HF Holidays Reviews 

I have not yet been on an HF holiday but have just tried to book a late Slovenian walking trip on the recommendation of two friends. Ashame and surprising that even booking seems difficult. I tried to phone as instructed, got no call back but tried again later. Instead of a an informative helpful person a monosyllabic operator answered who didn't ask my name, only my post code. She informed me that all the dates in Slovenia were booked up in September. I asked why those trips are still advertised and apparently it's in case of cancellations - so they get to maximise their income. Why not make it clear that it's full and on a cancellation only basis? Why did I have to call and hold on to hear that? Very unimpressed. After this experience and realising that they basically rely on loyalty from previous bookers, I think their reputation and service is over hyped.

There are very mixed reviews about HF for a reason. Provided everything goes well on your holiday, they are fine. Just the same as every other holiday company. However if there are any issues their response to genuine complaints is appalling. Long delays in responding and then they dismiss everything. Other companies are much better at resolving problems, including HF’s direct competitors. What keeps HF going in reality is their unusually loyal client base, many of whom are elderly and seem to forgive anything and don’t try other companies. HF take their loyalty for granted unfortunately. I recommend trying other walking holiday providers and then judging whether HF are as good as they claim they are.

We've been to Abingworth and Holnicote House Selworthy in the last two years for gentle walking. The hotels are converted country houses, so I like them, walking good, people who guide you (if you do that) are good and kind, food plentiful and varied, with choices. Staff nice. Fellow guests chat. It's good.

I have to agree totally with all points raised in the review written by Chris Goodie!
Whilst the content of the holiday was good we were let down by our 'guide'!
It was the support within our group of people who didn't know each other coming together which made things work!

Review of Fjords, Fells and Railways holiday by HF Holidays. The basic content of this Trustpilot review was emailed to HF holidays on 14/7/26. A response is awaited.

1. On arrival at Oslo Airport, a guest had lost her luggage, and was delayed in the baggage reclaim. The tour guide did not think to phone her until prompted by other customers on the tour.

2. He proposed leaving her and her friend at the airport until other customers objected.

3. He couldn't get through to them on his phone and needed to borrow another customer's phone.

4. He never collected anyone's medical forms.

5. He doesn't appear to have recorded
a. A member of the group falling on an escalator
b. A member who suffered heart and breathing problems on a walk at altitude
c. A member of the group who fell and hit her head

6. He needed to be prompted by the group to return from the walk with the members who were unfit, appearing instead to try to delegate their care to my wife and me who were supporting them. He only took them as far as the train station but not the full way back to the hotel. He did not appear to understand his duty of care and his responsibilities as tour leader.

7. He set off on a walk without fully understanding the time that it would take or, at other times, accurately communicating the difficulty and appropriateness of the activities. The schedules were frequently and confusingly changed.

8. He seemed to think that it was acceptable to lead town centre walks by reading aloud the information that was on his phone. He seemed to have very little additional knowledge of the area through which he was guiding us.

9. Unfortunately, I developed a viral infection which lead to us missing the final walk. His only contact related to this was to suggest an alternative activity (I was spending the day in bed!). He showed no interest in my wellbeing. If I had become more seriously unwell, he would only have known from ourselves or other members of the group. He took no steps to ensure, or find out about, our wellbeing on that or the following day

10. Overall, neither we nor other members of the group felt safe, looked after or cared for.

I’ve been attempting to get an email from HF Holidays confirming my payment to them on 29 June. In spite of promises from various members of their team I have not received this and am becoming concerned.
Contacting HF by phone is no easy task as a lengthy wait is required each time. I’ve called them 10 times but still have no confirmation.

Generally was a reliable company but going downhill it seems. Spent a longtime waiting for an operator to pick up , asked a couple of small questions, was told they would be back in contact in 48hrs to clarify. A week later and despite emails and tel calls(gave up in frustration with one and cut off in the other) I have heard nothing. Lots of enticing adverts but with such an inefficient booking service they must lose an awful lot of bookings

This is my first HF holiday and although it was well organised in many ways Its not really my thing and so I probably wont do another holiday.
To start with Dolserau house is not easy to get to. Most of the 21 guests had driven there, 3 of us went by train to Machynleth , 16 miles away. To get to Dolserau, Dolgellau one has a choice. The T2 bus, about every two hours will drop you at a petrol station you are then faced with a 1.5 mile walk along a narrow, winding, hilly road to the house, one elderly lady did this, it took her ages to recover aparently. I got a taxi. HF supply two taxi firms, one of which has long gone out of business and the other didnt return my call. I phoned the house a few days early and was given another taxi firm based in Barmouth. She answered the phone and met me promptly at the station and charged me £55 which she told me of in advance. Another lady got a taxi but I dont know her details. I gather HF arrange pickups at other houses for those travelling by train, why not this one? Not much of a welcome really. They did offer to book a return taxi for the end of the holiday but despite saying she would book this on a Wednesday, the hostess took her day off on that day. Pickup details and taxi company only appeared on the morning of departure. By then I had arranged a lift with another guest, I didnt really trust the hostess to let me know the pickup details.
Dolserau is in a lovely location and has lots of wildlife to enjoy, bats, owls, house martins, sparrows, buzzards. I didnt like the external lights being left on at night, what is the point of that? I'm sure all this light pollution isnt good for wildlife.
Food was very good but I found three courses for dinner too much to eat, eventually cutting back to two courses. There was lots of choice for packed lunches but they did use excessive single use plastic packaging. HF bleat that it is recyclable, I dont believe it but even if it is , it is a sad fact that only 17% of plastic that enters the recycle chain is actually recycled, the rest is either burned buried or exported to be some other country's problem. Sorry HF but there is no excuse for using single use plastic. One can use aluminium foil, greaseproof paper or maybe everyone could use their own lunch box.
Days out were good with a variety of walks and destinations to see. I liked the slate caverns and the Osprey centre. Our guides were good as well though one was not good at getting everyone's attention and so I missed some information.
During my HF experiance I was twice pressured to join HF which I felt was akin to a double glazing salesman of old. I just switch off if anyone tries to force something on me. It does sound ideal if you plan three or more HF trips but at the time of my first pressure to join was before I had even been on the holiday so I didnt really know if i would enjoy it.
It was a good trip but I personally dont enjoy big groups which this was so I wont be going again. There also doesnt appear much space for singles.

I've been using HF since 2021 and a member since 2023. Our trip to Church Stretton 11-15 May was mixed. I'd rate the food, room, staff very good. There are however 2 major flaws at Church Stretton related to the dining room :
- a) the accoustics are truly awful. All surfaces are hard (floors, mirrors, windows) so the noise level at meal times in INTOLERABLE. Every person we sat next to had the same complaint. They could barely hear the person next to them and nor converse in comfort. My hearing is fine btw. I've never experinced a dining room with such noise before.
b) Tables are crammed to close together. What HF have created is a perfect place to spread colds and flu. We both returned with flu and I very much doubt we are alone.
HF need to soften the surfaces, spread out the tables and improve ventilation.. They have space in the breakfast serving area.

Would I return to Church Stretton - NO.

Would I buy another HF Holiday. Undecided. Certainly not near-term.

We have done a few HF holidays in both UK, Europe and further afar. We have had a great time each holiday. We are just back from walking and sightseeing in Japan in April 2026 snd unlike a previous traveller we had the best time with the BEST guide. She could not have been more helpful, the knowledge and love of her country , her ability to never get flustered and the fact that we were an awesome group made it all the more enjoyable.
We felt as though we were given a diverse look at life in Japan , we stayed in Ryokans , slept on futons, ate as the locals do, saw shrines and temples, snow monkeys, rode the Shinkansen and experienced a good mix of countryside and city life.
All in all a memorable holiday.

My walking trip with HF Holidays in the Atlas Mountains was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived in the beautiful Happy Valley, surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes, the experience felt both immersive and deeply enriching.
Over four days, we hiked through stunning terrain—walking through orchards, crossing streams along riverbeds, and enjoying peaceful picnic lunches under walnut trees. What made the journey even more special was the opportunity to witness the daily life of Berber families in the valley. It felt authentic and grounding, and at times, it reminded me of my own childhood—simple, connected to nature, and full of life.
Our local guide Omar was exceptional. His deep knowledge of the region, culture, and terrain added so much meaning to each hike. He ensured our safety at all times while also sharing stories about the villages, traditions, and way of life in the Atlas Mountains. His warmth and genuine passion made the experience even more memorable.

The trip was also very well organized. The accommodations were comfortable, and the meals—especially the fresh, locally prepared picnic lunches—were a highlight after long hikes. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to fully enjoy the experience . Our tour leader Ann was very caring , paid attention to all the details
I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys moderate hiking, breathtaking scenery, and meaningful cultural experiences. It is not just a walking holiday—it’s a journey into a way of life that stays with you long after you return home.

Just back from 4 day guided walking holiday at Derwentwater. To be honest, I don't know why HF have the low rating here. This is my second trip in a year and both have been excellent. This property is very comfortable and in a beautiful location with lake views. Service and food were excellent. Three great guided walks (the leaders are terrific) and some good company each day. As a solo traveller, these are terrific holidays as they offer social opportunities, meals included so no hassle, and lovely walking locations. If you want to be away from people, and don't like joining in, then these are not the holidays for you. But keen walkers who don't want any hassles - its perfect. And I have found it best to call the HF booking centre - that way you can discuss dates, itineraries and room availability to make sure you get what you want.

Considering this company is recommended by WHICH as the best one, after reading the negatives I wouldn’t want to deal with them.

I have had many good experiences since 1986 staying with HF Holidays both in the UK and abroad. However, I had a bad experience in October 2025 staying at the Peveril of the Peak (Dovedale). On arrival all the guests were told the hotel had to close the next morning due to a problem with a pipe that supplied calor gas needed for cooking, heating and hot water. So we all had to leave the next morning. I was dependent on rail transport. Mercifully the trains were running but the day I had to leave had been pencilled in as a strike day. Fortunately the strike threat was lifted. Had it not been I could not have got home. I would have had to book in somewhere else at short notice which could have been a problem given that many other guests from the hotel would have been doing likewise.

I have googled the question "how often do hotel guests have to leave a hotel because of problems with the power supply". The answer I got was that this does not happen because hotels have back up systems such as generators which can provide enough power to allow the hotel to remain open. This is not the case in respect of this hotel.

I spent Christmas at the Peveril of the Peak some years ago. If the same had happened then it would not have been possible to book in somewhere else at short notice and there would have been no trains on Christmas Day.

I got a full refund from HF in respect of this episode and £100 of my next HF Holiday, but my confidence in staying with HF has been shaken by this experience. Staying at a HF hotel is not cheap. I would have expected all HF hotels to have some sort of back up system in the event of power failures. I have never had an experience like this with any other hotel chain and I do not know anyone else who has.

Thank you everyone at HF Peveril for such a great holiday my first in 8 years. I’m so lucky I choose HF as you meet wonderful people including walk leaders. I can’t fault anything, my room, the food, courtesy just wow

I went on the Japan Walking and Sightseeing Trip in Oct/Nov 2025. Sadly this trip did not live up to expectations, varying from what was promised and feeling rushed and very over priced. On return I provided feedback directly to HF and it took them more than 2 months to respond. I was not the only participant on this trip to raise concerns. What should have been the trip of a lifetime was just so disappointing and I am deeply saddened I won't get that time back. Overall the customer care fell far short of the standard I would expect.

Tried to pay my balance on my holiday by phone on Saturday as the line closes at 1p.m.

This was very protracted.

I left a call back message over 30 minutes later still no response.

So I had to make a second call before the lines closed at 1pm

Finally got through before the deadline at 1pm to complete paying the balance.

Tried to explain my concerns to the operator but felt to little avail.

This is the first time I have booked with HF and I am a member but off putting experience for me to consider further bookings.

I have been an HF customer since the 1980's and have seen this travel organisation go downhill gradually. This December, we booked a holiday in Yorkshire in Newfield Hall amongst other things to celebrate my 70th birthday. The house was lovely and so were the staff and walks leaders. We booked the holiday well in advance and the trip information specified that HF offered a transfer from Skipton railway station for £15 per person. This was in fact more than the local taxi company charged for two people, i.e. £20. When we arrived we found out from the other guests that they had been offered free transfers, free alcohol from the bar and huge discounts on the price of the holiday. Apparently, HF management wanted the house full and therefore had offered cut price holidays (midweek and weekends) for late bookers. The amount some of the other guests had paid for a midweek or weekend stay was so much lower than our full week price that even when you added up a weekend and midweek stay the total price would have been lower. Incidentally, we were the only two guests that stayed the whole week. We were very disappointed that we had not been informed about the free transfer, and that we had not been offered the same discount on our holiday than the other guests. Moreover, because many guests were attracted by the free alcohol, the demographic was quite different and many people were not there for a walking break, but for a break with free alcohol and low prices. On my return on 16 December, I wrote a letter to HF complaining about this, but have not heard a thing. I am a member but am considering giving up my membership and most certainly, I will not be booking early for a trip with HF again, because the later you book, the lower the prices!

We have now spent almost one month trying to contact HF to find out what happened to some items we very foolishly left in our room at Nythfa House in Brecon. We have left voicemails at Nythfa House (no response), emailed info@HF and reservations@HF (one reply from Rakhee stating that she would forward my email to NH), two further emails since then chasing this (no reply), and phoned HF (no answer). NH had all our contact details on the registration forms so it would have ben a simple enough task to contact us. We have also repeatedly left our details on voicemails and emails, and have offered to fully reimburse postage, send an additional tip for NH staff and/or donate to the Pathways Fund. We are getting nowhere with HF. It is the most appalling customer service we have ever encountered. Such a shame as we enjoyed our stay at NH and we are new HF members who are now going to cancel our memberships. It is the first time we have ever left anything in a hotel room in all the years we have travelled. It was a stupid thing to do, but mistakes happen. Obviously, HF's policy is that if you leave any items in your room, don't expect to see them again.
A member of staff did get in touch following this review, but after so many weeks our property has not been located. We assume it was disposed of when the room was serviced after our departure.

After a number of attempts to speak to HF I did eventually manage to speak to them and book my holiday ( yippee!). This conversation involved me asking for and receiving a guarantee I’d be allowed to join the land transfer if I booked my flights from Manchester. Weeks later I have received an email out of the blue saying… sorry, you can’t join the transfer! Hoping the recorded message when you phone them saying conversations are recorded is infact true as it will reflect this absolutely unacceptable behaviour. There is no way I can travel to the hotel in time for the holiday now my flights are booked. Unfair? Definitely. Unprofessional? Definitely. Chances of them ringing me and having the decency to explain.., extremely unlikely. Shambles.