tour within the Sydney Opera House, absolutely fantastic seeing inside the large concert hall. It is a full on holiday and every day there is something different to see and do, but at the end of the 3 weeks, I could have done it all over again. There are so many good things to say about this holiday and the places we visited, but my overall assessment is I wouldn't hesitate to take a holiday with Distant Journeys again.
On 22-Jun-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you so much for your kind words we will share with the wider team. It was our pleasure to help you plan your trip. With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
On 22-Jun-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. And what an experience you've had! This is one of our favourite tours, a great way to see the very best of Australia, and the friendship and camaraderie you have described is what makes a group tour like this so special. We look forward to helping you plan your next adventure! With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
Service rating : Very good value tour with very nice hotels and some tours included.Great friendly guide who was very helpful. Only critisism was not being able to book excursions in advance for our 1st city which caused problems. Product : Great value tour with great hotels apart from one changed one that wasnt in such a good location for tour
On 22-May-2023 the supplier responded: Thank you very much for taking the time to review your holiday and for your suggestion on pre-booking excursions for the first destination in Australia. Distant Journeys is currently making arrangements with our partners in Australia to ensure excursions can be arranged in advance in the arrival cities of Perth and Melbourne, and this will be in place for our new tours. With best wishes, the Distant Journeys team.
On 22-May-2023 the supplier responded: It's great to hear you found the tour such great value. We were sorry for the relatively late change of accommodation, which was a result of the original hotel undertaking a major renovation which would have impacted our customers' enjoyment. With best wishes, the Distant Journeys team.
Service rating : They were always there to answer every question by phone or by email, always friendly and helpful. Product : Distant Journeys provided an unforgettable experience of Essential Australia, so much in so short a time. Excellent.
On 30-Jun-2020 the supplier responded: Thank you for your review and we're very pleased you enjoyed your time in Australia - it's certainly and incredible country.We hope you are safe and well. With best wishes, The Distant Journeys team
Service rating : The whole experience from enquiry to booking and the travel itinerary were handled superbly Product : The holiday exceeded expectations. The holdai Guide , Alison was a joy to be with . She made it all so easy.
On 23-Jun-2020 the supplier responded: Thank you very much for your great review. It's so nice to hear this was the best holiday you've ever had and we will be sure to pass on your kind words to Alison.With warmest wishes The Distant Journeys team
Service rating : Excellent customer service - answering any concerns/questions. Product : So well organised, quality hotels and included trips. An excellent tour guide Alison Diddams.
On 15-Jun-2020 the supplier responded: It's great to year you had such a great time in Australia and it seems Alison looked after you very well.With best wishes The Distant Journeys team
Service rating : very well organised. the tour guide was excellent at her job. Product : there was so much packed into the holiday. but there was also time to do your own thing on the freedom days.
On 15-Jun-2020 the supplier responded: Thank you for your review. It's great to hear to had a great holiday.The Distant Journeys team
Service rating : The Distant Journeys team were very helpful from the first phone call, all questions and concerns were dealt with in a very friendly manner. We both very impressed with their professionalism. Product : A wonderful experience from start to finish, everything was so well organised and we couldn’t fault any part of the holiday. Special thanks must go to our tour guide James who went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we had the best time. We will never forget our amazing Australian adventure.
On 18-Nov-2019 the supplier responded: What a lovely review! Thank you so much, and we're very pleased you had a wonderful holiday. Best wishes, Sarah
Service rating : The trip ticked all the boxes of where I wanted to go in Australia and James the tour guide was excellent Product : The trip ticked all the boxes of where I wanted to go in Australia and James the tour guide was excellent
On 13-Nov-2019 the supplier responded: We are very pleased to read that the trip ticked all your boxes, and thanks for taking the time to write your kind review. Best wishes, Sarah
Service rating : Excellent service from beginning to end. Didn’t have to worry about anything. Brilliant guide who certainly had our best interests at heart. Product : Australia is stunning and we had a first class introduction to it with Distant Journeys. So many different experiences.
On 13-Nov-2019 the supplier responded: Thank you so much for your kind words, and for taking the time to write a review. Best wishes, Sarah
Service rating : Excellent trip from start to finish, rep James was superb, didn’t want to go back home! Product : Can’t imagine a better way to tour Australia. The cities were all the ones we wanted to see, and the hotels were all excellent. Extremely well organized throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed every single day.
On 13-Nov-2019 the supplier responded: Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We're really pleased you enjoyed every day of your holiday! Best wishes, Sarah
Service rating : They put together a well balanced itinerary covering the basics of Australia with a good choice of optional tours when arriving at each location or one could simply do one's own thing with "Freedom Days". They were also interested enough to ring after holiday to check how it had gone which impressed us.. Product : Well balanced program & truly 5 start tour manager when in Australia plus all hotels had irons & ironing boards in the room, an absolute must for my wife!!
Absolutely brilliant holiday. Stuff dreams are made of. Sylvia our tour manager was fantastic - very knowledgeable and friendly. Nothing too much trouble. Hotels first class and all trips amazing. Wish we could do it again.
Service rating : always helpful and courteous. Very knowledgeable about all aspects of the holiday. Alex was exceptionally helpful when we had a problems reserving seats on the flights Product : good destinations, knowledgable tour guide. Good hotels (Adelaide was slightly below standard of the other hotels) Sometimes tour was full on with tours as soon as you get off the plane, which was tiring.
Service rating : Everything excellent EXCEPT for the arrivals in Melbourne and Alice Springs especially the former as we had had an overnight flight from Singapore and we were all exhausted. The first trip to Victoria market did allow us to have a drink and some food but this was followed by a tour of Melbourne which I am sure I would have enjoyed if we had not been so tierd. I appreciate getting into the hotel rooms is the real issue here but surely other arrangements could be made. The arrival in Alice Springs on a Sunday was less of a problem but as it was a Sunday there were very limited catering outlets open and of course the temperature s are so extreme you need to be able to easily access a cool,area for refreshment The visits to the Royal Flying Doctors and the School of the Air were great but by the time we reached theTelegraph Station many of our group just stayed in the cafe area to keep cool . Perhaps including a lunch somewhere on arrival w Product : Good value for money considering all the lovely hotels and excellent trips
Service rating : The staff at the office answered all questions we asked and were very knowledgable of the holidays on offer Product : In general we enjoyed our holiday to Australia and particularly enjoyed the stop off in Singapore. We found some of the trips which were included to be very trashing especially as they came after a long flight or coach journey. I think an option might be for a choice to either go on the tour or go straight to hotel. We also enjoyed the Indian Pacific but found like most people in our party we did not get any sleep. maybe an option could be found where a choice is made whether you go on train or maybe fly to Sydney from Adelaide. the service on Train was first class. We were pleased with the overall standard of Hotels we stayed in but the Hotel in Adelaide was not up to the same standard as the others.
Service rating : Good service prior to holiday although I did specify it was my husbands 50th birthday while we were in Australia. Staff said they would arrange a bottle of fizz at the hotel so I didn't need to contact the hotel personally. Unfortunately this did not materialise which was really disappointing. Product : Visited some wonderful places, all different in their own way - we loved them all! Transport was excellent & really well organised throughout the holiday, including the Indian Pacific train journey.
Service rating : Everything went very smoothly and people at the end of the phone were always pleasant and helpful. Product : Almost everything was excellent. Hotel in Adelaide was poor. The coach tours on arrival in each new venue was far too long. Everyone just wanted to be given a map, maybe shown where one or two places were, then taken to the hotel. We had always been travelling a fair way, were tired and we were simply confused by circling round places.
Service rating : Very helpful on the couple of times we phoned Product : No warning given that we would not have time to freshen up after o/n Flight from Singapore before being driven around Melbourne
Hotel in Adelaide awful
Extra trips very expensive especially as our tour guide led the excursions and not a local experts
On 18-Feb-2017 the supplier responded: Thank you for your feedback on your holiday. Naturally we're very sorry certain aspects of the holiday did not meet your expectations. With regard to the arrival in Melbourne after the overnight flight, we are currently in discussions with our partners in Australia to arrange teas and coffees and a some pastries when you arrive in Melbourne which will give you a chance to relax a little before exploring the city. This will not only give our guests time to freshen up but also provide an opportunity for our guests to become better acquainted with their fellow travellers. In Adelaide, we use a four star rated Mercure hotel and the feedback for the hotel has generally been OK. However an OK rating is not acceptable to Distant Journeys and we have taken the decision to replace this hotel for future tours from April. In respect of the expense - regrettably over the past 18 months the pound has become far weaker against the Australian dollar and many excursions are now more expensive as a result. We hope these elements of your holiday did not detract too much from your overall enjoyment of Australia. With very best wishes
Service rating : Excellent. Courtesy call week before I traveled in case I had any questions. All questions answered immediately staff had excellent knowledge of tour including airports etc Product : Great variety of choice of trips etc
Service rating : Excellent , quick and informative service Product : First class organisation and wonderful memories. Our guide, Sylvia, was excellent.
Service rating : Friendly, helpful and very efficient. Product : Holiday was even better than anticipated. Our tour manager was brilliant and she couldn't do enough for the group. The tours were just right and the freedom days an added bonus to be able to explore for ourselves. A holiday of a lifetime.
Service rating : Very easy to contact - always spoke to the same person - all questions readily and fully answered - excellent service Product : Everything went smoothly, the tour guide was excellent, friendly, helpful and very efficient. The tour was so varied with excellent included activities and enough spare time to meet up with old friends along the way.
Service rating : Best holiday ever and excellent organisation all round including UK office Product : Still enjoying the memories of a fantastic holiday
Service rating : Excellent. E-mail enquiries dealt with promptly. On booking via the phone, again service was excellent . Product : Excellent. Enjoyed every minute.
On 22-Dec-2016 the supplier responded: Thank you for your review and the additional information you provided in your email. Your observations and comments are really important to us and will assist us in future planning.
Service rating : Very efficient and clear Product : Everything ran like clockwork rep was very good helpful and informative always made sure everyone was happy
Service rating : Excellent customer service. Friendly and helpful. Product : Excellent throughout Ann Aston our guide was fantastic. ...friendly and helpful. The hotels were excellent except for Adelaide which was way below standard.
Service rating : Staff very helpful especially Alex no query was too much trouble and all with a happy charming manner. Product : Great group of fellow travelers.Ann Aston our tour guide was amazing she had so much knowledge and made every thing flow like clockwork.So much to see and do.Well done Distant Journeys a great package.
On 21-Nov-2016 the supplier responded: Mrs Allen, thank you for your lovely review following your recent Visions of Australia tour. We are so pleased to hear you had such a great time and it was our pleasure in helping you with your holiday arrangements.
Service rating : All arrangements were smoothly handled. All questions fully answered but courteous and professional staff. Product : Great tour with excellent local guides who really looked after us and all travel and hotel arrangements
Service rating : Excellent service from very knowledgeable staff. Product : Very well chosen itinerary, covered all the main iconic elements of Australia with ample time in each destination. B&B in each hotel was an excellent way to start each day and get to know fellow travellers in an informal way. Tour Manager Jenni was very professional and held the group together well so that deadlines were not missed. She has a thorough knowledge of all areas visited throughout the holiday and was always ready with advice and guidance. The ability to fly from our local airport (Glasgow) was a strong determining factor in choosing this holiday.
Service rating : Very good service. Easy to book and replied to email queries efficiently. Product : Well planned. Good hotels on the whole. Tour manager was great. A fabulous experience in a wonderful country! Would recommend Distant Journeys!
Service rating : Staff always helpful and knowledgeable whenever we phoned. Product : Time in Australia was excellent. Stopovers in Singapore and Dubai were marred by a few minor problems.
Service rating : We had the most amazing holiday! Everything was extremely well co-ordinated and nothing was too much trouble.We spent it with 35 lovely people and not one person fell out or caused any disharmony within the group.Jenny,our guide was the most professional,yet the most fun loving tour guide we have ever had,and she will remain in our thoughts forever.The flights, people and places we visited on this trip,the hotels we stayed at and the food we ate were all first class.Only wish you did tours to Canadian Rockies.There are not enough superlatives to describe this adventure. Product : I have said it all in the first review,the most amazing adventure of our lives,it will never be forgotten.Second to none from beginning to end
Service rating : The service I received from staff in the UK office was excellent - Alex, Sarah, Tania and Richard. Alex 'phoned me after my holiday to enquire how I was after spending some time in Australian hospitals.
I would recommend this company and I would consider purchasing another holiday from Distant Journeys in the future.
I had requested wheelchair access on all flights which wasn't always available but whether this was down to Distant Journeys or Emirates is open to conjecture. Product : This holiday gives anyone who has never visited Australia before a good insight into what is available. It shows the difference between going to the Great Barrier Reef, visiting Uluru and the Red Centre and going to the large cities of Melbourne and Sydney. Travelling from Adelaide to Sydney on the Indian Pacific is a good experience. I would recommend booking a helicopter flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta as an optional extra.
The hotels used throughout this trip were excellent although I should have preferred the hotel in Singapore to be in a more central location. (I stayed at the Furama Riverfront which necessitated the use of taxis to get to the centre.)
On 07-Jun-2016 the supplier responded: Thank you for your review following your recent Visions of Australia tour.
I am delighted to hear that our staff in the UK office provided you with an excellent service both before and after your tour.
We really look forward to welcoming you on another Distant Journeys escorted tour in the near future.
On 07-Jun-2016 the supplier responded: We are really pleased you felt our escorted tour offered a good insight in to Australia's iconic sights and that you had a wonderful experience on your helicopter ride over Uluru and Kata Tjutu.
Service rating : We found them extremely helpful and willing to answer any queries we had. We would certainly recommend them to anyone thinking of going to Australia and we wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Product : The whole holiday was a wonderful experience and well thought out with a wide range of optional tours as well as the inclusive ones. We had two very knowledgeable guides, Andrew in Singapore (where we spent two nights on the way out) and Alex in Australia. All the hotels were very good with excellent amenities, tea and coffee making facilities, irons and ironing boards (very important when living out of a suitcase for three weeks!) and pool towels. Our highlights were Melbourne, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, the Indian- Pacific train journey (although sleeping was difficult) and Sydney. We also had a two night stopover in Dubai on the way back to break up the journey and chill out.
Service rating : Although Distant Journeys are a new company, their attention to detail from start to finish was impeccable. All my questions before the trip were answered and I found the staff knowledgable and well informed. No question was considered trivial. Product : We had a wonderful holiday.. We enjoyed most of the optional extra tours we took and their content and variety catered for all tastes. The tour guides were all exceptional and all knowledgable and passionate about their countries. The extra 2 days in Dubai was wonderful and the hotel amazing. We chose this tour as it included the Indian Pacific railway journey which was one of our highlights. It was disappointing we lost a day in Cairns due to flight cancellation and we would have liked an extra day in Melbourne, but overall we had a fantastic holiday andthought the whole trip was excellent value for money.
Service rating : Staff very helpful and.provided good support towards making.the best use of our time whilst on holiday. Product : Had.such a good time I want to go back as.soon as possible.
Service rating : Did everything I would expect. Product : Well organised , good hotels, no trouble with transport. Holiday made ,however , by absolutely superb tour manager.
Service rating : Excellent customer service. Nearly every time you phoned you spoke to the same knowledgable person. No buttons to press, a pleasure to deal with Product : A wonderful well organised holiday, covered all of the places we wanted to see. Hotels all very good. Our guide went beyond the call of duty.
Service rating : very good and informative with any queries I had asked them. Product : Excellent package buying this holiday for my partners 50th birthday present, very busy holiday with so much to do in the time we were there.Hotels were well chosen apart for one. Great stop overs in Singapore and Dubai which I must recommend to break up the long flight times.
Our representative was first class being very helpful and knowledgeable making the holiday throughly enjoyable.
Service rating : The UK office were easy to deal with and provided all of the information needed to plan an excellent holiday. Product : Overall the holiday was excellent as an introduction to key Australian tourist sites. The hotels were very good and well located. Adelaide was disappointing because of a Sunday arrival and only one full day to explore. Bad choice to take a full day trip to Kangaroo Island. Too long a day for very little to see. The island might offer much for short breaks but not for a one day visit. Remember, kangaroos are nocturnal.
The stop overs in Singapore were a highlight of the holiday. Our Australian guide remained with us for the whole holiday and was fantastic. Tiring but we packed so much in.
Service rating : When I telephoned the office I found the staff very helpful (particularly Sarah). She booked premium economy flights for us, 2 long legged travellers. I was disappointed that Distant Journeys were not more flexible on their flights. All travel during the tour was well organised and we liked the Freedom Days which allowed us to do the things we wanted to during our stay in Australia. I would recommend them. Product : We had 3 weeks to explore Australia and fitted a lot in including a memorable train journey. My only criticism is the choice of some of the hotels. The room in Melbourne was very small and the hotel in Adelaide was not in a very good area. Cairns hotel excellent.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Thoroughly enjoyed my holiday. Good tour operator in Australia, trips and hotel and experiences excellent
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent service from the start, nothing was too much trouble. First class.
Product : Superb holiday, everything was excellent, tours were brilliant.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your lovely review, we are so pleased your experience was so positive. With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you once again for your wonderful feedback. We are so pleased you enjoyed your tour. With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : A holiday of a lifetime. Communication was great prior to booking which made us feel very secure. All pre-holiday questions were answered promptly and professionally.
The only negative was right at the end of our holiday. We’d planned to go on some of the trips in the booklet that we received prior to our holiday extension to Dubai. Unfortunately, the tour partner in Dubai wasn’t offering any of the trips in the pre-trip booklet. They were offering other trips at a much higher cost. We managed by finding another tour operator and booked our own.
The reason for a four star review rather than a five star review is that the transfer from our hotel in Dubai to the airport didn’t arrive for ourselves and another couple. When we telephoned the company providing the transfer, they told us that they had no record of the booking. We phoned Distant Journeys who phoned the company and told them that they had looked for us at the hotel but we weren’t there! This was completely untrue as we waited in the hotel lobby from half and hour before the pick up.
This experience was so stressful because we had to ask the hotel to help us to book a taxi to get us to the airport. We almost missed our flights because we had no idea which terminal to go to. My husband is disabled and was in pain trying to rush around looking for our flight.
It was such a shame that this happened because otherwise it was the perfect holiday. Feedback would be for Distant Journey’s to review their partners in Dubai to ensure the quality service that we experienced prior to this is consistent throughout.
Product : The perfect holiday. A trip around Australia with so many excellent trips included and quality hotels. Some of the changes to the itinerary didn’t quite make sense and the order of the destinations for future trips is now much improved. The tour guide was second to none, she was professional and friendly.
The only negative as previously mentioned was that the transfer on our holiday extension to Dubai to the airport didn’t arrive. Such a shame as otherwise this would have been a five star review.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your kind comments, we are delighted you were so pleased with our service. Whilst we're pleased to hear your tour went very well, we were naturally disappointed that the service provided by our Dubai partners which resulted in you having to book your own taxi to the airport. This is not the standard of service we expect and based on the feedback and continuous review of our partners; we no longer work with this partner in Dubai. I hope this issue did not detract too much from your overall enjoyment of Australia. With best wishes. Distant Journeys.
On 18-Aug-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your kind words and for choosing to holiday to Australia with us! We are so pleased you enjoyed the tour and will make sure we share your feedback with the wider team both here and on the ground in Australia. With best wishes, Distant Journeys
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The staff I spoke too were all very nice and knowledgable and not pushy like some sales people are. I was hesitant to book as I was a solo traveller for the first time and they were patient while I took my mind to decide.
Product : An excellent holiday that exceeded my expectations. I was a solo traveller and discovered 14 other solo travellers on my chosen holiday. The group was 43 people a mixture of couples and solo travellers and we all got along brilliantly. The tour guide Jim Diaz was very knowledgeable about the places we visited. The holiday was a good balance of organised trips that were booked as part of the holiday and freedom days where you could do your own thing or choose another trip which Jim would book for you.
My highlight was an organised tour within the Sydney Opera House, absolutely fantastic seeing inside the large concert hall.
It is a full on holiday and every day there is something different to see and do, but at the end of the 3 weeks, I could have done it all over again.
There are so many good things to say about this holiday and the places we visited, but my overall assessment is I wouldn't hesitate to take a holiday with Distant Journeys again.
On 22-Jun-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you so much for your kind words we will share with the wider team. It was our pleasure to help you plan your trip. With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
On 22-Jun-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. And what an experience you've had! This is one of our favourite tours, a great way to see the very best of Australia, and the friendship and camaraderie you have described is what makes a group tour like this so special. We look forward to helping you plan your next adventure! With best wishes, Distant Journeys.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very good value tour with very nice hotels and some tours included.Great friendly guide who was very helpful.
Only critisism was not being able to book excursions in advance for our 1st city which caused problems.
Product : Great value tour with great hotels apart from one changed one that wasnt in such a good location for tour
On 22-May-2023 the supplier responded:
Thank you very much for taking the time to review your holiday and for your suggestion on pre-booking excursions for the first destination in Australia. Distant Journeys is currently making arrangements with our partners in Australia to ensure excursions can be arranged in advance in the arrival cities of Perth and Melbourne, and this will be in place for our new tours. With best wishes, the Distant Journeys team.
On 22-May-2023 the supplier responded:
It's great to hear you found the tour such great value. We were sorry for the relatively late change of accommodation, which was a result of the original hotel undertaking a major renovation which would have impacted our customers' enjoyment. With best wishes, the Distant Journeys team.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : They were always there to answer every question by phone or by email, always friendly and helpful.
Product : Distant Journeys provided an unforgettable experience of Essential Australia, so much in so short a time. Excellent.
On 30-Jun-2020 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your review and we're very pleased you enjoyed your time in Australia - it's certainly and incredible country.We hope you are safe and well.
With best wishes,
The Distant Journeys team
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The whole experience from enquiry to booking and the travel itinerary were handled superbly
Product : The holiday exceeded expectations. The holdai Guide , Alison was a joy to be with . She made it all so easy.
On 23-Jun-2020 the supplier responded:
Thank you very much for your great review. It's so nice to hear this was the best holiday you've ever had and we will be sure to pass on your kind words to Alison.With warmest wishes
The Distant Journeys team
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent customer service - answering any concerns/questions.
Product : So well organised, quality hotels and included trips. An excellent tour guide Alison Diddams.
On 15-Jun-2020 the supplier responded:
It's great to year you had such a great time in Australia and it seems Alison looked after you very well.With best wishes
The Distant Journeys team
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : very well organised. the tour guide was excellent at her job.
Product : there was so much packed into the holiday. but there was also time to do your own thing on the freedom days.
On 15-Jun-2020 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your review. It's great to hear to had a great holiday.The Distant Journeys team
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The Distant Journeys team were very helpful from the first phone call, all questions and concerns were dealt with in a very friendly manner.
We both very impressed with their professionalism.
Product : A wonderful experience from start to finish, everything was so well organised and we couldn’t fault any part of the holiday.
Special thanks must go to our tour guide James who went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we had the best time.
We will never forget our amazing Australian adventure.
On 18-Nov-2019 the supplier responded:
What a lovely review! Thank you so much, and we're very pleased you had a wonderful holiday. Best wishes, Sarah
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The trip ticked all the boxes of where I wanted to go in Australia and James
the tour guide was excellent
Product : The trip ticked all the boxes of where I wanted to go in Australia and James
the tour guide was excellent
On 13-Nov-2019 the supplier responded:
We are very pleased to read that the trip ticked all your boxes, and thanks for taking the time to write your kind review. Best wishes, Sarah
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent service from beginning to end. Didn’t have to worry about anything. Brilliant guide who certainly had our best interests at heart.
Product : Australia is stunning and we had a first class introduction to it with Distant Journeys. So many different experiences.
On 13-Nov-2019 the supplier responded:
Thank you so much for your kind words, and for taking the time to write a review. Best wishes, Sarah
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent trip from start to finish, rep James was superb, didn’t want to go back home!
Product : Can’t imagine a better way to tour Australia. The cities were all the ones we wanted to see, and the hotels were all excellent. Extremely well organized throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed every single day.
On 13-Nov-2019 the supplier responded:
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We're really pleased you enjoyed every day of your holiday! Best wishes, Sarah
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Everything.Good itinary. Excellent Tour Manager. Slight problem in Signapore.
Product : As previously advised. Will recommend.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : They put together a well balanced itinerary covering the basics of Australia with a good choice of optional tours when arriving at each location or one could simply do one's own thing with "Freedom Days".
They were also interested enough to ring after holiday to check how it had gone which impressed us..
Product : Well balanced program & truly 5 start tour manager when in Australia plus all hotels had irons & ironing boards in the room, an absolute must for my wife!!
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Absolutely brilliant holiday. Stuff dreams are made of. Sylvia our tour manager was fantastic - very knowledgeable and friendly. Nothing too much trouble. Hotels first class and all trips amazing. Wish we could do it again.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : always helpful and courteous. Very knowledgeable about all aspects of the holiday. Alex was exceptionally helpful when we had a problems reserving seats on the flights
Product : good destinations, knowledgable tour guide. Good hotels (Adelaide was slightly below standard of the other hotels) Sometimes tour was full on with tours as soon as you get off the plane, which was tiring.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Everything excellent EXCEPT for the arrivals in Melbourne and Alice Springs especially the former as we had had an overnight flight from Singapore and we were all exhausted. The first trip to Victoria market did allow us to have a drink and some food but this was followed by a tour of Melbourne which I am sure I would have enjoyed if we had not been so tierd. I appreciate getting into the hotel rooms is the real issue here but surely other arrangements could be made. The arrival in Alice Springs on a Sunday was less of a problem but as it was a Sunday there were very limited catering outlets open and of course the temperature s are so extreme you need to be able to easily access a cool,area for refreshment The visits to the Royal Flying Doctors and the School of the Air were great but by
the time we reached theTelegraph Station many of our group just stayed in the cafe area to keep cool . Perhaps including a lunch somewhere on arrival w
Product : Good value for money considering all the lovely hotels and excellent trips
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The staff at the office answered all questions we asked and were very knowledgable of the holidays on offer
Product : In general we enjoyed our holiday to Australia and particularly enjoyed the stop off in Singapore. We found some of the trips which were included to be very trashing especially as they came after a long flight or coach journey. I think an option might be for a choice to either go on the tour or go straight to hotel. We also enjoyed the Indian Pacific but found like most people in our party we did not get any sleep. maybe an option could be found where a choice is made whether you go on train or maybe fly to Sydney from Adelaide. the service on Train was first class. We were pleased with the overall standard of Hotels we stayed in but the Hotel in Adelaide was not up to the same standard as the others.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Good service prior to holiday although I did specify it was my husbands 50th birthday while we were in Australia. Staff said they would arrange a bottle of fizz at the hotel so I didn't need to contact the hotel personally. Unfortunately this did not materialise which was really disappointing.
Product : Visited some wonderful places, all different in their own way - we loved them all! Transport was excellent & really well organised throughout the holiday, including the Indian Pacific train journey.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Everything went very smoothly and people at the end of the phone were always pleasant and helpful.
Product : Almost everything was excellent. Hotel in Adelaide was poor. The coach tours on arrival in each new venue was far too long. Everyone just wanted to be given a map, maybe shown where one or two places were, then taken to the hotel. We had always been travelling a fair way, were tired and we were simply confused by circling round places.
It was an excellent holiday for the most part.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very helpful on the couple of times we phoned
Product : No warning given that we would not have time to freshen up after o/n
Flight from Singapore before being driven around Melbourne
Hotel in Adelaide awful
Extra trips very expensive especially as our tour guide led the excursions and not a local experts
On 18-Feb-2017 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your feedback on your holiday. Naturally we're very sorry certain aspects of the holiday did not meet your expectations. With regard to the arrival in Melbourne after the overnight flight, we are currently in discussions with our partners in Australia to arrange teas and coffees and a some pastries when you arrive in Melbourne which will give you a chance to relax a little before exploring the city. This will not only give our guests time to freshen up but also provide an opportunity for our guests to become better acquainted with their fellow travellers. In Adelaide, we use a four star rated Mercure hotel and the feedback for the hotel has generally been OK. However an OK rating is not acceptable to Distant Journeys and we have taken the decision to replace this hotel for future tours from April. In respect of the expense - regrettably over the past 18 months the pound has become far weaker against the Australian dollar and many excursions are now more expensive as a result. We hope these elements of your holiday did not detract too much from your overall enjoyment of Australia. With very best wishes
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent. Courtesy call week before I traveled in case I had any questions. All questions answered immediately staff had excellent knowledge of tour including airports etc
Product : Great variety of choice of trips etc
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very helpful, courteous, and friendly. Couldn't help us enough.
Product : Wide variety of areas visited and interesting information
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent , quick and informative service
Product : First class organisation and wonderful memories. Our guide, Sylvia, was excellent.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : useful advice given when phoned
Product : excellent well planned holiday allowing considerable individual freedom
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Friendly, helpful and very efficient.
Product : Holiday was even better than anticipated. Our tour manager was brilliant and she couldn't do enough for the group. The tours were just right and the freedom days an added bonus to be able to explore for ourselves. A holiday of a lifetime.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very easy to contact - always spoke to the same person - all questions readily and fully answered - excellent service
Product : Everything went smoothly, the tour guide was excellent, friendly, helpful and very efficient. The tour was so varied with excellent included activities and enough spare time to meet up with old friends along the way.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Best holiday ever and excellent organisation all round including UK office
Product : Still enjoying the memories of a fantastic holiday
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent. E-mail enquiries dealt with promptly. On booking via the phone, again service was excellent .
Product : Excellent. Enjoyed every minute.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
I've already e-mailed this to you !
On 22-Dec-2016 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your review and the additional information you provided in your email. Your observations and comments are really important to us and will assist us in future planning.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very efficient and clear
Product : Everything ran like clockwork rep was very good helpful and informative always made sure everyone was happy
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent customer service. Friendly and helpful.
Product : Excellent throughout Ann Aston our guide was fantastic. ...friendly and helpful.
The hotels were excellent except for Adelaide which was way below standard.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Staff very helpful especially Alex no query was too much trouble and all with a happy charming manner.
Product : Great group of fellow travelers.Ann Aston our tour guide was amazing she had so much knowledge and made every thing flow like clockwork.So much to see and do.Well done Distant Journeys a great package.
On 21-Nov-2016 the supplier responded:
Mrs Allen, thank you for your lovely review following your recent Visions of Australia tour. We are so pleased to hear you had such a great time and it was our pleasure in helping you with your holiday arrangements.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : All arrangements were smoothly handled. All questions fully answered but courteous and professional staff.
Product : Great tour with excellent local guides who really looked after us and all travel and hotel arrangements
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent service from very knowledgeable staff.
Product : Very well chosen itinerary, covered all the main iconic elements of Australia with ample time in each destination. B&B in each hotel was an excellent way to start each day and get to know fellow travellers in an informal way. Tour Manager Jenni was very professional and held the group together well so that deadlines were not missed. She has a thorough knowledge of all areas visited throughout the holiday and was always ready with advice and guidance. The ability to fly from our local airport (Glasgow) was a strong determining factor in choosing this holiday.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very good service. Easy to book and replied to email queries efficiently.
Product : Well planned. Good hotels on the whole. Tour manager was great. A fabulous experience in a wonderful country! Would recommend Distant Journeys!
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Staff always helpful and knowledgeable whenever we phoned.
Product : Time in Australia was excellent. Stopovers in Singapore and Dubai were marred by a few minor problems.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Very helpful in every way prior to holiday
Product : A very special memorable holiday!!!!
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : We had the most amazing holiday! Everything was extremely well co-ordinated and nothing was too much trouble.We spent it with 35 lovely people and not one person fell out or caused any disharmony within the group.Jenny,our guide was the most professional,yet the most fun loving tour guide we have ever had,and she will remain in our thoughts forever.The flights, people and places we visited on this trip,the hotels we stayed at and the food we ate were all first class.Only wish you did tours to Canadian Rockies.There are not enough superlatives to describe this adventure.
Product : I have said it all in the first review,the most amazing adventure of our lives,it will never be forgotten.Second to none from beginning to end
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Only contacted office a couple of times but staff helpful.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The service I received from staff in the UK office was excellent - Alex, Sarah, Tania and Richard. Alex 'phoned me after my holiday to enquire how I was after spending some time in Australian hospitals.
I would recommend this company and I would consider purchasing another holiday from Distant Journeys in the future.
I had requested wheelchair access on all flights which wasn't always available but whether this was down to Distant Journeys or Emirates is open to conjecture.
Product : This holiday gives anyone who has never visited Australia before a good insight into what is available. It shows the difference between going to the Great Barrier Reef, visiting Uluru and the Red Centre and going to the large cities of Melbourne and Sydney. Travelling from Adelaide to Sydney on the Indian Pacific is a good experience. I would recommend booking a helicopter flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta as an optional extra.
The hotels used throughout this trip were excellent although I should have preferred the hotel in Singapore to be in a more central location. (I stayed at the Furama Riverfront which necessitated the use of taxis to get to the centre.)
On 07-Jun-2016 the supplier responded:
Thank you for your review following your recent Visions of Australia tour.
I am delighted to hear that our staff in the UK office provided you with an excellent service both before and after your tour.
We really look forward to welcoming you on another Distant Journeys escorted tour in the near future.
On 07-Jun-2016 the supplier responded:
We are really pleased you felt our escorted tour offered a good insight in to Australia's iconic sights and that you had a wonderful experience on your helicopter ride over Uluru and Kata Tjutu.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : We found them extremely helpful and willing to answer any queries we had. We would certainly recommend them to anyone thinking of going to Australia and we wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
Product : The whole holiday was a wonderful experience and well thought out with a wide range of optional tours as well as the inclusive ones. We had two very knowledgeable guides, Andrew in Singapore (where we spent two nights on the way out) and Alex in Australia. All the hotels were very good with excellent amenities, tea and coffee making facilities, irons and ironing boards (very important when living out of a suitcase for three weeks!) and pool towels. Our highlights were Melbourne, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, the Indian- Pacific train journey (although sleeping was difficult) and Sydney. We also had a two night stopover in Dubai on the way back to break up the journey and chill out.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Although Distant Journeys are a new company, their attention to detail from start to finish was impeccable. All my questions before the trip were answered and I found the staff knowledgable and well informed. No question was considered trivial.
Product : We had a wonderful holiday.. We enjoyed most of the optional extra tours we took and their content and variety catered for all tastes. The tour guides were all exceptional and all knowledgable and passionate about their countries. The extra 2 days in Dubai was wonderful and the hotel amazing. We chose this tour as it included the Indian Pacific railway journey which was one of our highlights. It was disappointing we lost a day in Cairns due to flight cancellation and we would have liked an extra day in Melbourne, but overall we had a fantastic holiday andthought the whole trip was excellent value for money.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Staff very helpful and.provided good support towards making.the best use of our time whilst on holiday.
Product : Had.such a good time I want to go back as.soon as possible.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Did everything I would expect.
Product : Well organised , good hotels, no trouble with transport. Holiday made ,however , by absolutely superb tour manager.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : Excellent customer service. Nearly every time you phoned you spoke to the same knowledgable person. No buttons to press, a pleasure to deal with
Product : A wonderful well organised holiday, covered all of the places we wanted to see. Hotels all very good. Our guide went beyond the call of duty.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : very good and informative with any queries I had asked them.
Product : Excellent package buying this holiday for my partners 50th birthday present, very busy holiday with so much to do in the time we were there.Hotels were well chosen apart for one. Great stop overs in Singapore and Dubai which I must recommend to break up the long flight times.
Our representative was first class being very helpful and knowledgeable making the holiday throughly enjoyable.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : The UK office were easy to deal with and provided all of the information needed to plan an excellent holiday.
Product : Overall the holiday was excellent as an introduction to key Australian tourist sites. The hotels were very good and well located. Adelaide was disappointing because of a Sunday arrival and only one full day to explore. Bad choice to take a full day trip to Kangaroo Island. Too long a day for very little to see. The island might offer much for short breaks but not for a one day visit. Remember, kangaroos are nocturnal.
The stop overs in Singapore were a highlight of the holiday. Our Australian guide remained with us for the whole holiday and was fantastic. Tiring but we packed so much in.
Christmas and New Year in Australia
Service rating : When I telephoned the office I found the staff very helpful (particularly Sarah). She booked premium economy flights for us, 2 long legged travellers. I was disappointed that Distant Journeys were not more flexible on their flights.
All travel during the tour was well organised and we liked the Freedom Days which allowed us to do the things we wanted to during our stay in Australia. I would recommend them.
Product : We had 3 weeks to explore Australia and fitted a lot in including a memorable train journey. My only criticism is the choice of some of the hotels. The room in Melbourne was very small and the hotel in Adelaide was not in a very good area. Cairns hotel excellent.