Scotland - September 2023

We have had a wonderful time! The food and hotels that you picked out for us were great! I want to take a moment to let you know about Barry. He is absolutely excellent in his driving skills and has a tremendous depth of historical knowledge. He kept us well informed during our journey of the many places we passed by  I highly recommend him for anyone of your tours in Scotland. 

Kyle P., Arizona

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Italian Lakes & Switzerland - September 2023

Hugh, thank you from Geri Bonnie and myself for planning and taking us on a wonderful tour. It’s hard to say which part of the tour we enjoyed the most but every day, whether it was Milan, the Italian lake country or Lucerne was special. We also appreciated the special attention you gave to Geri which made it a memorable experience for her as well as ourselves.

Douglas and Bonnie P., Canada

Scotland - September, 2023

Hi Hugh, Second day here. Everyone loves everything. Great guide, Cameron. Great hotel. Kudos to you!

Carolyn S., Vermont

Wales - August 2023

In early August of 2023 we went on a 10-day tour of Wales with Hugh Barnes of Wanderlust.  We had told Hugh what towns, scenic areas, castles, and stately homes we wanted to see some months ahead, and he seamlessly planned the trip!  If there were any places which were not as worthy to fit into our time, he let us know.  He also chose wonderful hotels for us to stay in, two of them large manor houses with gorgeous views, converted into hotels.  The rooms were spacious and comfortable.  The breakfasts and dinners were included, and the food was outstanding!...Hugh made sure to book two 3-day stays during the trip, so we could relax a bit while still moving around to see all that we wanted to see. Hugh was unfailingly on time and in a good mood.  He found out when there were blocks in the route, and would work out another way around.  Hugh has a good personality and was very easy to be with.  He is a great problem solver!  We had forgotten a raincoat at the previous hotel, and he arranged to have it sent to the next hotel, and took us to a nice outfitters store to purchase another one to use in the meantime.  He scheduled a guide for us for a walking tour of St. David’s, Tenby, and Pembroke Castle.  Most of the other castles and stately homes were either self-guided tours or had people stationed to answer questions about the rooms.  One of Hugh’s invaluable skills was somehow to plan the day so that you were entertained but not too overwhelmed, and he was able to pace the activities and schedule different types of places to see during the day so that the scenery and castles were varied.  The beauty of a private tour, of course, was that we could do the activities we enjoy the most. The Mercedes van was very comfortable...We were so thankful to have Hugh to plan our trip and drive us.  He took the anxiety out of planning, trying to find our way— especially driving on the left!— and scheduling, really all of the hard parts of any trip, and we could relax and enjoy Wales.  We are planning another trip with Hugh next summer, this time to southwest Ireland, and we very much look forward to his expertise in planning, finding wonderful hotels, and taking us through another beautiful country.  

Elinor and Tom J., Georgia

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Scotland & Ireland - July 2023

Hugh, it is not possible to thank you enough for all of the wonderful plans you prepared for me and my traveling companions in Scotland and Ireland.  From the very first moment, we felt we were in special hands.  Our drivers, guides, accommodations, meals and excursions were exceptionally well-planned. Your attention to detail is amazing. Bless you and your staff for making our vacation a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Frances E., Arizona

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England & Scotland - July 2023

I wanted to reach out and thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip to England and Scotland for us! I couldn't have asked for a better vacation. Nick did a great job carting us around. The local guides were top notch - Richard, Daniel, Linda, and Mike each added such value to our time.  We especially appreciated having them just to chat about similarities and differences between our countries.  I now can't imagine visiting anywhere without someone like them. Being that I normally plan our vacations and keep track of everything during them, I loved not having to do any of that - it was just as much a vacation for me as the rest of the family. You really took care of every detail for us and I'm so very grateful. Thanks again and I hope we can do another trip with you.

Jocelyn, D., Illinois

Ireland & Scotland - July 2023

Hugh! We all decided that our holiday was so wonderful because of you!  Thank you for all  the great planning, fabulous restaurants, hotel choices, sightseeing, guides….I could go on and on! It was a truly memorable time. If you are ever in Colorado, you must come by for a visit!  

Mary B., Colorado

Ireland - July 2023

I wanted to give you some feedback on our drivers. They were ALL terrific and we couldn't have asked for better and more friendly and knowledgeable guys! I'll have one of my clients (Melanie) contact you and Saralynn over the coming weeks to set-up an Ireland Tour for she and her mother. Thank you for another great trip!

Kevin B., Tennesse

Ireland - July 2023

The trip went really well and the itinerary, accommodations and restaurants were very good. Lorraine was excellent and she and my wife were quickly chatting like old friends. Will definitely consider using you in future. In fact we are eyeing a Northern Italy/Switzerland trip - so if you have any information on that we would be interested.

Watson C., Texas

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South West England - June 2023

First off, the itinerary you created for us was wonderful. The hotels/accommodations were excellent. While they were all different and quite unique on their own, the common features were very comfortable accommodation, excellent service from all involved and wonderful food.  We found that each hotel had its own personality. Our two tour guides, Daniel and Lorna, were exceptionally knowledgeable, funny, full of great stories and anecdotes and a pleasure to be around. The structure of the tour was indeed excellent. Nick was exceptional. He added so much to our tour. He was always knowledgeable, witty and constantly searched out extra information to enhance our visits to various sites. He also knew when to gives us our own space when we needed it. We thoroughly enjoyed his company and it was quite emotional for Anne and me when we said goodbye. I would give Nick 6 out of 5 stars and have him host our next private tour adventure with Wanderlust Private Tours. So thank you for making our 50th Wedding Anniversary Tour such a wonderful experience. We created some amazing memories!
Neil C,, Canada 

Ireland - May 2023

We were very happy with our guide, John. He has a great combination of characteristics that made our trip really nice. He has a great dry sense of humor, and is very laid back. He was great at giving us options and letting us decide what things we were most interested in. There were some things on your itinerary that we skipped, either due to weather or the fact that we were interested in something else more and couldn’t fit it all in.  John was also very good at knowing when to step back and let us tour something by ourselves or when to be a bit more involved.  We are also very happy with the hotel selections. They were beyond our expectations.  Thanks again for organizing this great trip for us. We are very happy we got to see so much of Ireland in such a relaxed way. 

Marla and Brian F., Washington 

England - May 2023

Our experience with Neil was excellent. He contacted me days before departure. He was there when we arrived at the airport and he became our driver/friend thereafter.  The Mercedes van was a comfortable ride for our party of six. We connected with Neil on a number of personal levels and he has become an honorary member of the family.  He will forever be part of the story. Our guides in London (Richard), Bath (Daniel) and Liverpool (Annmarie) were all passionate and terrific.  Annemarie made the Liverpool experience a dream come true for my Beatle loving wife, the details of which are a long story.

Anthony D., New Jersey

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Scotland - May 2023

Good Evening Hugh. The trip was fabulous!  Nick was great!  

Cecilia H., Florida

South West England - April 2023

Leon and I just want to thank you again for the amazing trip of a lifetime. It all met and exceeded our expectations. It was an extreme pleasure to spend two weeks with you!

Georgia and Leon A., Florida

England & Ireland - April 2023

First of all, I must thank you for putting together such an amazing vacation for my family!  We saw and did so much I have to look at the itinerary to know what we did when!!  I must tell you that the driver/guides, although very different from each other, were wonderful.  Neil was very solicitous of all our needs, a great driver, and lots of fun to be with.  He is truly an asset to your company.  John was also wonderful.  Lots of fun, gave us lots of information as we drove, and best of all found the thatched cottage in Pallasgreen!  Also an asset to you company.  Both of these men get our warmest appreciation and highest accolades.  The guides in Windsor and London, Bath, Liverpool and Dublin were all extremely knowledgeable ...The different sights in England were very interesting.  Everyone, even those that beforehand said not a big deal, was in awe of Stonehenge. Liverpool and the Beatles tour was great!  Ireland was so beautiful!!!!!! The landscape, scenery is amazing:  Cliffs of Moher, beaches, farmland, mountains, etc.  We really loved our time in Ireland.  Dublin was great.  The food in Ireland was really delicious from the hotel food to lunches in pubs!  A great experience was the Hawk walk along the beach in Dingle...The sheepherding demonstration was also very good.  I think the family agrees that the most amazing aspect of the vacation was the visit to the thatched cottage in Pallasgreen, ancestral home of my son's.  We spent time with cousins we have never met...I could go on and on about this vacation...Again I can't thank you enough for putting this together.

Melanie K., New York

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Scotland & England - May 2023

We just returned from the trip of a lifetime, made possible by the incredible planning of Wanderlust Private Tours and Hugh Barnes. Once we settled on traveling with this company, we were able to relax and enjoy our upcoming travels, not worrying about where to stay, how to get there, etc. Hugh was quick to answer any questions we had and work with us on a personalized itinerary. 
Upon arrival to each leg of our trip to the UK, we were met by the most courteous guides who were incredibly knowledgeable about the history and particulars of their specific area. The hotels and inns selected by Hugh were all top notch, as were the dining experiences at each venue and in every locale of our travels. One of us experienced some significant health difficulties during our stay, and each of the tour guides accommodated these physical limitations with exceptional kindness and thoughtfulness. Because of them, we did not miss a thing we wanted to see and felt that our trip was highly successful.
We cannot recommend Wanderlust enough and will definitely seek to use them for future travels!

Mark & Alison Kirkpatrick - Texas

England & Scotland - April 2023

From April 1 to April 19, 2023, the three of us were treated to an incredible travel experience to England and Scotland provided by Wanderlust Private Tours. We three have traveled together for years, usually planning our own itineraries, destinations and transportation and have only used travel help in areas where it was absolutely necessary to take an organized tour. All that changed with Wanderlust!

In looking for new options to avoid the hassles of driving and finding appropriate

accommodations in both city and rural locations, we were fortunate to discover the Wanderlust website. In visiting with Hugh Barnes about where and what we wanted to visit, he arranged everything, down to the last detail, with great hotels and B&Bs, transportation in a spacious and comfortable vehicle, expert driving and worlds of information about the places visited. In addition, our local guides were fantastic and the restaurants superb. We so appreciated the flexibility in working around weather issues, personal interests and hobbies, and changes of plans and times. The trip far exceeded our expectations. In summary, we felt that our travel with Wanderlust was a good value and provided experiences and sights that we could never have found on our own. We look forward to future trips with Wanderlust Private Tours.

John and Beverly W. and Cherri G. - Oklahoma & North Carolina

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Scotland - September 2022

I wanted to send you a note to tell you what a wonderful tour we had through Scotland.  The Wanderlust attention to detail was not lost on us. From the restaurants, to the arranged dinners and our accommodations, we felt pampered from day one. We were fortunate to have Neil as our driver and tour guide. He was accommodating and friendly while still making sure we saw Scotland in all its glory.

We will be happy to recommend Wanderlust to friends and family and hope to take another one of your tours in the future. Thanks for taking such good care if us!

Deb, Jo, Cher and Trish - Canada

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Scotland - September 2022

Writing to thank you for organizing such an incredible trip to Scotland!  Not only is it a beautiful country with views at every turn, the people are so friendly, helpful and fun to be with!  Our guide Neil was “the best” and kept the McCousins on track, on time (that was a feat in itself) and having fun and laughter along the way! The accommodation and restaurant choices were great. I also have to mention that our trip was happening at the same time as the Queen’s passing and this will always make our trip to Scotland most memorable. Thanks again Hugh!

Joanne L - Canada

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Scotland - August 2022

Short recap is that this trip more than met expectations, all of our guides were so good, knowledgeable ,pleasant  and informative.The Drivers were just outstanding at their jobs, they went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect and comfortable , providing water and whatever was needed, all of the attractions that we went to see our drivers got us in without any confusion or line ups . The Accommodations were superior and all of the meals provided were excellent. I have told everyone that Wanderlust provides an exceptional and seamless experience , no hiccups or drama or hidden costs , everything went as planned and was truly amazing with the Horse Drawn Carriage rides and the ferries, the trip was certainly worth the Expense.

Lynn B., - Canada

England & Scotland - August 2022

Just a brief note to thank you and Margaux for another wonderful tour with Wanderlust. Our August 2022 visit to England and Scotland was well organized and paced. Appreciate the care you took dealing with Trisha’s mobility issues. The local guides for the Cambridge, York, St Andrews and Edinburgh were all excellent. Your accommodation and restaurant choices continue to show the high standards you have when selecting venues. Travel is particularly challenging these days, given over crowded airports and staffing shortages everywhere. I continue to be amazed at the way you calmly deal with logistics issues. This trip, our third with you, just reinforced again that Wanderlust is the only way to go for private touring. 

Peter and Trisha P., - Pennsylvania

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London, Cotswolds & Bath - July 2022

Hugh gave our family a superlative vacation experience. My family and I wanted to give my 82 year old mother a trip of a lifetime to England which included London, Stratford Upon Avon, touring castles and gardens in the Cotswolds, Bath, and many other spectacular places. Hugh faced many challenges; Mother had a daunting dream checklist, yet she could hardly walk. No problem for Hugh. Hugh packed a comfortable wheelchair in his minivan to use in our excursions, and he prearranged our tours to accommodate wheelchair access. Because of Hugh’s preparations, we never felt like we missed anything as a result of our limited mobility.   Hugh always went the extra mile...whether it regarded drop-offs in front of museums, or meals and drinks in the middle of busy days.  At one point, Hugh arranged entrance into Buckingham Palace through the front gate, where myriad tourists mistook mother for a foreign dignitary. Hugh used guides that were equally warm and professional, and of the highest caliber.  We will use him again in the future and we are truly indebted to him for our unforgettable vacation.  I cannot recommend him more highly.  

Roland S., - Virginia

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London & Southeast England - June 2022

We had a wonderful and informative tour thanks to your planning and over delivering in June.  Beyond the castles and restaurants were the rides through the country seeing the golden barley on one side and the lavender in bloom on the other side of the narrow roads.  It was beautiful !

Thanks for a most memorable eight days.

Terry and Oliver C., North Carolina

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France - May 2022

Hugh worked tirelessly to put together a schedule for our trip to France that was so impressive that our French friends wanted to join us on the trip when they read what Hugh had planned for us! Hugh goes above and beyond to ensure your trip has a wonderful combination of exquisite luxury with unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, all at your own pace of choice. He definitely listens to the needs of his clients – he selected the most knowledgeable guide for our “reliving history” time in Normandy that made our time there truly come alive with his stories, sharing of local WWII artifacts and genuine passion for the area.  I have taken several private tours and I can say the attention to detail and top quality accommodations, guides, and pleasant surprises at top sightseeing venues made our trip to France extremely memorable.  I highly recommend you consider working with Hugh and Wonderlust tours whenever you can – you will not regret it!

Peter H., Florida

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Ireland & Scotland - May 2022

Our trip with Wanderlust Private Tours was more spectacular than we could have imagined. The owner and staff were extremely knowledgable, the itinerary was flexible, and we could set our own pace and tempo for each day. The historic lodges and inns all featured first-class amenities, the vehicles were clean and comfortable and the scenic locations were superb. Wanderlust was responsive to every request of ours and made our bucket list trip, which included a wedding vow renewal ceremony coordinated by Wanderlust, a fantastic memory for us. We highly recommend them!
Stuart and Sandy V.H., Idaho

Scotland & England - May 2022

On a whim, I performed a Google search for private tours of Scotland and soon discovered a website describing exactly what we were looking for - Wanderlust Private Tours. The description of sample tours sounded as if they were planned specifically for our group! The reviews spoke volumes, encouraging me to reach out for more information!
  From our first email correspondence, Hugh was professional, helpful and incredibly prompt in his replies. He took our interests and requests and built a phenomenal  custom itinerary for our trip!  This included some high level negotiating with hotels in order to make the timing work for ending the trip with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London. 
   At long last, we began what would truly be the trip of a lifetime. Every aspect of the trip was effortless on our part- our guides/drivers drove us directly to the sites to be visited each day, and all arrangements made. All of our accommodations met and exceeded our expectations. The majority of our meals were included in the tour. Unlike with many tours, the included meals were not limited to a limited selection from the full menu, we were allowed to choose appetizers, soup/salads, entree and desserts from the full menus!
  Our guide Cam in Edinburgh; Hugh, himself for remainder of Scotland; and Michaela in London, were all very knowledgeable about the tour stops and all along the route. They each went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and that all our expectations were met. As an example of such, Michaela secured lawn chairs for our group as well as arranged for boxed breakfasts be prepared by our hotel, and then accompanied me at 3:00 am on the morning of the Trouping of the Coulor parade in London to secure an  optimum vantage point along the parade route. 
  We truly cannot adequately verbalize how pleased we were with Wanderlust Private Tours. We without any reservation recommend Hugh and his team to anyone planning the trip of a lifetime!
Jon and Judi G., Fort Worth, TX

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Ireland & Scotland - May 2022

Wanderlust Private Tours put together a 2 week tour of Ireland and Scotland for a group of 10 of us, to celebrate my 40th birthday.  Hugh did an amazing job putting together an active schedule that allowed us to see and learn more of Ireland and Scotland than we even imagined. We loved every bit of our time in these 2 beautiful countries.  Mick was our tour guide and driver in Ireland. Mick did an excellent job getting us to our destinations, explaining each location and its history, as well as adding a few extra stops that were highly appreciated.  In Scotland, Cam was our guide.  Cam is extremely entertaining and knowledgeable.  Cam went well above and beyond to make our trip fun and memorable, as well as providing the musical entertainment on my birthday.  We would recommend Hugh for anyone looking for a detailed, memorable and enjoyable trip – he was incredibly easy to work with, provided timely communications and tailored the trip as requested, leaving us with lifetime memories.  Working with Hugh took the stress out of planning this trip ourselves, including wonderful accommodations, restaurant recommendations, activities, transportation, and of course our much appreciated tour guides.  Thank you Wanderlust!

Jessica Y., North Carolina

Ireland — March 2022 

Without question, this was a remarkable trip. First, thank you for your consistant, timely and thorough correspondence preparing us for the trip. We really appreciated your thoughtfulness...as for the itinerary, we loved it all...I could go on and on and bore you with tons of pictures and stories. But, simply, Hugh, we can’t thank you enough.

The Ryans - Illinois

Spain at Christmas & New Year, December 2021

In the past few years, I have taken several private luxury tours all over the world and I must admit that Wanderlust is one of the best!!  Hugh does an excellent job in really listening to your needs and accommodating all of them so you and your family can have an amazing experience. The level of attention to detail and the amount of communication is outstanding -- Hugh is always two or three steps ahead of you which provides a great amount of comfort, especially traveling during Covid.  We originally booked our trips prior to Covid and Hugh provided a tremendous amount of support in rescheduling them. From the hotels to specific requests on tours to buying tickets to the opera to finding the best restaurants, Hugh goes above and beyond expectations.  Our 11 days in Spain were superb and we're looking forward to our trips to France and the UK later this year. If you are a very discerning traveler and want to really enjoy and relax on vacation, have Hugh plan your trip. He truly is there for you every step of the way!

Michele H., Florida

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Ireland, October 2021

We had a wonderful time in Ireland. John was terrific, knowledgeable and had great patience with this old guy. Ireland is a truly beautiful place, with friendly people, great food and we were lucky to have great weather. The horse back ride for Britton was a dream come true. For me the experience at the Falconry was most memorable. I, of course, have many photos and plan to put some of them on paper in watercolors...Again, you arranged everything that we hoped to see and more…just the best. Thank you and cheers!

Karl B., Chardon, OH

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Milan, Italian Lakes & Switzerland, September 2021

Thank you for the great photos! We certainly enjoyed our trip with you and Margaux and continued on to Piedmont to reengage our wine travelling friends...Much thanks and happy travels!

Michael & Irene P., Westtown, PA

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Milan, Italian Lakes & Switzerland, September 2021

A truly memorable trip! Wanderlust is such an apt name for this very unique travel service. If you have a desire to travel with ease where every detail is taken care of, we highly recommend Wanderlust. Hugh Barnes worked out a wonderful itinerary with our input and from the moment he met us at the airport, we were in his very capable hands for the entire time. And thus, we were able to “wander” our way effortlessly through Milan and the Northern Italian Lake region and then into Switzerland. On the days we traveled to sites by ferry, water taxi, train etc…Hugh was right there to take care of everything.It was the trip of a life time with high end, outstanding lodging and fabulous tours. We were a small group of five siblings and cousins in Hugh’s comfortable vehicle where wonderful conversations and laughter were part of every journey. After “wandering” with Hugh and his lovely wife Margaux, we feel that Wanderlust Tours is the only way to travel. The attention to detail and the very personal service is second to none. You will never travel any other way again!

Bill and Mary W., Rome, NY

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Ireland, September 2021

We are home and want you to know how much we appreciate what you did.  The trip was perfect from start to finish. The locations and accommodations were amazing. Our driver, Michael,  was great and we miss him already. Erin was thrilled with her riding time and visit to the Irish National Stud Farm. Thank you again!

Berry and Erin R., Rutherfordton, NC

Milan, Italian Lakes & Switzerland, September 2021

Our second trip with Wanderlust Private Tours, nine great days in Milan, the Italian Lakes, Lucerne and Zurich, reinforced your Firm’s high standards of quality and service. The choices for hotels and restaurants were excellent, demonstrating the great care you take in screening and selecting them. The scenery was beautiful and somehow you managed to arrange great weather. We really enjoyed the several days we got to spend time with your Wife Margaux. Now we understand how you can handle all the back office administrative tasks when you are on the road. You guys make a great team! Appreciate you accommodating our request to visit Fortress Furigen. Know it was a challenge to find the place, but as usual you navigated a ridiculously narrow, winding road to get us there. We look forward to our next trip with Wanderlust to England and Scotland in August 2022.

Peter and Trisha P., Chadds Ford, PA

Tours of London and Surrounding Cities, July 2021

Hugh, I want to thank you for a wonderful three-week set of trips all over London, Dover, Canterbury, Stonehenge, Bath, the gorgeous Cotswolds and Oxford. You started trip-planning for the five of us six months ago and we couldn’t have done it without you, especially since traveling during the COVID pandemic required significant adaptation. You crafted an itinerary including touring, boating, biking, walking, and picnicking and it was always ‘just right’. We certainly enjoyed the variety, the history, the culture, and the fun. We also felt pretty special having you and your comfortable car available for the entire trip. My entire family agrees that your efforts made our time in London memorable and it is very easy to recommend you and your services to other travelers.  Thank you for all of your efforts and we look forward to seeing you again.

John P., San Diego, CA

Scotland, October 2019

We would like to thank you for organizing a great trip that gave us a good overview of the different parts of Scotland.  Thank you also for all your efforts as I researched some family history too.  We would definitely suggest to anyone your company and appreciate all the attention to details and great communications along the way.  Hopefully we can get back sometime soon in the future. 

Brian L., Tennessee

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Ireland, September 2019

We could not have been MORE pleased with all of our tour guides.  Gerry was lovely our first day, giving us a tour of Dublin including a castle and views around the city.  Eion could not have been more knowledgeable about Irish history and we learned so much from him and so enjoyed hearing the passion in his voice about his country.  John was a perfect tour guide for us.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. We would highly recommend Wanderlust Tours in the future and hope to maybe “catch” another tour with your company in the future. 

Jean S.,  - Maine

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England's West County, September 2019

Thank you so much for a truly wonderful trip in England's West Country. The Cornish coast was more beautiful and magical than I could have imagined, and the variety of experiences you provided gave this vacation dimensions we could never have found on our own. Thank you, too, for your patience with us, and all your insights, I will always treasure memories of this trip,

Kathy - Ohio

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England's West County, September 2019

Thank you so very for the most unforgettable holiday of a life. Each experience was perfect and your guidance and expertise exceptional. 

Karen - Halifax, Canada

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Scotland & Ireland, September 2019

Bill and I had a wonderful time touring Scotland and Ireland. Our guides were friendly, accommodating, very knowledgeable and excellent drivers!  The itinerary was fabulous and extremely well organized by your company.  Every part of the trip went smoothly; we never felt rushed and simply enjoyed the sightseeing, hikes and beautiful scenery. Our accommodations were excellent!  All the staff were very friendly and the meals were outstanding.  On the last day in Scotland, we even tried haggis which our guide, Kenny, highly recommended. 

Joyce Urone - California