Audley Travel: Is The Luxury Worth The Cost?

Audley Travel is a luxury tour operator that provides tailor-made holidays based on individual preferences and interests. While the company does not claim to be the cheapest, its services don't come cheap. The cost of a typical nine-day itinerary to Athens and the Peloponnese, for instance, starts from $5,390 per person.

Reviews of the company are mixed. While some customers praise the company for its excellent customer service, others have complained about being ripped off. One customer, for example, paid £2850 for a 10-day tour to South America, which included a triple room and only four escorted day tours. Another customer was quoted £17,000 for a trip to Japan, which they were able to book themselves for £6800.

However, Audley Travel is a Which? Recommended Provider, meaning it has been recognised for offering a full refund or free changes if the Foreign Office changes its advice about a destination. The company has also been recognised by Harper's Bazaar and is ATOL and ABTOT protected, meaning any trip booked with them is financially covered.

Audley Travel's prices are high, but some customers feel the experiences are worth the cost

Audley Travels prices are high, but some customers feel the experiences are worth the cost

Audley Travel is a luxury tour operator that provides tailor-made holidays based on individual preferences and interests. The company offers trips to various destinations worldwide, including Antarctica, Japan, Fiji, Chile, Tanzania, and many others. Audley Travel's prices tend to be high, and some customers have expressed concerns about the value for money. However, others have found the experiences worth the cost, praising the company's ability to create exceptional and well-coordinated trips.

High Prices but Worth the Cost for Some

Audley Travel's prices are undoubtedly high, and some customers have been turned off by the expense. One customer shared their experience of booking a holiday to South America, which cost £2850 for a 10-day tour, including only four escorted day tours and accommodation in 3-4-star hotels. They felt that the trip was "ridiculously steep" and offered poor value for money. Similarly, another customer was quoted £17,000 for a trip to Japan for three people, which they felt was excessively priced compared to organizing the trip independently.

Exceptional Experiences and Well-Coordinated Trips

Despite the high prices, some customers have found Audley Travel's services worth the cost. One traveler shared their experience of booking a honeymoon through Audley, praising the company for creating a bespoke plan that met their exact needs. They highlighted the smooth arrangement of multiple internal flights and recommended using Audley for complex trips. Another customer praised Audley for their well-coordinated and knowledgeably advised trip to South Africa, stating that they were happy to pay for the excellent service.

Local Connections and Authentic Experiences

Audley Travel's use of local connections and emphasis on authentic experiences also contribute to the value customers perceive. One traveler to Chile noted that the price was not cheap but emphasized that there was "nothing cheap" about what Audley delivered, including excellent hotels, great service, and superb guides. Similarly, a trip to Vietnam included unique experiences such as a street art tour in Athens, a food tour in Nafplio, and visits to local producers and specialty shops.

Mixed Reviews and Varying Experiences

While some customers have praised Audley Travel for their exceptional experiences and well-coordinated trips, others have had mixed experiences. One traveler to Japan felt that their itinerary was poorly organized and did not meet their expectations. Another customer encountered issues with their tour guide in Hoi An, Vietnam, who they felt was unprofessional and tried to rip them off. These mixed reviews highlight the importance of thorough research and clear communication when booking with Audley Travel to ensure a positive and memorable travel experience.

Audley Travel has been accused of being a rip-off by some customers

One customer shared their experience on Tripadvisor, claiming that they felt "ripped off" after booking a 10-day tour to South America. They paid £2850 for the trip, which included Rio, Buenos Aires, and Iguazu Falls. The customer expressed disappointment with the accommodation, stating that it was only 3-4 star and Bed and Breakfast, which would result in additional costs for food and entertainment. They also mentioned that one day was spent flying back to the UK, reducing the actual tour time to 9 days. The customer felt that the value for money was poor and that they could have organised a similar trip themselves for a lower price.

Another customer on Tripadvisor shared a similar sentiment, stating that they felt Audley Travel's prices were significantly higher than what they could have organised themselves. They requested a quote for a trip to Japan and were unhappy with the proposed itinerary, which ignored their specific requests. The customer calculated that Audley Travel's quote was 60% higher than what they could have organised themselves for a longer trip with comparable accommodations. They felt that Audley Travel offered ready-made packages and was reluctant to deviate from them.

On Trustpilot, a customer shared a negative experience with Audley Travel, giving the company a one-star rating. They described multiple issues during their trip, including being stranded at airports due to flight errors and being booked into dirty hotels with bed bugs. The customer expressed frustration with Audley Travel's response to their complaints and felt that they were not adequately compensated for their negative experience.

On the other hand, Audley Travel has also received positive reviews from customers who felt that the company delivered exceptional experiences and offered good value for money. Some customers praised the company's attention to detail, personalised service, and knowledgeable guides. There are also customers who acknowledged that Audley Travel is not the cheapest option but believed that the quality of the services and accommodations justified the higher prices.

Overall, while Audley Travel has been accused of being a rip-off by some customers, there are also customers who have been satisfied with the company's services and felt that they received good value for their money. The perception of whether Audley Travel is a rip-off may depend on individual expectations, budget constraints, and the specific experiences customers have had with the company.

Audley Travel is a Which? Recommended Provider

Audley Travel is a luxury tour operator providing tailor-made holidays based on individual preferences and interests. Its well-travelled team will help you create a holiday to your specifications. All of Audley Travel's advisors have travelled extensively or lived in their specialist regions, which helps to explain how it got the most impressive customer score of any provider in any category, with 95% in the tailor-made holidays category. It received five-star ratings for customer service, accommodation, description matching reality, organisation and transport.

Audley Travel also finished top of the table of smaller/independent providers, with a customer score of 87%. It received solid four-star ratings across the board, except for transport, where it received five stars, meaning that it clearly dealt with last year's travel chaos better than most.

Audley Travel's services don't come cheap, but as a smaller provider, it can create exceptional experiences that are expertly crafted around your own personal tastes. That's why it's a Which? Recommended Provider for tailor-made holidays and holidays with smaller/independent providers.

Audley Travel offers tailor-made holidays

Audley Travel is a luxury tour operator that provides tailor-made holidays based on individual preferences and interests. Their well-travelled team helps create a holiday to your specifications, with a wide range of fascinating destinations to choose from, such as Antarctica, Japan, and Fiji.

The company's advisors have extensive travel experience in their specialist regions, which helps explain their impressive customer score of 95% in the tailor-made holidays category. They received five-star ratings for customer service, accommodation, description matching reality, organisation, and transport. Audley Travel is also a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP), guaranteeing a full refund or free changes if the Foreign Office (FCDO) changes its advice about your destination.

When booking with Audley Travel, your entire holiday is designed around your requirements. You can explore your interests at your own pace, selecting your preferred style of accommodation, and creating the perfect trip with the help of their specialists. All specialists have travelled extensively or lived in their specialist regions, and the same specialist will handle your trip from start to finish.

Audley Travel offers a range of holiday types, from African safaris to self-drive holidays in Costa Rica, and hand-picked boutique hotels and knowledgeable local guides are standard. They also provide off-the-beaten-track holidays and outdoor activity holidays.

While Audley Travel's services don't come cheap, as a smaller provider, they can create exceptional experiences expertly crafted around your personal tastes. Their holidays range in price, with a 12-day Hawaiian culture and eco-adventure self-drive trip starting from £9,245 per person, and an 11-day family adventure in Costa Rica starting from £4,600 per person.

Audley Travel's customers have generally praised the company for its well-coordinated, knowledgeably advised, and personally tailored trips. Many customers have also appreciated the company's ability to source unique accommodations and create seamless travel experiences. However, there have been some negative reviews, with some customers citing issues with incorrect information, poor planning, and unprofessional tour guides.

Overall, Audley Travel offers tailor-made holidays that provide exceptional experiences. Their specialists work closely with customers to create itineraries that match their interests, budgets, and preferences. While their services are not cheap, they offer good value for money, providing financial protection and flexibility in planning.

Audley Travel has been recognised as a B Corporation

Audley Travel is a luxury tour operator providing tailor-made holidays based on individual preferences and interests. While the company does not specifically state that it is expensive, it does market itself as a provider of "exceptional experiences". One customer review mentions that they felt they were getting "terrible value for money" from Audley Travel, while another states that "you can book elements cheaper". However, some customers seem to feel that the price is justified by the quality of the service, with one review stating that they were happy to pay for a well-coordinated, knowledgeably advised and personally tailored trip of a lifetime.

Audley Travel's commitment to social and environmental responsibility is reflected in its operations. The company has been carbon offsetting staff flights since 2007, with clients having the option to offset since 2009. In 2019, Audley Travel appointed a Responsible Travel and Sustainability Manager to further improve its social and environmental performance. The company launched its Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Framework in 2021 and appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer to drive its ESG strategy. Audley Travel has also reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than half since 2019 through various efficiency improvements.

In addition to its environmental initiatives, Audley Travel has developed programmes to support young people exploring career opportunities in the travel industry, particularly those from underrepresented populations. The company also works closely with the Charities Aid Foundation, allowing clients and employees to make donations to charities supporting the destinations visited by Audley Travel.

Audley Travel's B Corp certification demonstrates its commitment to operating ethically and preserving the communities its clients visit. The company's CEO, Nick Longman, emphasises that responsible travel has always been part of Audley Travel's DNA, and their journey towards B Corp certification has been a natural one.

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