We were delighted to receive this wonderful feedback from a lovely American couple who enjoyed a tour in England with us recently. The tour was organised by Tour Group Planners in the US, and Janet Redler Travel was pleased to deliver the on-the-ground services in England.

Mr & Mrs Roberts

We just wanted to take the time and write about our fabulous England trip and how impressed and amazed we were with our journey and all the hard work you put into it.

Our plane rides were great. Leaving from Willard [Illinois, USA] worked well and there were no problems there. Paying for business for the long trip across the pond is something we would never regret. It was utterly wonderful and relaxing, even if we didn’t sleep. Then the connecting flight to Manchester worked out well too and it was pretty nice, especially when the flight attendant called us by name.

Adam from Optimum Chauffeur Drive

Having Adam at the Manchester airport with a sign with our names on it was pretty impressive. He was very polite and a very safe driver! He took us to our hotel and we were thrilled we were allowed to check in early. It was a beautiful room and the shower was absolutely amazing. It gave us a chance to get our bearings. We enjoyed our time in Manchester and I did get a chance to go to the Manchester City Library where they had six volunteers who helped with genealogy. 

Our train ride to York on the third day was a good one. Trains in England are so much nicer and the tracks are in far better shape than ours here in America. The people at the station in Manchester were very good about helping us find the right platform. Our walk to the Grand in York was short and we were treated very well at this hotel as well. 

Howard, our guide in York, was fabulous. He was a retired “copper” (his words) and very knowledgeable about the area. He took us to the James Herriot Museum, then suggested a place for lunch, then took us around to different villages. It was a pleasure having him as a guide. After he dropped us off, we ate at a pub (that was on George’s list of things he wanted to do) and the food was delicious. 

At the World of James Herriot in Yorkshire

The train to London was again a good ride, and we found a taxi to take us to the Rubens Hotel. The tea was fabulous. Our blue badge guide, Dawn Blee, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable and personable and just a joy to be around! Seeing the different sites, being able to ask questions about the royals and history and this woman knew her stuff!

We walked by Buckingham Palace and Dawn told us the best spots for different viewings, Westminster Abbey and Parliament and Big Ben, St. Martin in the Fields, St. Paul’s Cathedral – just to name a few spots. We enjoyed the tour and then she took us to the Tower of London to wait for our private viewing.

The Tower of London

What can one say except this was exceptional. The three different guides for the Tower and the Jewels were knowledgeable and one could tell they loved their jobs. It was almost overwhelming to see all the treasures! I guess the standing joke with all the guides outside of the Tower of London is to have visitors ask the folks there how much the jewels are worth because one will only get the answer of “they are priceless!”

The bus trip to Windsor, Stonehenge, and Oxford was great. The tour guide was my kind of person – Phil told us ahead of time what to do and what to expect so you could tell he was a detail-oriented person and that was wonderful! I’m so glad we did the bus trip even if it was a super long day and even more pleased we didn’t do the six hours at Stonehenge as originally planned. Just being there two hours was sufficient. I believe the tour company was Evan Evans and we would say they are top notch. 

Stonehenge

There’s so much to even say about Sunday… watching the changing of the guard was grand and we wound up visiting with two families next to us, both from the States. I was a little surprised that the band played music from “Mary Poppins” because I guess I figured it would be more military oriented.

Of course what can one say about the grand and glorious lunch at the Game Bird? The phenomenal service and the delectable food – we felt like royalty. Evensong at Westminster Abbey was glorious! I brought the program home to share with our pastor. 

The dinner cruise was a nice treat and it was lovely seeing London on the Thames. It is something we wouldn’t have thought of, that’s for sure. All of the hotels were fabulous! We enjoyed our meals. Everything was exceptionally well organized and everything came together and we felt so blessed.

All in all, we felt this trip was truly a trip of a lifetime and we want to thank you for putting this together so beautifully and well organized.

Debbie and George Roberts

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of England, please do contact our friendly team today.