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Audley Travel - USA   Reviews

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North Washington Street 77, 4th Floor, 02114 Boston, Massachusetts, US

Reviews 4.4

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Barcelona - Spring 2024

We had a fantastic family vacation in Barcelona thanks to the attention and care we received from Eric Carnes. Eric was genuinely interested in our family dynamic and was able to assist us with creating unique opportunities for our time together while experiencing Barcelona. We asked for many unique amenities from customized architectural tours to securing sporting event tickets. He was even able to accommodate our big ask of being in the middle of city in a multi-bedroom apartment with all of the perks of staying in a high end hotel. We highly recommend Audrey Travel and Eric Carnes.

Date of experience : March 26, 2024

Reply from Audley Travel - USA

Hi Cam, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these incredibly kind words about your experience with Audley. We are so happy to hear that Eric was genuinely interested in what your family wanted out of your trip, and that through his care and attention was able to deliver a truly unique vacation for you! We have already shared your feedback with Eric and his manager. We cannot wait to help you plan your next big adventure! Kind regards Audley Travel USA

Audley Great in Exotic Locations

We just got back from a trip to India and Bhutan. This is our 2nd trip with Audley and we would definitely use them again. They have excellent partners (both Audley and local partners) and we felt well taken care of. The trip was well organized and Jason did a great job in keeping us in the loop. My only feedback would be it would be great to see a more itemized bill - you just get one lump sum. But in locations that are difficult or out of the ordinary (like Bhutan) I would definitely go with Audley.

Date of experience : March 09, 2024

Hi Matthew, Thank you for taking the time so share these kind words about your recent trip to India and Bhutan. We are so happy to hear that Jason was so communicative throughout the planning process! We have passed your feedback to Jason, and will make sure our partners in India and Bhutan know how much you appreciated them. We look forward to helping you plan your next great adventure! Kind regards, Audley Travel USA

Laura Coughlin at Audley Travel is…

Laura Coughlin at Audley Travel is absolutely the best! If you have a desire to go to South Africa to visit Cape Town, go on Safari or visit Victoria Falls in Zambia she is the expert. To no surprise, every i was dotted and every t crossed. The transfer drivers always arrived on time whether at the airports or from lodge to lodge. Friendly and knowledgeable about the different townships or villages we drove through. They were great. The binder Audley provided us had every detail organized by date & time which released any stress we might have had, Can’t even begin to tell you what a fantastic trip my wife & I had with select hotels, suggested excursions and the like all by Laura. Gotta be up front, we were nervous about the trip however Laura and her expertise made everything come off without a hitch. She really is the consummate professional and represents Audley to very high standards. Professionally, Dr Mark

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Hi Mark, Thank you for taking the time to share this incredible feedback with us. We are so happy to hear that Laura’s expertise and guidance helped put you at ease, and that you were able to have such a fantastic experience! We have already share your thoughtful words with Laura, and will make sure to pass along to our partners in South Africa who helped deliver a unique adventure. We look forward to helping you plan more amazing journeys in the future! Best wishes, Audley Travel USA

Liz planned an outstanding tour through all of Egypt for us! The historic temples, tombs, and pyramids were an amazing history lesson. Liz’s knowledge, guidance, and experience were invaluable! Thank you!

Date of experience : February 09, 2024

Hi Elyse, Thank you for taking the time to share these kind words about your recent trip to Egypt. We are so happy to hear that Liz utilized her knowledge and experience to help you plan such an outstanding journey through history! We have already shared your feedback with Liz, and will make sure to share with our partners at Smithsonian Journeys, as well. We look forward to helping you plan your next grand adventure! Kind regards, Audley Travel USA

We just returned from a trip to Spain…

We just returned from a trip to Spain through AudleyTravel. It was excellent our second booking with them. . I cannot recommend it more highly. I would never again use anyone else. We had two different agents because of the promotion of our first gal, Jay Drasich, who was great and then Maggie McCarthy took over. Maggie was friendly , easy to deal with, very professional. We were a special case because of a family medical situation. We had to cancel the first booking and reschedule it for a year later only to reverse it all over again. AudleyTravel, first Jay and then Maggie were all wonderful with this. They were so accommodating. The trip itself was wonderful. Every person , the drivers, the guides, the local contacts were first rate. Our guide Yolanda at the Prada gave a master class in art history. We learned so much and it made the whole experience more meaningful. That was true of all the tours we took. We loved the hotels , their locations, everything. This is the way we love to travel, independently, but beautifully supported in every way. As older travelers we didn’t have to get up early and take a bus with a lot of folks we might not have wanted to be with. We had our own itinerary, the things we wanted to do and see at our pace on our schedule. Maggie was with me every step of the way, planning, answering questions. She prepared me so well that when yet another medical situation came up I knew what to do and all went smoothly. This is a first class company with first class agents. With that kind of service you might think it is outrageously expensive but as I was referring Maggie to a friend she asked about cost and when I told her she said, wow that is very reasonable. I am just sorry I didn’t find AudleyTravel earlier. Our first trip with them to Hawaii was also fabulous. Thank you, AudleyTravel!

Date of experience : March 17, 2024

Hi Sherry, Thank you so much for your incredibly kind feedback. We are so happy to hear that both Jay and Maggie were wonderful to work with, and that Maggie was so accommodating when you needed to cancel and rebook your trip due to a medical concern. It sounds like you had an incredible experience full of incredible experiences! We have already shared your amazing praise with Jay, Maggie, and the members of our 24 hour emergency line that you spoke with while traveling, and will make sure to pass along to our partners in Spain. We cannot wait to help you plan your next grand adventure! Best wishes Audley Travel US

If you are looking for a five star vacation and you don’t have the time or will to do all of the research and legwork, this is the company for you. Lucy coordinated an amazing trip to Spain for my family of five only weeks prior to the trip.

Date of experience : March 16, 2024

Hi Keith, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback from your recent trip to Spain. We are so happy that Lucy was able to help you coordinate an amazing last-minute trip for you and your family! We will make sure to pass along your kind words to Lucy, as well as to her manager. We cannot wait to help you plan your next amazing journey! Kind regards, Audley Travel USA

The planning for our trip was flawless

The planning for our trip was flawless. Drivers were always on time and uniformly helpful. Hotels were unique--not the usual chains--always lovely and well located. Guides were beyond amazing--knowledgable about history, architecture and art as well as warm and engaging. I can't say enough about Audley's travel services. This was our 6th trip with them and we are already planning another.

Date of experience : March 07, 2024

Hi Lisa, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these kind words with us. We are so happy to hear that Corinne was able to plan yet another flawless trip for you and your husband! We have already shared your kind words with Corinne and her manager, and will be passing along your praise of your guides to our partners in Spain. You are in good hands for your upcoming trip to Croatia, and we look forward to continuing to help you plan amazing adventures around the world! Best wishes Audley Travel US

A dream trip

We have just returned from a phenomenal trip to southern Spain and Morocco , which we planned as a special adventure with our 13 year old grandson. We can't say enough about our specialist Corinne, who planned every detail to perfection, keeping our grandson in mind: the unique boutique hotels and riad, outstanding activities, hand picked guides, excellent restaurant recommendations, cultural hints, etc. We look forward to planning more trips with Audley!

Date of experience : March 13, 2024

Hi Don and Ricky, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these kind words about your recent trip to Spain and Morocco. We are so happy to hear that Corinne was able to help you plan such a phenomenal adventure for you and your grandson! We are positive that he will cherish those special memories his entire life. We have already shared your kind words with Corinne, and will make sure to pass along your praise to our partners in both Spain and Morocco who helped deliver your dream trip. We look forward to helping you plan more grand adventures in the future! Best wishes Audley Travel US

It was great experience.

This was our first experience using a travel agent to plan a trip for us. It was a trip of a lifetime, and we are ready to do more. We went from Perth, Australia on the Indian Pacific Railway to Adelaide. From there we drove the Great Ocean Road through Port Campbell and down to Melbourne. We then flew to Sydney before returning home. Our highlights were Rottness Island, Winery Tour, Kangaroo Island, Grampians National Park, Pinnacle, Mackenzie Falls, Boroka Lookout, Phillip Island Wildlife Expedition (including the Penguin Parade), Lanes and Arcades Tour in Melbourne, and Sydney Harbour Long Lunch Cruise. Anthony was thorough in talking with us about what kinds of excursions and tours we were interested in doing on this trip. He was there to assist us before, during and after this trip.

Date of experience : February 16, 2024

Hi Connie, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with this wonderful feedback. We are so happy to hear that Anthony’s thoroughness helped him create a trip of a lifetime for you and your husband! It sounds like you had several incredible experiences while exploring Australia… if you had to choose, what would you say was your favorite excursion? We have already shared your incredibly kind words with Anthony and his manager, and will make sure to share your feedback with our partners in Australia, as well. We look forward to helping you plan your next big adventure! Warm regards, Audley Travel USA

Jason Toms put together a trip of a lifetime…

Jason Toms put together a wonderful trip for my husband and I. Everything went perfectly. Everyday was a highlight. If I could pick one it would be the houseboat in Alleppey. It was a fabulous experience and the food was superb. Overall, there was a nice assortment of different types of accommodations. Our drivers Nagandra and Unni were just wonderful. The pace of the trip worked well for us. It was a great way to see India, we were lucky to be traveling alone, more local people talked to us so that was extra special. You put together a perfect trip for us, Thank you so much!

Hi Melissa, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these kind words with us. We are so happy to hear that Jason helped you and your husband plan the perfect trip to India! We are so glad that your experience was extra special as a result of the interactions you were able to have with the locals. We have already shared your feedback with Jason and his management team, and will be passing along your kind words to our partners in India, so Nagandra and Unni know how much they impacted your trip. We look forward to helping you plan your next grand adventure! Best regards Audley Travel US

Once in a lifetime trip to Iceland

Audley travel organized a wonderful trip for my family of 7 to Iceland. We had fantastic, knowledgeable guides to help us get the most out of our experiences in this gorgeous country. We were basically taken care of every step of the way from arriving at the airport to being driven back. Our agent, Julia Mole was responsive to our requests and constructed the perfect trip for us. We really did have a once in a lifetime trip to Iceland including Northern Lights, Ice Cave, Lava tube, Highlands SuperJeep tour, black beaches, geysers, geothermic pools, many beautiful waterfalls, finding the elusive Arctic Fox ,and even seeing an erupting volcano (that we were able to get pictures of on our way back to the airport). We had a very happy group of travelers.

Hi Lynne, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with this wonderful feedback of your time in Iceland. We are so happy to hear that Julia was able to assist you in putting together the perfect trip for you and your family! Of all the amazing experiences that you had, we would love to know – was there one that stood-out above all of the rest? We have already shared your kind words with Julia, and will make sure to pass your feedback along to our partners in Iceland who helped deliver such a memorable trip! We look forward to helping you plan your next great adventure. Warmest regards, Audley Travel USA

Audley is the BEST!

Audley was very detailed and helpful from beginning to end going above and beyond the call of duty. I truly appreciate this as it was my first time making such a huge travel.

Hi Kamille, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these kind words with us. We are so happy to hear that Thora was so helpful in making your first big trip a success! We have already shared your kind words with Thora and her manager. We look forward to helping you plan your next grand adventure! Kind regards, Audley Travel USA

Fantastic trip

My wife and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Agra and Rajasthan. Our trip creator, Jason Toms, put together an itinerary nicely balanced between urban and rural experiences. The rural sites allowed us to interact with locals in non commercial settings that weren’t possible in the urban settings. Throughout the process of creating the trip, taking it and upon our return, Jason listened, was very attentive and supportive, and was easily reachable. We can’t thank him enough for our very special trip. This was our second positive experience with an Audley planned trip. The local support and guides helped make the trip a pleasant experience. We look forward to working with Audley again.

Hi Chris, Thank you so much for taking the time to share this feedback. We are so happy that to hear that Jason was attentive and supportive during the planning process, and that he was able to create the perfect itinerary for you and your wife! We hope your second trip with us was as fantastic as your first! We have already shared your kind words with Jason and his manager, and will be passing your nice kind words along to our partners in India who helped make your time there so pleasant. We look forward to helping you plan your next big adventure! Best wishes, Audley Travel US

Our Japan trip was to be a trip of a lifetime

Our Japan trip was to be a trip of a lifetime. Once we paid our full trip cost we heard nothing though Asha From Audley said we would talk more about details of trip three weeks out. Three weeks came and we get an email Asha had a wedding to go to and then she will be in Korea. Long story short run from this agency. Asha built us an itinerary for a 30 year old we are in our late 60’s and 80’s. It’s sad when a trip of a lifetime is ruined by greed!

Dear Jan, We are truly disheartened to learn about your experience. We are sorry to hear about the service you received from us - this is undoubtedly not the high standard we hold ourselves to. Rest assured, a member of our Client Experience Team will be reaching out to you as a matter of urgency. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We are committed to resolving this issue promptly and ensuring your concerns are heard. Best wishes, Audley Travel

Travel in India with Confidence…

Just returned from a two-week trip to India -- Golden Triangle and a brief visit to self India. Overall the experience was first-class. To begin with, Audley’s US India tour manager was responsive and informative on all points both before and during travel. Audley’s pre-trip package is very complete and valuable to the traveler. Audley city office staff were consistently present at all key moves and hand-offs during the trip. The drivers provided a high level of confidence in difficult circumstances. The guides were well-informed and solicitous -- and able to calibrate the pace to fit our needs. The selection of hotels was excellent – both the new ones and the interesting “legacy properties -- and the prices were reasonable. Of course, standards of service would be considered “pampering” by US standards. Altogether, Audley provided a fantastic experience!

Hi Stephen, Thank you for sharing this fantastic feedback about your recent trip to India. We are so happy to hear that Cato was able to share his knowledge with you and help you create a first class experience! We have already shared your kind words with Cato, and will make sure to share with our partners in India. We look forward to helping you plan your next grand adventure! Warm regards, Audley Travel USA

Well organized

While we were not able to proceed with our trip as planned, I am thoroughly pleased with the assistance, communication and consideration provided to us by Caroline. She took the time and thoughtfulness in providing our prospective itinerary! Looking forward to future adventures with Audley Travel!

Date of experience : March 20, 2024

Hi Alexandra, Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback about your experience with planning your trip with Caroline. While you were unable to travel at this time, we are delighted to hear that Caroline was so thoughtful in putting together a prospective itinerary for you and your family! We have shared your kind words with Caroline and her manager. When you are ready to travel, we look forward to helping you plan your next big adventure! Warm regards, Audley Travel USA

Veronica at Audley created a seamless…

Veronica at Audley created a seamless and fascinating experience in Cambodia and Vietnam. The highlight was the interaction with local guides - not just their knowledge but their life stories, their personal warmth and concern. I want to particularly cite Nara in Siem Reap and Hau David in Hoi An. Nara cared for us as would have for his parents. Hau found services and restaurant tables we never could have found for ourselves. Each was always available and always a pleasure to be with. Like Veronica herself.

Date of experience : January 25, 2024

Hi Gary, Thank you so much for taking the time to share this kind and thoughtful feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had such positive experiences with our guides during your trip and have no doubt the feelings are mutual. As for Veronica, we can only wholeheartedly agree with you there-- she's a gem, and we'll make sure your review gets back to her. Take care, and we look forward to hearing from you when you are ready to plan your next adventure! Warmest regards, Audley Travel USA

Fantastic African Vacation!

We had been trying to schedule a tour of the South African winelands for years, but it was not until we connected with Tom Wilkinson of Audley Travel that we were able to make it a reality. Tom is an African travel professional and SA wine enthusiast, having traveled numerous times to the continent and visited many, if not all, of the Cape Winelands wineries. He was the ideal person to help us plan this trip. From the first conversation we had with Tom, he listened to our desires and was able to quickly suggest timing and itineraries for the Cape Town area. He presented us with a tentative itinerary and helped tweak it to our specific needs and desires. He arranged fantastic hotels/resorts for our stay, and all transfers and visits in the area. All we had to do was show up at the airport - the rest was taken care of seamlessly. We also wanted to visit Victoria Falls during this trip, so, again, Tom made all the travel arrangements for us. He also suggested, since we were so close to Botswana, that we should do a short safari excursion to Chobe National Park. What an outstanding suggestion! Seeing so many animals in the wild was just amazing. The combination of the Winelands, Victoria Falls, and Chobe made for an unforgettable vacation. A few weeks before our trip, we had another conversation with Tom, where he went over all the details and made sure all our questions were answered. Audley Travel also provides a very nice printed binder with daily itineraries and very helpful additional information. Thank you Tom and Audley Travel for a wonderful vacation. We would highly recommend Audley, and Tom specifically, for any African travel plans.

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

Dear Tom Turbull Thank you for your glowing review of your experience working with Tom for your South African winelands tour. We are delighted to hear that Tom's expertise and passion for African travel contributed to making your dream trip a reality. It is wonderful to know that Tom's attentiveness to your desires and his meticulous planning ensured a seamless and memorable vacation for you. We are thrilled that the trip encompassing the Cape Winelands, Victoria Falls, and Chobe National Park exceeded your expectations and left you with unforgettable memories. Your kind words about Tom's professionalism and the comprehensive service provided by Audley Travel are truly appreciated and will passed to his manager. Thank you for choosing Audley Travel and for recommending us for any future African travel plans. We look forward to assisting you again in the future and creating more exceptional travel experiences for you. Warm regards, Audley Travel USA

Incredible last minute trip

My sister and I could not have pulled off our last minute trip to India without Audley. In less than 1 day, Jason Toms cobbled together a personalized itinary that met all our requests and specific time constraints. The Audley binder and week before call with Jason answered all the last minute questions we did not even know we had and provided valuable in-country information. Our entire trip went seamlessly, thanks to the phenomenal Audley staff. We enjoyed every one of our planned activities that ranged from guided tours to food walks and safari drives. The drivers and guides were personable, professional, and extrmely knowledgeable. We enjoyed our off the beaten path accommodations, each offering a unique experience. We will certainly use Audley for all out future travels.

Date of experience : February 04, 2024

Hi Rebecca, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with this incredible feedback. We are so happy to hear that Jason was able to assist you in creating a last minute adventure that captured everything that you wanted to experience! We have already shared your kind words with Jason, and will make sure to pass along your praise to our partners in India who helped to deliver such a seamless trip. We can not wait to help you plan your next big journey! Best Wishes, Audley Travel USA

Exceeding Expectations... Eric at Audley!!

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed getting to work with Eric Carnes at Audley! From the first interaction, Eric was all in on making our trip to Spain for my daughters graduation celebration... the most special and memorable trip tailored to what our family loves to do. Eric's passion for Spain and his positive, fun energy made him an absolute pleasure to work with. He really listened to what we love to do most and was able to plan a trip that was perfect for our family! I have worked with other companies/people to plan trips all over the world and Eric is simply my favorite. I would love to work with him again to plan our next adventure! Thank you, Eric for your thoughtfulness and the fun you infused into our trip to Spain!

Date of experience : February 01, 2024

Hi Nadine, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these kind words about your experience with Audley Travel. We are so happy to hear that Eric took the time to listen to what your family wanted out of your trip to Spain, and that his passion and thoughtfulness helped him create a memorable itinerary for you! We have shared your kind words with Eric already. We look forward to hearing from you when you are ready to plan your next adventure! All the best, Audley Travel USA

Audley Travel

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North Wing New Mill

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Witney OX29 9SX

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I've used Travel Agencies before and they were basically OK. However, my partner and I contacted Audley Travel, since we thought our plans to visit and discover Peru, South America, with its many Inca spiritual & historical places demanded a more thorough plan. Our itinerary was planned by Audley's, Katie, who asked all the right questions, planned the perfect 9 day adventure and sent us packing. I could write a book on our journey, but for time's sake, I'll try not. Our first day arriving in Lima, our Passports were stolen by some thief right out of our pocket thinking he was getting cash. It took our entire second day to report the info to the Police and go through the process of getting new passports at the US Embassy. Our guide was with us every step of the way getting us around to get these. Plus Katie was on her phone with us from her office with a 24 hour assurance they would do anything they could to assist in our dilemma. On the optimistic, bright side, we got to see parts of Lima that were not on our itinerary. And our driver was nicknamed "Mario" after flying through Peruvian traffic like a pro! Every guide, every driver, every hotel, every need we desired was taken care of by Audley's people. This was the adventure of our lives. Lima, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Saqsaywaman, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Gates of the Gods and more. We would not even consider taking a planned vacation like this ever again without going through Audley Travel. They won our hearts and admiration to give us these incredible memories. Too bad Yelp doesn't have another Star. They deserve it.

My husband and I travel extensively and was reluctant to use a tour company! We used Audley for our trip to Morocco. Our initial contact, Sarah Collins, was amazing. She really listened to our requests and put together a package that suited us well. Our guide/driver, Hicham, was a friendly local who accommodated us when we wanted vere from scheduled plans. I was sick and missed a day in our itinerary - all involved at Audley worked together to ensure our stay was comfortable and we were able get us back on track with hotels and planned experiences. I'm so impressed with the service of this company and plan to employ their services again when needing a bit of guidance.

Our group of 13 used Audley to book a two week vacation to South Africa. Planning started out wonderfully, as our travel agent was Ms. Hannah Gelder. Sadly, less than halfway through trip planning Hannah left us. For position in the UK. What a loss. I don't think it gets any better than Hannah Gelder. In came Kristin Jessup. It was apparent that Kristen was not enthused about taking over her group of 13. She never interacted with any of the group members, she's always seems slightly sarcastic, she constantly dropped balls, she failed to send timely invoices, etc. I could go on for days about the reckless experience we had with Ms. Jessup. All I have to say is if you're thinking about using Audley for a trip to south Africa, and you see that Kristin Jessup is your agent- run for your life! We were promised a conference call with our group of 13 just prior to our take off to south Africa. Kristen failed to do this. Her response was that the group was too large for her. I recall her making the statement pertaining to or large group of 13 several times. Clearly, she was in way over her head with our group. Less than a week to take off, and we still have our travel binders. They had to be FedEx to everyone's doorstep shortly before our departure. Unacceptable. Several people in our group complained to senior members of management. I even received a telephone call from a member of their senior management team stating, "I'm not going to show my hand, but I will be working here on the ground floor with members of my team to make up for the poor service that you have received". I mentioned to him that I was planning a trip to Brazil and would have loved to use their services for consistency sake. I explained that unfortunately, due to the terrible experience I had with Kristin Jessup, I could not recommend Audley Travel. Once again, this senior-level manager ensured me that he would go to great lengths to win my loyalty back. I suppose he gave up and decided that our group of 13 just wasn't important to Audley Travel. They are very boastful, bragging continuously of past awards and high ratings, but fall short in following through with dis-satisfied customers; it is unfortunate that they take zero pride in retaining those who have patronized their services. The planning phase with Audley Travel was a complete nightmare. However, when it came to the accommodations and level of service that we received from the locals at each of the lodging facilities in South Africa - it was a five-star experience. Our accommodations at More Quarters in Cape Town, South Africa - absolutely fabulous. Lodging at Notten's Bush Camp, Sabi Sands, Kruger, South Africa - out of this world! Service and splendor of the Peech Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa - exquisite. We also had the most phenomenal tour guide in Cape Town, and lifetime of memories with our Safari Game Driver Thomas at Notten's Bush Camp in Kruger. I didn't particularly care for our guide in Johannesburg. He was a bit brash, and pompous at times. The accommodations, tours, and service all arranged by Audley while in south Africa were worthy of five stars. However the service that we received by Kristin Jessup was the worst that I've ever experienced. The service we received by Kristin is worth less than one star. She did recommend two of her favorite restaurants and make reservations for both while we were in Cape Town. However, she failed to take note of our groups aggressive schedule and timetables. Had she been mindful of our schedule, she would not have double booked us. Because of this we missed out on an opportunity to dine at Potluck Club, a very popular restaurant that is difficult to get into. We were reminded several times by locals, and, our tour guide of how unfortunate it was that we would not be able to make our reservation. I'm a foodie, so we were not happy campers. I'm rating Audley Travel three stars; one star for the terrible service, and five stars for the accommodations in South Africa.

Business owner information

Business Owner

Sep 21, 2016

Thank you for your review and I am very sorry that your arrangements were handed from Hannah to Kristin and this is when errors occurred. We would like to reassure you that the service you received on this occasion is certainly not indicative of the service we usually provide. We would like to discuss this directly with you and I have asked a member of our management team to get in touch. Thank you.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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