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Surprise these travel companies keep your trip a secret (until the last minute).

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Ever had a hard time deciding where to go on vacation? Now, you don’t need to worry. A new breed of travel companies is revolutionizing vacation planning with secret trips. The concept: They do all the planning and booking for you, and add an element of excitement by keeping the destination a secret until the last minute.

According to a recent Booking.com survey of 27,000 travelers across 33 countries, this is a huge trend for 2024. Over half of the respondents expressed enthusiasm for surprise trips where every detail—including the destination—remains unknown until arrival. Booking.com called this new group of modern travelers the “surrender seekers.”

Lilian Rafson was ahead of the curve. In 2016 when she was 23, she launched Pack Up + Go, which specializes in surprise vacations in the U.S. and has sent surrender seekers to more than 300 destinations around the country. Travelers don’t know where they’re going until they arrive at the airport. “I thought it would do really well to encourage Americans to travel and was even thinking about the economic benefits and how much money could go to small businesses and restaurants and shops through tourism,” Rafson told me in an interview. “A lot of American cities are being robbed of that because we’re so quick to travel overseas.”

Surprise trips are the latest trend in travel.

Katie Truesdell was also ahead of the curve with her company, Magical Mystery Tours , which was based on a family tradition. One year when she was a kid, her dad planned a surprise Christmas getaway for the family. Weeks in advance, mysterious red envelopes began arriving in the mail with clues about packing, activities and more. The family set off that morning for an unknown locale and arrived that night in Nashville. The family loved the experience so much that they started doing surprise trips every year—and now Truesdell plans similar getaways for her clients.

As more travelers embrace the allure of the unknown, a host of innovative companies have emerged, each offering unique twists on the concept of surprise travel. Here’s a look at some of the pioneers and newcomers in this burgeoning industry.

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Pack Up + Go sends travelers on surprise trips.

Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go focuses on domestic travel within the U.S., promoting local tourism and supporting small businesses. The company offers personalized trips based on a survey filled out by customers, ensuring a tailored travel experience that still holds the element of surprise. Pack Up + Go selects the destination, books all the travel and suggests day-by-day itineraries.

Magical Mystery Tours

Inspired by the founder’s family’s unique family tradition, Magical Mystery Tours creates custom mystery trips based on traveler preferences. The company plans both domestic and international trips—and travelers get the thrill of discovering their destination only upon arriving at the airport.

The Vacation Hunt

Founded by travel enthusiasts Jeff Allen and Roshni Agarwal, The Vacation Hunt plans surprise trips across the U.S., Europe, and other international destinations. Their service is particularly noted for honeymoon trip planning, where they can take even a known destination and fill it with surprises.

Black Tomato offers luxury "Get Lost" trips that will drop you in locations like Morocco's Atlas ... [+] Mountains, pictured here.

Black Tomato

Offering a radical take on surprise travel, Black Tomato’s “Get Lost” trips offer an extreme form of surprise travel. Travelers are dropped into remote locations like the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, with the challenge of finding their way out. These high-budget adventures are for those seeking extreme thrill, combining luxury travel with survival challenges.

Brown & Hudson

London-based tour operator Brown & Hudson takes surprise travel to a new level with their “Journey With No Destination” trips. These journeys are crafted based on a detailed psychological profile of the traveler, promising a deeply personal and transformative travel experience.

Rustic Pathways Mystery Trips

Aimed at younger travelers, Rustic Pathways offers mystery trips that focus on global citizenship and education. These trips are packed with surprises, not just in the destination but also in the day-to-day itinerary, making for an educational and thrilling adventure.

Blind Experiences

Specializing in sustainable luxury holidays, Blind Experiences began as a unique wedding gift idea and has evolved into a business that caters to those seeking surprise travels. Blind Experiences is known for its romance and honeymoon trips, but there are also Blind Legacy Experiences (adult-child bonding trips) and Blind Family Experiences (family-focused trips with a real-life treasure hunt).

Guess Where Trips plans mystery road trips around the U.S. and Canada.

Guess Where Trips

Inspired by a personal gift experience, Guess Where Trips offers scavenger hunt-style road trips in the U.S. and Canada. Each trip includes a series of surprise stops, providing a unique way to explore local attractions.

One California Day

Specializing in California day trips, One California Day designs journeys that reveal beautiful destinations one stop at a time, providing digital downloads for travel secrets and recommendations for extending trips into weekend getaways.

Unexpected Journeys

Offering full-day surprise excursions in Eastern Ontario and Quebec, Unexpected Journeys provides meticulously planned journeys that include a series of surprise stops, offering a novel way to explore the region.

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7 Travel Companies That Plan Mystery Vacations

Meet the newest trend in full-service trip planning: surprise travel. You won't find out where you're going until it's time to go.

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For most people, the joy of traveling isn’t the researching or booking—it’s that moment you step off the airplane in a place you’ve never been. So why not skip the planning and let someone else chart your next adventure for you, including choosing the destination? Besides, who cares where you go when you’ve got expert travel agents finalizing every last detail for you?

Introducing the latest trend in travel: surprise trips to places that won’t be revealed to you until it’s go time.

Jubel , a tech-enabled travel company founded in 2015 in California, offers customized multi-destination getaways and route planning. It can also save you more than 55 percent in travel costs compared with booking a trip yourself, thanks to insider travel deals. Jubel also offers surprise trips .

Fill out its survey with your preferred dates, budget, and travel style, and it’ll send you a trip proposal. You can be completely surprised by the destination or learn the continent or country ahead of time. Once you’ve booked, you’ll get sealed envelopes to open along your journey, plus details on what to pack and when to show up at the airport. International trips start at around $1,000 per person per week.

Pack Up and Go

Want a weekend getaway in the U.S. without any hassle of planning it? Enter Pack Up and Go , founded in 2016 in Pittsburgh. Give the company your dates and budget, and complete a quick survey (sample question: Do you want action, relaxation, or culture?), and it will do the rest for you. Prior to your trip, you’ll get a packing list, flight information, and a weather forecast. Days before you leave, an envelope with your destination and itinerary will arrive in the mail. Open it at the airport. Trips start at $400 per person.

The Vacation Hunt

Whether you have three days or two weeks, the expert travelers at the Vacation Hunt , started in 2017 by a husband and wife in Washington, D.C., will plan a trip for you. Tell the reps what you’re looking for (spas or zoos? bars or museums?) and they’ll start sending you clues as to where you’re going. Packaged trips in the U.S. start at $750 per person; international trips start at $950. They also offer gift certificates if you want to give someone else a surprise trip.

Magical Mystery Tours

With Magical Mystery Tours , you won’t know where you’re going until you show up at the airport. First, enter your preferences: Do you want a foreign trip? Do you dislike the cold or the beach? Would you prefer heading to the desert or someplace tropical? Then input your dates, budget, and who you’re traveling with. The company will take care of the details. Magical Mystery Tours has been booking destination vacations to locations all over the globe since 2009. Cost depends on the length of the trip, whether it’s international or domestic travel, and the kind of accommodations you want. Weekend trips for two start at $1,500.

Surprise Me Trips

Choose between quick road trips from your hometown or far-flung destinations via airplane. You’ll get details about what to bring and where to be just before your departure. For its weekend road trips, tell the company where you want to start, and it will plan a surprise itinerary around your region, including a few nights in different locales and major landmarks and activities to check out along the way. Despite this travel company’s name, it will also arrange trips that don’t come as a surprise, if that’s more your thing. Surprise Me Trips was launched by three well-traveled friends in Texas in 2016. Weekend regional road trips start at $375.

Black Tomato

In 2017, high-end travel company Black Tomato  debuted its  Get Lost service, which creates adventurous tailor-made expeditions to wilderness destinations like Mongolia or the Arctic that are kept entirely a secret from you. Here’s how it works: select a polar, jungle, coastal, desert, or mountain trip—or have Black Tomato choose that, too—and book at least six months in advance to give you time to train and prepare. When you arrive at your location, you’ll be outfitted with all the gear you need, plus a private transfer from the airport to your starting point and a satellite phone for emergencies. Chart your way through a series of mapped-out checkpoints using navigational technology and your own two feet. The journey ends at a luxury retreat. Average Get Lost trips cost around $15,000 per person—but there are shorter, less expensive options, too.

Rustic Pathways

Designed for high school students looking for an exciting summer group trip, student-travel company Rustic Pathways offers a mystery trip to an unknown international destination. Before departure you’ll get a Patagonia duffel bag sent to you that’s filled with clues and a few essentials. Then arrive at the designated airport and spend the next two weeks exploring foreign cities and remote villages with other intrepid students as a guide leads the way. As of press time, there were still a few spots left on an upcoming trip in late June. It costs $5,995, not including airfare.

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Coach Holidays, Escorted Tours & Events

0330 440 3999, monday - friday 9am to 5pm, alfa travel| coach tours & trips 2024.

Alfa Travel Departures From: Nationwide departures available throughout England and North Wales

Why choose Alfa Travel?

• Alfa holidays are terrific value
• They offer a great choice of holiday destinations across the UK and Europe
• Alfa holidays tend to include more excursions with more included content than most other operators
• They have an outstanding fleet of modern luxury coaches
• Their pick up service offers a wider choice of joining points than the majority of their competitors
• They are very proud of the standard of their drivers
• The hotels they use - many owned by their sister company Leisureplex – are of a consistent standard
• The offer a wide selection of Partner Hotels to offer you more choice than ever
• Entertainment is included on at least 4 nights per week at most of their hotels
• Their holiday descriptions are very clear about what is included and they do not omit necessary meals or excursion content just to get down to an eye catching price
• Alfa do not have any hidden extras; with no charges for pick up points, front seats or specific room types

Although they offer some short breaks, Alfa Travel tends to concentrate on holidays of at least 4 nights duration. Most of their UK holidays are 4, 6 or 7 nights long. Their overseas holidays, which include a wide range of destinations in Ireland and the near Continent, vary from 4 to 11 nights.

Alfa Travel Hotels

The majority of Alfa’s passengers will stay in one of the twenty two hotels owned and operated by their sister company Leisureplex. These hotels are dedicated to the coach tour market and the common ownership gives them the ability to ensure that the content and quality of your stay is first class. Additionally, they operate to a variety of other Partner hotels which have been carefully selected and checked to ensure they meet their rigorous standards. All the Leisureplex Hotels and a majority of the other hotels they use provide entertainment in the evenings

Personal, friendly service

Alfa prides itself on the approachability of their staff and the friendliness of the service which they provide. Whether it's their reliable, happy-to-help drivers or the dedicated staff at their 22 Leisureplex hotels, they always seek to provide the best service possible in order to make your coach holiday or seaside break as relaxing and enjoyable as possible

Alfa Travel Popular For…

Main summer seaside holidays and 5 day breaks throughout the year.

Alfa Travel Coaches

All of the vehicles in their fleet are manufactured and maintained by Mercedes Benz to ensure the best possible standard of comfort and reliability. They are all air conditioned and provided with reclining seats with three point seat belts; they also have a washroom and drinks servery. At peak times, they supplement their fleet with vehicles from a select group of reliable local operators with years of experience in the coach holiday business 

Alfa Travel Awards

2019 – BRONZE – Coach Tour Driver of the Year – UK Coach Awards

2019 – FINALIST – Medium Fleet Operator – UK Coach Awards

2019 – FINALIST – Most Group Friendly Hotel Chain – Group Travel Award

2019 – FINALIST – Coach Operator of the Year- Route One Awards

2018 – WINNER – EO Rising Star - Employee Ownership Awards

2018 - FINALIST - Coach Tour Driver of the Year - Coach Tourism Awards

2018 - FINALIST - Coach Tour Operator of the Year - Coach Tourism Awards

Alfa Travel Pickups

Alfa operates five separate holiday programmes via five ‘hub and spoke’ or ‘feeder’ systems based on: (1)  Bowburn Motorway Services on the A1 near Durham (holidays from Tyneside and Teesside), (2) Burtonwood Motorway Services on the M62 near St.Helens (holidays from North West England, West and North Wales), (3) Tamworth Motorway Services on the M42 (holidays from the Potteries, West and East Midlands), (4) Reading Motorway Services on the M4 (holidays from South East England including Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Greater London) and (5) Woodall Services on the M1 (holidays from Yorkshire, Humberside, North Lincolnshire, North Nottinghamshire and North Derbyshire).  

Other useful info

The insurance offered by Alfa does not have any age restrictions and is very competitive. For the sale of insurance, they are an Appointed Representative of Wrightsure Insurance Services (Hampshire). They are also members of ABTA, the Coach Tourism Council and the Confederation of Passenger Transport. They are members of various Group associations including AGTO, New Meridian and Coach Tourism Association.

Head Office Address: 

Alfa Travel Ltd,   Euxton Lane, Euxton,  Chorley,  Lancashire,  PR7 6AF.

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Moscow: Magical Mystery Tour

Posted by Becca Hensley | Mar 11, 2009 | Food and Wine , Russia , Spotlight | 0 |

For a moment I am lost in a dream. Sitting at a hand painted eighteenth century table, in a gilded Damask chair that might as well be a throne, I accept a glass of champagne from a man wearing a brocaded, gold buttoned vest, buckled shoes, and velvet knickers. Venetian mirrors reflect two white wigged chamber musicians in elaborate party dresses. Their efforts at their instruments, a harpsichord and golden harp, turn the air dense with Baroque texture. Sipping, I channel my inner oligarch and wage war with whether I'd rather be Catherine the Great or Marie Antoinette, and it's only when I look up at the two-ton, dripping chandelier and the frescoed, cupola ceiling that I remember how Marie Antoinette died and elect instead to be the great Empress of Russia . Which makes sense"”after all, that's where I am. Russia .

I reign as queen of Turandot, the Moscow hot spot that took six years to build and cost a pretty fifty million to decorate in the de trop manner of Versailles where even the bathroom is a veritable chamber of ubiquitous Delft. I look down at the Bauscher custom made plates that sit on the table, take a gander at the Chinoise style décor that surrounds me and finger the Aubusson tapestries, before opening the extra large, gold-embossed leather menu before me. Maybe its my stomach growling or maybe I catch sight of my contemporary Ferragamo pumps tapping beneath the table, but I awaken suddenly from so much Baroque surrealism and enter the modern age. All those other diners aren't my courtiers, but Russian billionaires, expensively dressed supermodels and well paid government bureaucrats. And I'm merely a hungry tourist ready to gobble up some of the Asian fusion cuisine created by London celebrity chef Alan Yau (of Wagamama fame) in an over-the-top, faux Versailles, in reinvented Moscow. Whew.

Indeed, I'm not in Kansas anymore "“ not here in this city of ten million"”and that's the exotic allure. Moscow, for all of its European heritage and new found wealth, has not become heir to the homogenous world. It draws from its past while racing whole hog into the future. Delighting in its very differences and its contrariness, Moscow draws sustenance from deep rooted Slavic melancholy and creates, whether in excess or privation, an altered state of unreality that's mesmerizing to visitors.

Celebrating old world opulence and extremes, the Ritz Carlton Moscow is as intricate and elegant a gift to the modern day traveler as those Faberge' eggs were to the Romanov daughters. Hedonists will thrive comfortably here, but even those less inclined to enjoy lavish pampering will become converts. Who can resist doormen in tall hats with faces like Dr. Zhivago? Or, Frette sheets on feather beds in fulsome suites overlooking Red Square. Or, the meal of a lifetime, a Czar's breakfast that will set you back $700 per person. What's on the menu? A bottle of Crystal champagne, Kobe beef steak with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and truffle omelette; foie gras “Au Torchon” with caramelized apple and pain brioche, not to mention a selection of imported Italian prosciutto and cheese, Beluga caviar with blinis, sour cream and quail eggs, seasonal fruits, pastries, freshly squeezed juices and hot beverages.

Reigning essentially as destination in itself, this hotel's very opulence hinders guests desire to step outside its doors and experience Moscow. In fact, most visitors want to hunker down and enjoy every aspect of the palace hotel. Why leave when you can be treated like a Czarina within? And indeed, the hotel sparkles like a mini Moscow itself. Consider the convenience of a butler for every experience you seek. Most popular is the night life butler who personally escorts guests through the maze of Moscow's dynamic night life scene, ensuring entrance with ease to all the hottest clubs. Vodka drinkers appreciate the vodka "sommelier" who tutors novices and experts alike on the subtleties of over 400 types of vodka in the Ritz Carlton liquor cabinet. Gourmands revel in culinary ecstasy at Jeroboam, helmed by Heinz Winkler; a Michelin starred, German chef (though some high rollers swear by room service in their Presidential Suite's bullet proof dining room). Personally, I could spend all day in the Ritz Carlton's ESPA spa, marveling at its gold and black mosaic of crystals and luxuriating in a jet lag treatment that equals a full night's sleep.

My best tips for warming up? Swim with the millionaires at Chaika, a heated outdoor pool in the prestigious Prechistenka district. Though the thermometer commonly reads minus 15 (and I am talking Fahrenheit, folks), swimmers stay surprisingly toasty as they stroke. Afterwards, indulge in a hot chocolate at Café Pushkin, yet another fabulous restaurant by the creators of Turandot. This one, also just steps from the Kremlin, suggests life in a posh 19th century mansion. Popular with ex-pats living in Russia as well as Moscovites, the café compels with three distinctly designed floors, each a thematic treat: a library, a pharmacy, and an entresol.

Best Bets: Fly: Take the American Airline's new direct flight from Dallas to Moscow.

Stay: The Ritz Carlton Moscow www.ritzcarlton.com offers an Imperial Russian façade and a chic, contemporary interior. (Rooms begin at $1000 a night)

Eat: Try the famous beluga caviar and blue fin tuna sushi in the Ritz Carlton's O2 Lounge, created by celebrity Japanese chef Seiji Kusano. Try the blini at Café Pushkin (www.cafe-pushkin.ru) and the grilled Chilean Seabass in honey at Turando (no website available)

Do: Visit some of the metro stations, known as the people's palaces for their chandeliers and compelling artwork. Take in the Kremlin, the Grand Palace and Red Square. Walk down the Old Arbat, a picturesque pedestrian street. See the Faberge eggs in The Armoury, the principle museum of the Kremlin

Shop: Go to GUM, a world famous collection of shops within a 19th century arcade.

Souvenir: Amber jewelry, religious icons, modern art.

Galleries: For very contemporary Russian art, go to ART4.RU. To see more traditional work, try the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

What you need to know: A visa is required to visit Russia.

Travel Tips: Jet Setters Show Off: Style conscious travelers will want to take along a tote that triggers a tete a tete. Try any on of the Trina Luxury cosmetic and travel bags, sold at Bergdorg Goodman and other luxury boutiques around the country. We love the Kelly Weekender Stripe for chi chi trips and the Bohemian Chic Purse Set for artistic outings. $25 and up.

About The Author

Becca Hensley

Globe trotting Becca Hensley can't resist a good sale, a mysterious side street or a full glass of champagne in a local bar. Austin-based, widely published, she is Senior Travel Writer for Austin Monthly and writes for myriad magazines, such as National Geographic Traveler,Forbes, and Self. An expert in all things luxe, she knows how to ask "how much" in ten languages, revels in the inspired hotel room, and doesn't bat an eyelash when she sits by a baby on a plane.

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Alfa Travel   Reviews

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This was our first vist to Tenby

This was our first vist to Tenby, we found everythig first class. Our room was spotless the view was fantastic, all the hotel staff were very friendly and helpful, all the meals were excelent and well presented,and all the waiters could not do enough for you.All the Alfa holidays we have had with you we have never been disapointed, so well done to everyone and keep up the good work.

Date of experience : 22 April 2024

Reply from Alfa Travel

Hi Leslie, Thanks for taking the time to leave us such a great 5* review! We will pass your lovely comments onto the team at the Cliffe Norton Hotel and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Our first Alpha holiday

Our holiday was great as we were celebrating our Golden Wedding which was very special to us.The hotel & service was excellent really friendly & helpful staff with great evening entertainment.The driver was friendly and helpful.

Date of experience : 10 April 2024

Great Holidays with Alfa

Weymouth 8th April was wonderful,Hotel great. The food and choices were fantastic,couldn't fault anything. Service and the staff were brilliant. Newquay in February was also fantastic,Elliot Hotel lovely,food great. Really Enjoyed Eden project.

Date of experience : 08 April 2024

Hi Neil, So glad to hear you enjoyed the holiday, and thank you for leaving us a lovely 5* review. We look forward to welcoming you back!

Waymouth a great place to visit.

The company of fellow passengers and the location Royal Hotel, Weymouth. The majority of the waiting staff were amazing. However, I witness and experienced the assistant manager being very rude and very off hand with a number of people. The room especially the bathroom was not clean on my arrival and I cleaned the bathroom myself. I also found the driver very aggressive at times on the road and did not appreciate the hand signals he gave to other drivers which were visible to those of us sat at the front. I would love to return to Weymouth but would pick a different hotel.

Date of experience : 13 April 2024

Hi Sharon, We are so sorry to hear you didn't have a great experience with us at the Royal Hotel, we would like to look into the issues you have raised so we have requested some further information, or you can contact us directly by emailing [email protected]. Please include your booking reference.

The company on the bus made new…

The company on the bus made new friends, room was spotless ,service in the breakfast / tea left a bit to be desired,, but food was good , when it did arrive ,bar staff and prices excellent, travel to and from was seamless

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

We were self driving

We were self driving. The hotel was good, comfortable beds and very friendly and helpful staff. The only problem was that the water was very hot and very difficult to adjust the shower to a slightly cooler setting.

The Coach and driver were excellent

The Coach and driver were excellent. Comfortable coach, helpful and friendly Driver. Hotel and Staff lovely, good was excellent and enjoyed the Excursions. Rooms nice and clean, good service. Having some entertainment was great and courtesy drink was amazing. Booked another holiday loved it, thank you for making it enjoyable

Hi Rosalind, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a great 5* review! We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

The whole experience was great

The whole experience was great. The driver,the hotel, the food,the entertainment,the tours. The company was marvellous and we have made so many new friends. Alfa travel should be very proud of themselves.

Date of experience : 17 April 2024

Hi Pamela, Thanks for taking the time to leave us such a great 5* review! We are delighted to hear that everything went well and you enjoyed your break.

Spent 4 nights staying at the Metropole…

Spent 4 nights staying at the Metropole Torquay, Chris was our driver and he was great, kept us all entertained and was an exceptional driver. Nothing was to much trouble, had a great time, many thanks. Really good value for money, so nice to be served on at meal times, hotel staff very good .

Hi Cath, Thanks for taking the time to leave us such a great 5* review! We will pass your lovely comments onto the team at the Metropole Hotel and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Our driver Jim was great very helpful…

Our driver Jim was great very helpful ,hotel food very good staff pleasant ,I had a cosy room very good I shall book in next holiday I think trips could do with changing Rye was good but the wine place no good looking forward to next hols with you

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Hi Linda, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a 5* review, we are glad you enjoyed your stay with us and hope to welcome you back soon.

Kev is a top driver!

On our trip to Dunoon we had a brilliant driver (Kev) who drove very safely. He told us interesting facts about the places we visited and was always cheerful and entertaining. Our room in the hotel was cold. An extra radiator and a blanket solved the problem. We were on the top floor, hot water took a long time to arrive and was not usually available before 6.30 am. We really enjoyed our holiday and will be travelling with Alfa again.

Hi Peter, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so glad to hear that the situation didn't spoil your holiday and we hope to welcome you back soon!

A great self drive holiday to Porthcawl…

A great self drive holiday to Porthcawl despite the atrocious weather. The Seabank Hotel was comfortable, smart and clean and well equipped. Staff were friendly, courteous and efficient. Rooms were meticulously cleaned daily. Food was good and ample. There were Wilf problems with intermittent reception and sometimes noe at all. Overall a very enjoyable stay.

Hi Hugh, We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your stay with us at the Seabank Hotel in Porthcawl and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Everything is well organised

Everything is well organised, from feeder to hotel and reverse. Hotel was excellent with cheerful staff good food, clean rooms.

Hi Alan, Thanks for taking the time to leave us such a great 5* review! We are delighted to hear that everything went well and you enjoyed your break.

Great holiday

Great holiday the trips out were very varied and interesting. The hotel was very good, the staff very helpful and efficient.

Hi, So glad to hear you enjoyed the holiday, and thank you for leaving us a lovely 5* review. We look forward to welcoming you back!

Big Thankyou for a Wonderful Holiday

All the wonderful hardworking staff at the Shanklin Hotel Russell the amazing driver who went over and above felt so safe inthe coach Love everything about the trip Thankyou

Hi Mrs Salisbury, Thanks for taking the time to leave us such a great 5* review! We will pass your lovely comments onto the team at the Shanklin Hotel and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

The Waverley castle hotel

The Waverley castle hotel, Melrose, nice hotel , lovely grounds on the River Tweed, Our driver Ian, was always courteous, friendly, and professional. Edinburgh excursion was interesting. One of the best Alfa tours I have been on

Hi Ann, So glad to hear you enjoyed the holiday, and thank you for leaving us a lovely 5* review. We look forward to welcoming you back!

Terrible experience, never again!!!

Absolutely dire service from our coach driver who was a huge intimidating person! He was petulant, petty and liked to gossip about those on the trip. He would do this within the group members and hotel staff. He could be quite aggressive and misogynistic, he frequently made snide digs at anyone who didn’t please stroke his ego and made for a unpleasant trip for several. He frequently confused guests with chopping and changing his times on returning to the coach, as well as cutting short half and full day excursions. They charged several travellers single supplement when the hotel itself had single rooms and do not charge a supplement. This is disgusting and should be refunded, but I’m sure they’ll make excuses. The hotel they chose was dreadful and did not in anyway cater for anyone disabled or less able bodied. Had there been an emergency it would have proved fatal. On the whole the journey and hotel were dreadful and I like several others would not use either again, even one star is too much. Unfortunately, the hotel information is incorrect. The hotel does not charge a single person supplement as stated by them whilst I was there but which you heavily charged me for! And clearly you did not check health and safety, had you done you would not have put elderly and disabled people in a hotel ill equipped, the hotel manager stated this and that they would have refused the booking had they known. As for the hotel you’ve been emailed. In fact you were emailed about the whole debacle and have not bothered in replying! This just about sums up the incredibly poor service! THIS COMPANY IS TRULY APPALLING!…they lie and do not hold themselves accountable. Steer clear!!!

Date of experience : 24 April 2024

Hi Scarllett, having checked our records, it appears that you haven't travelled with us since August 2022, when you left an almost identical review about your stay in Harrogate. We did reply in detail to your comments on 31 August 2022 and we can send these on to you, if you can no longer find them. Our customer care manager also called you to discuss your feedback at the time. As we have explained to you, we do get charged a single supplement by the hotel you stayed at and we have to pass this on to customers. As a business we have over 20,000 holidays with no single supplements and we are always working with our partner hotels to try and reduce and eliminate these charges, however when they charge them we do have to pass them on to customers. As an employee owned business we take Health and Safety very seriously, we have an independent Health and Safety consultant who audits our hotels every year and all of our preferred partner hotels are required to complete detailed health and safety assessments every year. You say that the hotel isn't suitable for the elderly, however this hotel was owned by a well known coach operator for many years and the majority of its customers are travelling on a coach holiday. If you need us to re-send the correspondence from two years ago, please email [email protected] and will forward this on to you. REPLY- Hi Scarllett, we have double checked and we have the emails from Trustpilot that show the review was definitely left by your username. If you would like to email [email protected] we can provide you with this evidence. We have flagged this review to Trustpilot as it goes against their rules which require your review to be based on an experience in the last 12 months. we also respectfully ask that you only post factual information, as we provide ourselves in our excellent levels of transparency and customer service and we would never provide false information.

Royal Scotland

Our driver was exceptionally good his name was Bret and he said it was his own coach not one of Alfas

Date of experience : 15 April 2024

Hi Philip, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a great 5* review! We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Alfa experience

Hotel was good staff very friendly our driver was very knowledgeable and helpful and we’ve booked another holiday with your selfs

Date of experience : 12 April 2024

Hi Yvonne, So glad to hear you enjoyed the holiday, and thank you for leaving us a lovely 5* review. We look forward to welcoming you back!

Many miss out…

Very good overall could be improved ( in our opinion ) by having a system. Of central tipping because so many of the staff (who play an equal part ) don’t seem to benefit . We will be back it was very enjoyable thank you

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review, we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Shearings Mystery Weekend Breaks – Cheap Coach Holiday Deals

Fantastic Value for money Shearings Breaks

With the Shearings mystery weekend breaks you are getting three nights stay in a hotel based on half board. So if you break down the cost of which starts at just £69 per person you can see how good a deal these coach breaks are!

£69 divided by three nights works out at just £23 per person per night for accommodation, breakfast and an evening meal. Plus coach travel to and from the hotel to your chosen departure point. These prices are based on the lowest prices and per person when two are sharing a room.

For dates or to check availability of the Shearings Mystery Breaks > click here

If you don't feel that adventurous then there are still some great Shearings late deals where you can select your holiday destination.

There are 1,000 rooms of different categories in the Izmailovo Alfa Hotel: standard, junior suite, studio suite and suite. All rooms are equipped with direct-dial telephones, multi channel TV, fridge. Bathrooms in standard rooms have a shower. Bathrooms in studio suites, junior suites and suites are equipped with Jacuzzi. The standard room is one-room, the studio suite has two adjoining rooms, junior suites and suites consist of two separate rooms. All suites are originally-designed (two rooms are different in colour).

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Hotel Izmailovo Alfa in Moscow

• Special Diet Menus (on request)
• Shuttle Service (surcharge)
• Nightclub / DJ
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• Accepted credit cards
• American Express
• Izmailovskoye Shosse 71A
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• Important information

The three-star Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a part of the Izmailovo Hotel complex, which was built specially for the 1980 Moscow Olympics on the place of the historic Izmailovo village. During the Olympics the Izmailovo Hotel complex was used to accommodate sportsmen and visitors of the games and today the hotel is very popular among Russian and foreign guests - both holiday-makers and businessmen.

The hotel is located close to Izmailovsky Park metro station. It takes about 20 minutes to reach by metro such famous sights of the Russian capital as Red Square, the Kremlin and a lot of others attractions, located in the centre of Moscow. The guests of the Izmailovo Alfa Hotel can also find some places of interest just near the hotel: the Izmaylovsky Park, Lokomotiv Stadium and Kuskovo Estate Museum.

The hotel offers its guests 1,000 well-equipped rooms of different categories, a wide choice of business services and a variety of possibilities, which help the guests to have a nice rest.

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