Splendours of South America

We have travelled regularly with Cox & Kings as a couple and in family groups to wide range of destinations around the world. Their helpful and knowledgeable staff have organised first rate itineraries for us to destinations they’ve visited, giving firsthand knowledge of these places. It’s hard to fault their local operations too, they provide that essential (and seamless) support to their customers throughout each trip from start to finish.

Just returned from a two week Athens and Peloponnese tour which, with the exception of one hotel, was wonderful. It was made by our superb guide, Maria, who brought everything to life throughout the tour. She was outstanding. The tour was very well arranged except, in our opinion, the last day which entailed a northerly trip to Opympus to see what seemed to be a new site, before heading back to Athens. It was really too long a day on the coach, even though that was comfortable being a full size with only 18 tourists. Our view was we could have missed Olympus and driven strait back, just 5-6 hours. Anyway we loved the experience and recommend it highly. Very good value indeed. (Just change the hotel near Delphi which was grim) Our extra two nights in Athens was brilliant with ti è to see the War museum, the gardens, the Benaki(fabulous) and enjoy great self selected food. Happy to provide more inf to anyone Forgot to say the return flight, with Aegean was one of the worst we’ve ever encountered. Cramped worse than any cheap airline, even Ryanair!! Why bother all the fuss of providing a meal for an afternoon flight?? Save the cost and take out one or two rows of seats. The cost must be about the same.

My partner and I have just returned from a tour of the Golden Triangle booked through a travel agent in cirencester. We flew to Delhi on 10th March and home on the 22nd. It was a small group tour (15). Honestly it was a wonderful sightseeing trip. The hotels, starting at the TAj Palace Delhi was exceptional. Great rooms, service and food. The daily trips were very well organised by our holiday guide Mayank Dixit. He was a wonderful guide, took care of the practical element of our trips, was very knowledgeable about india and the various places we visited. His professionalism and knowledge made the holiday. He is guiding for a waterway tours in November, which we might therefore go on. Shimla was amazing. I worried about appropriate clothing re their modesty rules, but it was all fine. Just take something to cover your head and shoulders. Men are fine in shirts too. I loved india and, although the tour was busy, Mayank smoothed the way for us all. Highly recommended.

They had an itinerary to India online with no single supplement, I inquired about it and received an auto reply that someone would contact me. When I checked the very next day the supplement of £945 had been added. I called immediately to see why the pricing had changed and was told they update their prices regularly. Seems like a bait and switch. Will not book with the agency.

BE VERY WARY OF BOOKING WITH COX AND KINGS/ABERCROMBIE & KENT UNTIL THE ACQUISITION IS STABLE. We traveled with Cox & Kings to India in October/November 2019 on a 21 day tour. Because of their impending acquisition by Abercrombie and Kent, a lot of the hotels and transfers had not been paid for. No-one met us on arrival at Delhi airport, none of the transfers for the Shimla extension had been booked, and we had to pay again to stay in the hotel listed in the itinerary on the last night. My phone bill trying to get the UK office to step in was o £206.33. I was out of pocket by £440 and my family had a very stressful time for 6 of the 21 days, not knowing what was going to happen the next day. After spending £15,000 on the tour, Cox & Kings/Abercrombie & Kent offered me a £300 credit against another booking in the next 12 months. Needless to say I won't be taking them up on this. My booking reference was 171352 and the feedback (complaint) reference was E25BQF.