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The Scoop: What to Know About Cosmos

Globus-owned cosmos focuses on affordability and experiences around the world..

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If you know the tour company Globus , you already have a baseline for understanding Cosmos , since it’s the budget-traveler-minded arm of Globus. Like its sister company, Cosmos has been around for decades: it’s been offering tours for 60 years. It has a wide range of tours around the world and a strong Europe focus.

In addition to its standard coach tours, Cosmos also has a bunch of other, more specialized tour formats, including small group, “undiscovered” (going off the beaten track in popular destinations), and special-event focused tours. New for 2024, Cosmos is launching So Low pricing that waives the single supplement for solo travelers on select tours.

TourScoop Takeaways

Here’s a quick overview of Cosmos:

• Countries: 60 countries on 5 continents
• Tour Size Average: 38 (classic tours), 20-24 (Small Group Discoveries)
• Tour Type: Primarily coach 

How to Book

To book, you can pretty easily go direct through Cosmos via its website. You can also look for deals and help using an online travel agent like  Travelstride  or  TourRadar . Cosmos also has a t ravel agent locator tool on its website.

Credibility Check

Cosmos has solid credibility and satisfaction scores. As part of the Globus family of brands, it has BBB Accreditation and an A+ rating. On Trustpilot , its rating is 4.5 out of 5 (up from 4.3 last year), and its guest-review score on TourRadar is 4.2 out of 5. 

Tour Destinations

Cosmos has a wide reach, with tours in 60 countries on five continents. Among the most popular destinations on its more than 100 different itineraries are Britain and Ireland, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. It also has a number of tours within the U.S.

Cosmos stands out for its affordability and variety of tour styles, even those who don’t necessarily see themselves as tour-type people. Here’s a rundown of tour types (but note that not every tour type is offered in every destination): 

• Small Group Discoveries :   Small Group Discoveries tours are sized between 20 and 24 people (versus the average traditional tour group size of 38). There are small-group tour options for every tour in Europe and North America, and for some dates on South Pacific tours. 
• Undiscovered Tours :   Both Cosmos and its sister-brand Globus offer these “Undiscovered Tours” designed to take guests off the beaten track and into lesser-known and traveled towns and villages with more time in destination. Born notes that these tours are great for “repeat travelers and for those looking for a more in-depth experience in their chosen destination.”
• Special Event Tours:   Cosmos Special Event vacations focus on large celebrations in North America (think Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta and the Calgary Stampede). These tours offer special benefits like better access, close-up views, and behind-the-scenes experiences. 

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• Faith-Based Tours :   Cosmos also offers a range of Faith-Based Vacations that highlight centuries of religious history.  These Christianity-focused tours include sacred locations in the Holy Land, Italy, Spain and Portugal. 
• Cruise and Land Tours : The tour company mixes land and cruise experiences on these tours to destination pairs like the Canadian Rockies and Alaska, and Greece and the Aegean Islands.
• National Parks Tours : Cosmos has about a dozen U.S. national park focused tours. Some mix train journeys or cruises into the tour itinerary.

You can also search tours that are particularly affordable by looking at its Dreams on a Budget section, which features tours under $1,600 per person. And of note for solo travelers is that the single supplement is waived on select departures each year.

Tour Guides

Cosmos tour guides receive extensive training that includes certification by the destination authority and proficiency in multiple languages. Most are from the country in which they lead tours, and all are selected for their passion for travel and their storytelling abilities. Cosmos tour directors average 20 years with the company. 

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In addition to the tour directors, Cosmos has a strong network of local guides, many of whom have worked with the company for years.

Inclusions/Extras

Cosmos was an early pioneer in value touring vacation travel, and focuses on turning people’s travel dreams into reality, even when a budget is tight. Cosmos gets to the lower price point by preserving experiences and finding more affordable (but still conveniently located and of good quality) hotels.  

Cosmos tours include experienced Tour Directors, pre-selected hotels, guided city sightseeing, transportation, and select meals, including breakfast each day.

Optional excursions can be purchased pre-trip.  Cosmos can also add flights to and from the tour, with schedules coordinated with the tour.  Flights include complimentary airport transfers to-and from the hotel.  And airport transfers can also be added for land-only guests.                                    

Typical Travelers

The average Cosmos traveler is in their early- to mid-50s. Guests come from a range of generally English-speaking countries, primarily U.S. but also Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Cosmos travelers are an even mix of seasoned travelers and first-timers.  The majority are couples and families, but typically 20%+ are solo travelers.

Communication 

The standard pre-trip communication is made up of five emails, including the all-important Travel Packet, with has the detailed itinerary, schedule and flight information (if flights booked through Cosmos), destination information, tips and guidelines on pre-trip requirements and preparation for the destination, and information about booking optional excursions 90 days or closer to the departure date. Vacation planners are available by phone, email and online chat six days a week.     

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Cosmos also has the Cosmos GO app, which provides access to all tour components, including schedules, hotels, included features, destination information, optional excursions, interactive maps and more.  This access is provided pre-trip, 30-40 days prior to departure.

Loyalty Program

The Globus family of brands (Cosmos, along with Globus and Avalon River Cruises) offers a Welcome Back Credit loyalty program. Each trip earns guests up to $250 credit to use on a future trip with any of the brands. 

The per-person credit is based on the tour price:

• $2,499 or Less =   $100 credit
• $2,500 – $3,499 = $150 credit
• $3,500 – $4,499 = $200 credit
• $4,500 & Over =   $250 credit

Guests have two years to book/deposit a vacation using the credit. 

Private Options

Any Cosmos Europe tour can be converted into a Private Tour for between one and 24 people. There’s an additional premium, based on the overall number of guests, which is charged for each traveler in addition to the published tour price. Private tour groups get a dedicated tour director, private transportation and driver, and personal, and professional local guides, plus all of the visits and entrances in the original published itinerary. Private tours offer flexibility in both pace and experiences for you and your travel companions. To pursue a private tour with Cosmos, choose your tour from the Cosmos Europe lineup and then contact the company.  

Sustainability Efforts

Cosmos is part of the Globus family of brands. The company’s Lighthouse Project focuses on projects that benefit people, places, and the planet, with dozens of areas of focus within each category. Projects include support of The Ocean Cleanup, Trees4Travel, Landmine Design and dozens of other projects and initiatives worldwide.

Health and Safety Practices

Cosmos’ health and safety policy currently includes enhanced cleaning protocols on coaches, hotels, and ships. Cosmos also has a Travel Protection plan that includes a cancel for any reason benefit and covers expenses related to trip interruptions.

Family Companies

• Globus : Globus offers escorted tours to destinations around the world with a range of tour formats.
• Avalon River Cruises : Luxury small-ship river cruises in Europe, South East Asia and other worldwide destinations.

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Cosmos reviews & ratings.

We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-...

Happy Traveler from US

Excellent Experience and Excellent Guide

I would highly recommend this company and some trips to Scandinavia and Baltic. The countries are amazing, the service and our guide Ausra Paukste was really the bes...

Tangobeauty

Great Cosmos Value

I am a budget solo female traveler. I have traveled with COSMOS for about 20 years in the past, all over Europe, Switzerland, Turkey, etc. The best thing is that I n...

tangobeauty

Great COSMOS value

Awesome & the best.

We had a most wonderful trip! Our tour guide & driver were excellent! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about France, & told us a little history, abo...

See all Cosmos reviews

Editoral Review of Cosmos

Cosmos promises to “turn your travel dreams into reality” by offering affordable tours in several parts of the world. Part of the Globus group of travel brands, Cosmos has been running escorted tours for five decades since the 1960s. It touts its clout with hotels and other travel providers as a way of keeping down costs, with savings passed on to their customers. Most expenses are included in the tours, though you may be on your own for some meals and optional excursions.

Cosmos started out offering value-priced European coach tours for budget-minded travelers, and now has added North American, South American, and some Middle East and North African destinations as well. Religious-themed tours of southern Europe and Israel as well as holiday season tours are all part of the mix.

The company emphasizes that when you tour Europe, for example, you’ll stay like Europeans do, eat like Europeans do, and “share the European view of Europe.” That generally means comfortable but not luxury hotels, well-chosen neighborhood restaurants, varied means of transportation, and guided sightseeing of all the “must-see” sites, with extended stays in key cities. Cosmos also offers plenty of free time to explore on your own, a way of personalizing your group tour a bit.  

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Solo friendly.

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About the company.

Since inventing the budget vacation over 50 years ago, Cosmos has offered savvy, value-minded travelers the most affordable travel packages to the world's most captivating places - from the City of Brotherly Love to the City of Light…from the Great White North to northern Africa…from tropical Hawaii to sub-tropical Lugano, Switzerland…from the rainforests of Brazil to the Lost "City of the Incas." Our incredible value helps travel buffs travel more often.

We understand that you want to get out and experience the world. And that you'd rather spend another day in London than have a chocolate on your pillow. That's why Cosmos vacation packages include comfortable, clean, and attractive pre-selected hotels; guided city sightseeing; a dynamic assortment of transportation…to make getting there half the fun; and many meals. Our clout with suppliers is concentrated…and we pass the savings on to you.

With Cosmos, you'll enjoy the benefits, security, and convenience of escorted travel, an expert Tour Director, a greater choice of activities and excursions, and longer stays in key cities so that you can truly immerse yourself in the local culture.

You can also personalize your getaway, thanks to well-designed itineraries that feature the must-see sites as well as significant free time to explore your destination the way you want.

Cosmos Trips & Specials

Norwegian Fjords

Spain, Portugal & Morocco

England, Scotland & Wales

Gourmet Tuscany

Tantalizing Thailand with Kanchanaburi

Camino de Santiago: the Scenic Portuguese Route

Southern Charms & Florida

New York City, Niagara Falls & Washington DC

• Save $100 per person on select 2015 Cosmos Eastern Canada vacations.
• Receive a $100 per person Air Credit on 2015 Europe Tours.
• For under $1,000, you can enjoy the benefits of escorted travel.
• North America Tours for under $150/day
• With Cosmos, travel is definitely a family affair. Young travelers ages 8-17 receive a 10% discount on the land-only portion of their Globus vacation.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Cosmos Trip Categories

Cosmos company ranking by category, similar companies, associations, united states tour operators association.

USTOA is a nonprofit professional association representing the tour operator industry.Its members are made up of companies who provide services worldwide but who conduct business in the U.S.

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Cosmos has a rating of 3.75 stars from 4 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Cosmos ranks 104th among Vacation sites.

“Great way to explore”

I did a faith based tour with Cosmos and it was fantastic! Our guide was all things you wish a guide to be, organized, thoughtful, incredibly knowledgeable, and hilarious! A total riot. Although it was a religious tour, we still had plenty of fun and really made some great memories. I highly recommend you travel with Cosmos, and their pricing cannot be beat!

“My Europe Tour was poorly organized, lost precious time in gas stations and useless commercial sale”

My tour started in London on 5 May 23 and from the start there was a lot of confusion, poor communication and lack of guidance to the travelers. The tour director, a small Italian guy who thought of himself as the reincarnation of Napoleon, forgot to coordinate early breakfast for the whole group and we had to wait over 1 hour until the problem was fixed. We ate our meal in a hurry so we could travel to catch the train to go to Brussels. Nobody took responsibility for this fiasco, the tour director blamed the hotel but later we found out that nobody informed the hotel about it. The next 17 days were just jumping in a bus, driving for 4-6 hours per day and getting to our hotels late in the afternoon, having no chance to explore the city of the day. The following day, the same story. The hotels were cheap, outdated, and poorly equipped. In Amsterdam for example, we just had a 1 hour canal tour through the old city, then jumped back in the bus to go to a Diamond cutting business (1 hour sales pitch). After that, back to the Coach to drive 4-5 hours to Germany. Arrived at the hotel in Wiesbaden, Germany at 7 pm, with no time to do anything, because the hotel was a 20 minute-drive to downtown or any decent restaurant. The next morning the tour director didn't wake up on time and had to wait 1 hour for him before we could depart to Heidelberg. The stay at this famous city lasted just 55 minutes, so we had to basically jog to the center of town area, take a picture, and jog back to the bus to start the 6 hour drive to Lucerne, Switzerland. To not make this story too long and tedious, I can tell you that the whole tour was just like this, hurry up and sit down in the bus/coach to the next city/town. The hotels were not what was described in the tour brochure, 90% of them were old, outdated, with no amenities, very small rooms and far away from the Cities, like the one near Sorrento, Italy were the owner didn't even provide us with wi-fi service. Of bad/terrible taste, was the tip/gratuity pitch the tour director Luigi made to all travelers few days before the end of the tour. He "passed the envelope" to everyone, and reminded us 2 or 3 times per day from then on, to not forget to leave him and the driver the gratuity. That is shamefully improper from a tour director, or maybe it is a common occurrence in Cosmos tours? I have traveled around the world with other tour companies at least four other times, and after these 18 days with Cosmos, I can say I will never use this company again. So many years in the business and come out with such a poor show? Disorganization, and constant improvisation was the menu of the day during this tour. What a lack of respect toward the customers who invested a good amount of money to travel with them!

Reviews (4)

About the business

You can travel for as low as $77 per day with Cosmos. Turn your travel dreams into reality with an affordable Cosmos tour. Book your vacation with us!

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In Touring We Trust

Cosmos has always greeted the most fascinating places across the globe with unmatched intrigue, curiosity and wonder. Along the way, we’ve discovered the sights to see, encountered the people to meet, engaged in the customs to sample and indulged in the cuisine to taste. And we’ve done this while bundling unrivaled knowledge from Tour Directors and local guides with first-class accommodations and transportation to help you greet the globe on a journey that goes beyond the ordinary. In short, touring offers over-the-moon experiences without overthinking.

When travelers, like you, choose a Cosmos tour, you say “goodbye” to worry, leaving you free to wander and wonder about the world around you. And that idea – and promise – couldn’t be more prevalent and welcomed today. While today’s world has changed, what remains certain is Cosmos’ commitment to your safety, comfort and peace-of-mind.

Trust in Togetherness.

When you travel with Cosmos, you’re choosing to explore the world in a select group of like-minded travelers: People who stick together, from start-to-finish. Now more than ever, there’s great comfort – and extraordinary confidence – in that choice.

Small Groups, Big Experiences.

Cosmos makes it easy to explore the world with calm and confidence with Small Group Discoveries available in many destinations. With an average of 24 guests per departure (in some cases even fewer), there’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close to fascinating attractions and the stories that make experiences feel personal and connected.

Getting Around, Safe & Sound.

Rest assured our state-of-the-art coaches and vehicles have undergone thorough cleaning between tours, and each day starts with a freshly-cleaned motorcoach as well as touch-ups at each stop. And our coaches are equipped with air filters that clean the air as well as provide constant ventilation. And before you board, we will provide hand sanitizer, luggage disinfection and assigned seating to prevent the spread of germs.

Our TDs are the Bees Knees.

No one knows the ins and outs of your destination like your Cosmos Tour Director And no one is better equipped to ensure your time with us is both happy and healthy. Their local insights and experience, along with support from our local operations offices, means there’s someone always looking out for you, 24/7. Enhanced health and safety training keeps them a step ahead of potential on-trip issues, and allows them to focus on your well-being and comfort throughout your journey.

Your Home Away From Home.

Cosmos has hand-picked each and every hotel we use, vetted to meet our standards of quality, cleanliness, service and amenities. Each hotel has been checked to ensure they are meeting or exceeding government-mandated standards, and each must pass our strict health and safety requirements before you set foot in the lobby.

The Lure of the Less Traveled.

While it might be the iconic sights of the world that first entice us to pack our bags for adventure, it’s often the tucked-away towns, lesser-known nooks and secluded seafronts that beckon us to return.

Our “Undiscovered” series of tours invite you to trade the Colosseum for the narrow lanes of Tuscan towns; the hustle and bustle of London for the quiet landscapes of the English countryside; Europe’s seas of tourists for the coastal villages of the Mediterranean and the crowded cities of North America for smaller, crowd-pleasing gems, from sea to shining sea.

Carefree Confidence.

The world has changed, but what remains certain is our commitment to guest safety and peace-of-mind while traveling. Not only have we enhanced our on-trip health and safety protocols with our new Assurance program, we are also offering you risk-free, hassle-free and strings-free bookings. See our Peace of Mind Travel Plan. »

Channeling the lyrics and sentiment of Bob Marley, when travelers explore the world with us – on tour – they can feel confident knowing that... “every little thing is going to be alright.”

What to Expect When Traveling with Us

Cosmos is dedicated to giving our guests a safe, stress-free getaway. To that end, with help from our Global Health & Safety Team, we’ve established a set of enhanced pre- and on-trip protocols and procedures to ensure health – and happiness – throughout your journey with us. View On-Trip Protocols & Procedures »

Before You Go

We’ll take every step to ensure you and your traveling companions are ready for the journey. Along with a host of pre-trip information to help you prepare for your tour, you’ll have access to the CosmosGO App—a great resource for your tour schedule and details, your destination, and any updates related to your trip.

And as an additional assurance measure, we’re providing guests with a set of health and safety advice and instructions, ensuring that all health considerations have been taken into account before leaving home. These requirements now include that all Cosmos international travelers from the U.S. are fully vaccinated before their tour. Please refer to details in the documents below.

View Health & Safety Waiver COVID-19 »

View Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel »

Care-Free Options

Cosmos offers Small Group Discoveries for many destinations, giving you the option to limit your fellow travelers to an average of just 24, or fewer, in some cases.

Plus, we’re here for you. Our Vacation Planners are available every day to answer questions and ensure you’re confident in your upcoming journey—we love to hear from you! Talk to an Expert »

On arrival, you’ll receive a warm welcome by your Cosmos Tour Director. A travel expert who’s ready, willing and able to ensure that you have a healthy and happy journey with us—here’s how:

• They’re trained on our enhanced health and safety protocols
• They’re supported 24/7 by our local offices, who are well-equipped to handle on-trip issues
• They have extensive local knowledge to help navigate your destination safely, including helping you avoid long lines and crowds, where and whenever possible
• Before each tour, our Tour Directors will follow the same guidelines as our guests to ensure everyone’s health and safety
• They’re fully vaccinated

Cosmos’ enhanced welcoming procedures are in place, ensuring guests have a safe start to their journey. These procedures include:

• All guests will provide proof of full vaccination in order to travel. Cosmos accepts vaccines authorized or recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Travelers may encounter additional requirements if their vaccine is not recognized by the travel destination.
• Mandatory health screening, including touch-free temperature-check, for all guests, Tour Directors and drivers. If you have a high temperature or are feeling sick, your Tour Director will assist in finding local medical facilities.
• Direction and details on social distancing throughout the journey.

While Traveling

On tour with Cosmos, guests remove many “touch points” of travel, including luggage handling, hotel check-ins and check-outs and the purchase of sightseeing tickets. All this ensures only hearts are touched, not hands. Even better? Our Tour Directors secure expedited entry into must-see attractions, which means no waiting in long, crowded queues of people.

And wireless listening technology – including our Cosmos Go Beyond Devices in Europe – enables safe distances between our guests and other travelers on excursions. For moments when touch is necessary, Tour Directors and motorcoaches are equipped with hand sanitizer at-the-ready.

Rest assured our state-of-the-art coaches and vehicles have undergone thorough cleaning between tours, and each day starts with a freshly-cleaned motorcoach as well as touch-ups at each stop. And our coaches are equipped with air filters that clean the air as well as provide constant ventilation. And before you board, we will provide hand sanitizer, luggage disinfection and assigned seating to prevent the spread of germs. Throughout your tour, our Tour Directors will keep an eye out for you, ensuring there’s appropriate social distance at attractions and restaurants, and making sure bags and coaches are sanitized each day. And while you enjoy your vacation, we are working behind-the-scenes to offer you safety with hands-free services, as in some cases, traditional self-services have been replaced by staff service.

Ensuring Healthy (and Happy) Guests.

Guests are asked to keep a close eye on how they’re feeling and report any new symptoms to your Tour Director so we can make sure they get the help they need. If anyone should become ill while traveling with us, we’ll ask them to isolate until they can be seen by a medical professional, as high quality local medical services are always nearby.

Heading for Home

Our aim is that your tour leaves you as healthy—and happy—as when you left (we strive for happier!). Efficient and reliable airport transfers are available (and are included when you purchase flights with us), so that’s one less thing to worry about.

And, as you prepare for the journey home, If you need any assistance or are not feeling 100%, just let your Tour Director know and we can help find local medical assistance to get you ship-shape before your return.

And if COVID-19 testing is required as a condition of your return home, Cosmos will help facilitate this testing in accordance with local and airline guidelines, at no cost to our guests.

Cosmos will continue to review and update Assurance initiatives as we make our return to the world, including adhering to – and building upon – the standards set forth by travel and health agencies across the globe, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).

Information and protocols included here are as planned as of the publication date of August 17, 2021. Changes in local requirements are guidelines may occur and result in updates as they become available.

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The people who represent the company Cosmos ,What made our trip great was our tour…

What made our trip great was our tour guide Patricia from cosmos, always helpful and informative, letting us know what to expect for each adventure and walking with us showing us various sites with her umbrella as a guide and using the ear piece communication supplied so she was with each and everyone of us. Truly a five star representative, as was Joinovie our bus driver who drove a new bus it appeared who's seating was eco friendly to my back, and drove following all the safety guidelines making us all feel safe. Numerous times receiving applause for handling the bus with eash in difficult situations. The hotels were outstanding, each with thier own charm and courteous staff to help us. Cosmos I believe is the best company to use for cost, scheduling, and I always felt safe in all the places we visited, with outstanding and beautiful views and experiences. Joe Farrell 4 November 2023

Date of experience : November 04, 2023

A Rocky Start with a Fabulous Ending

Cosmos allowed us to use our credit from 2020 for this trip in January 2024. This trip is a small group tour at a very affordable price where you get to see highlights of both North Island and South Island. By being driven from Auckland to Wellington for the ferry crossing and Christchurch to Queenstown, we saw many different landscapes and towns - some worth a return visit and some not so. The most outstanding part of this trip is the last four days in Queenstown and the boat trip on Milford Sound which absolutely makes this trip over-the-top. A few negatives that stood out: 1. The first hotel in Auckland is a "service apartment". Before the trip, I called customer service and they located it for me. I asked if it was a 4 star accommodation and she said, "All of Cosmos hotels are 4 star hotels." Well, actually, all the hotels we stayed at were 3 star hotels. The 3 star hotels were perfectly fine with us, but there's a mistaken understanding among somebody in customer service. 2. The first "service apartment" was a fine place to stay; however, they do not have a breakfast room so we were given a small box of crunchy cereal and one piece of bread w/ jam for breakfast along w/ milk, juice, and instant coffee packets. I think they should have arranged breakfast at a nearby cafe instead. 3. This was our first time using Cosmos so we followed the recommended tipping guidelines which happen to be in NZ$. We calculated this amount prior to our trip and as soon as we got NZ$ at an ATM, we put that amount and added 30NZ$ more in the envelopes thinking we had given more than enough. After the trip ended, we realized that USD$ is 2/3 of NZ$ and that perhaps we hadn't given enough to our tour leader and bus driver. Usually the tipping guidelines are in USD$. Overall, we had a great trip and fell in love with NZ. What we thought would be a "one and done" trip actually is a "yearn to return" trip, thanks to Cosmos.

Date of experience : March 10, 2024

Great Tour!

The tour guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. He maximized our time throughout tour to ensure we had ample time for sightseeing. We got to see many points of interest throughout tour for an affordable price. We had a great time!

Date of experience : October 05, 2023

Amazing Experience

This was an 11-day tour of Ireland and the UK. The pace was excellent; we were not worn out at the end of the day. We had the opportunity to add many excursions to our tour, so we never felt that we missed out on any experiences. Our tour guide, Barbara, was outstanding. She was able to accommodate us when we wanted to go on a tour that was not offered nor planned in the tour package. I never had a bad meal and the hotels for the most part were very good. I received great value for the money.

Date of experience : October 19, 2023

Good experience but there is room for Cosmos to improve.

The reservation process was great. Some hotels locations were not the greatest. You need to ask for stand-up showers as the bathups are high and slippery and can pose a danger. More choices for meals would be better. Overall, the experience was good.

Date of experience : October 29, 2023

The land part of the tour was great

The land part of the tour was great, a little hurried, but good. The part that was not good was the waiting for the ferry boat to arrive. We had to wait in the cold windy night for the boat to unload and then the escalators did not work, which meant that we had to carry some heavy luggage up some steep stair. We even had to help some senior citizens carry their luggage up the stairs. Our tour guide Francesco was great, some things were beyond his control. would not recommend that specific tour because of the ferry ride.

Date of experience : October 11, 2023

Tour guide and driver

Our tour guide was wonderful! So knowledgable and worked so hard to try to accommodate the interests of our fellow travelers. The trip was listed as "highlights" and it was just that so we hit on so much that we had only heard about and she gave us details all along the way. Our driver made us feel so safe and the two of them worked together beautfully. In a previous review I suggested that we might have two nights in one city mid-trip and have the option of adding more nights on our own at either end of the trip. Being able to spend more time in Belfast or Galloway or Glasgow would have been nice. Facecloths or washcloths in the bathrooms would have been an exceptional addition. The Leonardo hotels toward the end of the trip had some tricky stair passages to get to the rooms - that made for some funny stories among our group. More fruit at breakfast such as berries would have been nice and porridge or oatmeal would have been great. More fiber for a long trip! More vegetables at the dinners that are included. Slippery bathroom floors could have spelled disaster but everyone was careful.

Date of experience : September 24, 2023

Traveler beware

Traveler beware! Cosmos reserves the right to cancel your tour if they are not making their profit margin for that particular tour. This happened to us. Additionally, Cosmos has a limit to what they will reimburse you for financial impacts for cancelled tours. We were going to have to pay over $400 out of pocket for impacts of moving our flights with Quantas Airlines (Highlights of Australia tour). It was recommended by Cosmos early on that we make our own flight reservations if we wanted to get good seats since they wouldn’t be able to make reservations until much later. For a 15 hour flight we took their advice. When we had to move our flights up one month due to Cosmos we got a detailed statement from Quantas Airlines that broke out the additional costs and provided this statement to Cosmos. We also offered to organize a 3-way call with Quantas regarding their charges. Cosmos ultimately said their internal policies took precedence and left us to pay the delta costs of over $400! In the end we cancelled our tour and will never travel with Cosmos. It is clear to us that the customer is less important then their profit margin. You can imagine travel scenarios where you are in the middle of your tour, things come up and decisions must be made - how will Cosmos respond? We didn’t feel that Cosmos would have our back.

Date of experience : January 05, 2024

Well organized vacation

If you are looking for great planned vacation, this is for you. A well organized travel with a lot to see and experience. Our tour director was amazing and we felt safe and taking care of.

Date of experience : October 13, 2023

I had a great time

I had a great time, lovely guide and lovely people. My only criticism is that I booked a singles holiday but there was mostly couples

Date of experience : February 03, 2024

BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, CHILE AND PERU WITH COSMOS

This was truly a trip of a lifetime and I was very impressed with cosmos hence the review (I never normally review-but writing this for anyone thinking of going on this 21 day tour). Started off in Brazil, our tour director was Fernando who was brilliant, the tour group was lovely. I really like the following 1. After arriving in Rio our pick up to hotel was waiting for us - we didn't have to wait single minute 2. Cosmos gives you plenty of time to do your thing, I don't see many tours doing this. You could relax by the pool or do your own excursions. 3. The hotels were wonderful, the hotel in iguazu fall (Brazil side), hotel in sacred valley (Peru) and hotel in Argentina were particularly outstanding. Not to say the others were not, but these were very impressive. 4. The added group dinners were good and good selection of food and good bonding time 5. The prompt Pick up and drop off to airports, gave you a peace of mind. 6. Very good tour guides-fernando (Brazil), nadia (Argentina) and Henry (Peru) What I did not like or be mindful on 1. Some excursions that you buy with the tour guides were pricey, for example the Gaucho experiencein Argentina was not worth $173, please save your money. The cable car in Brazil was pricey and maybe you could do thus yourself cheaper. Overall loved this trip if a lifetime, highlights were Rio - Copacabana, Christ the Redemer, the escadaria selaron/lapa steps, Parque large, Iguazu Falls, machu picchu, Aguas Calientes, La boca - Beunos Aires, Sky Costanera-santiago, San cristobal Hill-santiago.

A promise to a 7 country trip in 9 days…

A promise to a 7 country trip in 9 days was delivered effortlessly. The constant communication from the start seems annoying but very helpful in the end. The pick up from the airport and all accommodations with hotels, travel director, excursions and drop off at the end of the trip was very organized.

Date of experience : November 19, 2023

The choices of hotel was a total…

The choices of hotel was a total disappointment and the airline booking through Cosmos didn't help. We cannot be provided our E tickets thus we cannot check'in on line. Total disappointment.

The tour was good

The tour was good - our guide and the driver were excellent, as were the local guides. We saw all the sights. A couple of hotels could have been better, but their location was good, so that helped. All in all, a very enjoyable experience.

Date of experience : October 17, 2023

Had a really good trip

Had a really good trip. Everything was amazing and our tour director Luigi was knowledgeable and very impressed with Antonio’s patience when it came to driving

7 Countries in 11 Days

It was great to hear a knowledgeable tour guide provide the background and history of the places that were visited. The bus driver was also very efficient when it came to maneuvering through heavy traffic. The sights and scenery were also very nice.

Date of experience : October 27, 2023

Timeless Japan, late September 2023

Pros: Great tour, great tour guide, great bus and mostly nice hotels. Lots of great sites and it's wonderful to have someone knowledgable to help you. However keep in mind that Japan is actually not that hard to navigate as an English speaker! Don't be afraid to explore! Cons: Only one optional excursion that I had trouble setting up, unfortunately, Cosmos should look into that. Note that if something includes a walking tour it's probably your main guide, not a ton of "local guides" included. Also it's very hot and humid. I went the last week of Sept to the first week of October and it was still quite hot. If you don't like the heat try for maybe early November? Though I imagine the sites may also be very crowded at that time. Neutral: Very few meals included but that's probably a good thing if you are the type to want to explore and find your own places to eat. Lots of exercise, walking up steps to get better views, etc. The tour itself is expensive, but buying things in Japan is not, meals and shopping were a lot cheaper than I expected.

Date of experience : October 08, 2023

Cosmos the best!

Our guide, Gabrielle, was so entertaining and professional. I had so much fun on this trip. Saw so much of Italy in 2 weeks. Could not have done this on my own. Price was great. Had friends who took similar trips, but paid much more. I would definetly recommend this trip to others.

Date of experience : November 21, 2023

Fantastic Tour Guide!

We had a fantastic tour guide named Tara for our tour of the U.K & Ireland. I would have thought she was a history major! She gave us very detailed information and history about every place we visited and more. It helped us to better understand the politics that shaped each nation in a way that we could arrive ourselves to an understanding and appreciation . She made the tour come alive about the historical figures who were significant for the time periods and the impact they had on the sites and the country as a whole, how they shaped the nation for years to come. All the sites we visited were interesting, it would be difficult to pick the top few because they were all so signifcant and interesting. Tara made sure to take care of everyone's special needs and was very attentive to everyone. She was very clear in when we needed to be ready to go and we always knew what to expect each and every day. We had wonderful hotels to stay in each night and were treated with a wonderful hot breakfast each morning. Our Driver Barry was amazing, greeting us with a smile everyday and taking care of every passenger. I hope to be able to do another tour again!

Date of experience : October 10, 2023

The experience and the guide were…

The experience and the guide were fabulous. However...To those involved in arranging tours and their facilities- What I wanted to say: I did not have the opportunity to say this in your survey. My hearing is normal. The Japanese accent was a challenge to handle but we did. However, the headsets you offered were the most pitifully inadequate pieces of garbage I have ever had to deal with. I was only able to discern approximately 20% of what was being said. They were distorted and had totally inadequate volume to overcome peripheral noise. If I did not scramble to be close to the tour director to hear what was being said, I would have never heard or understood 80% of what was being said. I would have lost most of the education that I did get by struggling to stay close to the speaker. Your equipment supplier should be shot for allowing such inadequate garbage to ruin such a fabulous experience. If this is an example of what is used on all the tours, you will not have me and my wife as customers again. John Maerz

Date of experience : October 26, 2023

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• Beware of ASAP Ti...

Beware of ASAP Tickets

I purchased a Lufthansa ticket from ASAP Tickets in June 2020. Because of COVID, my flight was cancelled. I had until January 31, 2021 to request a refund or rebook my flight. On January 31, 2021, I requested a refund from ASAP. The ASAP agent informed me that it would take several weeks to receive the money from Lufthansa because of the backlog of refund requests, so I needed to be patient, but I called ASAP every other week to check on the status. Each time I was informed that Lufthansa had not paid them. Then, on April 30, I called Lufthansa directly and they informed me that they had reimbursed ASAP Tickets on 5 February, 5 days after my refund request was submitted. When I confronted ASAP Tickets, they denied receiving the money and then refused to return any of my calls. I filed a dispute with my credit card company and then an agent from ASAP began to call me to negotiate a settlement, offering a future booking credit if I agreed to pay ASAP a $250 processing fee. Then I learned that ASAP told my credit card company that I was not entitled to a refund since I bought a nonrefundable ticket (and not telling my credit card company that, in fact, Lufthansa had reimbursed me for the ticket, but paid it to ASAP and not to me). Sensing that I was dealing with a company that could not be trusted, I relented and agreed they could skim a $250 processing fee from the amount Lufthansa paid them with the future booking credit, if they paid me the rest. ASAP agreed, but told me that it would take 30-40 days to process payment of my refunds. That was 60 days ago. Now, they refuse to pay me anything, claiming Lufthansa never paid them and demanding that I provide them proof that Lufthansa paid ASAP Tickets (something that is impossible for me to prove). So, Lufthansa does the right thing and refunds my ticket, ASAP Tickets keeps all the money for a flight that was cancelled due to COVID, and I realize a loss of the entire ticket price. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission and feel the need to inform other travelers to avoid doing business with ASAP Tickets.

How cheap was the ticket? This is the first I have ever heard here on the forum of ASAP tickets.

$1140. They skimmed $310 as profit, and paid Lufthansa $830. So, they gladly assist me with requesting the refunding from Lufthansa, Lufthansa paid them back the full $830, they lie about not receiving it, and then tell my credit card company I am not entitled to a refund. I can't fly because the flight was cancelled for COVID and they pocket $1140.

An interesting question, although my purpose of buying the ticket is irrelevant to my point about this travel agency. But, I bought the ticket because I had urgent business to do in Italy. Did in twice, in fact, in 2020 without incident or concern.

That is one of the big problems when dealing with a third party vendor. I would try for an email statement or something from Luthansa indicating payment. Did you have any email statements from ASAP? If you have statements supporting your story, then I would file a fraud claim with the credit card company. That is a different claim than simply disputing the charge as you have previously done. Now you do need to be able to provide that it was a refundable tickets. You need to hurry because their is a time limit on file a fraud claim with your credit card company.

Your rebuke is received. Yes, I have learned my lesson.

Frank, I have been all over my credit card company who is still treating this as a payment dispute. I have 3 separate emails from Lufthansa confirming payment to ASAP, and describing the means for how they paid ASAP (the BSY payment portal).

And Frank, the refundability of the ticket has already been determined. Lufthansa has already paid the money back. Unfortunately, they had to pay ASAP, not me.

While knowing what Lufthansa did and when is good information; they are not part of the equation, your dealings are with ASAP only (never heard of them).

ASAP is probably technically in the right (though yes, morally shaky) to claim that you purchased a non-refundable ticket, so you are not entitled to a refund (you would need to review their T&C's to determine what you are entitled to). The fact that Lufthansa and other Airlines changed their policies, some under Government Order, and allowed liberal cancellation, is besides the point, maybe good for ASAP, but unless they promised the same in their T&C's, they have standing. Same situation others have run into with Air BNB, Expedia, Cheap Flights, or any third party that acts as the middle man, as opposed to having you work directly with the end company.

Paul, I appreciate your point about Lufthansa not being in the picture, and well I know it. But I am afraid that you and others are missing the point playing armchair lawyer. ASAP has always admitted, to me, that the ticket was refundable. I have it in writing. I have multiple emails from the company saying I was entitled to the refund less their $250 processing fee (which is on the ticket). The issue of refundability is only an issue in that was the lie they told my credit card company who then folded like a cheap suit and reversed my chargeback. The second guessing here by commenters dilutes the main point in that this company admitted to me I was due a refund, facilitated Lufthansa reimbursing their share of the ticket price I paid, brazenly is intending to keep all the money while lying to me that Lufthansa never paid them.

Thank you for sharing your story and I hope you have a positive resolution.

....And Frank, the refundability of the ticket has already been determined. Lufthansa has already paid the money back. . .....

You are missing a huge point and it is critical. You have a contract with ASAP. You do NOT have a contract with Lufthansa. Your transaction is governed by your contract with ASAP. ASAP's contract with Lufthansa is not in play and their contract with Lufthansa might have required near instant refund. Second question that has bearing --- Was ASAP acting as an agent of Lufthansa? Or an independent reseller (travel agent) for Lufthansa and other airline tickets? If it is the latter, your case is more difficult. If ASAP was agent, standing in their shoes, then the refund from Lufthansa would be significant. I think pushing the fraud issue with ASAP is your only option.

PS -- Meant to ask earlier. Who cancelled the ticket -- your or Lufthansa? THAT has bearing.

https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/south-san-francisco/profile/travel-agency/international-travel-network-llc-1116-72752

Beyond my comprehension that a business that generates 2 complaints per day can get an 'A' rating.

I would have found the sheer number of complaints alarming and looked to buy elsewhere ( i.e., the airline)

Perhaps a complaint with the Calif atty general can get you some traction

I have used ASAP tickets twice, the first in 2019 from chicago to Germany, no problems the second was 8/21 and it was a disaster they quoted me a cheap price to Egypt, I randomly checked my tickets through the airlines website, found out it was cancelled though nobody from ASAP contacted me to tell me, they said because one of the last legs of the trips was cancelled then my whole ticket (4 people) were be forfeited if I did not pay a rebooking fee of around 400$ to reschedule that flight, so much for the "free exchange" offered on their website and it was not my request to change. I called the airline and they could not rebook since I bought it through ASAP, I rebooked it, but they only allotted me a 50 minute layover in Chicago ohare for an international connection to Montreal they would not book me on an earlier flight unless I paid them more money. after three weeks of multiple call of being nice, I could not take it any more, unfortunately I did not get any movement unless I was yelling and screaming, after going through multiple agents who refused to help, one finally did and rebooked me through another city (Denver to montreal) but still not on the earlier flight time i requested for whatever reason (through Chicago) . Several weeks letter get an email that my connection time is again too short (this time from the air Canada) so asap did rebook me on the original early morning flight to Chicago that I requested earlier. . 2 months of yelling it was finally changed only thanks to air Canada posting an earlier departure time. also, when i checked into the airport, the flight to Denver was cancelled, but fortunately I was already rebooked to Chicago. I am sure my trip would have been ruined, in trying to find a flight that same day in time to arrive in Egypt to catch my organized tour. I was also told if I missed my connection which I most certainly would have the airline would have not been able to help me in the airport, but I would have had to call ASAP tickets and get rebooked likely with additional fees

it was the worst experience, most agents are likely from overseas, they call you multiple time to sell the ticket but drop you for any customer services issues after the ticket is bought

STAY AWAY pay the extra to go through the airline directly, IT IS NOT WORTH IT I think they false advertise if problems arise, also somewhere along the way I notified the BBB, they sent me a letter, the rebuttal from ASAP was false but perhaps it did help as there was some positive movement eventually but with much grief and anger

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Reviews 4.4.

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Everything went well

Everything went well, as planned. The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful, the hotels and staff were all responsive. Hotels were well-guarded and safe. Good healthy food for a vegetarian, and travel companions were fun. Saw lots of scenery and thousands of animals!

Date of experience : 11 March 2024

Exemplary customer service

We’re great fans of Cosmos tours which are outstanding value for money in terms of quality and service. Sadly we had to cancel our latest planned tour’Golden West Adventure’ for unforeseen health reasons. However Cosmos have been most understanding and will hold our £400 deposit against a future booking for 1 year in case we can take the trip later this year or next year. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Date of experience : 05 April 2024

Reply from Cosmos

Thank you for taking the time to post this review, we appreciate your feedback and are truly delighted to learn that we were able to exceed your expectations. We look forward to hosting you on your trip when the time is right for you

The tour was a trip of a lifetime.

The tour was seamless, wonderful knowledgeable tour guides, on time flights and great hotels. Only issue was we booked tour 1108, which had Brazil Amazon, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru with Machu Picchu. We were under the impression this was a complete tour package and were dismayed to find out our pre paid tip did not cover Peru. I’m not sure how this could be considered an extension when it was listed as part of the tour.

Date of experience : 23 February 2024

Important information for Fiji and New Zealand

I did the trip for my wife and grandchildren. My wife enjoyed the visit very much. We got information on penguins from our trip to Napier's Maritime Museum. I( toured NZ more comprehensively over 25 years ago. Auckland, Christchurch, Rotorua, and Lake Tekapo and Queenstown have changed over that time period. Milford Sound has not, which is a good thing. Fiji, the people were quite friendly but the group of island are 3rd world with little chance of becoming a developing nation. In Fiji you need to bring water tables or drink bottle water; New Zealand has one of the highest water qualities in the world. If you eat a good hearty breakfast, one more meal at dinner is adequate. Also enjoy the lamb - something we do not get to have that much in the United States.

Date of experience : 06 February 2024

Very Good Tour

Tour leader and local tour guides were excellent. Most hotels were very good. Not a lot included, in terms of lunch/dinners and tours, but what was included was generally very good to excellent.

Date of experience : 21 January 2024

Exceptional Service for a Double Birthday Celebration

I recently booked a meal for 14 people to celebrate two birthdays, and I must say, the experience exceeded all expectations. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to ensure our celebration was unforgettable. Firstly, the staff were incredibly accommodating. They were attentive to our needs and made sure our party was comfortably seated together. What truly impressed me was their flexibility in accommodating our request to drop off cakes and balloons earlier in the day. They handled everything with grace and ensured that our surprises remained secret until the perfect moment. When it came time to bring out the cakes, the staff truly shined. They not only presented the cakes beautifully but also gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday" with genuine enthusiasm. Their warmth and genuine excitement added an extra layer of joy to the celebration, making the birthday people feel truly special. Overall, the service provided by the staff was exceptional. Their attention to detail, flexibility, and genuine care made our double birthday celebration a memorable one. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking to host a special event or celebration. Thank you to the staff for making our celebration one to remember! Sincerely, Sarah

Date of experience : 22 March 2024

One of our best holidays

One of our best holidays. The tour was a seamless informative, pleasurable, layback adventure. We saw so many places in such a short while. The hotels were all unique, well placed to achieve everything in the time available. Providing a cosy bed, restaurants, shower facilities provided by friendly staff. Booking was easy, the Gocosmos App helpful but more important a brilliant tour guide and drivers.

Date of experience : 20 October 2023

Deep South Tour

Deep South Tour Great time on this busy tour of Deep South USA. High points include Chicago, Nashville, Gracelands, and New Orleans. Professional service provided by Tour Director Susannah, and coach driver Leo. Great way to fit in sightseeing and origins of modern musical influences in short period of time.

Date of experience : 17 October 2023

Great Ocean Road and kangaroo Island

Our tour guide and bus driver made the trip top notch. Our driver had years of experience to add to our tour. Kangaroo Island needs another day and more experiences included. There are parts of the island we didn't get to see because of time constraints. A wildlife sanctuary experience is a must for foreign travelers. We missed seeing kangaroo.

Date of experience : 15 November 2023

This was my 18th trip traveling with…

This was my 18th trip traveling with Cosmos, in the US' & Europe too!! My recent trip to Central Europe for 15 days was excellent as usual!! We had a great & knowledgeable tour guide, Teama who gave excellent talks on each country we visited!! We also had an excellent & safe Italian driver, Sergio!! Our hotels were all excellent & clean, & buffet breakfasts were bountiful & delicious!! All optional tours were excellent too!! Cosmos always does an excellent job for their travelers!!

Date of experience : 14 October 2023

Cosmos travel experience

We loved how organized and professional the tour and its employees were. The fact that everything was organized for us allowed us to see and do more than if we had gone on our own. There was no worry about where we were going and how we were going to get there. In addition, the information and expertise of the tour guide was welcomed and appreciated. We got to learn intricate details of Italian culture which was so helpful and helped us have more of an authentic travel experience.

Date of experience : 06 January 2024

Good tour bad hotels

Pros: Great guide - Stefano was very knowledgeable and funny. Explained everything well. Local guides - both guides for excluded and paid excursion were great. On-time execution - Everything worked like a clock. Cons: Crappy hotels - all the hotels were old and rooms were tiny. Food - All included dinners were disgusting. Breakfast was good.

Date of experience : 27 December 2023

Do Not Buy This Cheap Product

Soon after the 1 year warranty expired the gas valve went out. We smelled gas and called the gas company which immediately told us we could not use the unit. He said the part was defective. So we bought another part from Cosmo and had a tech install. About six months later the rubber seal for the oven door began to fail, so we bought another lining and replaced it. The range units do not turn on properly if at all. Finally the oven just stops working - so Cosmo says we need another computer board - we order that - the tech installs it and the unit still will not fire up. The tech says it's a faulty computer board. So, we called Cosmo and had to fight with them to replace the Computer Board. The tech comes back again, installs the CB and the unit still does not work. The tech says everything is working but for some reason the unit will not fire up. I called Cosmo to explain and was hung up on by their customer service person - when I insisted on speaking with a manager. This unit is faulty and has poor craftsmanship. You would think for almost 2k the product would last longer than 1 year.

Date of experience : 18 March 2024

Bottomless brunch food great service at…

Bottomless brunch food great service at the start with a fantastic person dressed as shaggy excellent place got full no more drinks both tables each side get served we don’t first time last time for me sorry Newport friars walk if it wasn’t for shaggy it would be 1 star happy Halloween people

Date of experience : 28 October 2023

Great from start to finish, would use again

Jennifer Hennequant helped my mom and me plan our first trip together to Italy. We really appreciated all of the guidance and honesty Jennifer provided. It felt great to know we weren't fending for ourselves for any of it, whether we wanted advice on booking things ourselves or asking her go from A to Z with it. On our trip, our guide Gianpaolo was just perfect. He was knowledgeable and very kind. The provisions from Cosmos overall were amazing, and we would definitely use them again.

Date of experience : 22 October 2023

I Absolutely loved our tour guide

I Absolutely loved our tour guide, she made the whole trip that much more enjoyable. The tour bus driver was also the best. Bother were cordial, respectful and made sure everyone's needs wee met. Their knowledge of where we went help make the tour that much more pleasant. Hotels were very good, not great. Hotels in Madrid, Barcelona were exceptionally good, but the hotel in Venice --- not as nice. The destinations were perfect, although I would have loved more time at smaller towns. I do understand timing is everything, thus short period at smaller towns was hard. Breakfasts were amazing. Although some dinners were provided, they were not as good.

Date of experience : 06 October 2023

Italy's Best

The trip was very well organized and our tour guide, Gabriele, was fantastic. Our rooms at each hotel were nice and breakfast's were good. The only disappointment was not going into the Roman Coliseum, or having enough time to go up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I would recommend this trip to anyone.

Date of experience : 18 November 2023

Fantastic Canadian Rockies tour

I took the Canadian Rockies, with Alaska Cruise tour, and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. The Canadian leg in particular ran seamlessly, and most of the credit for that must go to Caterina (our tour guide) who constantly went out of her way to aim not just for customer satisfaction, but customer delight. I hope I'm lucky enough to meet Caterina again further down the line on a future (as yet unplanned) trip to Canada 🇨🇦. Also a special mention for Neil our driver.....so professional, safe, and courteous throughout 😊

Date of experience : 18 July 2023

Great historic journey

Great opportunity to learn so much about our nation’s history. Actually seeing places where important events took place is the best and most interesting way to learn. Our guide did a great job of informing us and helping us get the most from this historic journey. Cosmos did a good job of planning what we were to see and do to give us the opportunity to learn more of our nation’s history.

Date of experience : 27 September 2023

Super Team: Andrew and Jerry

Tour Director, “Andrew,” and Bus Driver, “Jerry,” make an incredible team that results in the ultimate touring experience. They are caring, patient, and the “best of the best” in their respective roles. Andrew made the long bus drives a joy by providing fluent, interesting dialogue, interspersed with music and videos. Jerry made the journey smooth in a spotless, comfortable bus. They went out of their way to make this an amazing experience.

Date of experience : 30 October 2023

US issues level 3 travel advisory to China amid safety concerns. Here's what to know

Are you thinking about traveling to China to visit or study abroad? The U.S. government suggests reconsidering your trip for now. 

According to the U.S. Department of State , traveling to China is under a level 3 travel advisory , warning Americans to reconsider. The State Department has four warning levels. The fourth is “Do not travel.”

Is it safe to travel to China right now?

The U.S. is asking Americans to reconsider traveling to China due to various reasons, including concerns about health and safety, such as the prevalence of contagious diseases like COVID-19, as well as political tensions or security risks in certain regions.

As of April 12, there are some specific areas that the U.S. is asking people to reconsider travel to. Those areas include:

• Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.
• Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
• Reconsider travel to the Macau SAR due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. 

Additionally, the U.S. government may issue travel advisories based on factors like civil unrest, natural disasters, or other hazards that could affect travelers' well-being.

Americans detained in China

Mark Swidan — a man from Houston, Texas — has been detained in China for over 10 years on drug charges. According to The Texas Tribune , Swidan was detained in China in 2012 while on a trip looking for materials for his home and business in Houston. Chinese authorities arrested him after his driver and translator were found in possession of drugs. The driver blamed Swidan, who is accused of trafficking and manufacturing methamphetamine.

A review of Swidan’s case said there were no drugs on him or in his hotel. Last year, the Republic of China’s Jiangmen Intermediate Court denied Swidan’s appeal and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence.

Other Americans considered wrongfully detained include Chinese American businessman Kai Li from Long Island, N.Y., and California pastor David Lin.

What countries have a Level 3 travel warning?

• Trinidad & Tobago
• El Salvador
• South Sudan
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Papua New Guinea
• Saudi Arabia

What countries have a Level 4 travel warning?

• Afghanistan
• Central African Republic
• North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
• Burkina Faso

Traveling abroad? Here are some safety tips

U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the State Department’s free  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  and to prepare contingency plans for emergencies. 

Safety tips if you're traveling outside the U.S.:

• Don't travel alone.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep a low profile.
• Try not to be flashy.
• Avoid going to places at night, especially by yourself.

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US embassy reaffirms that Malaysia is still safe to travel

Friday, 26 Apr 2024

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PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is still safe to travel, affirms the US embassy to Malaysia, negating US academician Bruce Gilley’s claim that it is not.

“There is no change to the US travel advisory, which remains at Level 1, the lowest level out of four,” it said in a statement.

According to the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs, Level 1 is the lowest advisory level for safety and security, between Levels 1 to 4, and 4 being “do not travel”.

At Level 1, travellers are to exercise normal precautions in the country, it said.

Checks by The Star on the US state department’s website showed that Malaysia has been on Level 1 since its last update on July 24, 2023. Additionally, its country information on Malaysia says that the countries have healthy bilateral ties.

“Economic ties are robust, and there is a long history of people-to-people exchanges. Malaysia has a diverse democracy and is an important partner in US engagement with South-East Asia,” it said.

Earlier this week, US academician Bruce Gilley claimed in a post on X that Malaysia is not safe to travel to.

He said on the social media platform that he had left Malaysia due to safety concerns caused by an “Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government there”.

Recently, Universiti Malaya (UM) had invited Gilley to speak, which caused controversy.

Gilley purportedly claimed that Malaysia had pushed for a “second holocaust against the Jewish people” during his talk, and downplayed Malaysia’s ties with the United States.

After the cancellation of all events involving Gilley by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, the academician has since returned to America.

Further sparking outrage, he posted that he will not accept reimbursement for his travels from UM, choosing instead to ask the public to fund his costs via an online platform.

“(Gilley’s) social media post on the safety of travelling in Malaysia is too much. It is irresponsible and can cause anger among all Malaysians,” UM said in a statement.

Tags / Keywords: US embassy , Bruce Gilley , Israel , UM , University Malaya , travel advisory

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Last week, my wife and I embarked on a special outdoor adventure. By the numbers, it wasn’t that impressive — a 2.3-mile, 300-foot “hike” up to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook . It took an hour from start to finish. Much of the route was paved. But it was a major milestone for one very important reason: It was our first hike with our newborn daughter, Emma.

In the days before this short but important trip, some pressing questions bounced around my head. Would Emma put up a fight as I wrestled her into the BabyBjörn carrier? Would she wail the whole way up the hill? Would she spit up all over me? (It wouldn’t be the first time.)

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I was also skeptical about how enriching a hike could be for a 2-week-old infant. Emma can barely see. After nine months in the womb, just lying in her crib must feel like visiting another planet — would she even notice the difference between indoors and outdoors?

To calm my nerves, I spoke with Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz, a pediatrician with UCLA Health. I was relieved to learn that babies, even those as young as Emma, appreciate time outside just as much as adults do.

“It’s a great way to stimulate their development with new senses and sounds, smells, things to look at,” said Dudovitz.

Outdoor time offers a host of benefits for babies. In addition to sensory stimulation, it exposes them to common allergens, which reduces their risk of developing allergies later in life, and it’s actually safer than spending time in crowded indoor places — they’re less likely to catch a virus from another person. Perhaps most importantly, going outside can calm a fussy newborn (and their exhausted parents).

“It can be a useful strategy, especially at the end of the day when everybody’s tired and cranky,” said Dudovitz.

Dudovitz also gave me a few tips to ensure our hike was a success. Rule No. 1 is to keep babies out of the sun, as a newborn’s skin is sensitive and sunscreen isn’t approved for use until they’re 6 months old. (Long sleeves and a sun hat are required equipment.) She recommends staying away from places with mosquitoes; if you can’t avoid bugs, you can pre-treat baby clothes with Permethrin to ward them off. Finally, pay close attention to heat and cold as babies can’t regulate their temperature as well as adults can (feel your child’s torso to gauge their temperature).

Armed with that info, my wife, Emma and I headed out for our first hike. It was a perfect Southern California day, the kind that makes you wonder why anyone would choose to live elsewhere. Warm sunshine spilled down from a deep blue sky, and a fresh breeze rolled in from the ocean as we trekked up the hill from the parking lot.

All around us, the chaparral was lush and alive with blossoms. Mounds of bush sunflowers glowed in the afternoon light, and here and there I noticed patches of coast morning glories, their delicate white cups streaked with purple. Amid the blooms, sagebrush branches stood out with their wispy pale green leaves. I touched them as we passed and savored their sweet, earthy scent. When we reached the top of the overlook, we could see for miles in all directions — the Santa Monica Mountains rising in the distance, the broad blue plane of the Pacific Ocean, and the skyscrapers of downtown L.A. poking up to the east. It was beautiful.

What did Emma think of it? Hard to say. She slept the entire time, stirring only when I took off her hat to snap photos. I think she opened her eyes for 30 seconds total. Even so, my wife and I enjoyed the excursion, and I’m calling this inaugural family hike a success. Next time, maybe Emma will be awake to hear, smell, see and feel all of it too.

3 things to do

1. ID plants and potluck in Topanga Canyon

Go for an all-levels plant identification stroll in the mountains of Topanga with Herb Club LA . The 2.5-mile walk will last about an hour and is open to everyone (even leashed dogs). Afterward, the group will be holding a “late Earth Day celebration” at the dreamy local Topanga shop the Well Refill for a tea meditation and potluck featuring herbal sodas and vegan chocolate. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and appropriate shoes for the hike, and — if they plan to take part in the potluck — to bring vegan dishes and reusable plates, cups and utensils to minimize waste. The event is free (with donations accepted) and kicks off Sunday at 11 a.m. For more information visit eventbrite.com .

2. Bike, walk, skate or scoot in SGV

Ditch the car on Sunday and experience what it’s like to roam freely on five miles of streets in Alhambra, San Gabriel and South Pasadena. Active Streets: Mission-to-Mission , presented by Metro Los Angeles and hosted by San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), is a car-free celebration packed with live music performances, pop-up booths from local businesses and community organizations, and free games and activities. Walk, bike, skate or scoot through any part of the route — or conquer the whole thing, if you choose. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you’re a San Gabriel Valley resident, you can borrow a classic GoSGV electric bike for $50 by filling out this form . Active Streets was formerly known as 626 Golden Streets — with the Metro “Gold” line becoming the “L” and then the “A,” the name changed.

3. The Earth Day celebrations continue

Though Earth Day happened on Monday, the L.A. celebrations are still going strong. On Saturday, you’ll find guided nature hikes and storytelling at the Chatsworth Nature Preserve , a seed swap at Barnes Park in Monterey Park and the Teen Climate Fest at Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific . You can also get your gloves dirty on Saturday at the Madrona Marsh in Torrance, which is hosting a habitat restoration event . Pre-registration is required and participants should wear closed-toe shoes and bring sunscreen and water.

The must-read

Here’s a fun idea for getting outside and exploring Los Angeles: Go on a walking tour of the city’s bridges. For The Times, writer Adam Markovitz highlights nine spans all around L.A. that are worth checking out, including quaint walkways over the Venice Canals, the historic Shakespeare Bridge in Los Feliz and the new 6th Street Viaduct over the L.A. River. Whether you’re in it for the architecture or looking for some new views of the city, these bridges won’t disappoint.

Happy adventuring,

A recently published book, “ Places We Swim California ,” will get you excited to jump in the water this summer. It highlights over 60 swimming spots all around the state (including several in SoCal) and features road trip itineraries for discovering unique California beaches, rivers and hot springs.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild . And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here .

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We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.

Michael Charboneau is a freelance writer covering gear and the outdoors, and he’s writing The Wild newsletter for a few months. He has written for a variety of publications, including Men’s Journal, Runner’s World and InsideHook, and he lives in West L.A. When he’s not writing, he can be found running, hiking and biking around Los Angeles and its mountains.

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