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Customer Reviews
Just a few photos from our wonderful customers. References from our customers are available on request.
Click on the main image to see each photo in a slide show.
There are no reviews during 2020 as all tours which were postponed to 2021 or 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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 Williams and Cherri Grube - Oklahoma & North Carolina
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
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
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 Palmer - Pennsylvania
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
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
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
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 Van Horn - 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 Glover - Fort Worth, TX
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 Harper. - Florida
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 Badgley - Chardon, OH
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 Picariello – Westtown, PA
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 Wolf – Rome, NY
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 Ray – 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 Palmer - 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 Perkins - 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 Livingstone - Tennessee
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 Saunders - Maine
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
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
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
Bath & the Cotswolds, Sept, 2019
Thank you for the wonderful, informative and stress free trip we shared with you while touring the lovely Cotswolds. We saw everything that we requested and more. Please know that if we plan a trip again, we will be traveling with you. Again, thank you for the good memories.
Karl and Beverli Badgley, Ohio
Chatsworth House, Wales & Cornwall, September 2019
Trisha and I wanted to drop you a line to formally thank you for making our recent 50th Wedding Anniversary Trip to England and Wales so special. Every aspect of our trip's planning and execution demonstrated your dedication to superior customer service. While the itinerary, accommodations and restaurant selections exceeded our expectations, it was your attention to every detail that stands out. It was a pleasure to just sit back and enjoy the experience without worrying about a thing. We also appreciated your flexibility and responsiveness in adjusting the itinerary or schedule. Of particular note was the addition of the “Drive Through” of Port Issac, where the Doc Martin TV Show is filmed. We still can’t get over your sense of “can do” in taking your new Mercedes down the steep and very narrow roads just so we could have a special memory of this unique village.
Hugh, your interpersonal skills are exceptional. You demonstrated the ability to balance our often conflicting needs. Whether it was helping Trisha with her shopping or finding that interesting pub for a late afternoon pint for me, we both came away happy. In closing, this trip certainly convinced us of the merits of your full service private touring service and we hope to use your services on a future European trip. We have also told our friends of our great experience with Wanderlust Private Tours, so you might be getting some new business from the Philadelphia area. Finally, please feel free to give our name as a reference for other potential clients.
Peter & Trisha Palmer, Philadelphia
Custom tour of Ireland, August 2019
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Our driver was great - Mick O’Malley. Very knowledgeable, professional and always ready with suggestions. He was a wealth of knowledge- but you could tell so experienced- he knew where to contribute and when to let us do our own thing. I would ask for him again tomorrow."
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All the hotels were good. The Brooks hotel in Dublin was a perfect location.Very walkable. The private walking tour was Excellent. Our guide was a college history professor. - so good. Other people were standing around asking how to get his tour. As we told you Guinness was Exceptional. Such a fun time”
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All the restaurants recommended were amazing. I’d don’t think we had a bad meal the whole time!"
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I believe everyone would say Greenmont in Dingle was their favorite hotel. The weather was probably the worst there but they were so hospitable. Danny - one of their staff was really helpful Amazing views from the hotel and rooms were big"
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The Hawk tour was amazing! Even the dog sheep herding was interesting! The Bushmills tour very good - especially the hot toddy. "
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Of course nothing can beat the Ireland countryside. Just breathtaking !"
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We did a lot of driving the last two days. I don’t know anyway to avoid it and do the things we wanted to do. Mick made it enjoyable with breaks where possible "
Private tour of 6 friends - North Carolina
Scotland, England & Ireland, July 2019
If we had all of the money in the world to purchase a vacation and had all of the time in the world to plan a vacation, we would not have traded it for the vacation that Hugh Barnes and his team at Wanderlust planned for us. It was the absolute trip of a lifetime and one of the best parts of it is that since we were together for 2 weeks; Hugh and his team became like a part of the family. The attention to details, the seamless transitions from place to place, the extra information, and the ability to make last minute changes as we went along are invaluable. Hugh and his team took care of all the flights, all the meals, all the driving and coordination, and provided us with the leeway to tweak things as we went. All we had to do was to make sure that we had ourselves on a plane in Columbus, Ohio to start the trip and Hugh and his team took over from there. We didn’t have to think or worry about anything; we just sat back and enjoyed our vacation. Perfectly seamless. On top of Hugh’s knowledge of the areas and sites that we visited; his connections and network of folks that are part of his team are amazing. Private tour guides in each of the major cites that we visited were all set up for us. The specific guides that Hugh uses have boundless energy and information about specific cities in England, Scotland, and Ireland!! The hotels that he chose for us were amazing. The restaurants that he chose for us were incredible. We could not have scripted a better vacation and we cannot wait to book our next trip to the UK with Wanderlust!! The decision is easy; there is no other company that we would even consider using again. Hugh Barnes and his team at Wanderlust makes future decisions very easy; just call Hugh!!
Ryan Hatfield and the Hatfield family - Ohio and Georgia
The Italian Lakes & Switzerland: Maggiore, Como, Swiss Alps & Lucerne, 2019
Recently my sisters and I went on a personally guided tour of the Italian Lakes and Switzerland with Hugh Barnes. Our 12 day trip was a wonderful journey to what has to be one of the most beautiful areas of the world. Hugh did an outstanding job as our guide,
and set up a great itinerary for us. From our first stop in Milan to Lake Maggiore, the Borromean Islands, Lake Como and then on to Switzerland, the trip was filled with gorgeous scenery, delicious food, great cultural experiences and outstanding accommodations. Hugh was kind, thoughtful and patient. We always felt well taken care of and he made sure we got the most out of our amazing trip. It was an incredible experience and we can’t recommend him highly enough!
Rita Bernier -Massachusetts
London & Cotswold Garden Tour, June 2019
Thank you so much for taking such good care of us and being so attentive to our needs, including wine when needed! Our trip in London and through the Cotswolds was everything we were hoping for and more. We hope to travel with you again soon.
Leah, Gail and Tricia -California
Scotland, June 2019
Thank you for a wonderful experience touring the Highlands of Scotland. We appreciate your care and dedication to making this a very memorable adventure for each of us.
Geri, Bonnie & Doug - Saskatchewan, Canada
Scotland & Ireland, June 2019
We enjoyed our trip with you very much, and in Ireland Thomas was fabulous. He went out of his way to ensure we saw as much as possible in a timely manner. It was great that you were able to accommodate us. We too hope that we will have another opportunity to travel with you if the stars align. Take care and thanks again for looking after us so well.
Peter and Janice - Saskatchewan, Canada
Kent & East Sussex, June 2019
Sandi and I were very pleased with our trip and are very appreciative of your assistance. You did a splendid job of helping us have a wonderful time!
Jim and Sandi -Tennessee
Customized tour of Scotland & England, May 2019
Our Wanderlust tour of Scotland and England for a group of 6 left us with many wonderful memories ! Hugh Barnes was easy to work with and responded quickly to inquiries and suggestions. He created an interesting and enjoyable itinerary and provided ongoing support during the tour. Neil, our driver/guide was knowledgeable and conscientious, always there when we needed him. His efforts kept the tour flowing smoothly. The sites we visited gave us a wonderful overview that made us want to return and explore both countries more extensively. We felt as though we experienced all the highlights that Hugh could squeeze into two weeks.
Accommodations were unique and of high quality. The cuisine was excellent. The local guides were very knowledgeable and shared the history and culture in an interesting and entertaining manner. Overall, our party had a GREAT time. We highly recommend Wanderlust Private Tours for a trip of a lifetime! Five stars!
Steve and Susan - Mogadore, Ohio
The Italian Lakes & Switzerland: Maggiore, Como, Swiss Alps & Lucerne, May 2019
We did make it safely home. We had a wonderful, memorable trip and are so grateful to you for all you did to make it so special. All the extra features – like the special chefs dinner, seeing the Last Supper, our trips on the private boats to the islands and that wonderful trip to Lake Lucerne are only a few of the great adventures we had. We hope you made it safely home too and can get some rest before your next trip. Thanks again Hugh for a wonderful time – we were so looking forward to the trip and we were not disappointed – it exceeded our expectations. What wonderful memories of Italy and Switzerland we will have.
Rita, Louise, Anne, Marie & Kathy - Massachusetts
Grand Tour of Ireland & Scotland, May 2019
My family and I have been discussing going to Ireland and Scotland for several years and my brother in law heard about Hugh and Wanderlust’s private tours. We had 8 of us and to get everyone on the same itinerary I thought would be difficult but Hugh’s itinerary was perfect for us to explore a large part of both countries. It was so simple and easy to have all of the accommodations, tour guides, tour tickets, and transportation needs taken care of for us. The tour companies/guides were wonderful and accommodating to our needs. The lodging was perfect in that the beds were comfortable, in a walkable location to city centers mostly, with delicious breakfasts. It will be a memorable trip for me and I wanted to thank Hugh and his team for their efforts.
Jennifer - Hickory, North Carolina
Customized tour of Ireland, May 2019
This, my sixth trip to Ireland, was the best possible experience for my family. Always before I had been an independent traveler, but, growing older, I decided on a tour. I am so happy that I chose Hugh and Wanderlust Private Tours. From the planning to the execution all was excellent! The hotel choices were great, the package included gourmet meals, and the driver, John, became family. Hugh helped my daughter plan for my wife and I to renew our vows at Abbeyglen Castle and it was glorious, with a gourmet meal after. If you want a tailor made adventure, I highly recommend Wanderlust Private Tours.
Reg Keogh - Sulphur, Louisiana
South West England, Oxford & London, April 2019
Our Wanderlust tour was like traveling with family friends. Hugh worked with us to create a personalized itinerary that included everything we wanted to see plus much more along the way. He found amazing sites which we would never have discovered on our own. At each stop we could spend as much or as little time as we chose, and every detail was anticipated. Before we finished our first tour, we were already planning for our next Wanderlust adventure and we are excited to see what Hugh plans for us next!
Edward, Lisa & Daria - Saskatoon, Canada
Customized tour of Scotland, March 2019
We took a 5-day tour all through Scotland with Hamish and Kenny, and could not be more happy with the trip! There were 7 of us, which required two (very clean and immaculate) vehicles, and absolutely everything was executed perfectly. Both Kenny and Hamish are extremely knowledgeable, patient, and flexible - which was made clear through our millions of questions and changes to the itineraries. Organizing the wants & wishes of 7 different people is no easy feat, but they both got it done smoothly and professionally. Both proud, Scottish gentlemen, we could not have asked for better guides. We had one last day in Scotland after they left us, and we spent most of the time talking about how we wished they were still around! You absolutely cannot go wrong with them, and we can't thank them enough for such a wonderful trip!
Elizabeth - Boston, MA
Customized Luxury tour of Scotland, March 2019
I read the reviews on Wanderlust’s website and crossed my fingers that our trip would live up to the same standards. Our experience proved to be nothing shy of excellent! We asked for luxury accommodations, outstanding cuisine, bespoke cooking class, breathtaking hikes, the right amount of history, flexible itinerary and competent driver in a safe SUV. Hugh you delivered on all accounts. Thank you for executing a trip of a lifetime. Look forward to the next one.
Kim & Britt - Toronto, Canada
South West England with Oxford & Stonehenge, 2018
My husband and I received an amazing private tour of Sacred England that was hands down our "Best Vacation Ever!". Thank you so very much to Hugh Barnes!
Our vacation itinerary was perfectly suited for us, everyday was an absolute perfect amount of activity and sightseeing /tours. All of the guides arranged for us were extremely knowledgeable and professional and very courteous.
The beautiful sights we saw, and the Manors we got to stay in were breathtaking! And the food....DELICIOUS! So very excited we found Hugh and can't wait to book our next trip. Thank you again.
Tiffany and Michael - California
Sweden & Denmark, 2018
We are Wanderlust repeat customers having toured Ireland and Scotland last year with them. We wanted to take our kids to the “old country “- Sweden and Denmark. I wanted to see where my ancestors came from. Hugh, being Danish himself, arranged for a great trip. We saw the big cities and experienced the country life. Hugh even arranged for the Queen of Denmark to greet us in Svendborg! It was actually a coincidence and involved a wave from afar from the royal yacht but Hugh really is that good! We highly recommend Wanderlust Private Tours. We love Hugh (and his wife Margaux). Can’t wait for our next trip.
Julie, Kurt, Alec, Alex and Sydney - Des Moines, Iowa
Italy Discovery
The trip was fabulous! Your personnel were absolutely wonderful. The guides assigned were both tremendously knowledgeable and very personable. I would even say that the drivers were first rate. They all made the trip that much more enjoyable. We saw everything we wanted to. Our guides all followed our wishes and modified the itinerary on the fly when we started to slow down. I would highly recommend your agency.
Earl and Rita - Massachusetts
Berlin, 2018
We all had a wonderful time in Berlin. We were thrilled with the hotel, it had everything we needed. Your guide and driver were perfect. Mikael the driver, was kind, thoughtful and made himself available to drive whenever needed.
McAllister family- Utah
Ireland, 2018
Hello Hugh
At long last I am following up with you on our Ireland Trip which, despite my being sidelined for some of the trip, was wonderful. I cannot say enough about the work you did in making so many arrangements that flowed flawlessly. I became ill pretty much from the time we landed but was able to participate in most of the planned adventures.
I want to single out the young man that took us on the walking tour of Dublin for an excellent job. However the highest accolades go to the primary driver Richard who was truly excellent. Again Hugh, thank you again for putting together this wonderful trip and we certainly will turn to you should we return to Ireland some day.
Family of 15, MA
Ireland, 2018
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. We loved Ireland and the people of Ireland. Jim, our driver, worked out really well and fitted with our group easily. I want to thank you for arranging everything for us. Made life easy for me and the group. Bottom line - we love Ireland and loved our trip!
Family of 9, Canada
Scotland & Ireland, 2018
Hugh, great trip all around, very positive. James, Ireland side, is an excellent guide and very knowledgeable and personable. Our guide in Dublin, Brian was also very good, extremely knowledgeable and detailed. Quite a thorough history of Ireland. We had a wonderful vacation, only wish we had more time.
Jeff, Virginia
England & Scotland, 2018
Thank you so much for exceeding every single expectation that we had for the Baltier England/Scotland trip. They were crazy about you and I couldn't be happier. You Rock!
Saralynn, Memphis
Scotland & London & Wimbledon, 2018
Thanks for putting together such an electric tour! We greatly enjoyed our time with you in Scotland & England!
Kathy, Ron, Brian and Angie, Des Moines, Iowa
Ireland, 2018
As with our first week, the second in Ireland was really wonderful. Our driver, James was very knowledgeable on Ireland’s history, customs, and traditions, and did a superb job infusing them in us without overwhelming us. James really made it special. Ballinalacken Castle was also superb, and the food was really a high point. Thanks Hugh!
Bob, Florida
London, Norfolk & Netherlands, 2018
I wanted to be sure to thank you for your work in putting our trip together. All went very smoothly and for me it was the trip of a lifetime and I’m sure the others feel the same. We will definitely keep in touch when planning our next trip.
Dewey, Florida
London, Norfolk & Netherlands, 2018
Everything was perfect on the military trip. You did an outstanding job in coordinating everyone and planning the trip. I'm sure it must have been challenging at times!
Val and Family, Florida
Scotland, Lake District, Cotswolds & London, 2018
Thanks again for accompanying us on a wonderful vacation. We really appreciated the personal attention and individualized itinerary. I hope your enjoy your 2 weeks off (or at least time home). You've earned it.
Bruce and Family, Utah
England & Scotland Custom Tour, 2018
Hugh, I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful tour and trip you did for our family! You were beyond great and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you also for putting up with us and our family’s idiosyncrasies! I would recommend you and your company to everyone we know. I know that Kevin and I will definitely be using you again in the future. We would love to meet up with you and your family when your daughter comes to school down here in the fall. We can introduce you all to Memphis Barbecue! Thanks again!
Rhonda, Memphis
England & Scotland Custom Tour, 2018
Hugh, I hope you had a nice birthday yesterday! Jim and I would like to thank you once again for the wonderful trip you organized for us. We had a great time! Please stay in touch as you are now part of the family! We all have guest rooms and when you bring your daughter to Ole Miss, we would love to see you. Hope your present tour has started out well. Take care!
Carole and Jim, Memphis
Scotland, England & London Custom Tour, 2018
Thanks again for accompanying us on a wonderful vacation. I appreciated the personal attention and individualized itinerary. I hope your enjoy your 2 weeks off (or at least time home). You've earned it. Many thanks again.
Bruce and Reva, Utah
Ireland and Scotland, 2018
It was a superb trip; well arranged and Neil and the local experts were excellent. We would certainly recommend you!
Richard C., Florida
Scottish Castles & Palaces, 2018
Hello Hugh, Back home in Ottawa for me and Amy is on her way to Florida. The trip was fantastic. Hamish was a great guide. He is very responsible and well versed in all things Scottish. We loved Scotland. Thanks for arranging a great trip.
Israel, Jordan & Egypt, 2018
We couldn’t be any happier with the trip you so meticulously orchestrated AND spending 3 weeks with you! It was truly a trip of a lifetime, with the added bonus of getting to
know you in the process. Thank you can’t begin to cover our feelings but for now, it’s just a start. With warm gratitude.
Sarah and Chip, Los Angeles
London, Cotswolds, Bath & Oxford, 2017
We want to thank you so much for an amazing magical trip. It was better than we ever could have hoped for. We will have such wonderful memories of all those lovely Cotswolds towns as well as London, Oxford, Bath and our trip to Wales.
You chose top notch places to stay, things to see and places to stay. We very appreciate all the efforts you put into making this such a wonderful trip for us.
Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and considerate. We had a wonderful time!
Rita B., Louise M., Anne Z., Marie Q., Kathy B., - Massachusetts
Yorkshire, Lake District, Cotswolds & Bath, 2017
This was a trip we had thought about for a long time but couldn't imagine how to manage it. You put together a wonderful itinerary and made everything easy. Thank you for your wonderful service! We will happily recommend you to our family and friends!"
Ellen and Kim P. - New York
London, Cotswolds, Bath & Oxford, 2017
Thank you so much for sending the final itinerary and all the photos that you took. You really are very efficient – I'm very impressed. It's nice to have some photos of the five of us together – that was the first trip we all took together and it's going to be a wonderful lifetime memory.
I have been spreading the word to anyone who has asked me about how very, very wonderful the trip was. I can't think of anything you could have done to make it any better for us. Your kindness, patience, and consideration of us was exceptional. We will never forget it and an extra bonus was meeting your beautiful daughters.
Our trip to beautiful England was such a wonderful experience for all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you again.
Rita B. - Massachusetts
Heart of Scotland, 2017
I just wanted to thank you and your team for creating such a fantastic trip for our group. We had a wonderful time and can't say enough great things about Wanderlust. Thank you. We are already looking forward to next year's trip with you!
James H. - CALIFORNIA
London, Cotswolds, Bath & Oxford, 2017
Thanks for the pics and best memories. My children have been calling for a report and they all ask "what was the highlight?" I started to describe the Feathered Nest tea but I stopped and said Hugh was the highlight. Your company, information, planning and extra-strength consideration was most appreciated (and we are pretty fussy). It was an EXCELLENT trip!!!
Louise M. - Massachusetts
The West Country: Cornwall, Dorset & Devon, 2017
It is rare in this life to encounter "a stranger" who enters your life and provides a remarkable period of complete enjoyment and pleasure over more than a week's time....But, indeed, you have done so for Susan and me. Your dedication to our needs, your expert knowledge and your calm, pleasant personality all combined to make our "SW England" tour an unmitigated delight - and provided a series of memories we will long cherish.
Don I., Susan I. - Virginia
Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland, 2017
For me, our trip to Scotland and Ireland couldn't have been better. Your careful research and planning made for a full, yet relaxing and absolutely delightful trip. We saw so many sights and beautiful natural landscape. I felt like we had all the time we wanted at each stop, were able to leave when we were done, and had flexibility to make extra stops. How refreshing compared to large group tours! And I felt safe at all times with your driving and with Noel in Ireland. Both of you made wonderful company without feeling at all intrusive.
The accommodations were just beautiful! Elegant, comfortable and relaxing, great service. The excellent food, choices, presentation and sevice were all just amazing. Looking back, I realize that, while we were busy and active all day, we weren't too exhausted to enjoy those fantastic dinners. I'm sure your traveling experience and planning, along with us being able to relax while we were driven, made that possible.
Thank you so much! I enthusiastically recommend Wanderlust tours.
Best wishes to you, Hugh. Cheers!
Cynthia H., Tom H. - Wisconsin
Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland
You are a true professional. We so enjoyed your company! Noel was a very nice addition to your crew. He was knowledgeable about the area and was most pleasant. We all agreed that it was one of the nicest trips we've ever taken.
The accommodations were excellent, well appointed and quintessentially European. The food was great too. Everything was well researched. We all felt that our itinerary contained a nice mix of sightseeing and history. Our guide in Dublin, Alexander,
was very knowledgeable and had a knack for making its history interesting. Having driver/guides made the trip extra relaxing. The walking tour of Edinburgh gave all of us good insight into a wonderful city. We will relive many moments in our minds for a long time.
Kurt K., Julie K. - Iowa
Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland, 2017
Amazing trip! Our group of five are already planning our next trip with Wanderlust. Everything was handled so expertly and professionally, from the minute we booked to the trip itself.
Mary T., Chuck T., - California
Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland, 2017
Great trip...can't say enough about Wanderlust. Their professionalism and service is top notch. Highly recommend them.
John A. Suzanne A., - Massachusetts
Provence, France, 2017
Wanderlust created a custom tour for our wine group to France (party of 8). We couldn't have had a better trip. We loved everything about the tour: the food, wine, culture, history, hotels...everything!
Jordan M. - Connecticut
Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland, 2017
Our Wanderlust Scotland and Ireland trip for our family of four was by far the best tour we have ever been on. We had a lot of questions before we booked and Hugh was so proactive in addressing all our requirements. We loved everything about our trip and our planning our next adventure with Wanderlust.
Sarah Z. - Virginia
From York to Edinburgh, 2017
This was a part of Great Britain we had never explored, you made it an incredible trip for us.
Eileen J., John., - Maine
Northumbria, The Lake District & Yorkshire, 2017
Fantastic trip! The personal service we received was five stars. We loved our guides, the food, the accommodation, the sights....it was wonderful. Thank you, Hugh, for such an amazing trip!
Frederick W., Brenda., - Florida
London, Cotswolds, Bath & Oxford, 2017
We had an amazing trip to England with Wanderlust. The accommodation was luxurious and lovely. The guides were so knowledgeable and we learned so much about England and the area. The food was delicious! The personal attention we received from time of booking to the trip was the best we have received!
Donna S. - Florida
Discover Scotland, 2017
The scenery of Scotland was breathtaking! Your attention to detail and service made our trip even better. Loved it!
Bob. S - Florida
Discover Ireland, 2017
What a fantastic tour! We loved every minute of it and felt like kings and queens with the impeccable service you gave us. Thank you!
Dennis M., Sheila M.' - Massachusetts
Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland, 2017
Such a great trip! Loved that we were able to see the best of Scotland and also Ireland. I can't thank you enough for taking such great care of our group. All the little extras and details could not have happened on one of those cookie-cutter tour groups. You were the best guide ever and we loved our trip. Can't wait to plan next year with you!
Terri. W - Virginia