Martin Randall Travel Avis 16

I am vegetarian. We stayed in 4 different Paradores during our stay in Extremadura, so I had ample opportunity to sample the local cuisine. There was never a vegetarian dish on the menu. In itself this has never been a problem anywhere else in Spain. However, on two occasions there was absolutely no effort made to come up with an alternative. In Trujillo, instead of the sea bass with sautéed vegetables, I said that I would just have the vegetables, as I expected a selection of crunchy pan-fried fare. What arrived was a greenish brown mush of boiled overcooked soggy mess. Obviously I had misinterpreted the word “sautéed”. It was the same as the accompaniment to the fish, but I greater quantity. The second occasion was in the Parsdor in Zafra, where I was told it would be different. What arrived was a dish of peas and carrots, from a bag of frozen produce boiled up and with a little nondescript sauce.
Clearly this is no region for vegetarians. Having paid for good quality renowned hotels, one would think that an effort could be made to cater for the one or two clients who do not eat meat or fish.
Accommodation. As a twin share, in the NH Collection in Caceres, we were given what I would describe as a ‘double room for sole occupancy”. A relatively small room, which on further inspection was not as clean as it should have been and which had a shower which had to be hand-held, as the holder was broken.
Martin Randall is a fairly upmarket company, which is very much reflected in their pricing. Frankly one does not expect to stay in hotels which sometimes fall well short of the standard expected relative to the price of the tour.

This was my fifth Martin Randall Travel trip. They have all been good. The key difference with these tours is the fact that there is an expert lecturer (as well as a tour manager and a driver). The expert lecturer adds huge value. It's a cut above what you get even from a competent local guide with other tour companies. The expert lecturers are working academics who really know the topic and are skilled at talking about it in an accessible way without the dreaded dumbing down. The tours attract others with a similar deep interest in niche topics. It's good that everyone is on the same page in terms of their level of interest.

I’ve taken two trips to India with Martin Randall. Itineraries were well-planned and thoughtful. The various and varied sites of trips were helpful in exploring the range of historical monuments, markets, structures, and influences in India. The lecturers and the MR representative enhanced the experience. The hotels and meals were outstanding.

We have been on at least 10 MR tours since 2008. The itineraries of the tours we have been on are well planned and the hotels and food have been of high quality most of the time. The lecturers are also very knowledgeable, personable and work hard to impart their knowledge. Some tours like the Palaces tours of Venice, Florence and Rome are very special where we have visited places which an independent tourist would never have access to. My most recent tour is the Florentine Palaces tour and although I have been to Florence about 6 times previously, we were visiting wonderful venues that we did not know existed.
I gave a 4 stars because the back office administration of MR can be a bit of a hit and miss. I have made a few complaints over the years to even Mr. Martin Randall himself and they have been resolved satisfactorily .
I have booked on yet another MR cruise in October which says a lot about my preference for Martin Randall when I am going on a group tour.

You really get looked after on a MRT tour. Everything is arranged to make the holiday so enjoyable _ transport, entry to museums all sorted without fuss .
We have travelled with Michael 4 times now and his knowledge and engaging style enthuses one to learn and appreciate the history of western art.

"Essential” may connote "minimum necessary." Not at all with this tour of Venice, in the hands of a deeply knowledgeable lecturer, with a truly remarkable itinerary. Even those of us who've toured the city previously (most of us, I think) found levels of appreciation for structures and stories not found before. As always, the experience and perspectives of fellow travelers enhanced learnings all along the way. Kudos.

Carefully paced study tours with congenial experts, lovely lodging and good food. All one hopes for on a tour.

The Minoan Crete tour was a superb experience. Our specialists guide Christina Hatzimichael-Whitley has formidable knowledge. The Tour Manager Sophie Trend could not have been more helpful, Maria Ververaki the National Guide imparted information really well. All other people associated with our tour were friendly and professional. Accomodation was tops and all meals organised by M R were very good.

Well organised tour to Vienna. We stayed in a very comfortable hotel near to the opera house. An excellent lecturer who was an engaging communicator. A lovely tour manager ensured things ran smoothly. Included meals were in good restaurants with varied menus and helpful staff. A short tour - Vienna Modernism - but we saw many things and also had the opportunity to visit the famed Viennese coffee houses and sample the cakes.

Wonderfully varied, interesting and educational tours with first rate, friendly, academic specialists and local guides. Tour managers provide many additional extras and support if needed. Hotels are of a high standard and food and drink reflect the area visited and are always very generous.

This was my introduction to Madeira and pleasingly the tour was in Reid’s Palace Hotel with their Cipriani Restaurant adjacent. The location is perfect, high on the cliffs with spectacular gardens overlooking the sea and the interior likewise with lovely public areas and an outdoor terrace from the French windows. The breakfast, indoors or outdoors, on the heated swimming pools level had a great choice and fine service. Our en suite room’s SE view of Funchal bay including cruise ships was a delight.
The gardens tours by gardening architect Gerald Luckhurst, ex Canterbury, who knows Madeira and Portugal from many years working there was totally conversant with the flora including trees and local history as well as speaking the language and knowing local people. The gardens are very special and ranged from a specialist orchid garden to the very extensive Blandy garden high up above Funchal with adjacent hotel and golf course on top of the hill - the Palheiro Nature Estate 300 acres. The fantastic roads with multiple bridges and tunnels everywhere reflect mega EEC funding including the extended runway. The day walking tour of Funchal including the cathedral, town house, the market for fruit, vegetables and fish was well done. It was combined with gardens en route including the Presidential Palace public garden. A couple of people decided to retire after lunch.
The airport is modern. The last hurdle before the boarding gates is Border control/passports and time needs to be allowed for the SLOW QUEUE. That also applies to anyone in an airline lounge. The tour manager was very personable and tactfully ensured the schedule kept to time. He and Gerald combined to make everything work. The only evening meal which was not optimal was by bus to a fish restaurant where the service was unacceptably slow and the fresh fish not memorable. That needs to be amended.

One of the very best for cultural and history tours. I have traveled multiple times with Martin Randall and am consistently extremely impressed by the quality of their tours both in content and itinerary as well as overall tour organization. Their expert lecturers are top notch and their tour managers experienced and real pros at what they do.

I have travelled literally dozens of times with this company and the experience in every respect has never been less than top-class - which is why I keep going back to them. Please do understand, though, that these tours are for people who want to think and learn, not just to take selfies. On one trip, to Venice, a fellow-tour member said to me, after the first day, "Are you really interested in all this art history stuff?" If you could ask that question, then these trips aren't for you.

I recently was one of 22 people joining Martin Randall for its inaugural trip to Egypt. The lecturer, a UK-based educator and specialist in Near Eastern history and culture, was enthusiastic, articulate and always engaging. He led us on a journey that built up our knowledge of Pharaonic Egypt day by day. He was joined by a local Egyptologist guide, who complemented his lecture and answered questions as we investigated on our own as well as handling the intricacies of Egyptian bureaucracy. A separate experienced tour leader handled the practical matters and comfort of our group with a smile and good cheer at every point.

I participated in an Uzbekistan trip with them and overall was very impressed by the organization and quality of the site interpretation by an expert on Islamic architecture. Quite a few people on the tour had done prior trips with this company; it sounds like MR specializes in the entertaining study tour format, for the intellectually/culturally curious. Anyway, it was loads of fun, the other people were great, and I learned a lot!