Travel Department

Fantastic experience: 5- STars! My wife and I travelled with Travel Department on the Beijing and the Great Wall trip to China. We had an amazing experience which was topped off by our fantastic guide Denis and also all our fellow travellers, it was a really nice sociable atmosphere and we met some really lovely people. The Travel Department team were great with reassuring us before we travelled and organising our visas. WE’d have no hesitation in recommending them again and have now booked another holiday for next yea

Fantastic experience: Have just returned from a fabulous week in Lake Garda. The Hotel was lovely, fantastic food with lots of choice and very friendly staff, good location and quiet pool area. Riva del Garda is a lovely little town with beautiful lake side walks and squares with lots of shops, bars and restaurants. Our guides throughtout the week were excellent, especially Martin who prvided us with clear instructions, lots of interesting information about the region's history, agriculture and culture and kept us safe in bustling Venice and Verona while showing us the sights. It was a holiday free from stress, nothing to worry except enjoying the superb scenery and deciding whether to have another beer or procecco before dinner. This is our second holiday with Travel Department, our trip to Tuscany last year was just as good, we'll definately be travelling with them again.

Fantastic experience: Amazing. Just back from solo holiday in India. Can't speak highly enough about it. Great value, top class hotels, terrific guide. Great sights taj mahal, Gandhi's resting place. Can't wait to book another trip.

Fantastic experience: We have just returned from our trip to the Moon Valley Hotel in in Seiano near Sorrento and can't agree more with the other reviewer about Hugo (pronounced Ugo), our guide. His organisation of our day trip to Capri was impeccable. We could never have packed in so much if travelling independently and considering it was included in the holiday price was brilliant value for money. This is the second holiday we have had with Travel Department traveling from Edinburgh. Last year we went to Lake Garda and stayed at the Hotel Grand Liberte where we also had an excellent guide. In both cases the hotel were slightly faded but very clean and comfortable with lovely staff. The half board meals were quite simple but tasty and more than enough to eat. We upgraded our room to a sea view at the Moon Valley as we had seen recommended on Tripadvisor and it was well worth it to wake up to a beautiful view to Vesuvius across the Bay of Naples. The swimming pools here were lovely and never too busy despite being there at an Italian bank holiday. In fact it added to the Italian experience to be in a hotel with Italians on holiday. On both holidays the other guests from Ireland and Scotland were very friendly and a mixture of ages. We particularly like this company as there is no single supplement so our 15 year old son can have his own room at no extra cost. There were quite a few solo travellers on both trips and it was lovely to see how they were welcomed in to the group by the others. I think Travel Department provide excellent value for money and would not hesitate to recommend them.

Fantastic experience: A group of friends went to maderia on Sep 8th had a great holiday very well organised Roberto was a excellent guide thank you

Fantastic experience: I was in lake garda for a weeks holidays and the tour guide was excellent her name was Renate she had a few deaf ladies on the trip she was great with them I a have been on lots of holidays and she was the best tour guide I have had she was so helpful to everyone lake garda was lovely I will be going back hope I get Renate again well done to her she does a great job patricia

Fantastic experience: My wife and I booked a holiday in June 2016 in Sorrento, Amalfi Coast in Italy. I have had holidays in America, North Africa, Spain and France but this was by far the most beautiful place I have ever visited. We were initially disappointed in the accommodation we were given - it was an Annex in which we had to climb stairs as part of the Moon Valley hotel. Anyone booking should ensure they are in the actual hotel and preferably with a sea view. It would also have been nice to have had tea in our room but there was a communal tea area close to hotel reception which was ok. There is a fabulous swimming pool at the hotel and all other service were excellent. The location(Selina) is out of the way with virtually no shops etc close by but there is a train stop a short distance down the road with easy access to Sorrento in one direction and Naples the other. The Travel Department engaged two of the best guides you could imagine - Ugo and Sasa. We went on trips to all the places outlined in the brochure but for me the highlights were Capri and the Amalfi Coast. We went on a boat trip right around the isle of Capri and a further boat trip along the Amalfi Coast and the beauty of the Amalfi Coast takes your breath away. Make sure that if you go on this holiday that you take good walking shoes particularly if you are planning to do the Vesuvius climb which is an optional trip you can take. The Travel Department have put together a fabulous holiday that I think most people with really love.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely Fabulous from start to finish. A stunning amazing country and we got to see so much thanks to TD active and the amazing itinerary!! Everything ran so smoothly. The hotels were all lovely, well located, spotlessly clean with nice fresh breakfasts included. Moon & Quon greatly added to the experience, they were so friendly, knowledgeable and passionate and went above & beyond to make it a super experience!! From the time we met Moon in Hanoi she just set the tone for the whole trip. Thank You:) Great value for money!! It was a trip that just kept on giving!! Highly recommend this trip to Vietnam and Travel Department.

Fantastic experience: The escorted trip with Travel Department was excellent. It was extremely safe and their tour guide in designated countries are very friendly caring and kind and helpful. The trip I did with travel department is far the best trip. It was fully guided, everything was recommend by the tour guide everything was dropped and collected off no worries of missing anything or getting lost. You went to the best shops/places because of the tour guide advise - the culture was advise from their perspective - absolutely amazing trip because of the service offered by the travel department was very good for the price and their support was great. Thank you guys 5 star review for the trip and service. Highly recommended for someone looking their next trip.

Fantastic experience: Many holidays with the Travel department all top class. Always great guides and friendly atmosphere. Going again in April.

Fantastic experience: Been using them for years great value no hassle holidays

Fantastic experience: I just got back from a trip to Tuscany Florence Pisa. I just want to compliment The Travel Department for this wonderful trip. Hotel staff were so lovely, Food was fantastic. Claudia our tour guide was exceptionally nice, She was so accomadating to all the group. Trips were amazing, I met the most amazing people. Ive just booked my next trip to this amazing country.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant staff, very helpful throughout the process, including the cancellation process due to illness. Will definitely be rebooting when I'm recovered.

Fantastic experience: Really lovely holiday....the hotel had a dining room terrace with spectacular views. The tours were very good especially the tour to St Moritz, Switzerland. Our guide Carol was excellent...she knew exactly where to eat, shop and visit so we didn't waste our time wandering around. Looking forward to the 2024 summer brochure.

Fantastic experience: Great value holidays. An Irish company who know what we want

Fantastic experience: Great package holiday if you are interested in exploring different cultures trips are included. Good value for money.

Fantastic experience: I wish to thank Travel Department for our wonderful holiday to Lake Como. We enjoyed every moment of the holiday and will return. Our guide Carol was available at all times to assist and was a powerhouse of information with a great sense of humor. Carol always guided us in the right direction - restaurants, shopping and places to see. Bazzoni hotel was clean and a pleasant place to stay with good internet. We would like to thank staff at hotel who were always helpful and polite. We have one suggestion for Bazzoni to consider - the provision of a kettle in the rooms! All trips and our optional trips organised by Travel Department were fantastic and we enjoyed every aspect of our daily/trip adventures. Great value for money and highly recommendable. Thank you again to all the team.

Fantastic experience: If any person thinking about travelling to Hungary I would like to share with you a little gem where to stay I travelled to Hungary with the travel department in Ireland our base for the week was the village of vistagrad and the owner the wonderful tebor we arrived late on the Monday night but he had kept the dining room open for dinner and at check in we were greeted with champagne and unbelievabl hospitality which made us feel really at home and comfortable as if at home each morning we had a huge selection of cereal hot and cold and a selection of juice teas and coffee each day hiking we were supplied with a packed lunch by the hotel after day one we had to ask them to cut the lunch back as they were supplying us with too much food unusual in this day and age each day after hiking for the day we returned to hotel visegrad to have full use of pools inside and outside sauna and much more and dinner of high quality dishes as much as you wanted after a wonderful week of high class feel good hospitality it was time to leave and on to the bus we got for the journey to the airport leaving with a heavy heart as we were leaving a little bit of love behind and then as we were ready to go arrive tebor on the bus with a tray load of schnapps to say goodbye and words of wisdom Robert talked us through the airport process as we went to airport and everything seemed clear when we got to the airport I realised with horror I had left my passport at the hotel l went into panic mode I told the rep Robert what had happened he made a call back to hotel and yes the passport was there and the brilliant tebor was leaving his hotel and on his way to the airport with my passport I waited with bated breath outside the departure building for tebor he arrived in less than hour with passport in hand I offered him money for diesel but would not hear of it I can not recommend this hotel enough the staff and the owner it was a pleasure and thank you to everyon

Fantastic experience: It was our first time booking with Travel Department and it won’t be our last. We booked to go to Croatia and we weren’t disappointed. Our hotel was clean, food was nice, although a little boring after a week, but it was our guide Enis who made the trip. His knowledge of Croatia and the history of the place was second to none. He was funny, informative, organised and classy. Nothing was too much for him. He is an asset to have working for you. We will be back.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic trip to a south Africa made extra special by our wonderful your guide, Leon, who was so knowledgeable about his country and went out of his way to make it a trip to remember Kevin and Fran

Fantastic experience: I recently returned from an amazing holiday in Vietnam with the Travel Department . The whole experience was great and it was the Local guides who made it very special and memorable. Everything was well organised by Travel Department. Accomodation was excellent while the activities and tours were week researched and most enjoyable. It was the local Guides - Moon in Hanoi Tuan (Tommy) in Hoi An and Hue and Sam in Saigon that made the holiday special with their amazing knowledge, passion, good humour and friendliness. A special mention for Moon who was one of the best guides I have ever encountered in many years of travelling. Thank you everyone.

Positive experience: Just returned from a lovely but exhausting week in "Undiscovered Italy/Puglia" with a really tremendous group of people. I was travelling on my own and they made me feel most welcome and were always willing to include me for lunch etc. The Hotel Monte Sarago was very pleasant and the hotel staff were excellent. Unfortunately being based in Ostuni was not ideal as we had 3 leisure days and there was not enough to occupy us. Most days we seemed to have spent an awful lot of time in the bus. Consequently, on the day before we left, half the group did not go on the tour to Trani and Bari as it was 11/2 hours away and we were going to have to go back to Bari the next day to the airport. I was very disappointed that I missed the tour but couldnt face the trip 2 days in a row. Sharon Nicholson We did suggest changing Bari to the day we were departing but were told it was not possible. I am sure Bari would have been a better option for our base and would have made the holiday perfect. Or else perhaps we could have spent the last night in Bari and then we could have had a full day the next day exploring, as our flight was only at round 9 o'clock in the evening and was delayed for 11/2 hours! I took the opportunity to avail of the 2 extra tours to Matera and Polignano A Mare and I must say that I found them to be the highlight of the tour. Alberobello was where I was looking forward to visiting the most, but was very disappointed, as we weren`t given enough time there. Unfortunately, I did not find our guide Anna Maria very informative as she didnt offer any ideas on what to do on our leisure days, but the reception staff in the hotel were very helpful. Unfortunately travelling solo makes it pretty expensive and also there is no choice when you book to have the option of requesting a 20 kg bag. If you request it later, then it is 80 euro. Also, as we were only leaving Ostuni at 5.30 we were allowed to keep our rooms, but at a cost of 50 euro. I did notice other reviews where people also felt Ostuni was not the best base. Hopefully the Travel Department might take these suggestions on board. One very important request that I made, was to have assistance at the airport but for some reason my request was not noted. I felt that that was an important request which was overlooked. This was my 4th trip with The Travel Department and my first solo trip. I do hope to avail of more tours in the future.

Fantastic experience: The Travel Department and in particular their guide Chung in Vietnam were most excellent.

Fantastic experience: Great knowledgeable friendly staff!

Fantastic experience: Have travelled with travel department 4 times and we are always delighted with our experience from the booking to the airport drop off, everything is planned and arranged for you, fantastic value for money

Fantastic experience: I just wanted to say thank you to the Travel Department for making my first solo trip to South Africa a trip of a lifetime. I recently travelled from the 3rd of April to the 16th. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and our guide Suzette ( Suzie) was exceptional. She was a wealth of knowledge and she ensured everything ran so smoothly. Lawrence, our bus driver was great, he ensured we got to all of our destinations safely. Due to high winds, we were unable to visit Featherbed Nature Reserve and we travelled instead to Knysna Elephant Park. It was an amazing experience, being so close to the Elephants. I would highly recommend including a visit to the Elephant Park to the itinerary before travelling to the Safari Reserve. I feel it really enhanced our experience at Kariega Game Reserve which was just incredible.Shout out to Wayne & Amber our two guides who were both excellent. All of our hotels were exceptional, however I would recommend an extra night stay in either Arniston/Knysna rather than Port Elizabeth. *If travelling to South Africa in April be prepared for all weathers & bring warm clothes*.

Fantastic experience: Just returned from 7 nights on a solo Lake Garda trip.. It was a lovely holiday Hotel Majestic was V Nice and spotless, staff were very attentive and friendly , room was v nice , lovely pool .... food very good, and our wonderful guide Renata did an excellent job and was so helpful over all I highly recommend this trip great group of People and weather was marvelous too...Will def go on another tour W this Company

Fantastic experience: Good to deal with for city break holiday!

Positive experience: Great trip to Tuscany, 3 days of tours, 3 days of free time which was just the right balance. Hotel was a little old fashioned but the food and staff more than made up for it. Laura our guide was brilliant, she did a cracking job of keeping our group together and was very knowledgeable. Would recommend this tour and Travel Department

Fantastic experience: Had a wonderful holiday at Lake Como. Milan and Bernina Express were the highlights. Hotel Bazzoni excellent. Pity wine in Bar was so small compered to Restaurant.

Fantastic experience: Travel Department escorted holidays are the ultimate in relaxation, because everything is taken care of for you. All you have to do is rock up and enjoy. My recent trip to Lake Garda, with day trips to Bolzano, Venice and Verona, with a half day wine-tasting excursion to the Pisoni organic vineyard in the Alps, was just wonderful from start to finish. It was made all the more special by our lovely, funny, informative and kind tour guide, Renata, who went above and beyond the call of duty to look after everyone in our group.

Fantastic experience: I’ve just returned from the Travel Department’s Highlights of Vietnam. It was such a well organised trip and we also had an excellent local guide, Chung, who not only had great knowledge and insight to impart but was also very happy to set up other trips outside the intinerary. His sense of fun was greatly appreciated too.

Fantastic experience: Christmas trip to the Algarve really enjoyable ! Very easy company to travel with good guide good hotel will repeat to another destination this Decemb

Fantastic experience: Just back from having the most wonderful time in South Africa. The holiday was amazing from start to finish. It was a busy holiday but made enjoyable by our tour guide Gertie - she was incredible! She looked after us from start to finish. She was incredibly well organised, knowledgeable, friendly, kind and had a great sense of humour! Our driver Louwrens was the perfect man for the trip. He is such a skilled driver and a very friendly and kind man. The highlight has to be the Safari, it was amazing! Lots of surprises and treats along the way! You must find out for yourself!!

Fantastic experience: Just home from South Africa. Had a brilliant time in a beautiful country. Had a wonderful guide, Gertie and a brilliant bus driver Laurence. Gertie was so friendly, knowledgeable and organised. Safari was definitely the highlight of the trip. Very well organised trip by the Travel Department. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Traveled from Ireland to Italy with Travel Dept. A very special thank you to Adriano our travel guide in Italy who went above and beyond to locate my lost phone in Positano. Traveled there via scooter on his day off to pick up my lost phone and return it to me at my hotel in Seiano. You are one in a million Adriano and I hope the Travel Dept . realize what a gem they have in you. A special thank you to Saraccino souvenir shop in Positano who found my phone and went to the trouble of contacting my daughter.There are so many good honest people in the world . Thank you. Thank you. ☘️☘️

Fantastic experience: Hi, My name is Mary Hayes and Im almost ready to leave Lake Como after a beautiful holiday, staying in Hotel Cadinabbia. I enjoyed every minute of the week between visits to Carlotta Villa, Balbiniella Villa, and Bellagio . But the highlight for me was the long day today visiting the Swiss Alps and St Moritz. It was like Paradise, with the scenes of the snowcapped peaks, blue skies and looking down on the beautiful Swiss villages. I was v happy with Hotel Cadinabbia with its rooftop terrace and swimming pool and its wonderful food. Our experience at Dublin Airport last Wednesday was not good. We were standing in a queue for 'check in' which was totally unacceptable. The desks could have opened earlier and dealt with the crowd. We were told we could not do this online because it was a group booking. But some people we met here during the week did check in online. Our guide Olona did her best during the week but it wasnt easy to catch every word as her sentences faded away at the end. But she gave us a lot of information. Overall it was a great holiday and I would rate it at 4 . 5 out of 5.

Fantastic experience: Really enjoyed Chelsea Flower Show last week, Frances Mac Donald was an excellent guide, hotel great, thanks for a great experience.

Fantastic experience: We are just home from Italy with the travel Department. They were absolutely excellent. Everything was taken care of from start to finish. We had a wonderful tour guide Ilona who was excellent. All was fantastic. Our first time booking with them and it won't be our last.

Fantastic experience: Excellent service, very smooth guided trip in italy ,wonderful guide Renatta..

Fantastic experience: Experienced a tour of Tuscany in Italy back in 2019 before the world went mad. Our group had a great time. The guide was faultless and incredibly patient given all the different things thrown his way. Highly recommended

Fantastic experience: Visited Serenity Cove on a very wet and dull day during a stay in Carlow and had an amazing experience. sun was shining through the rain on way back to hotel. Would drive back to Csrlow just to have another treatment there.

Fantastic experience: Very good holidays great people I went to America 4 years ago and bulgaria 2 years ag

Fantastic experience: Can't say enough about the travel department. I've traveled with them on 5 different occasions. I'd recommend this place to holidaymakers every time. Thank God there is still a great travel agency the care about their clients.

Fantastic experience: Little gem of a restaurant with fantastic food, service & staff. Would very much recommend this restaurant.

Fantastic experience: First time to use Travel Department and definitely wont be the last - Excellent experience overall staying in the Jupiter Algarve, contributed to in a particularly positive way by our guide Sonia Duarte. Anyone that travels to this location will be very luck to have Sonia as their assigned guide.

Fantastic experience: Rooms : 5/5 | Service : 5/5 | Location : 5/5

Fantastic experience: A wonderful trip to Egypt on the Nile Cruise including Cairo & Hurghada with The Travel Department. Dodi was a wonderful and knowlegbeable tour guide and I could not recommend the trip highly enough. It was wonderful to visit The Valley of the Kings, The Pyramids and the witness the beauty of the banks of the river Nile. The staff on board the MS Radamis 11 were welcoming and friendly........perhaps the only fault was that the ship itself could do with a refurbishment! Also the flights at both ends were during night hours leaving us feeling exhausted! The hotels in Cairo and Hurghada were fab! Highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: I went on a walking holiday to Brashov in Romania in June..I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The walks/climbs were very well organized and suited the range of abilities in our group. Our leader/guide , Alex,was very well prepared,courteous and always made safety a priority while at the same time bringing us on challenging hikes. We were accompanied at all times also by 3 other very experienced hikers. ALEX also shared lots of interesting, historical and cultural information on the areas we visited. The hotel in Brasov was very comfortable and the location was excellent. Our day and night in Budapest was fantastic..hotel was very comfortable and the lady who brought us on a tour of the city was interested passionate and enthusiastic about her subject I would definitely recommend this trip for people who are interested in an active holiday Bernie Edgeworth

Fantastic experience: Just wanted to say what a wonderful time we had in Tuscany - we traveled with you staying in the Grand Hotel Plaza in Montecatini - which is a delight - clean and charming with lovely staff. Well organised trips - the highlight being Tosca in the open air in Terra del Largo. Grazie mille to Max our wonderful guide - you are so very lucky to have him - don't lose him! The man has the patience of a saint and very talented - he together with one of our travelling companions Siobhan (what an amazing voice) entertained us on the way to the Opera with a selection of opera arias. The trips to Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Siena gave us all a taste for more - the optional trip to Portovenere and Cinque Terre was not to be missed. Looking forward to next year!!!

Fantastic experience: We travelled to Puglia with the Travel Department the second week in September 2017. When we came to the arrivals hall our guide and minder Cinzia Annunziata was there to greet us. The overall trip and holiday was amazing and well thought out. But the most wonderful part of our holiday was Cinzia she was just amazing! She was available 24/7 she had time for everyone. She would meet the us at breakfast and she was so friendly and above all one of the kindest people I have ever met. Please let her know how valuable she is to your company. You have a very lovely person working for you guys. We love the Travel Department and hope to travel with you again.

Fantastic experience: Just returned from Vietnam tour,thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.Appreciation to Twan our guide,his caring nature,professionalism+fun displayed in abundance.Thanks to Travel Dept. for organisation.