Caledonian Travel

still no holiday or refund they give a link to a website where are supposed to claim money back from receivers but the website is down guess i'll never see my money again even though the thieving company is trading again absolutely scandalous avoid this company i know am not alone on this guess they've just stole everyones money to start up again

My wife and I have enjoyed many trips with Caledonian travel but now find ourselves being owed 拢480 for a trip we booked & paid in full too the Isle of Wight I have tried emailing the administrator several times now all too no avail we received a voucher that we did not want and every time I asked for my cash refund it is totally ignored i have my doubts that what they are doing is actually legal there are no phone numbers available too contact them I would appreciate any help going forward

I find it hard to believe this company have started up again as Tartan Travel so soon after going bust. We are still trying to get our money back For 2 holidays we had booked with them. It shouldn鈥檛 be allowed. Seeing their smug faces in today鈥檚 Sunday Post full page advert it makes me feel so let down by them.

As so many reviews before me have already mentioned, trying to obtain a refund from this company is a shambles! Firstly; they try to get you to cancel so you then forfeit your booking, then they say they'll keep your booking open, knowing full well it won't go ahead. Time buying exercise until they either (A) Go bust, or (B) somehow manage to let tours go ahead while putting vulnerable people at risk. Quite willing to put people's lives at risk. My Mother (who is high risk), now has the option to wait and potentially go on a trip that could kill her, or lose out on 拢500. I genuinely hope they don't go bust, pay everyone back – then go to the wall. How a company operates during this crisis can and should be reflected on them for years to come. The only company to date who have made it hard for me to get a refund.

before they go bang get your loans back
Everyone I urge you to go on to moneyclaim online and issue against national holidays.

They have to refund you in full by law.

The directors of the company headed up by Graham Rodgers Know they are breaking the law and are only trying to keep hold of the bonus they have received so far without investigation of false accounting.

They are not paying any creditors and have payment holidays on all the coaches they lease. Let鈥檚 be honest and say this is a company along with its Shearings parent that鈥檚 been winging it for the last four years! Fact that is and if you need to check just go on to companies house look at the accounts.
The group takes loans out at 9% interest.
Hello a decent set up will achieve 1.2% prior to covid 19.
The truth is it is knackered and a very old fashioned business with a director that could not tell the truth if he looked you in the eye!

So the best thing that can happen is they crash out and let decent people like Hayes travel take the market forward.

Hayes are even saying to customers they will refund the money and sort it out later. Proper trust worthy people at Hayes unlike Calvert and Rodgers who are the instigators of the poorly operated Shearings group inc national holidays and it associates companies.
In brief out for them self鈥檚. Cut the pay to the staff by 20% way before they needed to and way before the furlough scheme.
They laid off the drivers And other staff Without pay Or any consideration or care.
Sadly it鈥檚 doomed for them
And it鈥檚 down to bad leadership, all covid 19 has done is accelerated this process of a company that is about to be found out.
The accounts are a complete matter of opinion but the truth is the cash in the bank, and you guessed it they don鈥檛 have any! Why cause the directors have taken there bonus at the end of 2019. It鈥檚 all a fiddle people so don鈥檛 get draw in to the save Shearings campaign that has been set up by one of the yes people that is associated with them!

It鈥檚 also interesting to look at the charges that Lloyd鈥檚 bank have placed on Shearings group Ltd on Friday 24/04/2020.

Lloyd鈥檚 Bank are the biggest creditor It would seem at present? Graham Rodgers needs to stand up and man up without telling lies which is a skill he certainly has not learned in his career of destruction of coach holiday companies. Calvert has possibly walked in to this in 2016/7 with a lack of experience of such a crap outfit. The finance Director will be a yes man and the md of Shearings has a decent track and been caught up in this mess I would suggest!

The truth of the matter is the group has had price water house cooper in for the last 3 years at least as the directors are heading for a car crash big style and need to be held accountable.

Sadly it鈥檚 a big old ship wreck with dinosaurs director in Rogers. Loan star want rid of this poor effort of a tour operator for the last few years and I don鈥檛 blame them one bit as the shareholders will be thinking why are we bothering.

so in short use moneyclaim.co.uk to issue against this poor sad operator of a coach holiday tour operators and I urge you to act quickly And don鈥檛 delay.

The Published accounts for t group are a matter of opinion, the fact is that cash is king and Shearings & National holidays group have spent your money well before you have even paid your balance up in full! Let alone all
The supply chain to them. Hotels, attractions, tickets etc etc . But they sponsor Scarborough open air theatre !

Don鈥檛 accept the crap script or don鈥檛 waste your time just issue against them straight away without delay before they enter a further notice of intention to go in to administration.

Facebook users: please Join;
Shearings cancelled holidays means interest free loans for them

Like others i am frustrated about the lack of refund option with the recent cancellations.
I completely understand that things have to be cancelled and can't fault the company for that but now i have to try rebook something, the only other time off i have this year is in July and if thats also cancelled they'll basically be keeping my money for a year until can book something next year.
Absolutely disgusted with this should just be able to get a refund, this was my first booking with this company and seeing how they treat customers now it will certainly be my last!

Like the previous reviewers, I am also unhappy about refund due for a cancelled trip due to COVID-19 situation. They are not quick to respond to emails regarding this matter either. They have issued a credit note (that I do not want) and now we must contact them again months from now to review options. I find this all carefully worded and I believe paying customers should receive an automatic full refund under these circumstances. Unhappy with situation and service received.

Ive travelled with Caledonian travel a few times and enjoyed my trips. However I am getting nowhere asking for a refund of deposit paid for a trip on 27th April for my Mother , who is 91!, and myself.
Several e mails I've sent to them have not been accepted by their mail server and have been returned to me.
This is disgusting behaviour at this very difficult time for people.
Get refunds going Caledoninan Travel or you will lose a vast amount of customers, myself included!!!!

Same as other customers – appalling and illegal behaviour during COVID crisis.
Caledonian has cancelled our trip, but has told us that rebooking is the only option.
This is not true and also not legal under their own T's and C's and Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.

Caledonian seems to think that strong-arming and misleading is the way to deal with this situation.
I am happy to comply with ABTA advice and receive a credit note until payment can be made. But Caledonian has been rude, unhelpful and unwilling to even discuss a way to give customers their money back.

We understand these are tough times for the travel industry, but these are tough times all round, with many of us out of work.
Give us back our money. This is corporate theft and I am willing to take you to court.

Caledonian cancelled our bus tour and originally offered refunds – now they are refusing refunds and offering only to rebook! We don鈥檛 want to rebook – they are holding almost 拢600 our our money. I find this totally despicable treatment of their customers at a time of extreme financial hardship and fatal illness. All other travel companies are giving refunds. I believe this policy is illegal!

Would like to thank the staff at caledonian travel for working hard and giving us a voucher back for the Ireland holiday that was cut short thanks once again for your help isabel Gormley

Was booked to travel to Amstrdam on April 2. Got a call to say it was cancelled and offered another trip after July 2… WITH A 10% discount. No… want my money over 拢700 back. The manager said they are giving out vouchers… valid for 1 year. NO I want my money back… sorry youre getting a voucher.
Legal advice says I get a FULL refund… no youre getting a voucher

Just back from fort william and had a fabulous time even though the weather was bad the coach driver Alan was fantastic tried everything to make our time away as good as it could be. The hotel Bay Caledonian was really good for the money food was good and hotel staff were very friendly would definitely book again.

disgusted with calley,s cancellation policy for two tours to wheatlands lodge in York ,10 th and 17 th feb 2020 . both cancelled due to lack of numbers .if they cant fill a 52 seater coach then why not put on a smaller coach for the supposedly favourite and loyal customers .I was booked on 10 th feb tour which was cancelled and opted to transfer to 17th feb tour which they then cancelled as well ,again due to lack of numbers .
If you cancel your booking then they will penalise you but if they cancel then there is no recompense for inconvienience . just your tough luck
so much for loyalty which is supposed to cut BOTH WAYS

UPDATE from Caledonian Travel, 12th February 2020.

Just received a letter of apology from travel company along with a feasible explanation as to why the holiday/ hotel was such a let down. I have accepted their apologies and their goodwill gesture, in the shape of a travel voucher.
In view of this, we would consider booking with Caledonian travel in the future but would, perhaps, read the previous reviews a bit more carefully.

Just returned from New Year celebration break at Hirschen hotel, Black Forest, perhaps someone should have informed the hotelier. The telephone, television and shutters in room were not working but this did not matter or spoil our visit. The room was adequate. What did ruin it was the food, lack of any festive cheer, different price charged for each (same) drinks and nothing on offer on New Year's Day. Brunch was served at 9am, and was exactly the same as breakfast the previous 2 mornings, thereafter, nowhere to eat until dinner that night as everywhere was shut. No complementary toast at the bells, no 'cheers' from the host, no plan, so at around ten to midnight we all left the dining room and went outside where locals had fireworks. The food was served canteen style, queuing with your plate while owner served up. It would seem if 3 vegetables were on offer you were only allowed 2. On one night, along with my pork rissole, I was given ONE brussel sprout! We were asked for a show of hands, champagne or prosecco, which we assumed was to toast the New Year…..nothing! Still, all was not lost we had the guided walk through the forest on New Year's Day to look forward to……no, it was cancelled!! All in all, if it hadn't been for the good company and absolute determination to enjoy ourselves, it would have been money down the drain. Cost around 拢1000 and booked through Caledonia travel who have been informed though still awaiting their plan on how to resolve this to our satisfaction. Rumour has it this hotel is changing hands…..let's hope so, otherwise stay home.

I have just returned from the Tutankhamen London weekend, it was fantastic, great value for money, the International hotel got poor reviews so I was a bit apprehensive, but I needn鈥檛 have worried the hotel was clean, comfortable, lovely staff, and I don鈥檛 know who would not be pleased with the food. Andy our bus driver was so good kept us all amused and answered all the questions we had about London, he was so knowledgeable, friendly, and funny.I will be doing this trip again and highly recommend it.

Myself and two friends booked the Norbrek Hotel in Blackpool for their 2019/2020 New Year Celebrations Weekend. The bus trip down was fine and the driver was very helpful. On our arrival at the Norbrek the first thing we noticed when we got off the bus was the dirty entrance into the hotel. The hotel was very dated and not clean. When we got to our rooms the smell of dampness was very strong. The rooms were not the rooms advertised on their web site. When asked to get moved we were told there were no rooms available. The phones in the rooms did not work. Bathrooms were very basic no toiletries. The television was the smallest screen ever. Phoned Caledonian Travel the next day to complain that someone from their company really needs to visit the hotel to grade it. It was the worst hotel l have visited and definitely would never recommend it to anyone.

Awful too good at cancelling last minute used to love travel with them

We have just returned from the Elf The Musical tour (Liverpool), and ok the hotel was pretty basic, but the driver, coach, and show, more than made up for it especially for the price. The driver was very accommodating, and entertaining…and what with him having to drive us home in a awful storm …he is an absolute credit to that company.
the show was very good. The only reason I didn鈥檛 give it 5* is because the booking office let them down when I phoned for pick up destination information. Even on the day…they gave the wrong info.
All in all…a good weekend

On the whole, very good value for money. Hotels can be hit and miss! Best I've stayed in was an ibis on an Alton towers weekend, worst was in Blackpool. Only one night, so was bearable. Enjoyed a coronation St trip, stayed in Britania Hotel, was fine, no complaints. Lovely friendly driver. Excellent value. Been with them, few times.

I stayed at the Grand Hotel Scarborough on 23rd August for 2 nights. Hotel room was on the same floor as kitchen. Trolley with pallets in corridor. Went for lift on second day and a room door opposite lift was open. Red sauce had been spilled on the floor. It was there the next day. The room was dusty and had moths. On arrival used the public toilet while waiting for too The public toilet at reception had a big dead moth on the floor.
It was still there on the Sunday the windows were dirty and had bird poo over them.
The alarm went off at 2.10 in the morning. There is a sign saying if there is an evacuation then hang the sign on the door if requiring assistance. No one came. After a while the hotel staff said we could go back to our rooms. A woman raised her voice saying she stayed in the hotel 4 years e bago and the same think happened. Staff told hrer to go back to her room. She did and turned out there was a fire. The fire brigade eventually came and advised to go back to our room after Hotel was checked. A few guests packed their bags and left. Dirty hotel !!!
Contacted Caledonian who said they would ask the hotel for their comments. They never got back to me. I had newsfeed in my phone
Yesterday advising that Britannia hotels were the worst in the country. It said there were mice running around a hotel bedroom. Caledonia still use the Grand Hotel in Scarborough. They don鈥檛 care about the customer health or safety. Still waiting fir a reply since August. They are not interested. They use substandard hotels. Will not be travelling with them again.

Have just returned from the river cruise down the rhine and it was excellent, the river boat was nice (we had a premium cabin) the food was lovely, cudnt fault anything about this trip, the company was good, and the weather was great,23deg a special thanks to Clive our coach driver, he was very informative about the places we seen, a very pleasant and helpful man, all in all we had a ball

Have been on a number of trips with Caledonian. On the whole they use very poor quality hotels with misleading descriptions of the facilities. The trips are value for money and the convenience of not having to drive is handy. However if it was not for the fact there are not many other coach trip companies available from Scotland, I would not be using them at all. I have been put off booking further trips due to the poor quality accommodation, which Caledonian seem to ignore in any complaints. Out of the 8 trips I have had only 2 hotels were of a reasonable standard for food and facilities and cleanliness.

Grand Hotel Scarborough, is a disgusting state, its filthy, rooms dirty and cold, showers dirty, public areas carpets and furniture sticky and dirty and it's houses a lot of DSS down and outs, who, god bless them smell and dirty clothing.
Caledonian travel need to change away from Brittania hotels or they are going to lose a lot of business.

Just back from a supposed to be 5 day tour to Great Yarmouth. Left Hamilton 8 a.m to arrive waverley hotel 6p.m for 7p.m evening meal. So day 1 wasted traveling Day2 trip on Missisipi cruise on Norfolk broads nice and relaxing.Late afternoon evening at leisure in Gt Yarmouth. Day 3 a.m trip to Sheringham nice villageDepart for afternoon in Crpmer where the driver states back on bus by 2.30p.m after arrivibg ib Cromer 2p.m so rush round a nice village rush back uphill to coach park to find after we exited the coach the driver changed departure back to Yarmouth till 3.3o p.m so 10/25 passengersere left standibg in the coach park until 3.30 p.m evening at leisure in Gt Yarmouth. Day 4 spent at leisure in Gt Yarmouth. Day 5 on day 3 coach driver Andy informs everyone that on day 5 Friday have luugage out for 7 a.m for a 7.30 a.m breakfast to depart 8.30 a.m for return journey to Hamilton for a 6.15p.m arrival in Hamilton so how can caledonian advertise this holiday as 5 days/4 nights when 2 days are spent travelling. Also found food in the Waverley hotel to be of avery basic standard. Drivers itinery in hotel very basic as times for departure are advertised inn hotel notifying departure times but not departure times from tour to return to Gt Yarmouth which would save the confusion causedre departure time from Cromer back to Gt Yarmouth. Also thought pick up point was also drop off point only to find the driver Andy drop off in Gretna Gateway outlet village then 45 min stop off statuary for driverbut in my opinion thisput an extra 15 mins on our journey. I find two much is left to the descretion of the driver as when the company advertise the tour they should put more description and give the driver accurate full itenary and bar any road traffic hold ups the driver should stick to this asmuch as possible or keep passengers more informed en-route