Great Rail Journeys - UK Reviews 

I have travelled with Great Rail Journeys before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide was amazing with so
much knowledge at his finger tips. My next journey with them will be quite different, but I am confident that I will enjoy it.

Was offered an upgrade which was then denied the next day. Not good at all.

Everyone I spoke to was very knowledgeable on the cruises and excursions that were included.

Helpful people when telephoned. Great to speak to real people quickly and easily rather than struggling with websites.

Luke was helpful and polite from the start, and answered our questions without hesitation. Documents arrived promptly and correctly. All in all, a hassle-free process, with plenty of time for us to consider all the information and options.

Before booking we had a lot of questions and all these were answered by a friendly and knowledgeable sales people that enabled us to book our trip

Excellent personal service

Professional and extremely friendly service.
Thank you

The chap I spoke to for booking my holiday was very good indeed.

I had requested a heads up when a certain booking became available as a single traveller. I accidently spotted the booking by chance and had not been advised of single availability as promised. Fortunately I was able to get on the trip . Always a problem as a single traveller.

The agent was polite, friendly and professional.
My holiday was confirmed in a short period. It is unfortunate the agent could not give me information re flight supplements at the same time and had to refer my query on.

Easy online booking system, and quick confirmation.
Phone calls answered promptly, and very friendly staff.

Well as always i got good quick service

Prompt follow-up call-back on issues highlighted on the online booking.

Booking system was easy. Information given after booking prompt

Not up to usual GRJ standards. The trip was a 4 night “cruise”, at most, stretched to 6 nights, with an itinerary which felt contrived. The brochure description is unfailingly accurate, but misleads because of what is left out or is not explained.
On the positive side the ship’s crew were delightful, the cabins very well designed, and the meals good for us meat eaters.
The excursions were (mostly) interesting but not well designed. As an example, on at least 2 occasions (oyster farm & bull farm) we stood/sat (trying to find shade) through long descriptions in French which were then translated by the local guide of the day. In both cases an initial english overview by GRJ “guide” would have been best, with any Q&A then handled by the local producteur/chevalier.
We had travelled 45mins (at least, from memory) by coach to get to the bull farm, which was actually adjacent to the canal& we sailed right past it a day or two later!
Another destination & stop, on another day, taking a toy train to a beach added little for anyone who wasn’t interested in taking a (hurried) dip.
This is why I say the itinerary felt contrived and padded out to last 6 nights.
The indoor public space on the boat is extremely limited, and assumes outdoor “sun deck” (ie no shade, whatsoever) usage. Those unable to take full Provençal sun would be confined to the cramped “bar area” indoors.
Overall, not up to GRJ standards, but then, not really a GRJ holiday as the only GRJ element was the tour/logistics person who escorted us on the journeys from London to barge & back.
Another small (but important) detail was the lack of no-alcohol beer.
GRJ prices usually feel “about right” for the holiday. This one didn’t.

Efficient and courteous service provided by a real human - Luke.

Every aspect was great, accommodation, excursions, staff both at base and away.

Tuscany: Florence, San Gimignano & Pisa

Between 2010 and 2018 we experienced 9 tours with GRJ, all to Italy, and in those days reviews on their website were presented in date order. This enabled prospective travellers to get up to date opinions of others, whether they be 5 Star or 1 Star.

At some point, GRJ have changed their presentation of reviews to Star order. On this particular tour with currently 173/5 Star reviews, going back to 2017, you have to press the “Show 6 more reviews” button 29 times in order to see the first 4 Star review, and so on.

People are not interested in what happened in 2017, aspects of the tour have probably changed anyway. GRJ need to be more transparent, less crafty, and revert back to a date order presentation. I have made this review 5 Star – if it had been 1 Star, it would never see the light of day.