1. Do your tours include airfare?
No. We have people come from all over the United States as well as the rest of the world so logistically it is not
practical. We are tour operators and not travel agents so we are happy to help source airfare but we do not
include it with the tour. In todays market, you can usually find the best deals by visiting each individual
airlines web sites. You can find flight mapping of who flies where here. http://www.flightmapping.com/maps
We also find that Orbitz.com and Travelocity are great sources for good airfare deals.
2. What is the best way to book a tour?
We prefer that you book your tour directly through us. We are a very small company and have a limited
number of tours to offer thus limiting the number of tours we can accept through a travel agency.
3. What is the best time of year to travel?
Nobody should ever come to the British Isles or Ireland for the weather. It is often joked that you can
experience all 4 seasons in one day but there is a bit of truth to this. It seldom gets really, really warm and it
seldom gets really, really cold. You have to expect some rain as the greenest places on earth cannot stay that
way without some moisture. I prefer spring and fall but that is because there are less tourists.
4. What is the fitness level of your tours?
We do not do walking tours but try to make each tour meet each individuals fitness level. Which means that
you can be as active as you want or as active as you are able. You do need to be able to climb stairs and get
easily into and out of the vehicle. We try to stay in areas with lots of walks nearby.
5. What is the daily schedule like?
We generally leave our accommodation between 9:00 and 9:30 each morning unless we have a ferry crossing
etc. We try not to travel too far at any one time on the bus and try to leave a generous amount of time to visit
each attraction. Some of our tours are a bit more scheduled such as the Highlands and Islands tours as we are
at the mercy of the ferry systems. We will stop for lunch around 1:00 unless we are taking afternoon tea,
which is seldom before 2:00 and sometimes not until 3:00. These are very filling meals and will easily hold you
over to a later dinner. We generally do dinner around 6:00 or 7:00 in the evening and only occasionally later.
6. Why do your tours seems to be more expensive than other tours?
In comparing tours you need to compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Our tours are generally
around 10-12 people and not 40-60 people as with most major tours. You have a driver/ guide shared by 9-11
other people rather than shared by 39-59 others. We also take advantage of small locally owned
accommodations and restaurants. These are usually small, family owned businesses and they are not able to
give a discount to tour groups like the larger hotels do. Our tours generally offer quite a bit more than the
larger tours do as well. When you count all the add ons that many tours promote, our prices are usually quite
comparable to theirs. You get what you pay for.
7. Why can we only take the tour on the dates listed and not at other times of the year? Many
tour operators give multiple listings of departure dates throughout the year.
We are a very small company and prefer to organize and conduct each of our tours personally. We can only
offer so many tours a year this way but we think the best way to conduct a tour is to lead it ourselves making
sure that your needs are taken care of in every way. Unfortunately, this only allows us to offer around 12 tours
per year.
8. What affiliations do you belong to?
We are a licensed seller of travel in Washington State and also through Global Travel International CST
#2043947-40 FLSOT #20734. We are also affiliated with VisitScotland, VisitBritain, VisitWales, VisitIreland
and the Speciality Travel Agents Association. We do not belong to many travel organizations as it is very
expensive to belong to these groups and we like to use our advertising budget in other ways.
9. Why do you charge a single supplement?
In Europe it is common practice to charge for the room and not by the number of people as one person takes
up just as much room as two people. This results in the single occupancy of a room costing almost as much as it
does for 2 people sharing a room. Most singles are accommodated in a double or twin room.
10. Can you find good food in the UK and Ireland?
We hear this a lot and it really surprises us! I think it is because most people tour in large groups where the
only thing available is cafeteria style food. We do not make any stops with cafeteria food and usually eat in
small tearooms, pubs and family owned restaurants that offer quality food. We often hear that people have had
some of the best meals of their lives on our tours.
12. Will we have our own bathroom?
Yes. The days of shared bathrooms are quickly disappearing. Almost any accommodation has now adapted
their lodgings to include bathrooms. You will always have your own bathroom, either within the room, next
door or just across the hall.
13. What can we expect in accommodations?
We only use 3, 4 or 5 star tourist board approved accommodations and every now and then a 2 star that has
exceptional service, food etc., but we generally stick with accommodations that are 3 or 4 star rated. We like to
use small family owned guest houses, farmhouse and hotels. Small does not refer to the rooms sizes but the
number of rooms in the establishment. We will often choose an accommodation for the overall feel above
anything else. We never use chain hotels.
14. How much luggage are we allowed to bring?
We allow one large bag and one small carry on size. We have never heard anybody say that they wished they
had brought more with them but we often hear people say they wished they had brought less! We try to
arrange for laundry service in the middle of the tour.
15. Are all meals included?
No. The majority of meals are included but we also like to allow you to choose some of your own places to dine
and not have to eat with the group at every meal. We always have recommendations of places to eat.
16. Is smoking allowed on the tours?
No. Ireland banned smoking country wide in March of 2004. Scotland banned smoking country wide in March
0f 2006. Wales ban took place on 2nd April 2007 with England following in July of 2007.
17. Are children allowed on the tours?
Yes, we accept children over the age of 14 although most of our tours are more adult oriented. We consider
ourselves a family operation and welcome people of any age and we do not discriminate in any way. Each
person will be expected to conduct themselves appropriately and we do not believe in the majority suffering
the minority in any situation.
No. We have people come from all over the United States as well as the rest of the world so logistically it is not
practical. We are tour operators and not travel agents so we are happy to help source airfare but we do not
include it with the tour. In todays market, you can usually find the best deals by visiting each individual
airlines web sites. You can find flight mapping of who flies where here. http://www.flightmapping.com/maps
We also find that Orbitz.com and Travelocity are great sources for good airfare deals.
2. What is the best way to book a tour?
We prefer that you book your tour directly through us. We are a very small company and have a limited
number of tours to offer thus limiting the number of tours we can accept through a travel agency.
3. What is the best time of year to travel?
Nobody should ever come to the British Isles or Ireland for the weather. It is often joked that you can
experience all 4 seasons in one day but there is a bit of truth to this. It seldom gets really, really warm and it
seldom gets really, really cold. You have to expect some rain as the greenest places on earth cannot stay that
way without some moisture. I prefer spring and fall but that is because there are less tourists.
4. What is the fitness level of your tours?
We do not do walking tours but try to make each tour meet each individuals fitness level. Which means that
you can be as active as you want or as active as you are able. You do need to be able to climb stairs and get
easily into and out of the vehicle. We try to stay in areas with lots of walks nearby.
5. What is the daily schedule like?
We generally leave our accommodation between 9:00 and 9:30 each morning unless we have a ferry crossing
etc. We try not to travel too far at any one time on the bus and try to leave a generous amount of time to visit
each attraction. Some of our tours are a bit more scheduled such as the Highlands and Islands tours as we are
at the mercy of the ferry systems. We will stop for lunch around 1:00 unless we are taking afternoon tea,
which is seldom before 2:00 and sometimes not until 3:00. These are very filling meals and will easily hold you
over to a later dinner. We generally do dinner around 6:00 or 7:00 in the evening and only occasionally later.
6. Why do your tours seems to be more expensive than other tours?
In comparing tours you need to compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Our tours are generally
around 10-12 people and not 40-60 people as with most major tours. You have a driver/ guide shared by 9-11
other people rather than shared by 39-59 others. We also take advantage of small locally owned
accommodations and restaurants. These are usually small, family owned businesses and they are not able to
give a discount to tour groups like the larger hotels do. Our tours generally offer quite a bit more than the
larger tours do as well. When you count all the add ons that many tours promote, our prices are usually quite
comparable to theirs. You get what you pay for.
7. Why can we only take the tour on the dates listed and not at other times of the year? Many
tour operators give multiple listings of departure dates throughout the year.
We are a very small company and prefer to organize and conduct each of our tours personally. We can only
offer so many tours a year this way but we think the best way to conduct a tour is to lead it ourselves making
sure that your needs are taken care of in every way. Unfortunately, this only allows us to offer around 12 tours
per year.
8. What affiliations do you belong to?
We are a licensed seller of travel in Washington State and also through Global Travel International CST
#2043947-40 FLSOT #20734. We are also affiliated with VisitScotland, VisitBritain, VisitWales, VisitIreland
and the Speciality Travel Agents Association. We do not belong to many travel organizations as it is very
expensive to belong to these groups and we like to use our advertising budget in other ways.
9. Why do you charge a single supplement?
In Europe it is common practice to charge for the room and not by the number of people as one person takes
up just as much room as two people. This results in the single occupancy of a room costing almost as much as it
does for 2 people sharing a room. Most singles are accommodated in a double or twin room.
10. Can you find good food in the UK and Ireland?
We hear this a lot and it really surprises us! I think it is because most people tour in large groups where the
only thing available is cafeteria style food. We do not make any stops with cafeteria food and usually eat in
small tearooms, pubs and family owned restaurants that offer quality food. We often hear that people have had
some of the best meals of their lives on our tours.
12. Will we have our own bathroom?
Yes. The days of shared bathrooms are quickly disappearing. Almost any accommodation has now adapted
their lodgings to include bathrooms. You will always have your own bathroom, either within the room, next
door or just across the hall.
13. What can we expect in accommodations?
We only use 3, 4 or 5 star tourist board approved accommodations and every now and then a 2 star that has
exceptional service, food etc., but we generally stick with accommodations that are 3 or 4 star rated. We like to
use small family owned guest houses, farmhouse and hotels. Small does not refer to the rooms sizes but the
number of rooms in the establishment. We will often choose an accommodation for the overall feel above
anything else. We never use chain hotels.
14. How much luggage are we allowed to bring?
We allow one large bag and one small carry on size. We have never heard anybody say that they wished they
had brought more with them but we often hear people say they wished they had brought less! We try to
arrange for laundry service in the middle of the tour.
15. Are all meals included?
No. The majority of meals are included but we also like to allow you to choose some of your own places to dine
and not have to eat with the group at every meal. We always have recommendations of places to eat.
16. Is smoking allowed on the tours?
No. Ireland banned smoking country wide in March of 2004. Scotland banned smoking country wide in March
0f 2006. Wales ban took place on 2nd April 2007 with England following in July of 2007.
17. Are children allowed on the tours?
Yes, we accept children over the age of 14 although most of our tours are more adult oriented. We consider
ourselves a family operation and welcome people of any age and we do not discriminate in any way. Each
person will be expected to conduct themselves appropriately and we do not believe in the majority suffering
the minority in any situation.
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