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Highest satisfaction rating of any UK travel company. 98% of 5776 reviews say 'EXCELLENT'
Highest satisfaction rating of any UK travel company. 98% of 5776 reviews say 'EXCELLENT'
We use you regularly because you give us a good service
Everything was lovely, from the great seats on the plane, to the lovely hotel. Thank you very much
As you always do, you provided a brilliant and reliable service Sebastian, which is just what we need when travelling.
The waiting times for special assistance were frustratingly long
Very good overall. My only request would be that the return transfer pickup time is included in the itinerary. I have to always chase this information. But this is a minor point. I am generally very happy with the service and support l am given.
Flights were really excellent and staff onboard were most helpful.
Great hotel recommended by you for a fantastic break
Brilliant as always.
Everything worked perfectly. We had to return four days early and within a couple of hours of notifying Ted he had rebooked flights, confirmed hotel reservations. Quite brilliant
Service from Olivia was great
Woody has been superb with his service
Fantastic situation of hotel and staff very, very helpful. Would definitely use again.
Fantastic service as usual, found us an ideal hotel. Could not have been better situated or nicer.
Such an efficient and seamless service. Very impressed and will definitely be using your services in the future!
Harriet and Miles as always very good
Palazzo Guardi was just right for us. Friendly, accommodating staff; comfortable room; ample breakfasts that offered more than the advertised "continental" style would suggest. 12 minutes walk, as we timed it, from Piazza San Marco, with the option of using a gondola ferry or traghetto across the Grand Canal at €2 if you prefer. An excellent location for the heart of Venice.
Great service.
Excellent choice by you for our hotel. Very central in Florence. Comfortable with lots of character. Brunelleschi Hotel.
As always, Michelle and her team excelled.
Miles and Hayley are both excellant
Thanks for the brilliant trip. You were, as always, superb in your customer relations and support.
Many thanks - we had a great time.
10 out of 10
Great hotel and flight. Many thanks to Hugo
Excellent service from Rupert and his team as always
Vueling flights delayed both ways.
All great and hassle free, thanks
Excellent as always, thank you.
Everything worked out well with both flights and hotel which was a good location for Venice and whilst the room was small we were there at Christmas and New Year - high season- so it was difficult to do anything about it. The 4 star rating was otherwise quite justified.
Provided flight resources and solutions not available on discount websites
Some hotels manage effortlessly to combine a hip and trendy image with old school charm - and the Splendido Hotel in Portofino is certainly one of them. In the Hotel Splendido’s case a generous dose of Italian style is also thrown in for good measure.
THE ROAD TO SPLENDIDO
It is perched on the Italian Riviera coastline, two hotels in one, both boasting roof gardens, geranium-filled terraces and a languid way of life. Carved from a 16th Century Benedictine monastery high above the village, the original Hotel Splendido opened in 1902 and has 65 rooms surrounded by terrace gardens with a swimming pool. In 1998, a satellite branch on the harbour - the Splendido al Mare - opened with 16 rooms and suites.
Portofino is still a fishing village, south-east of Genoa. Pastel-coloured houses, high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants fringe the Piazzetta, which is a small cobbled square overlooking the harbor, which often has a selection of super-yachts in evidence.
A path leads from the Piazzetta to Castello Brown, a 16th century fortress and museum with frequent art exhibitions and constant panoramic views of the town and the Ligurian Sea.
The village in general, and Hotel Splendido in particular, has always been a magnet for celebrities, past and present. The visitor of note list includes Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Madonna, Rihanna.
WHAT TO EXPECT
All the hotel's rooms are spacious with a mix of antiques and marble, maintaining a timeless feel. Gadgets are kept to a minimum, although the Splendido does have its own yacht. There is also a shuttle to spare guests the 15-minute walk between the two sites.
ITALIANS DO IT BEST
Food takes centre stage - this is Italy, after all. Elizabeth Taylor, who honeymooned here, has a spaghetti dish named after her – but Ava Gardner went one better. There is a suite named after her.
La Terrazza is the Splendido's most iconic restaurant – it’s romantic, relaxed, with serious seafood and alfresco tables.
Down in the harbour, Chuflay offers a more formal dining experience, but many celebrities - including Madonna and Rihanna - see it as the perfect place to hang out during yachting holidays.
The location on the Ligurian is as scenic as could be desired, and Portofino's harbour is one of Europe's most beautiful. The many-coloured villas hugging the coastline are the subject of many calendars.
The waters of this fishing village are now frequented by the yachts of the super rich. Yes, there's nothing much to do - but that's really the whole point of Portofino. You stroll, indulge in some light shopping at Ferragamo, and then indulge some more at a restaurant or bar.
HOME TO THE STARS
The USP of Portofino is that it can claim to be Italy the way it was - for Hollywood stars at least - around 50 years ago, when celebrities could wander through the cobbled streets without being pestered for selfies.
It's still, relatively speaking, a safe zone for celebrities. But Beyoncé learned that stilettos aren't the best footwear for the terrain in 2010 - when she returned in 2014, she opted for more suitable flats.
Regular guests Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw holidayed at the hotel with their family very recently. Kylie Minogue, another regular visitor, was also in Portofino recently to perform at a Dolce & Gabbana show.
FINAL CONCLUSION
But is it good enough for the rest of us? Undeniably it is. You can sip your aperitif at one of the delightful harbour bars and feel just like a star.
And at the Splendido, from the stars twinkling above the moonlit ocean to the swaying palms in the garden, you can live la dolce vita. It is the epitome of Italian glamour.
Amazingly it is simple old fashioned service that sets us apart from other travel firms. And yes, we really do answer the phone within 5 seconds!
Check out the reviews on Trustpilot and the word ‘service’ appears again and again. And you’ll find many reviews from customers saying they wasted hours trying to plan a holiday themselves before calling us - often on the advice of a friend - only to find we could offer numerous options not available online which also saved them money.
Our team of 300 travel managers has been arranging tailor-made holidays for almost 38 years and we do not believe anyone does it better. Judge for yourself.
Airport Lounges fr £25
Once you’re through security leave the crowds, kids and chaos behind you with a visit to one of our comfortable airport lounges.
All offer complimentary food, drinks, wifi and newspapers with some also including Fastrack through security. Prices from £25.
Use our speedy private transfer service to avoid the stress of finding your way out of the airport terminal and looking for a taxi or bus on arrival.
With our meet and greet service, our driver will meet you in the arrivals hall. They will monitor flight arrival times giving you peace of mind that someone will be waiting for you with a name board even if your flight is late.
They will then assist you with your luggage and organise a private transfer directly to your hotel - there’s no waiting around for other passengers for shared transfers!
So no queues, no delays and less stress.
Curious tourist, culture vulture or sporting addict? Wherever you are in the world we can help you get the most from your trip with sightseeing suggestions, city tours and a variety of leisure activities.
Book in advance through your travel manager and not only will you save an average of 10% over booking locally but you won’t risk missing out if a particularly activity or tour is oversubscribed.
With or without a guide, tours offer a unique insight
Take an escorted small group tour if you really want to find the essence of a country, from a local guide.
Take the open road for a freewheeling self-drive tour - a fantastic way to explore a country at your own pace.
Cruise holidays have come of age allowing you to visit several countries and see amazing places, all on one go.
Bespoke private tours offer you freedom and flexibility without the stress of arranging everything yourself.
All customers can take advantage of exclusive premium rates we’ve negotiated for our portfolio of business clients.
We’ll maintain your preferred airline loyalty programmes
and you’ll have 24/7 support wherever you are in the world.
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