Peter Sommer Travels Traveller Reviews

I joined PST in their spring tour of Sicily. I thoroughly enjoyed all the facets of the island. Discovering, savouring, admiring these marvellous temples, the friendly landscapes, the unique cities, and the choice of superb lodging and excellent food and wine made it an unforgettable holiday. I was over the moon!

The guide leading the tour this time was Dr Michael Metcalfe and he excelled in bringing history to life. I have travelled with PST many times over the years and will do so again later this year for I know I cannot go wrong whatever the destination. The trips are always prepared to perfection, led by knowledgeable guides and one never feels to be pressured by time. I always get value for my money, even more than that.

This was a relaxing tour of Lycea, looking at the remains of ancient civilisations. OK, it might not be for everyone, but we loved it. We lived on a gulet, an attractive 100ft sailing boat, with an attentive crew, a skilled cook, and a bar. Generally the mornings were spent relaxing and swimming off the boat or from a nearby beach. We would then travel to the day's site, and take the guided tour in the late afternoon or early evening, when it was beginning to cool. We would then sail to an anchorage, then have dinner eat and chat late into the night. The food was typically Turkish, and though I'm no nutritionist, it struck me as being very healthy, as well as tasty and well presented. The guides were excellent: Alan, a university lecturer and archaeologist, was a knowledgeable and interesting talker, and there was never a yawn or dull moment. Meanwhile a Turkish guide assisted by setting things up, arranging transport and restaurants etc, and generally fixing things so the whole thing ran very smoothly. The itinerary was flexible, so when at one point we found ourselves near an abandoned Greek village, from whence the grandfather of one of us had been expelled in the 1920s - of course we diverted to visit this important and haunting place. It was not a cheap holiday, but it was certainly excellent value, combining good service, interesting excursions, and relaxing in the sun.

The literature was well presented, informative, and easy to understand. The descriptions were accurate and there were no unpleasant surprises. Booking and admin were very well done, while not being in the least remote - we felt that they were interested in us. Everything went according to plan, and we have not been bombarded with marketing mail afterwards. It would have been helpful if they could have arranged the flights - this was not too difficult on line, but of course it is easier for a company that does it a lot, than for someone who rarely flies. All in all, many other operators could learn a lot about customer service from these guys.

I spent two weeks with 15 other guests on the Aegean Clipper, a lovely wooden gulet. We sailed round the Cyclades, seeing stunning scenery (especially Santorini & Nisyros), visiting fascinating archaeological and historical sites, with marvelous guides who took us to restaurants where we were treated like family & fed like royalty. Some nights we moored in harbours, other times we stayed in small coves where we were the only visitors. Really delightful.

Peter Sommer Travels is a is a small firm that I first traveled with in 2007; since then I've done several trips with them in Greece and Turkey. I've always found them professional, friendly & helpful. They have trained & experienced archaeologists on each holiday, and provide a really varied and enjoyable experience. The welcoming atmosphere on their trips is very important to a single traveler like me, and other guests always seem eager to meet and share their stories.