AITO: The Association of Independent Tour Operators
Absolute Escapes

Absolute Escapes Traveller Reviews

Reviews of Absolute Escapes

Overall Company Rating
99%
Excellent 765
Good 21
Average 4
Poor 1
Terrible 0
Reviews Submitted: 791
Reviews Accepted: 791
Reviews Rejected: 0
791 reviews
Sort by:
Absolute Escapes by Bucks, 20 Sep 2023
Holiday Rating:

Thank you so much to Absolute escapes for putting together my trip

Thank you so much to Absolute escapes for putting together my trip, everything worked and all my hosts were welcoming. I had a wonderful time.

Thank you so much to Absolute escapes for putting together my trip, everything worked and all my hosts were welcoming. I had a wonderful time.

Rating for tour operator:

They did what it said on the tin! Very helpful on the phone and by email.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 28 Sep 2023:

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Jane. It was a pleasure to assist with your walking holiday and I'm glad you enjoyed Offa's Dyke Path! Best wishes, Katia Fernandez Mayo

Absolute Escapes by Thomas & Jan, 18 Sep 2023
Holiday Rating:

Shetland and Orkney self-drive

We just returned from our self-drive trip to Shetland and Orkney that Absolute Escapes arranged for us. We want to let you know how beautifully the trip went and how appreciative we are of the careful planning that Absolute Escapes put into it.

We just returned from our self-drive trip to Shetland and Orkney that Absolute Escapes arranged for us. We want to let you know how beautifully the trip went and how appreciative we are of the careful planning that Absolute Escapes put into it.

Rating for tour operator:

Everything, from the car to the ferries to the B&B and hotel were wonderfully planned by Absolute Escape. Not only were the arrangements flawless but so was Absolute Escapes' communication with us both in the planning phase last spring and our holiday this fall. Their written materials and guides about possible places to visit as well as suggestions about where to eat or shop were thorough and accurate, and incredibly helpful. We've used Absolute Escapes several time in the past for long-distance hiking. This was our first self-drive trip.They have always been professional, helpful, and, clear communicators. We look forward to collaborating with them on your next trip.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 20 Sep 2023:

Thank you very much for your lovely comments Thomas, and I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your holiday in Shetland and Orkney. It was a pleasure to put together your arrangements for a different kind of holiday this time. Of course, please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can be of any assistance with future travel plans. Best wishes, Jack McKenna.

Absolute Escapes by Jojo , 13 Sep 2023
Holiday Rating:

Absolutely Wonderful !

Myself and three friends walked the West Highland Way over eight days . Everything was perfect . Loved our accommodations and the baggage transfer was outstanding . And to top it off the weather was beautiful.

Myself and three friends walked the West Highland Way over eight days . Everything was perfect . Loved our accommodations and the baggage transfer was outstanding . And to top it off the weather was beautiful.

Rating for tour operator:

We couldn't have asked for better service from Rebecca at Absolute Escapes . Thank you for adding to our wonderful experience .

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 14 Sep 2023:

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Holly. It was our pleasure to organise your journey on the West Highland Way. We're delighted that you had such a wonderful experience and congratulations on completing the route! If we can ever be of assistance in planning future adventures, we would love to hear from you again. Very best wishes, Rebecca Meacham

Absolute Escapes by REES CLAN, 13 Sep 2023
Holiday Rating:

Shetland & Orkney - Superb Trip

Travelling from Kent , we flew from London Heathrow to Aberdeen(not part of the Itinerary) The holiday began with the collection of a hire car at Aberdeen Airport. This was a little complicated. The hire agreement was lengthy and would have taken hours to read the small print, so I just signed in hope! Disappointingly the agreement did not include breakdown or recovery, which was an added extra, probably hidden somewhere in all the small print...

Travelling from Kent , we flew from London Heathrow to Aberdeen(not part of the Itinerary) The holiday began with the collection of a hire car at Aberdeen Airport. This was a little complicated. The hire agreement was lengthy and would have taken hours to read the small print, so I just signed in hope! Disappointingly the agreement did not include breakdown or recovery, which was an added extra, probably hidden somewhere in all the small print. This was the ONLY part of our trip that disappointed. A six mile drive from airport to ferry, no problem and overnight sail to Lerwick, all seamless. Straightforward boarding process, allocation of cabin, all as set out in the itinerary, put together carefully by Absolute Escapes. There were so many highlights it’s hard to choose. Lerwick was a lovely town with all the amenities you would expect and close to many of the tourist attractions. The Hotel was great and fairly close to the centre. After 2 nights we moved from Lerwick to Hillswick we decided to do some Island hopping, the weather was atrocious on that day but we ended up at Haroldswick on Unst and decided to call in to Victoria Tea Room for a cuppa. Or that was the plan! When we got there we couldn’t get in because we hadn’t booked a table! (Perhaps worth mentioning to future travellers). Still it was a great day out and we enjoyed the ferry trips. Hillswick itself was lovely, the hotel, St. Magnus Bay was very nice, our room was outstanding, breakfast was exceptional and we enjoyed one evening meal from their restaurant, which was nice. There was a lovely beach which we shared with the sheep! Our transfer to Orkney from Lerwick was ok, we didn’t use the reclining seats reserved for as we found the seating area claustrophobic, very bright lights and games machines for the children to play with, so there was not much chance of us getting any relaxation there. We found more comfort and relaxation in the forward bar area. The Hotel in Orkney was beautiful, the host was very friendly and helpful and the breakfasts were out of this world! However, for our age group (70-75), it was a little far from the Town Centre, where we could only visit by car. Our Ferry from Stromness to Scrabster was fine, in fact we had fairly calm crossings on all our ferry trips! The holiday would normally end there but as we had family in the Glasgow area they arranged for the car hire to be extended for 1 more day so we could journey south to Glasgow, (with an overnight stop in Fort William which is somewhere we know well, not part if the itinerary) and returned the car to Glasgow Airport as arranged. All in all we travelled 688 miles by car! Fortunately there was no problem as we had no accident, bumps or scrapes and the damage waiver excess of £200 was returned promptly. The additional cost of breakdown cover was £119. Overall we had a fantastic trip and we thank Absolute Escapes for putting this together for us and making the adjustments as we requested with no fuss. . We would certainly recommend their services to anyone who enquires.

Rating for tour operator:

Initially came across Absolute Escapes from a "google search" as we new what type of holiday we were looking for and their website options seemed to suit our requirements, We found them very helpful from our initial enquiry all the way through to the final itinerary being put together, as varied by us. Many thanks to them.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 14 Sep 2023:

Thank you very much for your review, Alex and Carol. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your holiday to Shetland and Orkney. If we can be of assistance with a future holiday we would be delighted to hear from you again, so please don't hesitate to reach out. Best wishes, Daisy Andrews

Absolute Escapes by Ray, 25 Aug 2023
Holiday Rating:

Full of Lifetime Memories.

We were lucky with the weather, only 1 day of rain, which allowed us to take many picturesque photos / videos. The accommodation booked for us was ideal for our needs, adding to a thoughly memorable experience. Although a warning was issued to us prior to our holiday about the path around Loch Lomond, I think the difficult terrain at times around this area, could perhaps be highlighted in greater detail. All in all a most memorable and enjoyable ...

We were lucky with the weather, only 1 day of rain, which allowed us to take many picturesque photos / videos. The accommodation booked for us was ideal for our needs, adding to a thoughly memorable experience. Although a warning was issued to us prior to our holiday about the path around Loch Lomond, I think the difficult terrain at times around this area, could perhaps be highlighted in greater detail. All in all a most memorable and enjoyable holiday.

Rating for tour operator:

Friendly, helpful, professional, and I would recommend others to book via Absolute Escapes.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 28 Sep 2023:

Dear Raymond. Thank you for your kind words. I am so glad to hear that you and your group made memories on this holiday that you will cherish for a lifetime. That Loch Lomond stretch of the trail is extremely difficult, so well done for completing it! It's also great to know that the accommodation we selected for you suited your needs. If you ever want to plan another walking holiday, we would be delighted to assist you. Best wishes, Lottie Smart

Absolute Escapes by Jim, 16 Aug 2023
Holiday Rating:

The Dingle Walk

We hiked the Dingle Way around the Dingle peninsula in Ireland. Stayed at many wonderful guest houses, and had great food and drink!

We hiked the Dingle Way around the Dingle peninsula in Ireland. Stayed at many wonderful guest houses, and had great food and drink!

Rating for tour operator:

Zoe from Absolute Escapes was extremely helpful in all of the planning and our numerous questions and changes. She had excellent information on transportation, restaurants and sites to visit. Our group was a little large and she moved things around to accommodate us.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 17 Aug 2023:

Many thanks for your lovely comments, Jim. It's fantastic to hear you enjoyed your walk on the Dingle Way. It was a delight to assist you in planning your holiday, and we would be very happy to help you with any future adventures! Best wishes, Zoe Kirkbride

Absolute Escapes by The Cadamstown Rambler, 11 Aug 2023
Holiday Rating:

Carefree walking through beautiful countryside.

Walking holiday on the West Highland Way.

Walking holiday on the West Highland Way.

Rating for tour operator:

Their selection of accommodation, their itinerary brochure and their helpful hints for the holiday were first class. We did not have to worry about any aspect of the holiday.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 14 Aug 2023:

Many thanks for your review, Des. We are so pleased that you and Ann had a worry-free and enjoyable time exploring the West Highland Way once more. If we can assist with any future walking holidays, please don't hesitate to reach out! Best wishes, Daisy Andrews.

Absolute Escapes by MiriamL, 2 Aug 2023
Holiday Rating:

Glorious Great Glen Way

Walking this magical route was like stepping into a Faerie land. So many gorgeous paths, awesome views and moments of complete stillness. We loved the different lochs all linked up by the Caledonian canal. Laura, put together an incredible plan of lovely B and Bs, all with their own unique charm. It was such a treat to have all the admin covered in such a supremely professional way. Accommodation on the GGW is fairly sparse and therefore ...

Walking this magical route was like stepping into a Faerie land. So many gorgeous paths, awesome views and moments of complete stillness. We loved the different lochs all linked up by the Caledonian canal. Laura, put together an incredible plan of lovely B and Bs, all with their own unique charm. It was such a treat to have all the admin covered in such a supremely professional way. Accommodation on the GGW is fairly sparse and therefore hats off to Laura for pulling together such a brilliant itinerary. There was excellent recommendations for eating out which we made use of and this allowed us to feel in control of our holiday (important to us). Our legs are tired but our hearts and minds are totally relaxed and open. Exactly the holiday we needed. Thank you so much Laura for making it happen!

Rating for tour operator:

Professional, incredibly easy to communicate with. Managed to put together a brilliant holiday for us with professionalism and care for every detail.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 03 Aug 2023:

Thank you so much for your kind words, Miriam. We are delighted you had such a wonderful time on the beautiful Great Glen Way and it was a pleasure to put your arrangements together. I'm so glad it was such a restorative trip despite your sore legs and I hope we can welcome you back to Scotland in the near future! Best wishes, Laura

Absolute Escapes by Jim , 2 Aug 2023
Holiday Rating:

Everything was perfect!

2-week Self-Drive Tour of Cornwall & Devon in the UK

2-week Self-Drive Tour of Cornwall & Devon in the UK

Rating for tour operator:

Arranged itinerary, car & all accommodation bookings; communication & customer service was excellent.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 04 Aug 2023:

Thank you very much for your lovely feedback, Tim. We were delighted to hear you enjoyed your trip to Cornwall and Devon! Kind regards, Rebecca Meacham

Absolute Escapes by Bobc, 28 Jul 2023
Holiday Rating:

Great Glen Walking

We had a lovely time walking the Great Glen Way from the 4th July to the 10th July. Accommodation was perfect and our hosts were very friendly. Our luggage was always waiting for us at the appropriate destination making it all in all a lovely holiday. Thanks again for all your assistance. We would certainly use your services again.

We had a lovely time walking the Great Glen Way from the 4th July to the 10th July. Accommodation was perfect and our hosts were very friendly. Our luggage was always waiting for us at the appropriate destination making it all in all a lovely holiday. Thanks again for all your assistance. We would certainly use your services again.

Rating for tour operator:

Absolute Escapes worked with us to tailor our walking holiday to suit our timescale and dates. Nothing seemed to be too difficult or a problem to them.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 15 Aug 2023:

Thank you for your lovely comments, Bob. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time on the Great Glen Way. Please do get back in touch if you would like any assistance organising your future walking holidays! Best wishes, Tessa Kilpatrick