Travel Department Reviews 

5,428
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.7

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 532 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the exceptional organization of every trip, noting that everything runs smoothly from airport check-in to daily excursions and transfers. Travelers also love the knowledgeable, friendly local guides who make tours engaging and ensure everyone feels well looked after throughout the journey. Some reviewers were not happy with certain aspects of the dining experience, mentioning that evening meals were occasionally disappointing or lacked variety. Consumers also pointed out that hotel food quality did not always match the high standards of the rest of the holiday. A few individuals experienced minor communication barriers with local staff or encountered occasional hotel Wi-Fi issues during their stay.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of staff, frequently describing tour guides and hotel personnel as... See more

Holidays

Clients share positive opinions on holidays, describing their experiences as wonderful and stress-free.... See more

Location

People report positive experiences with location, highlighting stunning views and convenient settings near... See more

Service

Reviewers mention positive feedback about service, noting that staff and tour guides are exceptionally... See more

Quality

Customers consistently note positive experiences with quality, highlighting that accommodation and food were... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We’re just home after a week spent in Lake Como and used the Travel Department for our organised tours. Our guide was Carol - all we can say is such a big thank you for making our holiday and all t... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our Trip to Lake Maggiore was an excellent trip. Travel Department do it very well and especially their tour guides, they are always excellent and really approachable, helpful, uplifting people. The... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great guides, fantastic locations and adventures, excellent planning and back-up. We have been on 15 trips since 2013. Only one disappointed and that was down to some unfortunate stresses with the par... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is our 3rd time doing Lake Como with the travel department and as usual the booking experience and organisation was exceptional. It's great to just turn up at Dublin airport and have everything... See more


Company details

  1. #6 of 11 best companies in Tour Operator
  2. #6 of 6 best companies in Cruise Travel Agency
  3. #2 of 3 best companies in Cultural Tours Provider
  4. #1 of 1 best companies in Sightseeing Tour Agency
  5. #7 of 14 best companies in Travel Agency
  6. #4 of 8 best companies in Travel Aggregator

Written by the company

We've been providing our customers with expertly crafted travel experiences for over 30 years. From hot spots to hidden gems, we offer guided holidays to 100s of destinations worldwide. Our holidays typically include flights, accommodation, transfers and guided excursions. We carefully plan your trip, so you experience the best holiday highlights accompanied by an expert local guide.


Contact info

4.7

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

5K reviews

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Replied to 100% of negative reviews

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4.7

All reviews

(5,428)

440 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful holiday in Namibia

Wonderful holiday in Namibia - spectacular scenery, marvellous wildlife, wonderful people, great accommodation and delicious food - great guide too.
Cancelled return flight took a bit of the gloss off. Getting partial refund.

6 June 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Hassle-free Holidays arrangements

If you’re looking for a hassle-free trip where all your needs are catered for, it would be hard to look beyond The Travel Department. Booking is straightforward, pre-travel information is clear, coach transfers easy, hotel check-in pre-arranged, informative and friendly guides, packed itinerary included and excellent accomodation.

2 September 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Norway trip 20-27 August 26

Thanks to Travel Department for organising fabulous trip to Norway.l have taken several trips in Europe with them and find them always reliable, consistent and well experienced.
This trip was very varied with carefully chosen hotels,well guided,punctual and wonderfully scenic trips and abundance of food on scheduled meals.
I look forward to future trips Anne Holland

20 August 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Travelled to Japan on May 12th this…

Travelled to Japan on May 12th this year. Though the trip was very expensive I chose the Travel Department because of their reputation. Due to the breakout of war in the Middle East we had to wait until very late on to know what route our flights would take. Eventually we were told that we would be flying to Japan via Beijing using Hainan airlines and that on the way home we we have to fly from Tokyo to Osaka, then have a six hour wait before our flight to Beijing and an eleven hour wait for our flight home. I rang up and said that I was not interested in spending two of the twelve day trip flying via China. I was told that it was too near departure time to be given a refund or an alternative trip. The airline was shocking,food inedible, service appalling and planes very substandard. We had been booked on Emirates and were given false assurances that the level of service on Hainann was on a par. Japan was beautiful but the trip was rushed because the guides tried to fit a twelve day trip into ten days. Hotels were lovely,trips within Japan very interesting but it was completely overshadowed by the awful journey to and from Dublin. It was particularly galling to find out that another traveller was given a full refund when they said they did not want to use this airline even though the rest of us were told it was too near departure time to get a refund. I put all of my issues to the company on my return home and I was appalled by their attitude. I was offered a 300 euro voucher as an apology and eventually the offer of a 300 euro refund when I explained that I would never be travelling with them again. The trip cost 8750 euros and they were offering 300 euros compensation! It is noteworthy that the trips to Japan now being advertised by the company have switched to Turkish Airlines instead of Hainann Airlines.

12 May 2026
Unprompted review
Travel Department logo

Reply from Travel Department

Dear Pauline,
As discussed in our direct correspondence we are sorry that, despite the many positive aspects of the trip itself, the changes to your flights had such a significant impact on your overall enjoyment.

As previously explained, the changes to the flight arrangements arose as a result of the exceptional and unavoidable circumstances affecting air routes through the Middle East at the time of your departure. We appreciate that travelling via Beijing, on the return journey, was not what you had originally expected when you booked your holiday. We did explore the options available to us at the time keeping in mind the proximity to departure and the availability of alternative flights.

In relation to the compensation offered, our offer was intended as a gesture of goodwill in recognition of the disruption and disappointment you experienced, rather than as an acknowledgement that the holiday itself was misrepresented or that the package failed to be provided. Alternative flights for other departures does not indicate that the arrangements in place for your departure were inappropriate. Airline arrangements can change over time as a result of availability, scheduling, operational requirements and other circumstances.

We value the confidence customers place in us when booking a holiday, and we regret that on this occasion we did not deliver the experience you had anticipated. We remain open to resolving your complaint directly with you, if you wish to respond to our last email to you. TD

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Travel Dept trip to Sorrento/ Pompei/Capri

Our 5th trip away with Travel Dept. This one to Sorrento Pompeii and Capri. Very enjoyable ,great guide Lorenzo. Hotel 🏨 up in the hills above Sorrento. Lovely terrace to dine on every evening. Day trips just long enough. Staff were excellent. We’ll be booking again for a trip or two next year

9 June 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Le Clos Du Phare Bleu

Location LLe De Re near Lar Rochelle.
Lovely clean roomy house and an ideal holiday home for a large group. There were 14 adults and this house was able to cater easily with the big group.
The location was fantastic and loads of restaurants etc.
All the bedrooms had en suite which was great.

16 August 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

All round quality

Great guides, fantastic locations and adventures, excellent planning and back-up. We have been on 15 trips since 2013. Only one disappointed and that was down to some unfortunate stresses with the participant, beyond the control of TD. Top of our preferences would be Budapest and Prague, Como, Andalusia, Puglia, Barcelona and Greece. High class travel venues and organisation.

26 August 2026
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No way back from Namibia

No useful communication when the flights were cancelled. TD Decided that flights over 2 days after original ones was a satisfactory alternative and told me there were no other flights, but I was able to buy flights home that got me back a few hours after the original flights.
No communication from Travel Department after I returned home. All communication instigated by me.
Had to do all the chasing for refunds etc. So some basic communication would be an improvement.

18 June 2026
Travel Department logo

Reply from Travel Department

Dear Karen,

We are sorry to read your feedback regarding your recent holiday with us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We understand how disappointing and stressful it must have been when your flight from Johannesburg to London Heathrow was cancelled by British Airways. At the time, the airline re-protected you onto what was considered the safest available alternative flights.

We understand that you subsequently made your own arrangements to travel via the Gulf. However, at that time, and continuing to date, the relevant travel security advice has been to avoid all non-essential travel to the region.

We are disappointed to hear that you felt there was a lack of communication and support from our side. We take this feedback seriously and will review our processes in light of your comments. Please be assured that we value your feedback and remain committed to addressing your concerns.

Regards, TD

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful lake Como.

This is our 3rd time doing Lake Como with the travel department and as usual the booking experience and organisation was exceptional. It's great to just turn up at Dublin airport and have everything organised with precision. Two of our highlights (among so many) was the exquisite breakfast in hotel Menagio by the lake and the Bernina express. We will do it again soon.

25 August 2026
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I travelled from Dublin to Bulgaria…

I travelled from Dublin to Bulgaria with a friend on 12th May - back to Dublin 20th May 20th 2026.we were arriving after and were told a cold platter would be there for us.- we were handed a brown paper bag with a croissant,a scone, pack of butter and jam. Also a banana,! The hotel in Nessebar resort ,classed a 5 star was a beautiful, bedroom very comfortable. BUT no kettle, minimum number of towels. No extras! There was a coffee machine along the corridor but the lights turned themselves off if there was no movement. I was standing with boiling water pouring into the cup and lights went off. - very unsafe.
Food was a disappointment - every meal self service. The hot food was not hot. More or less the same menu for two weeks.
My friend had a painful hip and could not come down for her food one day. I asked at reception if it could be taken up to her only to find out there was no room service. I was handed a tray, l had collected the food and carry it myself up several floors. I could not work the lift as both hands were holding the tray. A man who did not speak English came along and by nodding he managed to put me in the lift and push the button for my floor. I had to repeat this for each meal. Certainly not 5 star!!
The tours,guide and people were good.

12 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our Trip to Lake Maggiore was an…

Our Trip to Lake Maggiore was an excellent trip. Travel Department do it very well and especially their tour guides, they are always excellent and really approachable, helpful, uplifting people. The Hotel was a lovely family run, friendly, perfect hotel. Food was excellent. Bedroom was bright and airy and spotless. The atmosphere in the hotel was very good, the staff were excellent in every way. We really enjoyed the whole holiday.

24 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We’re just home after a week spent in…

We’re just home after a week spent in Lake Como and used the Travel Department for our organised tours.
Our guide was Carol - all we can say is such a big thank you for making our holiday and all the tours so very enjoyable! Your friendliness, fun and knowledge was amazing! We’ve never had a holiday before with pre-organised tours but this certainly won’t be our last! Thank you so much Carol, you’re one lovely lady!

12 August 2026
Unprompted review

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