AITO: The Association of Independent Tour Operators
Absolute Escapes

Absolute Escapes Traveller Reviews

Reviews of Absolute Escapes

Overall Company Rating
99%
Excellent 729
Good 20
Average 4
Poor 1
Terrible 0
Reviews Submitted: 754
Reviews Accepted: 754
Reviews Rejected: 0
754 reviews
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Absolute Escapes by Fia, 3 Aug 2015
Holiday Rating:

The holiday was fanstatic and it and was up to all expectations

Varied hiking in beautiful nature. Met many other nice hikers during the trek and we was well received at the pre-booked lodging. The baggage was always there when you arrived. We don't have any claims at all. We would strongly recommend this travel.

Varied hiking in beautiful nature. Met many other nice hikers during the trek and we was well received at the pre-booked lodging. The baggage was always there when you arrived. We don't have any claims at all. We would strongly recommend this travel.

Rating for tour operator:

Great information sent before the trip , both book and map was very useful. No problem with getting answers to questions before the trip. Good information even about accommodation and tips regarding food and attractions.

Absolute Escapes by Dag, 2 Aug 2015
Holiday Rating:

Enjoyable walks in changing landscape and weather.

We appreciated the variation in types of accommodations from B&Bs to old Inns. The Drovers Inn with its authentic atmosphere and the Edencoille Guest House in Kinlochleven with its delicious breakfast were great experiences. The changing scenery along the route made the walking enjoyable, and each day a unique experience from lush forests to open moors. Rather cold and changing weather made the walks a bit more challenging and the breaks shorter...

We appreciated the variation in types of accommodations from B&Bs to old Inns. The Drovers Inn with its authentic atmosphere and the Edencoille Guest House in Kinlochleven with its delicious breakfast were great experiences. The changing scenery along the route made the walking enjoyable, and each day a unique experience from lush forests to open moors. Rather cold and changing weather made the walks a bit more challenging and the breaks shorter.

Rating for tour operator:

We had a very good communication with our operator, and they tailored the tour according to our needs and expectations. Receiving the West Highland Way guide including a very good and detailed map before starting the holiday was very useful. The itinerary gave a very good overview of each day including the accommodations and how to get there. We highly recommend Absolute Escapes.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 05 Aug 2015:

Thank you very much for your review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your walking holiday along the West Highland Way, and we will be sure to pass on your comments to Elsie at Edencoille Guest House about her legendary breakfast! Our team were so pleased to read that you would highly recommend us, and please do let us know if we can ever tempt you back to the UK from Norway for another walking adventure. Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by A McNeill, 31 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Smooth arrangements, diverse attractions, MUSIC & DANCE

Mostly Highlands and Islands which delivered in all categories. Great variety of lodging, including stays at manor houses. Our companions were New Yorker gourmets who were always impressed by the cuisine in Scotland.

Mostly Highlands and Islands which delivered in all categories. Great variety of lodging, including stays at manor houses. Our companions were New Yorker gourmets who were always impressed by the cuisine in Scotland.

Rating for tour operator:

He customized our trip, communicating with us over months of advanced planning. He helped us reconcile multiple legs of car rentals with the vagaries of our schedule. We took 9 ferries, all of which were pre-arranged. He provided us with an activity menu for each of our stops. He picked personable lodging managers who apprised us of ongoing events, including the European Piping Championships in Forress. We had a few late arrival times which were flexibly managed by our hosts. When we wanted a down day, all our lodgings had inviting sitting rooms where we could interact with other guests. We could communicate with him readily, usually be email, but by cell phone too, when time was of the essence.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 05 Aug 2015:

Thank you for your comments about your holiday, John. We really appreciate you taking the time to review your trip and were delighted to hear that you enjoyed the itinerary and accommodation that we selected for you. Scotland certainly has some wonderful cuisine, and with this being the Year of Food and Drink it was the perfect time for some New York Gourmets to visit! If we can ever entice you back please don't hesitate to contact us again. Andy Gabe

Absolute Escapes by travelling hillburys, 31 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Challenging walk with great support

Very lucky with weather - no rain in five days. Perfect walk for unexperienced group. Challenging in 4 days - 25 km per day, probaly ideal in 5 days. The way was easy to follow. In 100 km we got lost due to unclear marking two times (not more than 15 mins delay due to good maps). The close up map was essential though.

Very lucky with weather - no rain in five days. Perfect walk for unexperienced group. Challenging in 4 days - 25 km per day, probaly ideal in 5 days. The way was easy to follow. In 100 km we got lost due to unclear marking two times (not more than 15 mins delay due to good maps). The close up map was essential though.

Rating for tour operator:

Worked just fine with bookings of really nice accomodation; transport of luggage etc. All information in the package on the walk itself was accurate. As newcomers, we would have appreciated more details on "how to get there" and "how to get back", where to find buses, taxi etc. If it is tailor-made, it should be tailormade for us!

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 03 Aug 2015:

Thank you very much for your feedback on the St Cuthbert's Way. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your walk, and that all of your accommodation and baggage transfer arrangements were to your satisfaction. We appreciate you taking the time to review us, and please don't hesitate to let us know if we can ever tempt the seven of you back for another walking adventure! Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by Sebastien, 29 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Good food, nice B&B's, poor weather ;-)

Good food, nice B&B's with very nice hosts, beautiful Speyside and Trossachs NP, poor weather ;-)

Good food, nice B&B's with very nice hosts, beautiful Speyside and Trossachs NP, poor weather ;-)

Rating for tour operator:

Very kind and flexible. They took ours wishes into account.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 03 Aug 2015:

A huge thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We hope that the poor weather didn't detract too much from the beautiful Highland and Island scenery, and we are pleased that you enjoyed your accommodation and the Scottish cuisine. Please let us know if we can ever tempt you back to explore more of Scotland - we'd be delighted to help! Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by Jerommeke, 28 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Great walking holiday in the English countryside.

Great walking holiday in the English countryside and a few days in magnificent Bath.

Great walking holiday in the English countryside and a few days in magnificent Bath.

Rating for tour operator:

Perfect arrangements for b&b's, hotels, guesthouses and luggage transfers.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 29 Jul 2015:

A huge thanks for taking the time to leave feedback. We were thrilled to hear that you enjoyed yourself along the Cotswold Way, and we agree that a few days in magnificent Bath is a wonderful way to end a walking holiday. Thank you for your kind words about our company, and we would be delighted to assist with future walking plans. Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by Toineys, 27 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

break of fresh air

We walked for 6 days to the Fife coastal path in Scotland from North Queensferry to Newport-on-Tay. Everyday, we discovered a new B&B, have an amazing Scottish breakfast and hit a wonderful road while ours bags was taking care off to be send to the next stop over. The Fife coastal path is nice with some amazing landscapes between the see and the countryside and some very picturesque fisher villages and time to time with some more bigger town...

We walked for 6 days to the Fife coastal path in Scotland from North Queensferry to Newport-on-Tay. Everyday, we discovered a new B&B, have an amazing Scottish breakfast and hit a wonderful road while ours bags was taking care off to be send to the next stop over. The Fife coastal path is nice with some amazing landscapes between the see and the countryside and some very picturesque fisher villages and time to time with some more bigger town. We also crossed over some wild path.

Rating for tour operator:

We were very pleased with Abslolute Escapes and they really being professionel to send us all the documentation before and everything was well indicated.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 29 Jul 2015:

Many thanks for your feedback following your walk along the Fife Coastal Path. We are delighted that you enjoyed your adventure in the 'Kingdom'! Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by Mary from Maine, 25 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Spectacular walking experience

I'm a 64 year old woman who walked solo and self-guided on the Rob Roy Way. I had an amazing adventure, even when it rained. I loved the experience of walking alone. I need to work on my navigation skills as I got lost a few times and the Rob Rob Way isn't well marked in some places. All the B&Bs that Absolute Escapes chose for me were comfortable and inviting. Can't wait to do another walk in Scotland!

I'm a 64 year old woman who walked solo and self-guided on the Rob Roy Way. I had an amazing adventure, even when it rained. I loved the experience of walking alone. I need to work on my navigation skills as I got lost a few times and the Rob Rob Way isn't well marked in some places. All the B&Bs that Absolute Escapes chose for me were comfortable and inviting. Can't wait to do another walk in Scotland!

Rating for tour operator:

I was very please with the organization of the trip and the top notch places they chose for me to stay in.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 29 Jul 2015:

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review. We will work on improving our route notes for the trail, and will pass on your feedback about incomplete waymarking to the organisers of The Rob Roy Way. We're delighted that you were pleased with the "top notch" accommodation you stayed in along the route, we hope to tempt you back for another walking adventure in the future. Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by Ali, 21 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Wonderful experience.

We had wonderful weather and met many interesting people along the way. The walk has a remarkable diversity in such relatively small geographical space. It is a bit challenging in spots, but truly worth the experience. I have recommended it highly to our friends whom I am sure will be signing up.

We had wonderful weather and met many interesting people along the way. The walk has a remarkable diversity in such relatively small geographical space. It is a bit challenging in spots, but truly worth the experience. I have recommended it highly to our friends whom I am sure will be signing up.

Rating for tour operator:

We don't know much about the tour operator, but they have chose very good B & B's. and give good value for money.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 23 Jul 2015:

A huge thanks for taking the time to leave a review, and we really appreciate that you have recommended us to your friends. Please let us know if we can ever be of any assistance with future walking plans - we would be delighted to help. Scott Smyth

Absolute Escapes by Eagles, 21 Jul 2015
Holiday Rating:

Another wonderful walking adventure

Having used the services of Absolute Escapes previously. we were confident that the accommodation would be excellent, that we would have no concerns with baggage transport & if there were any problems, there would be someone around to sort them out. As if was the 13 days walking (over 200 miles) along the Offa's Dyke Pth was an absolute delight. We met some brilliant like minded folk, who loved the open air & we were blessed with amazing weather...

Having used the services of Absolute Escapes previously. we were confident that the accommodation would be excellent, that we would have no concerns with baggage transport & if there were any problems, there would be someone around to sort them out. As if was the 13 days walking (over 200 miles) along the Offa's Dyke Pth was an absolute delight. We met some brilliant like minded folk, who loved the open air & we were blessed with amazing weather. We will certainly be undertaking further long distant trails, God willing, & will be using the services of Absolute Escapes to assist us.

Rating for tour operator:

Willing to adjust the mileage & accommodation to suit requirements. Provide excellent reference documentation, available to sort any problems. Professional.

Absolute Escapes responded to this review on 23 Jul 2015:

Thank you so very much for taking the time to send us your feedback on the Offa's Dyke Path. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the walk and had plenty of Welsh sunshine. We really enjoyed your fantastic photos, and thank you for taking the time to send these through.

It was a pleasure, as always, to arrange a walking holiday for yourself and Linda, and perhaps we can tempt you both 'north of The Border' for the next one?

Best wishes, Scott Smyth