written by Pumpkinsoup. on 29/09/2023
Very disappointing. No time to enjoy the Pousadas which are situated well outside Lisbon and in the middle of no-where in Amares. Often arrived at the hotel with an hour to spare before dinner. Food included was uninspiring. No choice but to eat at the hotel in Amares from the expensive a-la-carte menu as Newmarket had not checked the local place was open. Far too much time on the coach (5 1/2 hours one day) Up and down the motorway as Amares is situated too far away from Porto. Wrong side of the river in Porto, so no chance to sample the Port. Tried to visit too many places. Lisbon was a disaster, why not include a trolley bus tour?, which has to be booked. Trailing round back streets was poor as our Tour Manager was working off Google maps and limited knowledge. Note: This young woman was doing her best, she acknowledged she is not a tour guide...why do Newmarket not make this clear? We would never use Newmarket again.
written by howcross on 06/07/2023
The Andre Rieu Concert was excellent. The highlight for me was the guided tour of the sights associated with the Beatles. Our Newmarket tour guide had direct connections with people who knew the Beatles well. She had a mine of information to share and was obviously a devoted fan herself which made the whole tour compelling and full of fascinating and very interesting stories of the Fab Four. I would highly recommend the Beatles Tour to all Beatles fans young and old. If you are lucky enough to have our guide you will be in for a treat.
written by Shayla390 on 22/06/2023
Just got back from a Costa Rica holiday, by Newmarket Holidays, brochure stated a direct flight from Gatwick, waited until we’d paid the balance then told us we’d have to fly from Heathrow to Frankfurt, then from there to Costa Rica adding about 5 hours to an already 12 hour flight. Then we were expected to be ready the next day at 7.30 am for our first trip, the first three hotels were ok, but the fourth hotel was rather tired and outdated although it was clean, however the final hotel which should have been. A relaxing time on the Caribbean side was awful the hotel was really shabby and the showers really grimy and dirty, our evening meals were included but we had the same menu to choose from for all three evenings with three choices of meals, not ideal. All in all it felt as though it was all done on the cheap despite paying approximately £8,000 in total for three of us. Worst holiday I’ve ever had and would never use this holiday company again
written by Gallegoszu298 on 16/06/2023
Avoid! Avoid! It started well as indicated in my previous review of Newmarket Holidays (Jan ‘23) for a Holy Land tour from 11 May for 7 nights to Tel Aviv, Galilee & Jerusalem. However, the holiday total cost £2394 then turned to disaster. Over Easter ‘23 there was an outbreak of hostilities with Israel’s neighbours, Lebanon & Syria firing rockets at the country, & as well as rockets from Gaza & South Lebanon there was also civil unrest within Israel after Government announcements of judicial reform. At that time also, two young British/Israeli sisters were killed as was an Italian tourist on Tel Aviv promenade, with others including 5 British visitors wounded. Concerned about these developments I phoned Newmarket Holidays in mid April to ask if it was safe to holiday in Israel and whether I could use the money I’d paid towards another trip in May/June or beyond. The manager, called back to leave a voicemail that the tour would continue and that “as per terms and conditions” it wasn’t possible to transfer to another holiday, manager also sent an 18 April email advising that a Newmarket agent in Israel believed that. “normality (was) starting to resume within Israel” & “that we are monitoring the ongoing situation” and “hotels have added security”. Ok. So if I couldn’t transfer my credit balance I decided to continue - on the available evidence. Fast forward to May and I flew from Scotland on 10 May & stayed at the Luton airport Marriott hotel for my flight the next day. That day & overnight, continuing reports of another major outbreak of hostilities were incoming with bomb shelters opened, thousands of reservists called up & sirens sounding in cities including Tel Aviv. Additionally flights were briefly stopped from landing in Tel Aviv on 10 May, with several flights rerouted. Now, really concerned about my “holiday” I emailed the manager at 05.41 am on 11 May as follows: “As the situation in Israel has taken a decided turn for the worse in the last few days, are you and Newmarket Holidays recommending travel should continue? As you’ll be aware, it’s not just landing customers where Embassies urge extreme caution and open hostilities escalate, it is about getting them to safety and then getting them out of a war zone if the situation continues to deteriorate. This morning there are numerous reports of: - Tel Aviv: bomb shelters open due to multiple rockets fired at the area - Israeli residents running for shelters after sirens sound - rockets hitting and damaging buildings in Tel Aviv - Tel Aviv international Airport closed for periods due to danger to aircraft - updated travel advice (10 May) by FCO : “Updated information on the collateral threat to commercial aviation from rocket fire and the risk of disruption to scheduled services (Summary page)” I believe the situation is urgent, with a review required, so it would be helpful to get a reply this morning as my flight leaves Luton Airport @ 1230” Folks, I’ve still not received a reply to that email. Later, now in Luton airport and just before 10 am I called Newmarket on their given Tel number : 033016077707. I tried four times & it didn’t work. I then called the emergency number and got a representative of Operations. I told him I’d emailed manager earlier, was awaiting a reply, and that I was seeking current information & advice about the holiday. Later representative called me back while I was still in the airport to explain that the trip was going ahead and the local agent had advised the rockets were falling in areas I wouldn’t visit. I pointed out that my flight was bound for Tel Aviv Ben Gurion which, according to the FCO, wasn’t safe (indeed my intended flight, along with others, was put in a holding pattern off the Israeli coast that evening and took a very different and longer approach to land). I further pointed out that the schedule was to wait at this airport-under-fire for fellow passengers from other flights & that day one of the itinerary was a tour of Tel Aviv. I advised this representative that whatever their Israeli agent thought, my contract was with Newmarket & they’d sold me a “holiday” but landing at an airport under fire & touring a city under attack didn’t count as a HOLIDAY. He said he would advise Newmarket of my decision and that someone would call me the following day. I’m still awaiting that phone call. Now, 5 weeks later, the Luton Airport Marriott hotel has fully refunded me the price of my stay for night of my return and, for a small, fee I’ve rebooked my return leg Edinburgh EasyJet flight to another destination. I expect Newmarket will have managed to recoup my money for the Israel trip but they’re still holding on to it. In summary, this is an unprofessional company with nil customer service. If you don’t want disappointment & losing a few thousand pounds please avoid.
written by 349England on 23/05/2023
Just finished a tour of New Orleans ,Memphis and Nashville Representatives are a formidable team Everything was so well organised the tour ran like clockwork Driver’s driving is exemplary and an agent’s knowledge outstanding We are going home with some wonderful memories Thank you both
written by Tomed on 22/05/2023
Just returned back from the Outer Hebridean tour. Lovely tour of the Isle of Skye and Isle of Lewis and Harris. What a wonderful time we had made better by our tour guide and coach driver. Both very knowledgeable about the area. Would definitely recommend to anyone thinking g about it. Lovely hotels and excellent food, what more could you want.
written by Schofield2389 on 11/10/2022
I have waiting 3 years for my holiday of a lifetime with my family to South Africa, the check in details came one evening when I was at work, when I got home, I discovered all four of us were in separate seats, I was even between two strangers for a 12 hour flight, I used chat twice and was promised they would get back to me, they never did, on the 3rd attempt, I was told, I could pay for us to be moved, but not together, I phoned and waited 50 minutes before an advisor came on and told me it was my fault for not checking in on time, he offered different seats that I would have to pay for, when I refused, he changed the seats, but when I checked later, we were all still separate, it was 4.25 and he just wanted me off the phone to go home. I have emailed twice, but no response. I am so disappointed with this company, I haves used them many times, but afraid, I won’t be using them again
written by Sunday2002 on 14/09/2022
Having had some good holidays in Ireland with the company, looked forward to Swiss Alpine glories and had a pleasant holiday with good weather. Whilst we were aware that only 5 dinners were included did not expect the hotel to close down completely at 12 noon on two of the days. We could get to our rooms but that was all. No tea or coffee making facilities in the rooms so had no hot drink from Saturday morning until at the airport Sunday morning. Other restaurants in the village were a steep walk away. We were also disgusted to hear a row in the restaurant between the innocent tour guide and the chef, should have been done in private. Late arrivals in our party and other guests arriving on the closed days had to collect their keys from a box by the front door and find their rooms which were in 3 separate blocks in the dark. Having been using the village for,30,years I would have expected the company to have a better relationship with the hotel.
written by MCOLCLOUGH5 on 15/08/2022
Do not book with this company they take your deposit. We booked a holiday before covid that was cancelled due to covid. Each time we rebooked we paid additional costs. In total we've now paid £380 and had a holiday booked for india in November. However the evisa for UK citizens has not been reinstated and we do not have the spare annual leave to take a day off to collect a paper visa. Newmarket advised our holiday company in April this year that if it wasn't reinstated we could have a refund or change our booking free of charge to another holiday. It has now come ro the date to pay for our holiday and the evisa has not been reinstated. Our travel agent called newmarket and asked them to listen to the call in April where they said we could cancel or rebook free if the evisa was not reinstated, which newmarket have done however now they are saying that they have changed their policy since April and we have enough time to get a paper visa (despite the fact we cannot take a day off to get one) so we can't have a refund and if we change our booking we will be charged £75pp or we will lose the £380 newmarket have held for the past 3 years. They have kindly given us 3 hours to decide. Disgraceful company. DO NOT BOOK WITH THEM. She has just replied below stating that we have been offered to change the date of our holiday to india. However in April when the advisor from hayes travel contacted newmarket because I was concerned about the withdrawal of the evisa for British tourists, he was assured by newmarket that if the evisa wasn't reinstated the holiday would be cancelled and we could change to a new holiday free of charge or have a refund and we needed to wait until just before we were due to pay on 20th August and he would approach mewmarket again. He contacted them on Friday, Saturday and today and they told him they've changed their policy and we need to get a paper visa (3 times the cost of an evisa plus a day off work which we don't have) Newmarket have listened to the phone calls he made to them and even though they had advised him in April that if the evisa wasnt reinstated thst we could have a refund( and he emailed me to confirm this) newmarket have now told him today that they have changed their policy and if we don't like it we will can cancel and lose our £380 deposit, or pay £75pp to book a different holiday and we have till 5pm on 18th Aug to decide or we lose our deposit ( despite the fact we aren't due to pay until 20th August! Every piece of paperwork from Newmarket that we have states we can apply for an evisa with no mention of a paper visa. WE WOULD NOT HAVE BOOKED THIS HOLIDAY IF WE HAD TO GET A PAPER VISA. All we want is to have the refund of £380 we were promised in April when he spoke to Newmarket holidays. Weve only been offered the opportunity to transfer to a different holiday if we pay another £150. COME ON MEWMARKET HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE??
written by Bronski1551 on 11/10/2021
Booked the best of Scottish Highlands with Newmarket Holidays cost £1948 The Carrbridge Hotel was shocking they stated deep cleaning we found socks and food under the bed The meals were worse than school dinners thought there was a plate of faggots it was sticky toffee pudding the Christmas pudding looked like faggots we ate in the hotel next door and paid for this along with others from the Carrbridge The Day before we were due to leave the rep gave us envelopes to put money in for himself and the driver We would have given him a tip any way he then asked us to tip the hotel staff {most of them were grumpy} We have had Holidays with Newmarket many times all excellent all recommended never again some people on the same Holiday same flights paid far less than us and same complaints
written by JT090964 on 15/10/2019
We paid over the odds considering what Shearings are charging for a longer holiday , flights with Jet 2 and half board , with all tours escorted. we had Ryanair so extra cost for carry on cabin bags , and no inflight entertainment . The hotel was clean but very basic but in a good location , breakfast continental style and repetitive you only get B+B for the same money with Newmarket. The 3 tours only one was escorted the others were simply theres a map see you later . Really one of the worst organised holidays we have been on and we used Newmarket for the last 4 years , but never again Just booked next holiday with Shearings see how they do . I wouldent Newmarket recommend then to anyone, seemsnow profit comes before giving customers value for money!
written by PaulTidey on 07/10/2019
We loved pretty much everything about the Belfast & Titanic Experience trip in Sept 2019. Newmarket made the booking and all communication easy, the Ibis hotel was good (even though the breakfast 'hot' food could have been hotter!). Our tour guide & driver were excellent and we enjoyed all the information, banter & jokes throughout the trips to the Titanic Experience and Giant's Causeway, plus City tour & nice coastal scenic drives. The organisation and execution of the Itinerary were very good, with sufficient time at each venue. All in all, a very enjoyable experience which we thank Newmarket and all involved for.
written by Winniepooh1 on 16/07/2019
Travelled 13th July to schipol airport met Newmarket travel reps nothing was to much trouble got on coach our rep was very informative journey to nobis asten hotel very comfortable beds to comfortable breakfast very plentiful on coach at 13.00 again A very informative as was our lady driver all Newmarket staff very visible during the day and helpful concert amazing return journey very efficient as was journey back to airport next morning a very enjoyable all round thank you
written by MaggieBlackmore1 on 07/07/2019
I went to see Andre Rieu in Holland with new market between the 4th July 2019 and the 6th July 2019. I have been going now for 5 years and the hotels I have stayed at in the city before, They have been brilliant but this tip was the worst hotel I have stayed in. We got to the hotel at around 11:00 and we was all hot due to the coach having no air conditioning. The hotel was in the middle of nowhere unlike the others I have stayed in. When we arrived there all hot and tired we was ready to check in, we was told our rooms where not ready so we waited. I asked for a coffee but was told there was no coffee machine around. so I had a Orange juice instead. When I finally checked in I went to my room to have the shock of my life again no air conditioning one of the hottest times of the year. In the evening I went down to get some thing to eat. like all the other hotels I stayed in there was a buffet and another menu of food that can be prepared, but I was shocked as there was no other choice. I was told there was a few restaurants down the road & and staff of the hotel would book me a taxi. So me and 2 other people shared a taxi. when we got to the restaurants we was in for another shock 40 euros for a 10 minute ride each way beware. Only one member of the staff that I found could speak any English. I must say they ONLY good thing was the breakfast. The worst thing in the world is that i wanted to go twice and I booked up for next weekend again 13th July. This is the first time I have been thinking about booking with an other company. I tired to talk to the rep about the hotel and all she said was this the hotel you have and that's it.. What has happened new market. This is not like you.........
written by VonCorner on 13/03/2019
Unfortuantely after much deliveration I have with a heavy heart decided to post this review of Newmarket holidays as its important to warn others of what could be waiting for them. We went on what was described as a 10 day tiger and taj Mahal tour. Yes we got to se the tigers and the Taj was magnificent. Unfortunately a 10 day tour was actually 7 days with one of the 'nights' being defined as a 06:00 arrival at the hotel. We booked as it was a direct flight from Manchester to Dheli but that was changed to Abu Dhabi. We were sent a letter informing us of a 5* stay in a Dheli hotel the night before the flight. This proved to be untrue. The final straw? We were taken to Shree Carpets and Textiles Where I was misold a carpet. Informed the vendor of the price I could afford to pay. Iasked if the price included all taxes and was told it did. Upon delivery I was asked to pay UK import taxes - surelya mistake. I contacted Shree carpets only to be told that i had agreed to pay the import taxes. This wa snot the case. The misled and misold the carpet so I did not take delivery and it was retured. I am STILL waiting for a refund nearly 5 months later as they continue to be in dispute with my credit card company. please beware and DO NOT travel with this company.
written by Placky on 05/02/2019
We (a party of 4) went on the Rhine Christmas Market River Cruise. It was sold to us as a 4 day cruise, Pah don't believe it. We had a full 2 days on the boat!!!!! We arrived at Frankfurt airport at about 11.30, it was a 1 1/2 hr transfer to the boat. We thought we would have time to have a few drinks,(as we were on the all inclusive package) relax and get changed before our evening meal. Oh no, we were all driven in to the centre of Frankfurt to the Christmas market. All very nice but this was not on the itinerary at all. Unfortunately there were people with us with poor mobility, they had to sit in a cafe for 4 hours until the bus came back to pick us up!!!!! The bus returned 25 minutes late, it was full with more people. We had to hang around for 4 hours so that they could collect more people from the airport and make one trip!!!! Again we were not informed of any of this. The transfer should have been 90 minutes, it took over 3 hours to get there, the bus driver got lost!!! We did not get on the boat till 20.00, we had no time to change or get refreshed but were just rushed in to the dining room to be fed. The food and service was very good, could not fault it. We raised our query with the Newmarket manager but she did not seem too bothered. On the last day of the cruise, we had to have breakfast before 08.00 and we had to be packed and out of our cabins by 08.30!!! We were then told to stay on the boat until 10.00 until a bus would collect us to take us to the car park. During this period the bar / kitchens were closed so would could not have any refreshments (even though we were all inclusive) At 9.15 we were getting board and asked the Newmarket manager where the car park was going to be so we could meet there later. To our dismay, she took us on to the deck of the boat and pointed to the car park about 200m away. What was the point in waiting all this time!!! so we left and went in to the town. We found the boat, staff and time on the boat very enjoyable, The bad side was Newmarkets organisation and the mis selling of the cruise as a 4 day cruise (which you think you would have on the boat) not a 2 day cruise. We have written to Newmarket to complain and we did receive a standard response letter back which did not really explain matters. Not really acceptable for £690.00 each !!!!!!!!!!! Certainly not value for money.
written by Lanaj on 16/11/2018
Earlier today I booked a cruise with Newmarket Travel using their website. The booking was accepted and my credit card payment was accepted. Shortly after this I received a phone call from a representative presumable at their telephone centre, and was promptly informed that there had been a 'glitch' in the system and there was no availibility in the category I had booked. The booking had been made for a single occupancy cabin which is charged at the share basis rate plus a 50% supplement which is bad enough in itself. I was a trifle concerned about this 'glitch' - the price and the fare were clear on the website - so I asked if it would be possible to book a double cabin for one person knowing that the single cabins were doubles put to single use. Now I do not know what status this person was but I don't think he was one of the usual operators because he said he would have to call me back whereas the operators can tell you immediately from their screen what is available. A few minutes later he came back saying he could book me into a double cabin at the cost of two people. Already as a single traveller the fare was £700 higher than for a person sharing. I then raised the issue that according to contract law once they had accepted my payment - and they had accepted that - they had entered into a contract, and that given that the single occupancy rooms were exactly the same of the double that they were obliged to fulfil the contract and provide me with a cabin at the rate I contracted. With this, the person, a man, became extremely aggressive and threatened not to book me in to his alternative offer. He also said that contract law was 'different' for travel contracts. Given the totally unnecessary aggressiveness of this response I told him I was not going to pay the extra. If this company was half-way decent it would own up to its mistake and make available a cabin a the contracted price even if it was outside their single occupancy quota. Their advertising was misleading and the system permitted the booking and the payment - two 'glitches' in fact. The operator had to be one of the most offensive people I have dealt with and I will be submitting a complaint to the company and to ABTA. The combination of their system failure and the offensive response is totally unacceptable.
written by Rileyhg406 on 31/10/2018
Great trip through the Peak District, stopped in Bakewell for a look around and then off to the hotel, the next day it was a trip on the steam train, a cruise on Lake Windermere and then time to explore Bowness and Ambelside. On our way home we stopped in Chester and spent time wandering around the city. Our tour manager, Wyn was very informative and friendly. Always had a big smile on his face and nothing was any trouble. Our driver, Marshal, was also great, again nothing was any trouble and he was always smiling. The coach was very comfortable. The hotel was a good choice as well, food was lovely and piping hot!
written by ClaudeSmart on 08/10/2018
A well planned, well run 8 day touring holiday. Hotel Ibis Carcassonne Est La Cite was clean, very small rooms & limited seating in the bar area. Food was satisfactory, but very limited menu; Staff very helpful & friendly. Hotel location 30 min. walk from the City - not good!! Tour Manager was first class, he ran the weeks tours to perfection; very informative, took great trouble to ensure everyone was getting the best from their holiday - well done. Coaches were to a very high standard - as was the Driver. Well done Newmarket - goon value for money- we will book with you again.
written by Catherine09 on 24/09/2018
I went on the Lake Garda holiday 12th-19th. Sept. All went well until we arrived at Milan Malpesne airport. There was an old " clapped-out" mini bus, with a trailer for the luggage, waiting to take us to the various hotels. There was only one single seat left when I got on, which was right over the hub of the wheel. consequently, I was left crammed into the back seat for our 4hr.journey !! This transfer is not at all suitable. !!
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Jford21's Response to Sunday2002's Review
Written on: 26/09/2022
This sounds familiar! Just returned and we had a similar experience.