To leave a review you need to be logged in
Reviews 114
Anon
Sep 10,2024Very disappointed with this company. My friend and I paid a deposit for a tour to Switzerland which seemed to meet everything we were looking for. Although the small print suggested contacting them if there were access needs these didn’t seem to be insurmountable from the holiday description - I walk with a stick but so do lots of people. What was more concerning was that it implied that after a change of trains at Lille we would travel to our destination. This turns out not to be the case but would involve at least 2 more changes with no help with luggage. I phoned to at least get some idea of timings but it is too early for this. When I asked about access I was told that none of their European holidays was accessible and not suitable for anyone with mobility issues. When I suggested this was not clear on their website and would probably have to cancel I was told that the deposit was not refundable. My friend wrote to cancel, asking for the return of the deposit, it was apparently my fault for using a stick and she should have read the small print. The fact that none of their European holidays is accessible should have been made explicit and not hidden in the small print. Shame on them They did say they would hold the deposit so we could use it on future trips. Hello? They told me none of their European trips was accessible. I think it is shabby of them to not refund the deposit even if this is embedded in the small print.
Les S
Jun 03,2024Looking at some of the adverse comments made about Railtrail, whereas I do not doubt the honesty and frustration of the contributors, these are the exception rather than the rule. I have been a tour manager for 12 years and worked for half a dozen different tour operators but I now only work for Railtrail which I consider the best, and I have just completed my 100th tour with them. I stress that I am free-lance and am not an employee of the company. We regularly see the same people return to us 2 or 3 times a year. Some choose to arrange their tours to coincide with a particular tour manager as bonds and friendships develop and flourish. I will spend up to 2 days planning a tour and preparing guide notes for a new tour so that I can give a commentary to my guests as we journey and research the places and attractions we will be visiting. I am sure that like me, my colleagues check every aspect of a forthcoming tour i.e. the hotels, coach, attractions etc to minimise any issues that could arise. These issues quoted here are unfortunate but do check the overwhelming positive feedback on the Feefo Railtrail Tours site.
Gerald Crease
Oct 08,2023Another great holiday with Railtrail. Some tours had to be adjusted due to extreme adverse weather but this was done seamlessly. The tour guide was knowledgeable and my hotel room was massive. Already booked next year's holiday
Barbara Gault
Oct 04,2023The hotel was lovely, breakfast buffet good but evening meals VERY poor. Not a single fresh vegetable all week.I'd have been happy to pay a little more for a decent meal. The trip itself was extremely disappointing and certainly not worth the money. Our expected tour guide cancelled and replacement had never done this trip. First day visit to museum was cancelled so we went to Liverpool. Advertised "cruise" on Mersey turned out to be a trip on the crowded passenger ferry. Then left to our own devices and found ALL museums in Liverpool closed on a Monday. Next day went to schedule and was good. Last day, canal boat we were supposed to go across aquaduct on had gone without us as changed time had not been advised to tour guide. Afternoon "thrilling steam train ride" was a boring and uncomfortable ride on a diesel traIn - steam trains only ran at weekends. Railtrail need to do more research.
Lizzie
Oct 03,2023This was my first experience with Railtrail and to start with the positives, the hotel was good with a comfortable room and bathroom. However as one of the lifts was out of order it was a long walk to the dining room and facilities. Evening meal was budget quality. Apart from that the holiday I booked did not follow the itinerary and although they say they have a right to change things it was disappointing. The first day was completely changed due to a museum being closed. Instead we went to Liverpool for a "cruise on the Mersey" and time to explore. The "cruise"was the ferry which went across and then back, NOT a cruise. After this, we were not given any information as to what to do, except visit the museums but they were all closed because it was a Monday and are always closed on a Monday. Railtrail would have known this so should not have arranged this trip on this day. Day 2 worked out as the itinerary and was enjoyable. Day 3 was a "canal boat over a stunning aqueduct" and a "thrilling steam train ride" according to the itinerary. When we arrived to catch the boat we were told that it had already left ! There was alot of anger as this was the highlight of the trip. Railtrail have since said it was not their fault but can't say what happened. Later we got back on the coach and were taken further down the valley to catch the boat so fortunately we did get part of the boat trip. Afterwards we had less time to find lunch as we had to get to the station for the steam train ride. However, on arriving at the station we were told that there was no steam train as they don't run on a Wednesday !! Again Railtrail would have known this. They say that steam trains are not always possible and might not run, but as I responded to the manager, they never run on a Wednesday from this station. Instead we had an uncomfortable ride on an old diesel train, very disappointing, some of the group had booked particularly because of this days itinerary. Overall I think this holiday was misrepresented to us in the initial information we were given and on which we booked and although Railtrail did let us know by letter that the first day had changed, their terms and conditions state it should be like for like and that is NOT what we got. I called Railtrail to dicuss but after a long conversation, in which the manager was very defensive, I was told to read the terms and conditions and the call was ended by him. So I would never book with them again nor recommend this company, you may not be able to rely on the information you are given.
Miss Lynda Graham
Sep 27,2023Just come back from Cornwall and the whole tour wasnt good. Our Tour Manager immediately let it be known that he wasn't a Guide, nor had he done this tour before. We also had another person with us who was supposed to be learning but what he gleaned from this trip must have been negligible. Neither of them had a clue. The brochure Itinerary failed to show we had 3 hours to kill in Looe, 3 hours in St Ives and over 2 hours in Penzance which was far too long to be left to our own devices. Not a tour I would recommend.
DrJohnColtart
Aug 01,2023I note the extreme dissatisfaction from previous customers of Railtrail The poor reviews are universal and I will add to the number where cancellations and no refund of not taken meals and accommodation Despite what was stated No written report has been forthcoming now many weeks later The manager states I am precluded from any future booking but continues to bombardd. Me with ads saying how great they are Nothing could be further from the truth Iarranged easily and cheaply part of the tour by myself with noptoblems Is this Railtrail ploy to entases its profit Poor untruthful service will have its just reward I hope Dr John Coltart
Mr Symes
Dec 30,2022This company is a rip off. Accommodation ok, but rest of the trip a disaster. Tour guide not knowledgable or even present for half the trip. He had to be reminded of meal times, and what was on, kept saying not in his notes even though things were in the itinerary. He needed to keep searching on Google on his phone to give us info about places. In 8 days we only saw about 3 things, rest of the time rushing to get from place to place. Never again.
Mr Wilshaw
Jun 29,2021Booked a tour for my husbands 60th birthday. No help when arriving at station to find it closed or when bus did not turn up to take us on to next station . Would not refund taxi fare that we had to arrange ourselves with seconds to spare. Once we arrived the actual tour was ok , Charlotte tour rep was very good . Hotel very run down but room clean and food ok. On returning home main train was cancelled causing us the stress of having to find suitable trains back to home and they now take no responsibility for claiming a refund from avanti on our behalf. Not helpful at all and we would certainly not travel with Railtrail again or recommend them .
Steven Martin
Feb 01,2021Booked what was supposed to the holiday of a lifetime to Australia with part of it with Railtrail Tours. Tour was finally cancelled in January and refund for deposits paid onto an expired credit card not a live one. No sign of refund and whenever you try to contact them, by phone the person you want is furloughed. E-mail all you get back is they have sent the refunds and its your problem to sort it out with your bank!!! So no holiday & no refund, will never go anywhere near this firm again.
M J Haley
Apr 29,2019Holiday cancelled 6 weeks before departure date. Notified by letter. No help with out of pocket expenses, i.e non-refundable advance booking hotel and train fares. Rail trail simply quoted their 'terms and conditions'. A travel company to avoid.
Anne Street
Oct 31,2018The tour was meant to be escorted, but our tour guide had so little care for the party that you might as well have been an independent traveller. At train changes he dashed off into the distance, not confirming which platform or where to disembark. He openly admitted that it was not his job to ensure people made the train. That is the point of the escort isn't it, to make sure people know where to go and how to get there. When I contacted the company their attitude was that he had led many tours. I know this from my fellow travellers on this tour, who had similar experiences. Well they will not get me to use them again and we love train travel. it is a small family business but they really don't seem to care about the client experience.
Mrs McCutcheon
Mar 27,2018I went on holiday with this firm in September 2017, never again. The holiday was meant to be fully escorted, no help at St Pancras with checking in, no directions as to where we would find our coach. The first night we were presented with the week's menus, no choice. An effort was made to cater for dietary tastes but if you are full vegetarian don't go. We spent a lot of time on coaches when the trips could've been done by train. The day trip to Carcosonne was v disorganised. We had very little information on what to do on the off day, the hotel did not have much either. I have complained to Railtrail but they said the general feedback was good, that was not my impression, most people complained about the food and lack of choice
21 The Smithfield Centre, ST13 5JW, Leek, GB
http://www.railtrail.co.uk
Barbara brown
Sep 26,2024First hotel California. This was a disgrace. Did not pay top money for staying in dungeon. Many other hotels in vicinity. 2nd day train changeovers were a comedy of errors. The planning of trip looks ok. In reality a nightmare. We’re not informed there was no buffet carriage. Arrived Basel dehydrated.venice tour way too long. Where first class travel comes in. No idea. Day 8 tour manager obviously stressed and became quite rude. Whole holiday herendous. Such a disappointment after spending top money