jules verne sicily tour

Benefits 30 Year Project To “ Bring the Lenape Home “

Why Jules Verne Expeditions is Very Different

Our primary offering is Journeys. Deep, immersive, significant, authentic, thoughtful explorations … to near-secret places. A Journey can be a spiritual pilgrimage or perhaps a 60 year old astronomy major who never went into the field, but still burns with interest. In a world of fluffy travel offerings, think of us like the Jeopardy® of travel!

Have your past vacations been forgettable? They work hard to convince you to visit to overvisited/overcrowded post card places.  Antarctica!  Cruise ships! Yellowstone! India! Disney! Venice! Niagara Falls! Machu Picchu! We call it “Cliche Travel” (TM). It can seem fairly empty and hollow. Like factory travel. The truth is, there are thousands of Tour Companies but only one Mountain Man Journeys…

A museum collects and displays artefacts; we take you to actual sites of significance. Many of our 400+ near secret places are bucket-list worthy. Sites of archeologic, scientific, cultural, mystery and historic importance. Our itinerary is not the standard tourist traps with millions of visitors and cameras. No low wage and bored tour guides with a canned pitch, pictures to post on Facebook and then dashing to the next stop.

Once you become a SoJourner – someone who has been on several Mountain Man Journeys, you start to realize our mantra that once you have been on a Mountain Man Journey, you never really come all the way home.

We are fellow SoJourners. Note that your:

• Guide presents an overview/background/context, perhaps using storytelling or dramatic interpretation. S/he is truly a guide and coach. Giving you context. Challenging you to go back in time. They are NOT just there to give a pitch, answer a few questions and take pictures of you with trees!
• Journey may blend exploration, classroom, historian, detective, field work, even a little bit of escape room! You are encouraged to be a highly active participant, placing yourselves in that time, imagining what it was like, the harshness, the beauty, the life of 10,000 year old people for example.

Our Purpose and our  Green Policy   is to help you  ReDiscover Your Wild Side . The more of our Journeys you join in, the more you see the world in the ancient, significant, communal and spiritual context going back to the Paleo-Indians who first journeyed across the New World.

An outdoors museum of significant historic, significant, or interesting sites where you are always on location. How any vacations have you taken that changed nothing in your life and didn’t move or change you? Why “Mountain Man”? They opened up the frontier. They roamed in beautiful and pristine country.  They lived off the land. They generally were on good terms with the Native Americans. They were self-sufficient. They had already ReDiscovered their Wild Side!!

The Last Grand Adventures on Earth

Featured tours.

Journey to the Earth’s Mantle, Moho, Deepsea Crust

Where the Ice Age Still Reigns!

Across Ancient Seas to Gondwanaland!

Oldest Places & Oldest Life on Earth (Geology)

Ancient Astronomy & Mound Builders

Early Flight & Astronauts

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Tour with VJV (Voyages Jules Verne) any experiences to share - Sicily Forum

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Jules Verne

Book your Jules Verne Holidays at Hessle Travel Give us a call to get the best prices, special offers, check availability or to book. Call Hessle Travel on 01482 641064 Get In Touch Jules Verne Inspiring Tours Worldwide Information

The Jules Verne Difference!

That sense of adventure to discover the world is at the heart of Jules Verne. Established in 1978, our innovative small group escorted tours offer authentic travel with a twist for people who love to see the world. Packed with special touches and little extras, our expert guides will show you the true character of each destination and take you beyond the norm, whether your chosen destination is closer to home or far-flung. Fully ABTA and ATOL bonded and winner of many travel awards, our expert staff organise every detail so you can book in complete confidence.

• Inspiring tours to all seven continents

• Small groups and privately guided tours

• Knowledgeable local guides

• Expertly planned and organised

Jules Verne Sightseeing

This most important of Key Features indicates that sightseeing is tailored just for our group, taking into account your preferences and our experience over many years and not combining with other visitors. Sightseeing is undertaken by expert local guides and escorts who we consider to be the best source of information. A few programmes such as cruise or rail programmes will show ‘Excursions Included’, indicating that sightseeing may be shared with non-Jules Verne guests.

Special Events

To enhance the experience of Jules Verne travellers, we arrange exclusive and memorable special events, illuminating the country and peoples you are visiting. Attend a special ceremony, performance, meal or drinks party at characteristic and spectacular locations; learn about cooking and the local way of life; discover less-visited corners or special locations not normally open to the public.

New Tour/Improved Itinerary

Following our customers’ feedback from our questionnaires and other sources, we improve itineraries and introduce new tours, taking into account special opportunities and changed accessibility.

No Single Supplement

We offer a range of destinations and dates where there is genuinely no single supplement (limited availability, so early booking is recommended, excludes privately guided tours). Additionally, we try to minimise the single supplement charged by hotels, cruise and rail companies.

Solo Groups

Following requests from single travellers, we are introducing on selected tours, departures with No Single Supplement where the group is comprised only of single travellers, following the same itinerary and accompanied by a UK or local tour manager. We are negotiating with our hotels to increase the number of solo groups. Please check tour price panels for Solo Groups departures.

Small Groups

Travelling as part of a small group you will enjoy a more intimate and sociable atmosphere, benefit from more personal attention from our guides and delve into your destination in more detail, getting closer to the places visited and experiencing local life in a more personal and informal setting. Our small group sizes also avoid the congestion caused by travelling in a large group. Most tours have a maximum of 25 guests at most and many are 15 guests or fewer. However, we normally operate tours even for very small groups and our average group size is just 10 people.

We offer hotels which enhance the experience of the destination. Look out for: Historic/Heritage Hotels, former noble residences or classic hotels of note and for Central Hotels which allow the evening to be also an experience whether for a stroll or to visit a local restaurant, café or bar. We indicate the local hotel ratings and check hotels for health & safety. Hotel ratings vary worldwide and some standards may not reflect those in the UK.

Privately Guided

Enjoy a more personal experience with family or friends, visiting all the programmed sights with your own private vehicle and driver/ guide, generally allowing better access and more flexibility than larger groups/vehicles. Choose a published departures or request an alternative date (same weekday start is recommended due to possible issues with pricing, opening times and flow of itinerary). Supplements are per person based on two but reduced ‘pro rata’ for groups of 3 or more (details on request). For special rates for 8 or more guests travelling together please see below.

If you prefer the company of your choice, we normally offer a private departure on an existing tour or a tailored arrangement. We offer a discount of 3% for groups of 8 or more passengers, rising to 5% for groups of 15 or more travelling together on one of our tours. Our experience, expertise and excellent rates are advantageous for study groups, societies, incentive groups and closed groups of friends. Groups Contact: 020 7633 6799 or [email protected]

Extension Options

Whilst our tours follow of necessity a fixed itinerary, you can personalise your visit by adding our pre-or post-tour extensions as indicated. Where dates and logistics allow, you can combine two tours or two extensions (extra nights/flights may be required or recommended).

Extra Nights

Extra nights at the first and last hotels of tours and extensions (or on a ‘stopover) are normally available to allow you extra time before or after the tour to relax or explore. Please see tour page for details.

Given the wide range of cuisines popular in the UK, we believe in creating opportunities to sample local cuisine of your choice rather than the more standardised hotel fare. Breakfast is, of course included, plus on occasion lunch or dinner for a special event or for convenience (shown in the itinerary as B, L, D).

Choice of Flights

Where practical, we include scheduled flights from multiple airports or with ‘low cost’ airlines. Brochure prices are based on specific routes but other flight options may be available – let us know if you are looking for an alternative routing or timing and we will endeavour to match your request (extra nights or transfers may need to be added). Connecting flights via London or other cities are available on many long haul tours. We also offer ‘Business Class’ upgrades with benefits such as more leg room, a wider seat, separate check-in, ‘fast track’ route and airport lounges. Some airlines offer a ‘Premium Economy’ (e.g. British Airways World Traveller Plus) offering more space and comfort.

Independent Arrival

Most tours show price reductions if you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, arriving and departing independently. Join the group at the first hotel and leave at the last (arrival and departure transfers not included but may be booked as indicated). Call Hessle Travel on 01482 641064

Get In Touch

Choose Departure Date

Guests & rooms, select child 1 age:, select child 2 age:, select child 3 age:, select child 4 age:, select child 5 age:.

Head over heels with Italy

From lake como in the north to sicily in the south, develop a deeper appreciation of this enchanting country with expert trips from jules verne.

It is the country of Roman ruins and Renaissance masterpieces, of dramatic coastlines, glorious lakes and charming canals, not to mention delightful cuisine.

Which is why Italy never leaves your travel wish list. No matter how many times you visit, there is always another opera to experience at Verona’s Roman amphitheatre, another sumptuous palazzo to stay in, another historic vineyard to visit.

Jules Verne has a wealth of experience of putting together fascinating trips that help you peel back the layers of this enchanting country. Its small group tours and knowledgeable guides take care of every detail, ensuring your trip will be truly special. It is a wonderful way to explore Italy from head to heel.

Lake Como – still waters, grand vistas

The most spectacular – and exclusive – of the Italian Lakes, Como is surrounded by mountains and forested hills and peppered with exquisite villages and pastel-coloured villas. Stay at the Grand Hotel Menaggio, set right on the waterfront, and explore the scenic south, crowned by the Roman town of Como. The north is altogether more rugged, with lesser-known villages and dramatic mountain scenery. Combining the two, you will explore by boat, train and road, taking in flower-filled gardens, pretty piazzas and endless lake views, aperitivo in hand.   

 Don’t miss  Stunning views

They call it the Balcony of Italy, and nothing beats the Alpine views from Mount Sighignola, on the border with Switzerland. From the mountain village of Lanzo d’Intelvi, you can walk along the paths to a lookout point with views across snow-capped peaks. Look out for the Matterhorn and you may even spot Mont Blanc in the distance on a clear day, too. The balcony that gives the area its nickname is a large terrace and perfect photo spot, while the trails weaving through the mountain landscape are great for hiking and cycling.

Find out more about this inspiring holiday

Como is surrounded by mountains and forested hills and peppered with exquisite villages and pastel-coloured villas

Venice from the wate r.

Made up of more than 100 lagoon islands, woven together with endless canals, Venice is a city that is best seen from the water. The Jules Verne experience avoids the overpriced hotels and restaurants and allows you to enjoy the city from a completely different perspective ­– on a cruise ship. There are fascinating tours to the opulent Doge’s Palace and a factory producing carnival masks, and the quaint fishing port of Chioggia. Plus there’s plenty of time to explore Venice’s picturesque waterways and bridges under your own steam.

  Don’t miss   Venetian specialities

To find a souvenir that sums up your Venice trip, explore the local shops and studios that have been doing brisk business for generations. On the island of Giudecca, you can pick up colourful Murano glass designs by Stefano Morasso at his shop and studio. He was born on the island of Murano and learnt his trade there.

Rest and refuel like the locals with bite-size cicchetti washed down with an aperitivo of your choice at a bacaro. Dotted around Venice, these low-key bars are the place to soak up the atmosphere while sampling fritto misto and the classic Venetian spritz.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS INSPIRING HOLIDAY

There’s plenty of time to explore Venice’s picturesque waterways and bridges under your own steam

Rome – in the company of angels.

Travel is all about immersive experiences and Jules Verne certainly offers that in the Eternal City, where you can spend four nights in a convent with the Sisters of the Order of St Joseph of the Apparition. This spectacular hillside convent overlooks St Peter’s Basilica and is just a 15-minute walk from the Vatican. The nuns have turned part of the complex into a guesthouse and even offer the chance for dinner at a nearby monastery. In the morning there are walking tours round Rome and the Vatican, and free time each afternoon to explore on your own.

 Don’t miss  Subterranean Rome

After gazing up at the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, it’s time to go underground. Some of Rome’s most amazing sites are subterranean, from haunting catacombs to Emperor Nero’s palace. But be sure to book early and always check for restricted opening hours. Plunge down to the Domus Aurea, which was constructed for Nero in AD64 after the Great Fire of Rome and which is decorated with white marble, frescoes, mosaics and pools and fountains. Perhaps the best preserved of its type in Rome, the Catacombs of Santa Domitilla reveal a world of religious frescoes dating back to the second century and even an underground church.

After gazing up at the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel, it’s time to go underground to the catacombs

Amalfi, pompeii, sorrento–coastal glory.

The pretty clifftop town of Sorrento was a bathing resort in Roman times. Today, it is a chic locale on the Amalfi Coast and the base from which you will discover one of the most beautiful driving routes in the world. You can stay in one of the many gorgeous hotels or opt for dazzling Villa Crawford, once owned by author Francis Marion Crawford. To better explore the dramatic beauty of the Divine Coast, Jules Verne puts on minibuses – giving you access that regular coach tours cannot. You will also visit stunning Amalfi, Positano and Ravello, enjoy a guided tour of Pompeii and have the chance to visit Herculaneum and Naples.

  Don’t miss   The ruins of Herculaneum

Pompeii grabs all the headlines for its sheer size and amazing architecture, but in its own way Herculaneum is just as impressive. Indeed, when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79, Herculaneum was actually the richer of the two cities with more intricate mosaics and bigger houses. Herculaneum is a smaller site than Pompeii, making it quicker and easier to explore, and the site is incredibly well preserved, thanks to slower falling ash from the eruption leaving houses and mosaics more complete.

One of the best ways to explore Italy’s rich heritage is through its cuisine

Sicily – unearthing its treasures and secrets.

An island of riches, Sicily is home to sparkling seas, dramatic Mount Etna, Byzantine mosaics, baroque palaces and Arab castle ruins. To do justice to Sicily’s sheer variety, Jules Verne has created a new grand tour of the island. It takes in the Villa Romana ruins and the volcanic Aeolian Islands, the buzzing capital Palermo, and the baroque towns that form the backdrop of TV series Inspector Montalbano . A whistle-stop tour of Sicily’s Byzantine and Moorish, Norman and Spanish past, it offers a fascinating glimpse of the “crossroads of the Mediterranean”.

 Don’t miss  The flavours of history

One of the best ways to explore Sicily’s mixed heritage is through its cuisine. Sicily is famous for its pistachios and almonds, while saffron and raisins are liberally used in dishes, hinting at its Arab past. In fact, the local dish pasta chi sardi, made with sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts and saffron, was reputedly the invention of an Arab army chef inspired by his arrival on the island. Equally, the olives and capers in the famous sweet-and-sour caponata aperitivo   have a distinctly Greek twist.

No single supplement

If you are considering a solo trip to Italy, book with Jules Verne and you won’t have to pay a single supplement on selected tours. A tour manager will take care of all the details and you ’ ll find that the itinerary has been designed so you can mingle with other like-minded adventurers as well as having free time to yourself. With guaranteed departures and prices, all that’s left is to book now and discover the delights of Italy.

Illustrations: Maite Franchi

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Tour with VJV (Voyages Jules Verne) any experiences to share - Sicily Forum

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Jules Verne   Reviews

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Excellent pre travel service from Tara

We have used VJV before had had a wonderful time so have booked the Nile cruise including Aswan. We've not travelled yet, but I just wanted to praise the exceptional service we have received from Tara who went above and beyond in sorting out some specific requests when her colleagues had told me it was impossible previously. She is a credit to VJV.

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

Recently went to Mexico and Guatemala…

Recently went to Mexico and Guatemala with this company. Awful holiday, expensive but done cheaply. Coming through immigration, we had to walk to our bus and the car barrier came down onto my husbands head, splitting the skin and causing him to collapse. We have been offered £300 as a goodwill gesture, because it was out with their control. I asked them if he had died which he could have done (he is 77) would they have said the same thing. Absolutely disgraceful. Please don't book with this company, they do not have your safety as a priority. Their standards have dropped considerably over the last year. I first went with them 35 years ago but will never go with them again. No customer care.

Date of experience : 08 March 2024

JV Golden Triangle India tour

Just came back from JV Golden Triangle India 8 night tour. Fabulous hotels, lovely local guide who organized it faultlessly and small group of just 7 people.

Date of experience : 10 February 2024

Fantastic 600 Mile Nile from Aswan to Cairo…

A SUPER well organised Cruise down the 600 Mile Nile on a comfortable river cruiser MS Darakum Delightfulyl professional and helpful crew. Fantastic food with loads of choice. A knowledgeable guide enhanced the visits at all sites Avoiding the heat and crowds where possible Extra Vjv experiences were a bonus and fun. Cruise includes time to relax and enjoy the interesting river banks passing by.. Finishing in Cairo for the amazing Pyramids, Sphinx and City. Good value for money as everything included, except the Balloon Ride over Valley of Kings.Definitly worth the extra !

Date of experience : 01 September 2023

Appalling. Save your money and use another company

The holiday booked was cancelled 3 weeks before departure. The replacement offered was appalling. It was a so called River Cruise from Stasbourg....No cruise that i know if is so bad. The boat rattles, creaks and bangs the 'cabins' are more akin to a prison cell. The Heath and Safety is dreadful with evacuation over 3 adjoining boats on narrow badly placed planks positively dangerous. During the night, it would be impossible to cross and anyone who is elderly or has mobility problems would simply be left behind. The quality is dire. Don't bother. For a much lower cost I have booked P&O Stateroom for 2 people next December. VJV did exactly the same to a consultant friend who has also provided the most dreadful reviews. They are not what they were and really couldn't care less.

Date of experience : 04 December 2023

Went to uzbeckistan office staff…

Went to uzbeckistan office staff useless I think they are working from home. Not told the printer had broken when I kept emailing. 16 days late receiving info Tour guide young and arrogant No whispers to hear the guide talking when you move away Food repetitive One lady going into dementia One man nearky 90 I have elderly mum so wanted to be without the elderly and taking care of them Photos taken guide gave us hats we provided emails still not received. ! Being used for marketing material. ?! Better not as I will be contacting them. Riveria travel for me !

Date of experience : 30 July 2023

Very poor at responding.

"I´ll get back to you tomorrow" obviously has a different meaning in the Jules Verne lexicon. That´s what we´ve been told three times now, but are still waiting. 20 years ago Jules Verne were the Gold Standard, by which other tour agents were judged, now they are some way below the middle of the pack. That´s a real shame. One commuinication you will receive though is the persistent feedback requests - "Tell us how did we do". Well, I can´t answer that, because you still didn´t do anything!

Date of experience : 17 March 2023

The Golden Road to Samarkand

The Golden Road to Samarkand - Ukbekistan. What a fantastic holiday. The country is culturally rich, very friendly and so much to see and do. Made all the better due to the exacting organisation and admin of VJV customer services team and the exceptional in country guide. He was exceptional. All over every detail, nothing was too much trouble and we were well informed at all times. He earned his tip and more. I can highly recommend this company and this tour. You may find cheaper versions, but having seen other companies whilst I was there, at times they appeared chaotic and disorganised. I having nothing but praise and good words for the the local guide and VJV.

Date of experience : 06 October 2023

Sorrento with VJV

I recently travelled to Sorrento with VJV and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I’ve been on many previous trips (8) with this company and have always been happy with the service in the UK and when on holiday. The negative comments on here are puzzling. VJV trips typically have small numbers of people on them and a light touch when it comes to being guided. I really like this - I don’t want to be kept under close ‘supervision’, but maybe some people do!

Date of experience : 17 June 2023

NO, DON'T CALL ME BACK

Haven't managed to browse the site at all, thanks to unmoveable."Can we call you back?" pleas that obscured the screen seconds after i clicked on a holiday. Clearly this company is too in love with technological hard-sell techniques to appreciate how off-putting they are.

Date of experience : 11 May 2023

Company Not as Good as it Used to be

Sadly since covid the company has lost site of any customer care. There is no loyalty for all the years of travelling with them, and the company feels as though its run by a group of youngsters with little knowledge of the holiday destinations they are selling.

Date of experience : 16 February 2023

Lacking in knowledge of Schengen

Lacking in knowledge of Schengen. VJV rep was unable to advise on Schengen passport rules when flying from the UK to an EU country and then on to another EU country without returning home first. This was surprising given they are a company that have many EU multi-country tours.

Date of experience : 02 June 2023

The very best Safari experience in Tanzania.

We booked a Safari to Tanzania through VJV - and everything worked just perfectly! Their partner in Africa is Tent with a View - a company who reflect perfectly the service from VJV. Everything worked just as planned - the accommodation was quirky and fun -the food extraordinary (I wasn't expecting that in the middle of the Serengeti) - but most of all the people were warm, friendly and loved to share their culture and way of life. Simply the best experience - awesome! No complaints at all - the brochure tells you what to expect but they delivered so much more. Thank you!

Date of experience : 28 June 2022

Why advertise regional flights?

I was interested in a holiday advertised as having regional flights. Asked for call back which I received. However the sales advisor seemed intent on persuading me to book a holiday with a flight from London and evaded my questions as to why regional flights were advertised. She was so patronising, obtuse and bossy I ended the phone call by saying I wouldn’t want to travel with JV anyway after this experience

Date of experience : 06 February 2023

Avoid Egyptair, if you can’t then don’t book the holiday

We enjoyed our holiday, organised by Jules Verne, it was the return home that was the issue. Another tour group arranged the early flights, Luxor - Cairo, to pick up the Heathrow flight that afternoon, Jules Berne arranged the early afternoon flight. Which was late. So we missed the connection and had to spend the night in a hotel chosen by Egyptair. The Le Passage at Cairo airport. Which was horrible. I wondered if Jules Verne would hide behind the ‘nothing to do with me, contact Egyptair’ nonsense and, guess what… ? They did. No discussion about how this sort of situation might be avoided in the future or, indeed, our thoughts on how the Egypt holiday might be improved. Nope… they have our money and that’s that. Well they won’t have anymore of it. Ever.

Date of experience : 25 April 2023

Excellent tours

We used Jules Verne to book a tour to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. It was very well organised and a reasonable price for what we got. Phone information was good and the brochures are excellent. We have just booked a tour to Burma and, again, everything so far has been very efficient.

Date of experience : 28 February 2011

No more holidays with VJV

Having travelled twice before with VJV, this time was one not to be repeated. I managed to get a bad cold after a few days and certain people in the group told me I couldn't eat with them and I should go back to my room. The tour manager did nothing to sort this out so I was ostracised for having a cold which I clearly caught whilst on holiday. The tour rep was very pleasant but age inappropriate (20) for the group who were from 64 to late 80s. Although food was served to me in the lounge bar by the time it came it was stone cold. I do not expect to go on holiday and be treated as if I have the plague when I and many other people on the Renoir riverboat were also coughing and sneezing. My previous trip with VJV started badly as they booked flights from Heathrow that were too late to catch the riverboat in Lyon. The flight was delayed but even if it had been on time the boat had already sailed. We ended up wheeling our cases a long way to a hotel to eat, then getting in a small coach for a mad dash to catch up with the boat with a driver who drove extremely dangerously. £100 was given by way of compensation to spend on another holiday with them which I used for the holiday above. Even then they seemed reluctant to allow me to use the £100 having to check with managers even though it was on their records.

Date of experience : 27 September 2023

Dealing with the unexpected

Just completed my second trip with vjv and both have been excellent. I suspect that the overall low rating is because the majority of highly satisfied customers remain silent. Vjv book flights for their customers but it is not their responsibility to help with airport and in-flight issues. If things go wrong, it is the airline's responsibility to sort out problems. On arrival and throughout the itinerary it is the local guides and drivers who represent vjv. In my experience they have been very good. This trip included a client who was ill and became disabled during the trip.The guide earned our respect as he made every effort to ensure the traveller was looked after, paying for a wheelchair and temporary carer out of his own pocket. He assured me that he was confident that vjv would reimburse his expenses. He said the company never queried such unexpected costs. He was confident of their support. Vjv also arranged for wheelchair assistance when we arrived at LHR. That is an indication of good service. I shall be booking another trip with them.

Date of experience : 18 April 2023

Room for improvement !!!!!

Did VJV's Wild Namibia tour Sep 2023. This was my third more recent tour with VJV having done tours with them in the past. Although the actual booking of the tour seemed well organized the after care was very poor. Slow response to emails, poor or incorrect information given and misrepresentation of the tour where the itinery given (and expected to get) did not match the experience on offer to us. A larger than expected group (they added an extra group of six) so to accommodate the now group of 12 we were split into different accommodations. I enquired before the start of the tour, when I learned about the additions, if we would all have the same accommodation and was told yes. this was not the case. The address given for the lodge was incorrect, not even in the same area as stated in the itinery and NO game drives as stated in the itinery (which is what a safari in Africa is all about). Other accommodation used on the tour were of an ok standard but a couple were awful with no air con and poorly maintained with flooding showers. The excuse used is that Africa is a relatively a basic country and these things happen but that's not the case. There were many better lodges nearby with much better facilities. Myself and other guests complained to the local guides used about our individual issues but heard nothing from VJV. I took the privately guided option at an additional £1,300 and was told I would have that to end of the tour at Victoria falls. Then I was told would only have until Botswana, then told would have all the way and so on depending who I spoke to on the phone. It all seemed like the tour was being made up as it went along. I was supposed to have a private car/jeep to the end of the tour and other 11 split between to mini buses but all twelve of us had to squash into a small van to get us to the last hotel with the sorry apologies again. Seems there is not much communication between VJV and local agents used before and whilst on the tours. On my return I approached VJV for compensation for the misrepresentations in there itinery and was offered £200. They admitted that they had issues with the holiday confirmations sent out and were very sorry. I refused the £200 and we finally settled on £400. Nothing can make up for the safari experienced promised but didn't get on this expensive tour. I totally agree with one of the other comments that it's run by young girls that don't have any experience about the places they are selling and about travel in general. Years ago VJV were excellent and I had every confidence in them but sadly not now. This is my third bad experience with them. Shame as they do have some lovely holidays Would I go with them again......possibly but know from experience to take every thing they say with a pinch of salt and to check every thing out for myself....even flights.

Date of experience : 16 September 2023

Their local agents aren’t up to the job.

We did the 600 mile Nile tour and whilst the Egyptian history side was excellent, the catering and travel arrangements were not at all. Before ever booking I checked they could cater for our dietary requirements and was emphatically assured it would be no problem. It started badly on the flight as there was no food for us, and as there was a delay we missed the connecting flight. Since Jules Verne don’t have personnel with you we were left for hours in the airport with no food or even water while we waited for one of their agent’s staff to sort things out for us. This meant most of our group missed booking onto the early flights the next day and were finally taken to a hotel with mouldy bathrooms and questionable catering early in the morning. That meant we missed the first day of the holiday and when we did finally arrive it was a mad dash to take us round what we had missed. Whilst the delay is not their fault, since there was such a tight window for the connection, and it is well known that Heathrow has real problems with baggage loading, this delay was inevitable. However no one did anything for the 9 1/2 hours we were on the plane to sort things out ready for our arrival and we were left to wait for many more hours. On arriving at the boat our fears were realised when it became evident that the catering crew had no idea about our dietary requirements or how to meet them. It took a lot of explanation but things were very hit and miss and nothing was labelled - needless to say we both lost a lot of weight as you are 12 nights on the boat and there is no opportunity to leave to purchase your own food. Jules Verne charge a premium service but then turn you over to their local agents without thoroughly checking that all has been put in place for clients - not good enough for the high cost of these holidays. The actual itinerary (other than the badly planned first day) is really good, and the Nile is glorious, but the catering is just not acceptable. We were lucky we weren’t eating the meat dishes as several people missed a day or two of the holiday as they had severe tummy upsets. For the money they charge there are better tour operators out there - we saw how useful it was to have a rep on the plane with you as all the other groups were sorted onto flights and into hotels hours before us.

Date of experience : 22 October 2022

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About Voyages Jules Verne

Voyages Jules Verne was founded in 1978 on the basis of one simple idea - to operate a train from London to Peking (Beijing) and thence to Hong Kong. In doing so the market to China was opened up at a time, remarkably, when the 'bamboo curtain' was still officially in place.

Further innovative train journeys were to follow and many travel firsts were also achieved including inaugural flights to previously inaccessible areas and the opening of remote border crossing points.

About Sicily Activities

MSC SPLENDIDA

27 juin 2024, la grèce - turquie - italie- mer noire.

L’éco-navire  MSC Splendida , lui-même destination d’exception, vous transporte dans un univers luxueux et élégant à la découverte des plus beaux endroits au monde. Avec tant de choses à découvrir à bord, chaque jour passé sur le MSC Splendida est une véritable aventure pour les hôtes de tous les âges !

Itinéraire MSC Slpendida

• INCLUSIONS:
• DÉPART 27 JUIN 2024 vols: yul-ath / ath-yul (Transat ou silimaire)
• ARRIVÉE LE 28 / TOUR DE VILLE DE ATHÈNES
• 1 NUIT À L’HÔTEL occ dbL
• 9 NUITS DE CROISIÈRE
• Easy Package + Wi-Fi Promotion
• valeur de 1500$ p/p
• Formule tout inclus sur la croisière
• EXCLUSIONS:
• Pourboire sur la croisière
• Frais opc 3.50$ par tranche de 1000$
• Forfaits Excursions
• Repas hors croisière
• Dépense personnelle

Cabine Intérieure

• Tarif en occupation DBL

Forfaits excursions tarif à venir!