Testimonials

We have just returned from a thrilling holiday in India – thanks to Travel With Jules. Notwithstanding our limited budget, Jules found us an amazing Rajasthan tour – fifteen nights of four star accommodation and comfortable travel at budget prices. She paid meticulous attention to all aspects of our trip, kept us fully informed throughout the process, and looked after us virtually until we got on the plane! We cannot praise her highly enough, and will go nowhere else in future when planning and booking our holidays. Thank you so much Jules!

Jenny Labbett & Allan Williams

Jenny Labbett – India (March 2012)

In desperation, yet again having left things to the last minute to find a family holiday and with options looking limited, I decided to give Travels with Jules a whirl, having no idea how well it would work out. Within days Jules had found the perfect villa, fitting all our fussy criteria, including heated pool, in a beautiful, non-commercialised part of Spain, and had booked everything for us – accommodation, flights, hire car and even airport parking.

But better than this no-fuss full service was the expert knowledge Jules was able to bring to our holiday. We would never have figured out ourselves that it would be easier to fly into Valencia rather than Alicante, or that Valencia itself would be a hidden gem, but we followed the tip and added it as a brilliant weekend stop before the main holiday. That kind of expert advice alone makes it certain we’ll be using Jules’ excellent service for the next family holiday.

Davies Family – Spain (April 2012)

Oman was lovely! Hotel perfect (Shangri-La Al Husn) and we enjoyed the no kids part, very peaceful. The pool and beach were lovely and nice to swim from. Although it was an expensive hotel all the little extras made it seem good value and our final bill at the end was less than we had anticipated. All very relaxing, great service and we really liked the Omani people.

Thank you for recommending this hotel it was excellent for a short break to relax and get some sun. We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and the organisation went without a hitch.

Emma & Christian Heyman – Oman (April 2012)

Having read that the Northern Lights were predicted to be exceptional in 2012, my husband and I decided to find a holiday that we would both enjoy but, at the same time, maximise our chances of seeing the lights.

We found Julie on line and gave her our wish list and she came up trumps with a snow shoeing holiday in Finland. It was perfect – good fun, active but not too challenging. We were based in a comfortable eco camp in the Oulanka National Park surrounded by wonderful scenery, where the staff and guides were very professional, efficient and great fun. To top all this, we saw the Northern Lights over four nights culminating in a spectacular display on the final night. All in all, just the right holiday for us. Thank you Julie.

Mo Parker – Finland (March 2012)

Thank you for organising such a great schedule for us on our recent trip to Norway, especially at such short notice and with so much demand this season for Northern Lights. We were really lucky to see the start of the longest Husky race in Europe and the two husky trips we did were both great fun and very different experiences. I’m really glad I had a go at ”mushing” the dogs were a joy to work with both during the day and also the night event. The staff at the hotel in Alta were very helpful and friendly, as was everyone we met. The Igloo Hotel was a sight to behold, the level of detail they go to throughout but particularly for the little chapel was amazing.

Cathy Bauso – Northern Norway (March 2012)

Julie, many, many thanks for the trip you organised for us to Norway for my wife’s surprise birthday present. You were so understanding when I outlined all that I wanted to include, patient with my hesitations about whether my wife would be happy with what I was deciding and remained cheerful despite the changes I kept requesting. It all paid off, the travel arrangements worked perfectly and we loved the hotels, particularly the room in Tromso with the view of the sea and mountains. The excursions were just what I hoped for (… see bottom of Norway page for more about the excursions)

Thanks again for all your help, both recommendations and bookings. It made organising a holiday a pleasurable experience and having you available by phone and on-line to sort out any possible problems was reassuring.

Peter Robinson – Northern Norway (Feb 2012)

I have been to New York many times before and most times have organised myself. After a few abortive attempts to find flights, I decided to use the services of a travel consultant and I am very glad I picked Travel with Jules. Not only was she able to get me the direct flights I wanted on the days I wanted which I had not been able to do, she was also wonderfully efficient in providing information regarding hotel information using the criteria I had given her. Instead of trawling the net for days, I only had half a dozen sites to look at which she had narrowed it down to in order to make my decision – bliss!

Invoicing and payments all sorted very efficiently and on top of all this, I got points on my Co-op Divi card – result or what! When the tickets and information pack came through, there was nothing forgotten. Reminders about insurance, ESTAs/visas, currency, passport and heaps of info on the destination too. I can heartily recommend Julie’s work, nothing is too much trouble for her and she seemed to be available 24/7 too!

Sue Hall – New York (March 2012)

Julie, thank you so much for helping us choose fantastic accomodation base for exploring the stunning Cayman Islands. Before we left you gave us great advice and were very patient with us, even after we looked and you spent hours searching for us, for us then to choose the first place you reccomended!! We had a truly magical time and the organisation from start to end ensured that it was hassle free for us! (See Cayman Islands page for more feedback from these clients).

We had the most fantastic time away, it was pure paradise! The ocean was many colours of turquoise and the beach was beautiful and sandy. We LOVED Sunshine suites, staff were very friendly, accomodation clean and the food at the Sunshine Grill was great and affordable. The beach was only 2 minutes away and we enjoyed finding slightly less crowded places only a 5 minute walk away. Snorkeling was great only a few yards into the sea and was just great! While on the beach one day Lee proposed … Both very very happy and the most stunning place to have got engaged at! Thank you again for everything. Thank you so much for all the hardwork that you put in and helped us to have the most fantatsic and memorable holiday i could have hoped for!

Kilda Harrison & Lee Stanbrook

Kilda & Lee – Cayman Islands (Feb 2012)

Julie, it’s been nearly two months since we got back from our ’megamoon’ (as we like to call it) but the memory of still very fresh. What a super trip to Thailand that you planned for us, a super break from two very hectic workling lives. Even though my husband and I have very particular requests, you managed to tailor the holiday perfectly. I can’t put my finger on the best bit, but I think the important part was that everything would go to plan (as you had assured me before we left!). Given we went to Bangkok, Chang Mai, Phuket and Koh Yao (our favourite!!) the changeovers and transfers were flawless and hassle free. The papers and information about our destinations that you sent to us well in advance of the holiday were extremely useful and helped us to really make the most of an incredible trip. We certainly feel like we got a true flavour of Thai culture, food and massage!! The guided tours were personal and mostly private which was a bonus. Thank you for all your patience and help before we went but also whilst there when my husband had a panic when he heard there was a rain cloud hovering over Koh Yao. You’re brilliant but sadly the weather’s out of your control! In any event, we came back brown bombshells
Hopefully others will read this review with interest and it will convince them to book through you if they want a trip truly tailored to their taste!!! It was perfect. A megamoon never to forget… We’ll start saving for the next one…..(together of course!!), Love and best wishes

Natalie Dunn (Southsea, Hampshire)

Natalie & Giles Dunn – Thailand (Dec 2011)

We just returned from our second booking through Travel With Jules, where we visited Iceland and stayed in Reykjavik for a long weekend. Julie’s choice of hotel was centrally placed and great, the food in the many restaurants of the city was lovely – the best place was the Fish Market which was excellent.

We had a fantastic time and I would like to return next time with my children. The Blue Lagoon trip was great as was the South Shore Adventure – turned into a real adventure, trying to cross a frozen river, getting stuck and having to be rescued – all great fun! Thank you Jules for organising another great trip … until the next one.

Carole & Andy – Iceland (Dec 2011)

We just wanted to say thank you for all your help in finding us an excellent ski deal for Christmas which indeed it was. Meribel is a lovely resort, excellent ski area and we were lucky enough to have some fantastic snow and 4 days of sunshine. The chalet was in a good location and we had a really nice chalet host. We appreciate how much work you did for us at the last minute, thank you.

Nick & Sandra – France (Dec 2011)

I booked my trip to Morocco through ’Travel with Jules,’ this made it really easy and straight forward, with Julie updating me about costs and when my tickets were available. She looked for various options covering my specification for dates, duration and type of holiday and this proved to be a very successful trip. All my flights were arranged efficiently, airport transfers were organised and I quickly met up with the group on my arrival in Marrakech. I would happily use ‘Travel with Jules’ to book future holidays.

This was the Atlas Panorama group tour with Exodus. The holiday itself was amazing, allowing a mix of the culture and history of Marrakech with the craziness of the medina and souks. Followed by a few days exploring the Atlas Mountains, seeing the amazing scenery and breathtaking views. Is a trip I would recommend for all those who don’t want to lay by the pool all day and happy to put on your walking boots and go exploring – great excuse to indulge in the tasty moroccan food!

Karen Pooley – Morocco (Dec 2011)

It was a brilliant holiday (again) thank you so much. Everything went like clockwork; we were met by a very affable rep who helped us get visas and through customs where we were met by the delightful Younes, our guide and driver in Jordan. Our guides in Jordan and Israel were all superb.

Petra by candlelight was too touristy to enjoy really but the Siq by daylight was so much better than at night! Astonishing place. Movenpick Petra is beautiful, convenient and very restful. I don’t know how much the Petra Kitchen experience cost, but it was worth every penny. We had great fun (about twenty four people, all together) with an excellent host and in a clean kitchen/dining area, making the most beautiful tasting food. Wadi Rum desert was astonishing, and even the daughters were impressed. Six Senses Spa! Wow! What a place! What a setting!

Overall, another seamless performance by JC (Jules!). We had a fantastic time and never at any stage was there any doubt about the arrangements. The only problem was, as usual, that there was not enough time to do all the things we wanted to. We greatly appreciate all the hard graft you put in to make things happen for us, and the planning with you and expectation of things to come double the pleasure of the experience. As George Peppard says in ‘The A Team’, “I love it when a plan comes together”. We really did have a brilliant holiday thanks to you.

Furbank Family – Jordan & Israel (Oct 2011)

We have recently come back from Lake Garda in North Italy. We stayed in the Color Hotel in Bardolino, a five minute walk from the lake. The hotel was first class, the staff were very friendly and the attention to detail was just right. The most difficult decision was deciding on which of the three pools to sit by!

Jules took the stress out of finding a hotel that was not full in September and was perfect for our requirements. It was lovely to have a friendly voice on the end of the phone. Thank you for all your knowledge and advice.

Gill, Bill, Caroline and Vince.

Gill Nunn – Italy (Sept 2011)

Julie was brilliant! We had decided that we wanted to go to Zambia for a couple of weeks, and wanted to visit a couple of different national parks to see a variety of wildlife and a variety of different landscapes. Julie’s knowledge and passion for Zambia was amazing, not only had she personally visited the parks but had also spent time at many of the individual camps as well. Her knowledge meant that we were able to have “real” conversations about our trip and make the right decisions meaning that we had an unbelievable holiday.

As well as Julie’s great knowledge, her customer care was spot on! Replying to e-mails and calls immediately and taking time to get to know us and what we wanted from our holiday. Zambia was incredible, and I can’t recommend South Luangwa and Kaingo camp strongly enough, the wildlife was spectacular, great sightings on every drive; mating lions, preening leopards, bathing elephants, fighting hippos, and eagles fishing to mention just a few! We can’t wait to go back to Africa and when we do it will be through Julie.

Rob Shave – Zambia (Aug 2011)

I was between jobs and had two weeks before I began so decided to go on a last minute holiday in August. I didn’t have the time to look into all the options so contacted Julie with my specifications and within a day or two she had found a holiday that suited me and booked an Exodus trip cycling in Slovakia and Poland. Julie sent me all my details quickly (I booked within a week of travel!) which made it easy to sort out my documents and what I needed to take with me and she was always on hand for any questions I had which gave me confidence before I set off. I had a great holiday that suited me perfectly and would like to think I’ll be doing a similar holiday very soon!

Kendal Harrison – Poland & Slovakia (Aug 2011)

As someone who tends to be quite spontaneous, arranging a holiday at short notice and at a price I can afford isn’t always the easiest thing. Back in mid-July, I decided that I wanted to take my daughter to Crete for a week in early August, just three weeks away. We knew the resort we wanted to go to, but needed to get a package together.

As someone who knows the power of Twitter (I train and mentor businesses and people in how to use it) I turned to it to find my solution. Within three hours I received a phone call from Jules. She saw my tweet, via a mutual friend on Twitter! By the next morning my week’s holiday in Crete was researched, sorted and agreed, including a good deal on car hire. We stayed in some great apartments in the heart of the resort and enjoyed a really relaxing week, exploring the island, snorkelling & sitting in traditional tavernas!

There was no panic or hassle in the whole project, as Jules had got it all sorted. She also kept in contact prior to departure and on our return, to ensure everything went smoothly. I can’t recommend her highly enough (or Twitter!) and will certainly consider using Travel With Jules again. (If you want help with Twitter, you can find me at @grahamrichards)

Graham Richards – Crete (July 2011)

We would like to thank Jules for her quick and expert services in finding us a perfectly located hotel in Madrid at very short notice! Right opposite the metro station making for a very easy journey from the airport and only a few minutes walk from the most interesting historical sights of Madrid. This modern and quiet hotel was perfect for our needs and we would recommend Travel With Jules to organise anyone’s city break requirements.

Lynn & Dave Hamer – Madrid

I wanted to thank you so much for your advice that you gave me in my moment of panic when I discovered last week that our tour operator had gone in receivership and our family holiday was no longer.

Having someone at the end of the phone with your experience and knowledge of the travel industry was great relief. We were very impressed how quickly you could ascertain for us the situation and put our minds at rest with regards to what the CAA had announced and had access to the press release from the operator themselves. We would not have had a clue where to start with finding out what we should do! It was also really kind of you to offer your services to find us another holiday. We have now managed to secure another holiday and are driving to France and staying in the French Alps but wanted to say a big thank to you for helping us even though we had not booked with you!

We shall be recommending ‘ Travel with Jules’ in the future as its always the little things that help make a difference and once again it was a pleasure talking to you.

Claire Ambler

We have just returned from a fabulous week in Kefalonia, organised at lightening speed (a day and a half in fact!) by Julie Croucher.

It was a spontaneous decision, to say the least: I phoned Jules and she set to and organised flights, accommodation, and hire car all for a very reasonable price, and in time for us to go the very next day, with the paperwork coming mainly by email. Everything went like clockwork, and Sunvil Holidays proved to be every bit as efficient and friendly as Jules had promised, and did indeed show us ‘the real country’.

Jules’ unflustered approach, helpful advice, huge enthusiasm and willingness to put herself out for us is something we will not forget in a hurry, and really appreciate. We will not hesitate to consult her when we next want a holiday – thanks Jules!

Love from Helen and Mark

Helen Roberts – Kefalonia (July 2011)

I first met Julie back in 2002 when she was working for Naturetrek, whilst dealing with our holidays there she added a personal touch so that we were already on first name terms when we met in person at Rutland Bird Fair shortly after. Julie was also integral to the recovery of a consignment of 60 football strips which I was donating to the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre in South Luangwa in Zambia – there had been a mess up in the ground operations which caused the donation to be impounded by customs at Mfuwe airport! Julie then went to work in Malawi and helped us from ‘the other end’ and eleven months later, following major red tape issues, a successful outcome was achieved and the football kit reached it’s goal thanks to Julie’s persistence!! Nearly ten years on, we still communicate as friends. To lift a business contact and develop the relationship into friendship takes a special talent and creates an important bond with the customer.

I have met many people who Julie has interacted with at lodges and camps in Africa and they reported to me how friendly and thorough she was in developing the foundation for future clients to enjoy the local environment and that what was promised ‘in the brochures’ did actually exist in reality!

I wish Julie every success in her solo career in the travel industry and I am confident that her skills and enthusiasm will present all her future customers with memorable adventures. It has been a pleasure for me to deal with someone so proficient in her expertise.

Wilf Graham

One of the things I have come to love about you, Jules, is that you listen and take on board what makes me tick, and then tailor the holiday to fit me, not just try to convince me to fit a holiday in a brochure!