Europe Tours from London

Zicasso’s travel specialists were excellent to work with, as we adjusted our itinerary many times from initial contact to the time of travel. Our travel party significantly reduced in number and they worked with us to put together a great tour of Scotland (Edinburgh, including the castle, Royal Holyrood Palace, and a day trip to Stirling Castle with a great chauffeur/guide) and Ireland, arranging our flight to Dublin with transportation to Galway, then return via train for activities in Dublin. We had a wonderful trip and would highly recommend the travel company.

My wife and I enjoyed a perfectly glorious 17-day adventure in Scotland, thanks to Zicasso’s travel specialists.

The trip was amazing. The perfect route, well-paced, excellent (and varied) accommodations. It was a wonderful blend of scenery, culture, history, and independence, everything we had discussed during the planning phase. We hardly even noticed a few boating glitches (rescheduled and cancelled ferries). They really did not impact the journey much at all.

The travel company could not have planned better weather for us, mostly sunny days with blue skies. My photos are fabulous. Even the locals were shocked at how lovely it was for an extended period of time. We packed with just the right layers and never needed to use rain gear. For Scotland we were indeed very fortunate. The food also was a pleasant surprise. Of course breakfasts were consistently delicious and ample, but we really enjoyed our bites out, mostly for dinners and occasional lunches in a wide variety of settings, from pubs, to higher-end restaurants, even some ethnic establishments. All were great.

We were inspired to visit Scotland thanks in part to our fascination with the series Outlander, the history, culture, scenery. None of it disappointed. The trip was planned as a road trip, renting a car following two full days exploring Edinburgh on foot. Our route took us to Dunnottar Castle, Balmoral, Inverness, Ullapool, the Outer Hebrides (Lewis and Harris), Skye, Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and Stirling. As 70-somethings, we were incredibly active on each day, hitting 20,000 steps on many of them. Lots of town/city walking, and many hikes along the way as well, including waterfalls and beaches. And castles, museums, battlefields everywhere, so much to explore.

A few random things:

Lake Katrine boat ride and bicycling was definitely a highlight, so glad we fit that in.

Taking the train to Glasgow on the final day was definitely worthwhile (actually our longest day on foot, 27,000+ steps). Loved the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, made it to the Cathedral and Necropolis, and lingered for dinner in Merchant Square. We felt that city was vastly under-rated.

Our greatest challenge was the driving. We had done Australia the same way last year, so were comfortable with the left-right issue. But we found the roads throughout Scotland to be very narrow, often one-laned, and in terrible disrepair, with potholes at every turn. Thankfully we were not there in high season. We could only imagine how difficult it could be with way more tourists on the road. Having additional car insurance was very wise planning indeed, thank you!

We definitely want to report how pleased we were, with the trip and the travel company’s services. The travel specialist was always incredibly responsive and reassuring as things surfaced along the way. Communications were never a problem. We would definitely use this travel company again, perhaps they might even suggest our next great adventure. Scotland is a must-see for everyone.

Amy and David P.

Zicasso's trip planner worked with my family for the better part of a year planning our big family trip. She provided exceptional service and planned every detail of our trip. We have a large family, with lots of moving parts. There were many changes in the itinerary along the way and she rolled with all the many changes. She was always polite, courteous, and graceful in her many interactions with our family.

She listened carefully during our initial conversations to help us plan the best trip possible. Being a large family, with multiple generations, she really created the best possible experience, taking in everyone's wishes. Working with her was very relieving, knowing she was taking care of all the details.

Our family's trip took us from the States to Ireland, Scotland, and England. We traveled on planes, trains, ferry, and drove a car. Our trip planner arranged every detail meticulously. We stayed in lovely, quaint, boutique hotels, ate the most wonderful foods, saw the amazing sights, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites across all three countries. From the Cliffs of Moher to the Culloden Moor Memorial to Stonehenge to castles grand and desolate; from beautiful cathedrals to old abbey ruins; from little country pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants; and even spending a couple days in an actual 17th-century castle, every minute was amazing! Truly amazing!

Our Zicasso trip planner curated an outstanding custom tour for us through the Netherlands and Belgium. He thoughtfully incorporated all our requests, including visits to the Keukenhof Gardens, the iconic tulip fields, and the historic World War I sites in Flanders Fields.

Each of the three hotels we stayed at—in Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels—was centrally located, which made it easy to explore the sights and soak in the charm of each neighborhood. The service at all the hotels was excellent.

She also arranged personal guides and drivers throughout our trip. Every one of them was knowledgeable, professional, and attentive to our questions and requests, which greatly enhanced our experience.

We couldn't have asked for a better-planned and more enjoyable journey. We highly recommend this travel company for anyone looking for a seamless and enriching travel experience!

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed many of the features of the trip. All of the hotels were very nice and the overnight stay in the castle was the cherry on top. We were able to get a tour of the castle and I would recommend to others that they include the stay in their trip, and that they request a tour to get the full experience.

Having free time in Edinburgh with just a few tours was very nice and then getting to see the countryside and the beautiful Isle of Skye was great. As Mark said, our driver was excellent or, as he would say, lovely. He really helped to give us some local insight and took us to some off-the-beaten-track places, in addition to getting us to all the stops on the tour. My husband and I would highly recommend our driver for any Scotland tour.

All in all, an excellent trip. Thank you!

Zicasso's travel company helped create a wonderful UK trip for my family. Their fine attention to detail, along with a spectacularly planned itinerary, was greatly appreciated. From our drivers to amazing tour guides - the one in White Cliffs of Dover, the one in Ireland, and the one in Scotland - this trip was spot-on perfect! 

The travel company's app was extremely helpful and user-friendly, and the lodging facilities chosen were perfect. In particular, the hotels located in the heart of each city made walking tours and exploring ideal. In addition, pre-planned excursions and activities added to an overall positive experience.