On February 23rd 2016, we went on the Istanbul Troy 15-day tour with RSD travel, and I’m writing this RSD Travel review to give other travellers my honest opinion on this tour agency.
Warning: there’s a lot of ranting below!
Have you ever seen something and thought, “It’s just too damn good to be true?”
It happened to us recently, which is why I’m writing this RSD Travel review.
Carlo was chatting to his mum on a routine catching-up-on-the-news call when she mentioned a deal she’d seen in the Roscommon Herald, our local newspaper.
The deal was for 14 nights/15 days in Turkey – the first week would be spent travelling overland from Istanbul to Antalya and the second was going to be spent in a 5star hotel in the Turkish Rivera.
The price? €199 per person.
Better yet, the price included all of the following:
√ return flights from Dublin to Istanbul
√ 14 nights accommodation
√ breakfast each morning
√ all transportation costs (inc flight from Antalya to Istanbul at the end of the trip)
Really? The flight alone would cost that? It had to be a scam.
Being the skeptics that we are, we decided to give the company a call and see where the hidden extras were.
Well, after a 10 minute call with quite a nice company rep in the UK, we found out that there really weren’t any hidden extras.
The cost included all of the above and all they needed was a 40euro (pp) booking fee to secure the place.
Our plans meant that we were going to fly to somewhere in that area in February anyway so we figured we’d just book it.
After all, the flight from Dublin to Istanbul could literally cost double that price so we figured it was a great deal.
Turkey was always somewhere we’d wanted to visit
RSD Travel Review
We booked in June 2015 and heard nothing from the company until they emailed us to say that they were taking the remainder of the fee from our credit card on Dec 29th as it had to be paid 8 weeks before the departure date.
We could have backed out at this point but we still didn’t have a reason to back out so they took the rest of the money and we were officially booked.
It’s then that we received the emails with ‘optional extras’. See the PDF below for what they were.
Optional Extras with RSD
As we like to find our own food in the evenings and we were trying to keep our budget as low as possible, we spoke about these extras and decided that we wouldn’t get them.
I mean the price of the extras for what you get was extremely reasonable but, if we were to take all the options, the holiday was going to end up costing us another €900.
We’ve never done a packaged tour before (we normally find our own accommodation via Airbnb and book all of our own flights and tours) so we didn’t know what to expect, but it just seemed like way too much money to spend for 2 weeks.
We normally like to find our own food when on the road
Anyway, long story short, our start date for the tour was 23rd February and it was fast approaching so, at the end of January, I finally did what I should have done weeks previously.
I looked at reviews online for RSD Travel.
Reviews of RSD Travel Tour Agency Online
The reviews were mixed and the bad comments kind of confirmed that the price was too good to be true.
Here’s a snippet of some of the negative comments that I read, and here’s a link so you can read some of the good reviews as well.
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“Organised by RSD Travel my experience of this tour can only be classed as dismal, disappointing and, at one point, frightening.”
“Be aware however that you will have to buy into the meal and individual tour packages. (There are no alternatives as the whole tour is extremely well sewn up).”
“On a whole I would give this, ‘We only want your money,’ trip , a miss.”
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We didn’t let these reviews dampen our expectations and excitement for the trip and we started the tour on the scheduled date with an open mind.
In the meantime, we’d decided to go for the basic package (culture & dinner), which would include a dinner buffet for the first 7 nights, the entrance fees to Troy and the other sites that we’d planned to see in the first week, and it also included the tour guide.
The Ancient City of Troy
What changed our minds were reviews that said that if we didn’t go for it, we’d basically be left hungry as the hotels were in the middle of nowhere.
After hearing what other people had to say about their experience, we decided that the last thing we wanted was to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to eat.
We also wanted to use dinner as a time to get to know the other members of the group and we wouldn’t be able to do that if we’d have stuck to our guns and ventured out by ourselves for food in the evening.
It was €149 pp so we felt that, again, the price was reasonable.
Meeting Our Tour Group and RSD Travel Guide in Istanbul
We had arrived in Istanbul before the tour group who flew in from Dublin so we met them at the first hotel, which was about a 30-minute drive from Sultanahmet Square.
I’m not going to mention the real name of our guide (you’ll see why later on), so let’s call him John.
John seemed lovely right from the get-go.
He was smiley, friendly, informative and he just seemed like a genuine guy. On arriving at the hotel he went around to each group and ticked off who was taking what package.
He told us that we’d only have to decide for week one first, and we could make a decision as to what packages we wanted to take for week 2 closer to the time.
Everyone in our tour group went for the basic package one (see above), and everyone except for us also went for the additional package (Explorer).
I’d read about these pushy RSD Travel tour guides that forced people into taking packages. I’d read that they got confrontational if people didn’t sign up, and I’d read that things often got ugly.
Not with John.
He wasn’t pushy but he did explain that if we didn’t sign up for the basic package that we’d be basically left hungry sitting on a bus while everyone else is stuffing their faces.
We totally understood and, as previously explained, we signed up for the buffet dinners etc. for the first 7 nights.
The tour started off on a great note. The tour guide was lovely and spoke perfect English. The driver was smiley and didn’t drive like he had a death wish.
The bus was comfy and our tour group, all of whom was from Ireland, was absolutely lovely.
Well, what started off well progressively got worse!
Without taking you through the day-to-day shenanigans of each day, I’m just going to sum up some points below on things that people should know before going on a tour with RSD Travel.
Let’s start with the GOOD things about going on a tour with RSD Travel:
- The tour is great value for the price. Your flights (normally with Turkish airlines), accommodation, and breakfast etc. is included just like it states. And even with the basic package, it’s not a bad deal for 14 nights in Turkey, is it?
- The quality of hotels ranged from mediocre to really nice. Some of our group mentioned that some of the bathrooms were missing tiles, had no hot water etc. but none of the hotels we stayed in where unsatisfactory in my opinion.
- Generally speaking, the quality of the food at the breakfasts and buffet dinners was also to a high standard. The variety was usually very good, with most hotels offering a wide selection of traditional Turkish cuisine and European food.
There was one hotel in particular where the food was absolutely amazing, and as I sat there eating like a queen with a dessert plate the size of my face, I reflected on the price we’d paid for the basic package and I thought that we’d got a good deal with the food.
- The driver (I can’t remember his name) was a great driver and unlike other drivers in Turkey, he was extremely careful and never took any chances.
- The hotel for the second week – the Eftalia Marine Hotel in Antayla – was lovely and the pool was such a treat to have. The staff at the hotel, especially the RSD Travel rep (Sylvana) was lovely, and they made the second week very enjoyable.
The ‘Whirling Dervishes’ was one of the few evening entertainment options that were offered
Let’s continue with the BAD of RSD Travel:
- I felt like a walking dollar sign every single day of the trip. Everywhere we stopped, people wanted money from us.
Whether it was the attendants in the restaurants that we stopped in blatantly asking for a tip or people at the overpriced pit stops shoving books and shitty souvenirs down our necks, everyone wanted money from us.
- And talking of the pit stops where we stopped to use the loo or to have lunch or pick up some snacks, the prices that were charged in these places were ridiculously hiked up. I’m talking €3 for a cornetto and €1 to use the toilet people.
- Apart from the first hotel in Istanbul, all of the hotels were in the middle of nowhere. We would have gone hungry had we not went for the dinner package.
- If you don’t like early mornings, forget going on a tour with RSD Travel. We were woken at 6 most mornings and on the road by 8. The second week is totally free so this only applies to the first 7 days.
- Many of the hotels had thermal spas and nice facilities but we never got a real chance to use them as we’d normally arrive late in the evening and leave early again the next morning.
- The itinerary for the first half of the tour sucks. To put it into perspective, we got to spend 1 hour in the world-famous ancient city of Troy and over 3 hours listening to a hard sell in a carpet factory. That leads me to…
We would have loved more time in places like Sardis instead of factories
The UGLY:
- John, the tour guide, turned out to be just as pushy, as condescending, and as ignorant as some of the other RSD Travel guides that I’d read about on Tripadvisor. Without going into too much detail, he bullied our tour group into taking the package for the second week.
When we and another couple said we’d like to eat out at some restaurants in the area and not take the dinner package, he actually stuck up his fingers at the other couple.
The man that he directed it towards was 80 years old and was one of the nicest and kind-hearted people we’d met. It was totally uncalled for.
He also attacked us for giving him and the bus driver their tips in envelopes. He shouted at us like we were a bunch of kids saying “this amount is way under what I expected to be tipped”. The cheek!
And, if that wasn’t bad enough, he handed us out our review questionnaire sheets on the 7th day before arriving at the hotel in Antalya. These weren’t anonymous as our tour group number was marked clearly on the top of the page.
On collecting them from everyone, John went to the top of the bus and had a read for himself.
He then marched down the bus and attacked Damien and Aisling, a lovely couple from Dublin, and reiterated everything they’d written in their questionnaire for the whole bus to hear. He raised his voice and was totally unprofessional in my opinion.
I do have way more to say on the guide and his antics but (for the sake of the word count going over 3k) I better leave it there.
- The tour itinerary includes a visit to a carpet factory, a jewelry factory and a leather factory. Now don’t be fooled into thinking it’s an educational stop.
While you will get a little info about what goes on in these factories, you will be HOUNDED and HARASSED into buying things in all 3 places. First comes the welcome talk and the nicey-nice stuff and then the doors open and salespeople literally pick out their prey and work hard to get them to empty their wallets.
We had no intention of buying a ring for €3,000, a carpet for €10,000 or a leather coat for €800 so we were just adamant that we weren’t buying anything and the smiles of the salespeople turned to scowls and we were dead to them.
If you’re easily pressured into buying things or you find it hard to say no, be prepared to be heckled.
It’s also mandatory that everyone goes into these factories. One guy said he didn’t want to go into the leather factory, and John basically told him that he didn’t have a say in the matter.
This was the turning point when John went from nice guy to rogue!
A Turkish woman keeping busy in the carpet factory
From my understanding of the company now, I think the owners of the company also own these factories which is why so long is spent there and so much effort is put into harassing tour groups to spend their money on overpriced goods that they might not have budgeted for.
I’m sorry I can’t be more positive about John and these factories but they really left a sour taste in my mouth.
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So, having explained the good, bad and the ugly, would I recommend RSD Travel to others?
The answer depends on what you want from your trip.
If you’re looking for a luxury getaway with a friendly guide who’ll add to your experience for all the right reasons, the answer is a big fat NO.
If you just want a few days away where you don’t mind being bullied into buying stuff you don’t need and made feel like s*it if you don’t buy jewellery, carpets or leather, then YES.
Having had the experience above, I want other travellers to know what to expect, which is why I’ve written this RSD Travel review.
As mentioned, the trip is good value for money and Turkey is a nice place to be, but RSD’s pushy guides, the greedy factory owners, the rude salespeople and the constant pressure to spend money dampens all of that.
We certainly won’t be taking another trip with RSD Travel as it’s a scam that, in my opinion, should be boycotted.
Note: I’m sure this obviously isn’t always the case with RSD Travel, and some people have glowing reviews of their holidays, but I’m basing this on our experience.
The saving grace for the 2 weeks for us was the tour group. It was so lovely to hear familiar accents and laugh at some good old Irish jokes.
We played cards, we laughed (a lot), we sang, we ate dinner as a group most evenings and we shared great times together.
Our for dinner with the gang in Antayla
It’s because of these guys that we count our tour with RSD Travel an unforgettable 2 weeks that we have very fond memories of.
Trying my luck at Kaluki against our new friends
For those interested, a catalogue of how travelers can be treated by the holiday industry.
Sumptuous & gourmet flows freely in the brochure but I had no experience of it.
It is true that you never get something for nothing, but the holiday is a bit like buying a car without windows or doors but they won’t sell one like it anyway.
Gatwick to Marrakech.
Told by travel company to go to North terminal, never heard of Corenden Airlines there.
Hopped on shuttle to south terminal, found a man who did but through a special gate.
Aircraft arrived half hour after take off time and eventually took off not to Morocco but Manchester.
The aircraft had been badly loaded and many had to move seats before it could take off.
We picked up more passengers at Manchester but the company had failed to notify refueling was required and had to wait another hour before it could take place. Arrived at hotel in Marrakech after 9pm for dinner shower etc to be on the road next day at 7am,
arriving at next hotel that day at 8pm. Two days of holiday now exhausted.
In true Brit spirit we became united against the common enemy, became good friends and laughed off much of the things wrong with the tour.
The second week at least we were in a very good but large holiday complex but our travel rep was the rudest nastiest man you could meet and frequently walked away in a rage at any enquiry.
At our first meeting one of our group had a real bad tempered nose to nose with him and that most of us experienced at some time.
For pick up at Gatwick, ask anything like what time we would be leaving or what terminal we arrive at he refused to answer or say “I’m off duty”. I felt insulted in his inference that it was a stupid question “it is obvious we would go back to the terminal we came from”.
On the last day we found out.
Not going to Gatwick but Stansted and coached to G/W, no time or destination available.
We were taken to the Marrakech Airport, a 15min drive to arrive at 3am, 3hrs before booking in started.
Then chaos, could all the Manchester people come forward, 200 people all mixed up in a queue with large cases etc.
Having eventually got on the aircraft, banter about nothing more could go wrong, unbelievable, engines turning over, all seated up and ready to fly.
The pilot announced that he was alright at breakfast but, now did not feel well and would have to get a replacement, so there we sat until handover took place.
Not the end, at Stansted told to go to coach 31, arrived not that one, number 30.
So that I could rearrange pickup asked driver where and about when, North terminal drop off zone G/W he said, like many others phoned taxi etc.
A courier got on the coach and announced we were going to South Terminal, just short of a lynching he changed his mind.
This is the worse I have been treated by a travel company in my 40years of travelling.
Experience is OK but not much use at my age.
Sounds about right John!
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. We wrote this review to warn others of what to expect from RSD Travels. As you said, it’s like buying a car without windows so people need to know what to expect from the ‘holidays’ that they offer.
I cannot believe some of the things that happened to your group – the pilot, the tour guide, the mix-ups? Crazy.
The group we travelled with certainly made our trip and it sounds like you feel the same.
I just wish RSD wouldn’t promise things that they certainly don’t deliver on. Our tour was a shambles and the tour guide was one of the rudest men I’ve met in my life.
It’s safe to say we won’t be taking another tour with them soon.
I hope your future travels are a lot more memorable, for the right reasons. 🙂
Spot on. We went from Birmingham to Northern Cyprus via Manchester and Antalya over 7 hourz and on the return journey 2 nurses spent the entire flight looking after three casualtues including myself. O had to have an ambulance meet the plane to be rushed to hospital with multiple plumonary embolisms and AFib. I was told i was extremely lucky to be alive!! I put it down to the outbound flight and gruelling itinery when we arrived. Everything you have said is absolutely true. The guides are pushy and aggressive and the tours are sometimes cultural but mainly a ploy to get you to buy grossly overpriced goods. Leave well alone. I have travelled the world and never been on a trip as horrendous as this one.
Oh my goodness – that’s just awful Jennifer. I don’t know how these guys aren’t being held accountable. 🙁 Hope you’re doing ok now and thanks for your contribution – it might save another person having to go through what you did.
I really don’t know how to put my comments on line but
well we have been four times with RSD travel , last time to China , as said in this persons eloquent review , you don’t get luxury but we have always been delighted with our guides and found the food and culture packages great value.
I find a lot of the complaints a little petty , having to leave early allows you to see more places for a longer time , missing a few bathroom tiles !!!! Their advertising ALWAYS lists any extra costs so no cause for complaint there either and we are now booked for India with RSD again !
We are booked for India… Any useful tips?
My sister and I have travelled with RSD BUT never take any of their packages, always manage to find a lunch stop room service for dinner or taxi to a nearby restaurant. The standard of hotels are excellent the guides are rude, pushy and are never happy with our independent attitude, but, we are thick skinned and can ignore them.We walk through the hard sell areas always a cafe at the exit.The travel arrangements sometimes are not great but you only get what you pay for, so what can you expect. It is fortunate that these hoidays are not our
main break. We have been to Turkey Cyprus Dubui (twice) Israel and Crete is on the horizon no doubt with the same situations (We take a kettle and snacks too )
Hi Florence…
First class and honest review, well written and superbly detailed…We had a similar experience ourselves, I loved Turkey and it’s wonderful people…So sad to see such a fantastic place being dragged back to the stone age, I think Attaturk must be turning in his grave at the antics of the present regime…
We also flew from Dublin to Istanbul on Turkish airlines, what a fantastic way to travel, they are a credit to the airline industry…The tour was fantastic and beautiful hotels during the first week, the itinerary was a bit demanding but we went with the flow…In my opinion RSD do provide a first class experience of Turkey, however they then spoil it with the way their guests are fleeced…
The carpet factory, leather factory, Jewelry warehouse are just a pressurized boiler house,(I am using the time share scam terms here)…In our group I would estimate we spent about 40k between us in the 3 places, 1 couple spent around 7k on a fur coat…I am happy for them as they were convinced it was excellent value…My partner and I spent at least 2k in the 3 places, have to admit these people could sell sand to the Arab’s…
Unfortunately while we were visiting the Goreme church museum my partner fell in the ice and snow,turned out she had broken 3 ribs and also had internal bleeding…Spent 4 days in hospital in Alanya, first class private hospital, the staff were wonderful and the doctor were world class…Yet we were pressurized to go into the museum even though the conditions were treacherous, bus disappeared when we got off so no choice but to go in…The rep was adamant we stuck to the itinary, (as Dell boy would say a 24 carat plonker…)
So in summing up I would say go by all means, however be very careful with the packages you choose…RSD are making huge commissions on all the sales, this is how they can put together this tour because they cannot make money on the basic package…
Hi Dermot,
Thanks for your kind words on a not-so-nice post!
I cannot believe your wife suffered all of that, and all because you were pressurised into going into the museum when the conditions were obviously treacherous. Absolutely outrageous to be honest. I am glad to hear that she was treated well in the hospitals, even though that’s no compensation for what you guys endured. Shame on RSD Travel.
And the fact that you’ve told me that your tour group spent an estimate of 40k collectively makes me even more mad! These guys, as you say, could sell sand to the arabs and I think it’s so unfair to put people under the pressure that they do. It’s bullying beyond anything I’ve ever seen before.
I don’t know did I mention this in the post but there was a young guy on the tour with us and his sister recently had a baby. He was such a nice, timid guy and the sharks in the jewellery factory preyed in on him. They had him in a private room and when we saw him about to sign something, his friend burst into the room to find out that he was about to buy a bracelet for his niece that would take him 3 years (THREE YEARS!) to pay off in monthly payments.
I think people really need to be made aware of what to expect when booking with RSD Travel and I thank you for contributing to my post to alert people of it.
I hear they’re branching out and doing more tours to Dubai but I doubt either of us will be going on a tour with them anytime soon!
I hope your wife is on the mend Dermot! 🙂
Florence
Having read through all of the comments, I have to disagree with some.
It’s not compulsory to buy the meal packages, it’s just more convenient. I wouldn’t fancy having to find a restaurant at 9 pm when arriving at the hotel after a really busy day. The food in the hotels has always been superb and excellent value for money. Generally less than £20 per night for all you can eat including coffee etc? All these extras are in the leaflets, online and you are asked if you want any extra packages when speaking to the representative when booking over the phone, so some obviously don’t read it all properly. That’s your fault, not the guide.
The carpet factories etc. Many are within walking distance of a supermarket or something, just be observant. No-one is forcing you to buy, pressure perhaps, but you can say no (I bought 4 wall tapestries from india, my choice, not pressure, other places I said no). If you don’t want it, don’t buy it.
Tips, they aren’t mandatory, so if you aren’t happy, don’t give anything.
My husband and I have been on 5 RSD tours, and yes, some things aren’t totally satisfactory, but that happens with any holiday.
Every trip has had at least one moaning couple, which, quite frankly *isses many of the other travellers off, so my suggestion to those people, don’t moan to everyone else who are on the whole perfectly happy, and put in a complaint from home. You, and everyone else have paid good money, so enjoy the experience. Where will you get a fully escorted tour including fabulous hotels, good food and great company for the price? Go to Spain for 2 weeks if you aren’t happy and put your complaints in there, because even there, some of you will have something that doesn’t suit.
I’ve never had a bad trip, only bad fellow passengers.
Booking my 6th trip this week and hope to for many years to come. I’ve always found them to be good value and have thoroughly enjoyed every trip with RSD. Enjoy 🙂
I don’t care how good value this tour is for what you see and do in Turkey, but the way “John” treated that older couple in the group is completely unprofessional and uncalled for and would turn me off from ever considering RSD Travel in the future. I have used my fair share of packaged tours in the past, and have never heard nor seen such a situation before.
However, if you ever decide to go on another packaged tour again, then I recommend G Adventures. They are a bit pricey, but their tour guides are bar none some of the most helpful, courteous, and professional people you will ever meet in the tourism industry. I used their services in the past for Peru and Brazil (World Cup 2014).
Hey Ray,
Thanks for that suggestion. We’ve no plans to do another packaged tour any time soon but we’ll keep it in mind. 🙂
The way he treated everyone was disgusting, including the way he reacted to our friend. I just didn’t want to pain all their guides with the same brush but judging by what other travellers have said, they’re equally as bad.
It’s just crazy that they’re still getting away with what they’re doing.
The above feedback is so accurate. My wife and I have just got back from a disastrous tour of Morocco thinking that our appalling experience was unique only to discover that our treatment was par for the course. We cannot understand why a company that allows so much bullying and manipulation, not to mention downright lies bothers to continue with this type of holiday. Certainly we will never again book with RSD as this was our worst holiday experience in 50 years.
Hi Ed,
Sounds like you and your wife just had a typical RSD Travel experience!
It’s shocking what they’re getting away with but people don’t know what to expect from them before booking unfortunately, and the attractive prices that they charge draws the crowds in.
It’s why I’ve written this RSD Travel tour review as I think more people need to know what they’re letting themselves in for as it’s certainly not an enjoyable experience, at least it wasn’t for yourself, and everyone else that’s had a similar experience.
Thanks for your contribution and I hope your next trip is a more enjoyable one. 🙂
Hi I have just arranged a trip to Morocco with RSD on the 27th of October 2017 yet as yet I haven’t paid my deposit. After reading these horrible stories, I no longer want to go ahead with the booking.
Am I legally obliged to pay the deposit? Your advice would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Eric
Hi Eric,
I’m glad to hear that my experience and that of those who’ve commented has helped you to avoid what would be a repeat experience of the bullying and intimidation tactics that RSD are now being highlighted for.
I’ve just done a quick search through our travel documents and I can’t find anything in the terms and conditions that would answer your question for you. I would suggest, however, to reach out to them ASAP and cancel your booking.
If you haven’t given your card details, they cannot charge you and given that your travel dates are so far away, I would guess that you won’t have to pay the deposit. At least, you shouldn’t.
Hope it all works out for you. I’d recommend you guys to get your own flight and organise a tour with a reputable company and you’ll enjoy it so much more.
Happy Travels!
I am taking my sister to the dubai as a birthday treat in June.
I am already committed so will keep you posted on our experience on our return.
I’d be very interested to hear how it goes Jennie so keep us posted.
At least you’re going in with some warning of what to expect and let’s hope it’s not as bad as the Turkey experience! Safe travels and have fun.
Hi Jennie, we are on that one too . . . what date are you leaving, we should stick together! we know Dubai and Abu Dhabi like the back of our hands and go every year. Worse case scenario cars are so cheap to hire, if we find ourselves stranded in nowhere, my husband will drive! I did keep saying to myself when we booked it, that it seemed to good to be true and were we sitting on the wings of the plane.
Jennnie make sure that you get booze in duty free at LGW its very expensive in the Emirates. Might see you there!
Hey a bit of balance required here…I have now enjoyed four superb holidays with RSD..two in Turkey,Morocco( Feb this year) and Dubai and the Emirates in April this year.All were excellent value for money and very well organised.Turkish Airlines are Fab..loads of leg room and food and drink provided FOC.The Hotels used are all very good..our guides have been excellent.The prices of the holidays are incredibly good value and I think we can expect some things in the package not to be to everyone’s liking..i.e.the hard sell re carpets,jewellery and leather..I always say no thank you with a smile and divert the conversation onto the Country we are in..they either engage with you or leave you alone.As for adverse comments re the packages all I can say is ‘go with the flow’they are excellent value for money and add to the pleasure of the whole experience.We have met lots of people on each of our RSD holidays who are ‘returners’..in fact most of the people on our trips have travelled with RSD before.Roll on S.Africa later this year and perhaps China next.
Be very aware that if you are travelling to Dubai now it will be scorchingly hot all of the time.We love the sun but we were on our limit in April when it was up to 38 degs.
We would also recc taking the extra ‘chill out’ week with the holidays as some of the tours are ‘full on’ but if you know you have the chill out week bonus to come it makes it easier to accept the busy first week schedule.We were surprised with the Dubai trip that only ourselves and one other couple took the add on week..others said they did not know it was available..yet it was clearly stated in the brochure.
We look fwd to many more holidays with RSD..10 out of 10…Cheers.
We two ladies have also taken the same trip as you and found them exactly the same. Good value to say the least. We are thinking of taking the China trip in November but cannot find any reviews as yet. Anyone out there taken this holiday.
We went to China last year with RSD and it was wonderful. We’ve also been to Turkey with them and that was also quite memorable. The common denominator was the guides who were both very good but pushy. I don’t appreciate being told ‘now is the day we do the tipping”. I didn’t give as much as they expected so had to endure a long face (s) after that. In October we’re going to India with them and again that looks to be quiet full on. I’ll take a packet of envelopes with me and distribute them to the other passengers so that they can pay without feeing pressured. I’m really struggling with the visa application at the moment. Check out the prices for visas in China and India before you commit.
I agree with your comments. I’ve had to fantastic trips to Dubai and Turkey. Couldn’t fault the food or hotels. The tour guide in Dubai was quite rude though. But he just made a fool of himself. It gave us a laugh. We stayed in the Radisson Blu in Dubai. It was amazing like being on a Sandals holiday. They don’t do that now but was unforgettable to us. Where can you get a 5* Hotel on the beach and a weeks cultural tour in Dubai for about £800.00 I’m thinking of doing the Indian tour. Just wish there was a beach break. I think for that price you have to expect a couple of stops in a carpet or jewellery store
Hi Florence,
My friend and I have been to Turkey with RSD twice ( last year and the year before) We read the reviews first, so went with no expectations and were quite happy, though thoroughly exhausted after the 7 days of tour. The second holiday, had the free week at a spa hotel ( and was well needed). Luckily, our tour guides were ok, and friendly.
This autumn we are trying the South Africa tour. I will try to remember to report to you how it goes.
Hi Wendy,
I’m glad you guys enjoyed it. I think if one goes into these tours knowing what to expect, they’ll be somewhat prepared and can enjoy it a little more, which is why I wanted to spread the word.
I didn’t know that they did South Africa as well. Enjoy it as best you can and do remember to report back. I’ll be interested to hear how it goes. 🙂
Florence
We just came back from the 2 weeks trip to Turkey/Rhodes with RSD. With flights to Izmir.
Only positive impressions. Especially considering price.
Yes, early morning wake up. But this is what one is to expect if one knows the itinerary . No?
Our guide, Selchuk, was good. No pressure at all. We did not book couple of the excursion from the so called cultural package, and there were no rejection from him
Leather and carpet factory: we were not interested in buying anything. So, simply found a cafe on site and spent time in the shade with coffee and chat while waiting for others.
The second week in Amara Sealight Elit hotel in Kusadsi was really good. The hotel is almost brand new, built 2 years ago. Very big room and a big balcony with a seaview. Indoor and out door pool, hamam, sauna, steam room – all included in price. Big variety of realy very good food.
So, when I read some not very goos reviews, I think are we talking about one and the same company 🙂
And do not forget the price you ( and we) have paid for the trip .
Hey Marina,
It sounds like you had a much better experience. I didn’t mind the early mornings to be honest as I’d have much preferred early mornings over late nights so that really wasn’t a problem. As I said in the post, it is excellent value for money considering the flights are included and the standard of accommodation is great.
That said; the guide was what totally let the whole company down for us. Had he not been pushy, rude and downright arrogant, I wouldn’t have written such a negative review.
Anyway, glad your experience was one you enjoyed and let’s hope others have a similar experience to yours rather than ours. 🙂
Florence
We also had a great tour to Northern Cyprus and Turkey. From reading the reviews of RSD Travel, it seems to me that, where travellers have unrealistic expectations given the price, or don’t read the information about the extra packages first, that is where ne problem lies. However, I also think that it is the guide who makes or breaks the holiday. Our guide was funny, informative and friendly. Yes, he sold us the packages, but no-one was pressurised. The factory visits are a bit wearing but you can learn to deal with the high pressure selling. No- one can make you buy and they soon get fed up of you show no interest. We just listened to the talks and then walked straight on through. Overall, my feeling was that we got a little more than we paid for overall, especially on the all inclusive second week.
Hey Cath,
Glad your experience was a bit more positive.
I don’t think the problem lies with the unrealistic expectations or not reading the information about the extra packages, the problem lies with RSD being totally misleading with regards to their advertising.
They should, in my opinion, be a lot more open about the fact that the extra packages are really mandatory. With our tour, and more of the others from the comments on this post, people would have went hungry had they not taken the packages as the hotels and restaurants they stopped at were in the middle of nowhere.
I guess our group wouldn’t have felt so overwhelmed about the charges if they hadn’t been harassed into spending that extra money before even getting off the bus from the airport on the first night.
At the end of the day, as you said, the guide really does make or break the holiday though and ours definitely broke it!
It sounds like your guide was much more tolerable so overall, despite the extra packages and factory visits, that’s what it comes down to.
Thanks for your contribution. 🙂
Hi, we have just returned from Morocco tour and not very happy with rsd. Yes we knew about the extras but the itenary first week was not met. Some of the places we wanted to go were left altogether like Karaouyne the oldest university in the world, Koutoubia mosque and old city or the Medina of Marrakech. Then at every place we visited there had to be a local guide and had to give tip for their devices. The guide had two helpers besides the driver so here four people to give the tip. The food some times good sometimes not so good. Same with different hotels a in the first week Then second week hotel, club Marmara is not a 4/5 star hotel . There is nothing around there. To go to Marrakech a shuttle that charges 4 euros and that also drops you quite a distance from the attactions. Nothing to do in the hotel if you don’t like swimming or lying in the sun. Same loud music day and night.. staff ok but not many speak English and informations and signs too are not in English. On top of all this, at the introduction meetind the guide bombarded us with all about the holiday in a very loud shouting voice for 1 and half hour in a hot stuffy room.
The holiday seems very reasonably priced in the beginning but with extras it came to about £800.00 Per person . And that also not enjoyed by us. so bye bye RSD. Never again
Your experience sounds pretty similar to ours Nasim. 🙁
If RSD Travel were upfront about the extra costs (because let’s be honest, they are mandatory), I guess we wouldn’t have felt so cheated.
Also, based on what you’ve said, your guide didn’t add to your experience, which isn’t acceptable, regardless of how ‘cheap’ the holiday was.
I, like you, will pay the extra in the future and avoid RSD.
Let’s hope your future adventures are more enjoyable. 🙂
Hello Nasim,
Sorry to hear you did not have a pleasant RSD tour to Morocco.
The tour guide on your coach should have been knowledgeable about the places you visited on the itinerary. Therefore, it was not necessary to hire local guides. If that was the case than you have the right to reduce the tip to the tour guide at the end of your tour as he did not provide you with the relevant service.
I have done two trips with RSD initially Istanbul to Antalyain 2015 and recently this month Turkey and Greece with extra week in a 5* Hotel Amara Sealight Elite in Kusadasi.
I can assure you both trips were extremely enjoyable and appreciated by all traveled on our coach and we had a very knowledgeable tour guides.
As I have booked our next trip to Morocco in October and we are familiar with Agadir and Marrakech, you have given me a hint that you stayed on your second week at Club Marmara and there are two Club Marmara.
One is Club Marmara Madina and the other Club Marmara Dar Atlas both in Marrakech.
Could you inform which of the two you stayed the second week would be very much appreciated?
Regards
Hi We have done 3 trips with RSD Turkey, Dubia and last one was Northern Cyprus on all we had excellant and imformative Guides not at all pushy but we were happy to give an above average tip as we had extremely good service from guide and coach driver.
I would agree RSD travel are very evasive on booking and do not inform individuals of flight diversion etc but we feel it is still extremely good value for money and are just considering Morocco. The visits to the Factorty outlet are a pain but like an reviewer mentioned just have a coffee and enjoy each others company.
We would be very intersted to hear from Siraj regarding their Morocco trip and any tips or advise.
The worst scam ever. Absolutely terrible experience. Just returned from a trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The tour guide was extremely rude and pushy especially to those who did not want to purchase the additional trips. The carpet and gold factory visit was the worst experience ever. The salesmen were pushy and arrogant. DO NOT purchase anything from these places. They are a complete rip off and they charge you at least 4 times the value. RSD are also in in the bargaining scam so do not pay any attention to their efforts to assist. I guess this is another way of RSD getting some money back from the cheap package. Never ever again!!!
I have just had a holiday in Northern Cyprus and the ‘bargain’ holiday will be completely negated if you buy anything in the factories.
In the UK a trip to a factory means cost price bargains -There, it’s think of a number and double it. And as for the salesmen -think of your worst pressured ‘time share’ experience and add on one for Kirby Cleaners and include the seduction techniques of Warren Beaty!
Just leave your passport in your Hotel and your bank card with it! That way they can’t sign you up for a money transfer -to pay later -nor make payments weekly.
Ladies on their own are easy meat, and they NEVER tell you the price of the goods until the last minute.
Honestly? fighting them off completely ruined the holiday .
I travelled to Turkey as a lady on my own. Turkish airlines were superb. The first week we were never in the hotels long enough to enjoy or even see the facilities. I had been warned by a friend that at a factory if I said that I was not going to buy anything I would be asked where my husband was. Sure enough at factory 3 the question was asked. My answer ‘Dead and burried’. There ended that conversation. Our driver was a gentleman, our guide a bully with a very crude sense of humour. All in all taking the meal packages made for a very convenient holiday. It has been the custome for southern countries to attract northern tourists offpeak at low cost. Dear tour guide please do not tell me that I have a moral obligation to spend large amounts of money in your factory outlets! Once you know what to expect the overall experience is adequate. The Turkish travel industry is light years behind their European counterparts. Judith Barden
Very interested to read the comments.
Our experience in March on the Northern Cyprus tour was a shambles and got worse as the week went on. I have been complaining to the company since I returned so have refrained from putting anything online but as I haven’t got anywhere here goes !!
Flights from Manchester are more or less always delayed (reason later) so arriving at hotel after midnight. Information given out on the coach regarding paying for buffet, upgrading to a drinks package and paying for extra trips. After paying for all these (we didn’t want to go hungry either) it took the cost to well over a bargain price holiday. The first hotel was fine, food acceptable but the drinks package wasn’t worth it as the local spirits and wine were awful. The guide was OK and knowlegable and reasonably friendly.
The first morning we were told the itinerary had changed and we were having a free day on the Friday !!
The excursions were OK but really not an lot to see.
The trouble cam ewhen we were taken to the second hotel ‘Riverside Resort’ as soon as the coach pulled up it was apparent it was not anything like the first hotel and the standards were certainly not 4* equivalent.
Our room (villa) was damp, dark and gloomy, the top bed linen had not been laundered, the door strip on the floor was loose, the paint crumbling of the walls (could go on but won’t). The dining room was just as bad, the food inedible, there was not a goog choice and it certainly fell well short of a ‘sumptuous gourmet buffet we had paid for. I then complained to the guide who could do nothing about it as she was not a company representative.
A few of us (some people had worse rooms than ours) told the guide we would not be entering the factory shops from now on and she burst into tears and ran to her room.
The next day everyone was complaining but we all decided to make the most of it.
The return journey was a nightmare, stopping in Antalaya, then flying to Birmingham, being invited into the non existant transit lounge, only to find we had to go through full security again and walk back to the furthest away gate, the round trip took over an hour and some of the older people really struggled with this, hence the delay back into Manchester.
On return my complaint went in, a £40 RSD travel voucher was offered and refused (why would I even contemplate travelling with them again) and since then I have had various correspondence with paragraphs copied and pasted and no explaination to my photographic evidence.
My photographs will be posted on trip advisor and anywhere else I can.
All in all the second hotel let the holiday down, I understand there are better rooms than we were allocated,and in my opinion the company has got to greedy and sent far too many people to the resorts.
Being curious about what other European (non-Swedish) RSD-travellers had to say about touring with this company, I found this blog.
Your last question and answers says it all. The tours MAY be a bargain, IF you know what will come.
We are on our fifth and propably last tour (UAE) and must say this last one has been the least rewarding.
Turkey was OK (twice), but we experienced a terrible rud, almost .. no he was aggressive salesman in the leather shop. Following us to the bus shouting and yelling.
On our first tour, however we missed the shops as I, to the guide’s dislike had to be rushed to a hospital with a severe food poisoning.
Malta was Ok, much because there were no mandatory shops and the local buses stoppad outside the hotel.
Marocco was also OK, but early mornings and late evenings was a pain in the …. shoulders. Second week was so misspent. Being sent to a tourist camp in the desert warned by our guide not to go to Marrakech. The lunch package at least included free drinks …
Now we are in the Arab Emirate and we feel so much time has been spent on nothing. The 3-4 hours in the jewel and fur shops could have been spent in any if the malls. The excursions are heavily overpriced (the AED440 desert tour costs 100 if booked locally!).
There are no lunch or dinner packages. And this tour was far from cheap.
We have travelled for weeks in USA, Ireland and Sicily and sometimes spent a LOT, but that has been our decision to do so, not because a pushy guide has made us do it, or the circustances has called for a huge withdrawal from my Master Card.
One last detail. Read about several Swedish travellers that have ripped off in the jeweller store. When having had their stuffed evaluated in Sweden, it has been obvious that they have paid twice the real value of the jewelry.
We are going to Morocco 24th October and hope to have as good a guide and driver as in Dubai last Autumn but hope for a little more common sense regarding the unexpected.
The UAE itinerary was severely ‘shot’ as our plane landed elsewhere in a desert in the UAE – our airport had bn closed due to drone activity there! We were on the Tarmac/Sand around 5 hours with no explanation, but were served no food or drink by Turkish Airlines, despite requests.
We felt it was unrealistic to begin the tour after only 1 hour of sleep! After all, we lost a whole nights sleep, arriving at the hotel just in time to scrape into the end of breakfast at 9.40am. We checked in after eating…
If any of you will be travelling with us, do get in touch. Would also be interested to know which Marrakech hotel they use.
We are also going to Marrakech on the 27th October, Flying from Manchester. I contacted RSD today to find out the time of our flight, but they could not tell me. They said that we are travelling with Corenden Airlines, which I have not heard of, so I rang their enquiry line, but they stated that they do not fly to Morrocco. I really am worried now. Can anyone help
Hey Brian,
I haven’t heard of that airline either so I can’t be of much help to you. I suggest to keep calling RSD until you get someone that will deal with things a bit better than the person that you’ve already spoken to.
Good luck with it and keep me and other travellers updated on how your trip goes. 🙂
Oh gosh I’m now getting very worried about my RSD travel trip to Morocco on 6th October.
I am flying with Corendon Dutch airlines from Stansted to Marrakech but according to Stansted website and Corendon website there are no flights from Stansted to Marrakesh.
I’ll phone RSD again to check flight is still from Stansted as trip advisor reviews for other RSD tours mention airport changes at last minute. I did phone rsd a few weeks ago as hadn’t got any flight times and she said they never give flight details until 2 wks before. She also couldn’t confirm it would be a direct flight but said that any stop over were usually only an hour or so.
I’m assuming that late notice of flights is because it’s charter flights. I’m hoping that they will have managed to fill a plane from Stansted and we’ll be going direct.
I’ve taken the evening meal package for week 1 because couldn’t face having to trek out to find restaurants in a different city each night. I’ll probably sign up for same in wk 2 as am holidaying on my own for first time and don’t want any hassle/ unwanted attention. Did you do the optional trip to Essouaira I’m told it’s a very pretty seaside resort with great fish restaurants.
RSD Abu Dhabi/ Dubai April 2017
Our first holiday with RSD. We really enjoyed this holiday especially the wonderful Ajman Palace where we spent the last couple of nights in the most amazing suite. The other people on our trip were wonderful. Turkish Airlines were excellent though changing flights at Attaturk airport was challenging on the return trip – the security arrangements are a joke- we were scared we would miss our flight! (RSD can’t be blamed for this.)
Our tour guide was a pretty pushy lady but ok – just don’t fall for the sales pitch re trips – we did our own more successfully than theirs according to our fellow passengers who took up their offers. The only excursion of theirs we did was the dune bashing in the desert – terrifying unless you are a keen roller coaster rider. One lady in our 4wd was very sick! To be fair others loved it.
The leather/ carpet/ jewellery rip offs were low points – we bought zero but you do get hassled A LOT. Don’t be scared of just saying NO – you are never going to see these salespeople again. I could not believe what some of our fellow trippers bought. Very hard sell indeed.
All in all though we had a great holiday for a brilliant price. There were several for whom it was their umpteenth RSD holiday, so they can’t be that bad!
We have booked South Africa for 2018. Would love to know what the pitfalls of that are before we go,re the hard sell tactics, just so we know what to avoid. Know it packs an awful lot in but ok with that. Glad these are adult holidays – don’t think kids would like the early/late starts and coach travel much. There is no way you could achieve this itinerary in SA booking independently for anything approaching the price.
I think the Malta holiday, avoiding some of the boring sounding excursions (Ii.e.opportunities to hard sell you things on the way) sounds good as you are not changing hotels every night or two so they cannot force you to go on even the trips that are included. Might do that one in 2019 unless SA is a disaster.
Hope this review helps others and happy holidays everyone.
Thanks very much for your contribution Sarah. 🙂
It would be quote a challenge to make SA a disaster. The locals are always friendly (don’t know about Joburg) and although prices have gone up somewhat you should get a reasonable exchange rate. 18R to the £ would be acceptable. I have been to SA 20 times. Watch out for robbers and keep your tourist artifacts out of the way. I have done a ton of SA reviews for Trip Advisor (bsnellgrove) so check them out.
This does not say much about this company which I narrowly avoided going on. My destination was Marrakesh but the formula is the same. When I looked the aircraft that was supposed to leave from Stansted did not appear all day on flightradar24.com
My friend and I are going to China with RSD travel next year.
We have already had one week in Turkey so we have an idea of what we are letting ourselves in for.
Hope to have some reviews before we go to give us an advantage.
07 November 2017.
We have just returned from North Cyprus with RSD and had an excellent holiday if a little busy.
The trips to the carpet, jewellery and leather outlets took the better part of a day but the remainder was good.
We flew with Freebird Airlines from Gatwick to Ercan via Antalya and both ends of the holiday left on time and arrived on time.
Hi … having just returned from a trip with Morocco with RSD I would never ever travel with them again!
Lies and bullying to get you to buy all inclusive or extra add ins.
Hard sell stops for carpets, leather and jewellery … time which I can’t add back into my lifespan and would have been better spent gazing at the beautiful architecture or scenery.
Lousy food which was described as ‘sumptuous’ in the brochures ….. I still feel sick to the pit of my stomach thinking about it.
Lack of a contingency when most of our coach came down with a stomach virus … just plough on to the next stop and clench was all we could do!!!
Made the very most of it all though as there wasn’t a choice and the wonderful people on the tour and local folk met made up for a lot of the downsides.
I could go on but I won’t ….
Just returned from a week tour of Northern Cyprus with RSD.The negatives are, lack of information,with poor flight times which made the journey long and tiring.Flights were all on time and the stewardesses were very helpful.Should be able to prebook extra legroom seats as legroom not good on freebird for tall people.The other major niggle is the amount of time wasted at the factory visits,but we were aware of this as we had previously done Turkey tour.
Our guide and driver were knowledgeable and pleasant,no hard selling of packages.The optional day tour and Cypriot evening was well worth doing.We had a small hotel Port View in Famagusta.Very comfortable and clean,limited but tasty food,nice indoor pool.Be prepped for prayer call from nearby mosque waking you up at 5_20 am!! In Girne we stayed at Oscar resort, delicious food with excellent selection and a half hour walk from town centre.Rather a tired hotel but clean and comfortable with small tatty beach,spa with sauna and plunge pool and outdoor pools,drained in the winter.
We enjoyed the sites but the country is shabby and run down,the people we met were all very friendly and lunches out were good value and tasty.
We hope our Morocco tour goes as well next February.
please let me know how Morocco goes as I have booked for April and I am a single traveller.
Did you go to Morocco with RSD, Pamela? I’m wondering what it’s like for a single traveller as I’ve put a deposit down on a trip next March to Croatia and Montenegro (with free cancellation up to 3 months before departure) and I’m going on my own. When I ask if there will be any other solo travellers, they say they can’t tell me. Were you the only one on your trip or not? And how did you find it? (I doubt you’ll see this though as we’re now in the year 2020).
I was about to make a booking with RDS after going through the brochure I was sent as a thankyou for being a member of the Royal British Legion.As always where possible I look for any reviews that have been made with regard to the holiday.From what I have just read,and I have read them all,I cannot see that The Royal British Legion would sanction or endorse this Company in any way.I can assure you that I shall be contacting the Legion to see what part if any they play in endorsing RDS.Thankyou to everyone who took the time to write a review and giving me the Heads Up.
You’re welcome Geoffrey. I know RSD do a great job in terms of marketing so perhaps the Royal British Legion is taking them at face value.
Would be interested to hear the feedback that you get from them. 🙂
Hello Pamela and Claire
I’ve just discovered all these reviews and am wondering how you both found the Moroccan trip with RSD and what it’s like travelling on your own with them, Pamela? I’m really glad I’ve found these pages because I was thinking of booking this week to go to Morocco next March or April and this has stopped me rushing off to do so (they told me that places are going fast). I’ve never yet been on an RSD trip. I was always put off by thinking that everyone else would be in a couple or that I didn’t know if they were good enough to suggest to a friend to come with me. But now I’m thinking I might be better off going on an unguided trip to Fez, Marrakesh and Essaouira with three ladies at Christmas (weather cold?), which has come up. If you see this, I’d love to hear from you about your experience please. Thank you.
Hi Geffory,
Did you write to the Legion of so what were their comments on RSD.
Many thanks Rod w
We have booked the Dubai and Abu Dhabi tour April 2018
I would welcome information from other tourists who have used RSB for this experience.
WE HAD THE MOST BRILLIANT HOLIDAY IN THE EMIRATES WITH RSD TRAVEL
Hi, I would just like to say that I am really pleased that all the negative writers on this site are NEVER going on holiday with RSD again. I would hate to bump into you on any of the tours.
Hi Julica,
Surely there will be at least one person in your group that won’t agree with the bullying and extortion tactics that RSD Travel are known for? I certainly think so.
One 70+ lady on our tour had a panic attack after being hassled to buy jewellery? Explain to me how this is acceptable?
Am I to assume your a rep for RSD then?
We are currently on the Northern Cyprus tour and pretty much everything you have said is identical to what we are experiencing now…stay away from RSD at all costs, they need reporting to ABTA/ATOl which we intend to do on our return, people can’t continue to be scammed and extorted by these charlatans
Sorry to hear about your experience Mr Pen. 🙁 Keep reporting and let’s hope that more people boycott them as it’s just not right what they’re getting away with.
Thanks for your contribution. 🙂
Me and my husband done the turkey trip, and there was good and bad points. The worst is the hard sell in these factories . We didn’t buy anything my husband said that if they left me alone to look I would probably buy a leather coat he then had the nerve to say he was staying with me in case I pinched something. I was furious and left straight away.. It was the first time for us in turkey and I loved the country so we’ve been back twice since for a holiday and with no pressure I did buy a leather coat and a large rug. I did find a week tiring another week would have been nice to chill. We also met some lovely people and still keep in contact in fact two couples are staying at ours next month for the weekend. We have booked another holiday with rsd to India in may the reason being I thought maybe it was just the people in turkey were pushy so I am a bit concerned it seems all red holidays are the same . Have anyone been to the two week one in India and give me some tips. I’m hearing I need to keep covered up all the time. We now know about the buying of meals etc so that isn’t going to be a problem we’ve already bought the dinner package and will buy the lunch package when we are there but we are not buying the add on for 3 other trips I think we are doing enough. I will let people know what it was like and if this will be the last time with rsd or if I will continue to go on their holidays
Hi Alison
When do you go to India? Thinking of that one myself…
Hi Ruby, we’re going to India end of September and can’t wait. Going with an open mind but have taken into account all the other travellers experiences and will review the trip.
How was the trip to India
Brilliant – do keep us all posted on your India trip Alison. 🙂 We’ve been all over India and I’d highly suggest covering knees and shoulders etc. as you’ll be stared at a lot less which will make the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. Good luck!
My wife and I went with this company in February 2015 to Turkey and had the full works in the deal, which was reasonably priced. Unfortunately there were quite a few down sides to the tour, the hotels were not equipped for the winter, with the bedrooms being freezing with little heat being available, long coach tours with little time at the places of interest, factory stops (although I never went into any of them) but the worse experience I had was from our fellow passengers as I refused to fill in the questionnaire from the guide as to his performance as the questionnaire had our name and booking number printed on it. This was announced by the guide over the coach’s speaker system. Because of this I was abused verbally by several passengers on the coach, especially by one woman who walked the length of the coach in order to harangue me. Never again.
Sorry to hear about your experience Bernard. It’s an all too familiar story, as you can see from the many, many comments on this post alone. Their Google reviews also paint a very bad picture for RSD as a travel and tour operator.
Hopefully more and more potential customers read this post and comments so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to book with RSD.
Cheap prices are a smokescreen for a cheap experience imo.
Has anyone done their Israel tour? I would love to hear more as due to go in 10 days.
I filled in the form and cut the guide’s behaviour to shreds. He did not read out any comments.
Has anyone travelled to Crete with RSD – we’ve paid our deposit for travelling in November 2018 from Dublin. We haven’t opted for the evening meals. Thanks a million.
Have also booked Crete for 3/11/18, no evening meals but bit concerned that nothing else will be available, it seems to be a bit of a rip off. What dates are you going ?
We are also travelling to crete in November the 4th not 3rd! we ended up booking evening meals as there was a bit of hard sell on the phone from travel agent, and advised us that most restaurants etc would be closed that time of year and better to take dinner package, also tried to sell us travel insurance but I stood my ground and told her I had my own annual travel insurance, im a little bit sceptical about trip and hate the whole selling thing. very wrong to try and cash in on tourists, we are not all rich tourists and some of us on a tight budget!
I am going to Crete on the 27th October just got flight details should be from and to Manchester but they state a stopover at gatwick on the way back. Have rang them and they say it is just to drop people off. Anyone else had to do this?
Hi, how did you find this trip? We’re going to Crete 17th November and are worried by all the negative reports of bullying guides etc.
Would be interested in your experience.
Thank you so much for your blog. It stopped me from booking a north Turkish tour. I feel sorry for their Call centre staff who have to flog their packages as they don’t have much choice. I advised my sales person to go and read the reviews on trust pilot and to find herself a job with a more reputable company. A from 149 £ flight per person ended up to £483 each which was still a good buy but the horrendous experience of other travellers swung it for me.
You’re welcome Chantale and I hope we’ve saved you from having a bad experience as the call centre staff are just the tip of the iceberg! As you say, it’s still good value for money given the price but it’s the bully tactics and the extortion that makes the price totally irrelevant. I hope you find yourself a better company to travel with. 🙂
Hie
Would like to find out if anyone as been to Israel, just want to find out what to expect. I am going on the 4th November
After the full monies were paid I got the travel documents, this was the first indication of going to Heraklion via Glasgow. When we landed at Prestwick we had to disembark nobody told us why. I was taken there against my will. We then had to go through security having already done so in Dublin. Most passengers were body searched (male and female), females had to show the inside of their waistband on their skirts/trousers and knickers in full view of all the other disembarked passengers waiting to go through security. Bottles of liquid purchased in Dublin Airport were seized – a disgrace. My wife’s medication was seized having purchased it airside (post security) in Dublin. She was told to buy another one! She had neither the time nor inclination to do that.
To make matters worse on the return flight at the very last minute the passengers from Scotland were informed that they did not have to disembark. Why was this? Obviously Irish passengers are treated and seen as second class and any treatment will suffice. You may say this is a matter for the authorities in each country but that is not true. The flight could have originated in Prestwick and picked us up in Dublin without us having to go through security twice, which was the case with the returning Scots passengers. So it was within the control of RSD but they obviously do not give a fig about Irish passengers and any discommoding of us.
The Irish passengers were not a happy lot on the flight out and stayed the same when we arrived at our particular hotel. We arrived at about 5am and after something to eat were informed that the tour next day would start at 10am, some people were so tired they opted out to recover.
The hotel (Solimar Dias) was definitely not a 4 or 5 star hotel and is even classed as 3 stars in the local guide. The room was adequate. It was clean and the staff very good and friendly same with the food. The only thing was the plethora of cats which was okay except that they got free range of the dining room during meal times which anywhere else would be considered a health hazard!!
Every morning we had very early starts, only one was post 9am due to getting to bed at 6am that morning after the flight, the other was at 9am to facilitate the leather factory not the clients otherwise it was pre 9am. Other travelers on our trip had later starts at 10am and 11am. This could have been rotated to allow an equal share of early and late starts?
Having traveled with you before and enjoyed my trip to Cappadocia I was expecting the same standard of hotels but that was not the case they (the hotels) were of a much lower standard.
The guide suited himself and constantly from the time we arrived until departure was pressing for tips and purchases in the outlets. Do RSD not pay them or pay them sufficiently? I have never known a Turk or Greek to work for nothing so I think that answers the question.
We had virtually no free time to explore ourselves or spend time together. We made up for this by slipping away at lunchtimes to look around but this time was very short.
In conclusion given this experience I have decided not to travel with RSD again. I kept the guest questionnaire to fill in on my return from the trip rather than return it to the guide and he suppress it. You may also suppress this email but I will post it up online and inform all my family, friends, relations and acquaintances of my experience and discourage them from going on trips with RSD.
Your experience sounds disastrous Henry but I’m really not surprised. I wrote this review to warn other travellers about RSD and their tactics so your comment will help to inform others of what to expect.
Thanks for your input and good thinking in keeping the report so that the guide can’t suppress it. Wishing you a more enjoyable time on your next trip, without RSD of course.
Aside from RSD you will find if you book a trip locally in Turkey if usually has a ‘stopover’ at some ‘factory’ or other with high-pressure salespeople who sometimes can be thought of as rude – I have found this is quite ‘normal’ to them but to Brits and other western Europeans it’s a bit intimidating. It similar to the bazaars in all Turkish/Asian cities, give them a glance or show any interest, and before you know what’s happening you inside and just about to get your wallet out, I know it’s hard but this is their way of doing ‘business’ (it’s called bartering) it can seem cold to just say no and walk away, they may hassle you but usually if you stand your ground and offer some very low price the onus is back on them, but that’s the way it works! It’s perfectly legal to barter. Tip – never pay the first or second lower price you get, think what you think it’s worth and please don’t buy unless you think its worth it.
We are just back from the Northern Turkey trip. we found it to be good value despite the add-ons. If you do not wish to buy stuff just say no firmly and they will leave you alone. We had Selin as guide and Amash as driver (please excuse spelling)who were both excellent. The first hotel was a vast complex with a ‘Temple theme’ but the food was good and the choice massive. The second was a smaller place up a hill and the accommodation was fine and the food excellent. We had a right laugh with a number of couples and holiday was good fun. Would we repeat-probably not as we tend to wish more chill time but value for money even with all the add-ons I cannot fault.
Just returned from Morocco, food great, guides great, hotels varied from good to excellent, value for money fantastic even with the ‘add-ons’ which were worth it. Met some lovely people. Would definitely travel with rsd again.
Wow! What a lot of interesting comments here. We went to Cappadocia with RSD in March 2014, and it was fascinating. The guide was great apart from his elastic approach to time-keeping, and we had the early starts/extra stops /baffling hotels experienced by others. But on the whole it was good value for money and gave us the opportunity to see a part of Turkey which was difficult to reach independently. Now we have recovered from that trip we are going to South Africa in August…with eyes wide open to the potential pitfalls of that kind of trip. At no point on our first trip were we treated unkindly or rudely by anyone and I’m so sorry other people have been.
My friend and I take regular holidays together and, last December we took the RSD holiday to Northern Cypress. We took advantage of the evening meals offer (reasonably priced). The flight out came with an excellent meal, possibly the best I have ever been served on a flight, and after minor chaos at our destination, all found their relevant coaches and we headed for our hotel. More confusion at the hotel, we were given room keys and left to find our rooms ourselves. The hotel was quite a rambling afair, with paths leading off through gardens, to doors leading to various blocks of double rooms.
After returning to reception and demanding assistance to find our room, we were eventually able to settle in. A beautiful room with a coastal view and balcony, with a double and single bed, I took the single by the balcony door, which was wedged open all night, it was so hot!
Food was great, restaurant right on the sea shore, staff couldn’t have done more for us. The trips each day were exhausting, we seemed to be rushing everywhere, in order to fit in all the day’s itinerary.
The second hotel was bizarre, with a mezzanine bedroom and wall lights with such low powered bulbs, it was dangerous on the stairs. I went to reception and insisted on the bulbs being changed for more powerful ones. The hotel was Medieval Castle themed with heavy red velvet curtains, dark wood panelling and the odd suit of armour, to add to the ambience. The food wasn’t as good, little choice and some strange combinations. However the bar food was excellent and after the restaurant was moved due to flooding of the basement and some bedrooms, we ate in the bar.
With only 2 nights to go, I awoke in the morning to discover tiny black insects in my bed. Lifting up the pillow sent a dozen or more running for safety.
The Manageress checked the bed with a magnifying glass, ( they were so tiny) and gave us another room. There was nothing else offered or mentioned.
Don’t get me started about the retail outlets. My friend bought a rug and I went to the loo while she did the paperwork. I shouldn’t have left her because when I returned, she had bought another. The jewellers was even worse. They took one look at my jewellery and decided that I was loaded, but I do know the worth of the stones displayed. I was whisked off so that they could “persuade”me to purchase tanzanite earrings and a ring. £19,000 for the ring and £3,500 for the earrings, which he offered to give me as an incentive to buy the ring. I wouldn’t have given him £3,500 for the ring, never mind the earrings. He gave up eventually and I escaped to find my friend. She had been treated the same, ferreted away whilst they worked on her. Against her better judgement, they got her to buy ring, pendant and earrings when all she had wanted was a ring. She still hasn’t told me exactly how much she spent, but it must have been in the region of £10,000!
The leather outlet got both of us. However she did want a red jacket but not for £1,400! I found a white jacket and was in love. I gave a deposit of £250 as I was unable to remember my credit card pin. On our return, I eventually discovered that they would not take a credit card payment over the phone, they demanded a cash transfer. I am still trying to resolve it, no jacket, no £250! Strangely enough, Kyrenia Leather is also the outlet we visited in Crete in April, where they said I could buy a coat from them and they would deduct the £250, however they wouldn’t take payment from my credit card without the pin, or over the phone. Same old same old!!
I’m still trying to retrieve my deposit and we won’t be going on another RSD holiday, I don’t need the aggravation.
Janet J
Wow Janet – thank you so much for your contribution and I’m sorry to hear about the jacket and your friend’s experience. 🙁
Hopefully, your experience will warn other travellers and prevent them from falling victim to RSD and their scamming tactics. As I said in the review, we were told that the owners of RSD offer cheap holidays with the intention of getting a stream of tourists into these factories, which they have a stake in.
Thanks again and I hope you get your money back.
We went on the Cappadocia trip a couple of years ago and whilst we seriousy disliked the guide, it gave us the chance to see a wonderful part of the world we would have had difficulty visiting independently.
The outlets were pushy, but no more than those imposed on us during a trip to China organised by the Royal Horticultural Society at huge cost.
Our flights were all on time and comfortable. This is more than be said of an expensive flight to New York with BA who lost our luggage and left us with no clothes but the ones we stood up in for five days.
We are thinking of going on the Croatia & Montenegro trip with our eyes open. Has anyone else done this trip and what are their comments ?
I WENT TO N. CYPRUS AND WOULD NEVER TRAVEL WITH THEM AGAIN. A VERY UPSETTING TIME WITH BULLYING SALESPEOPLE IN CARPET AND JEWELLERY FACTORIES. SUPPOSED TO BE A CULTURAL TOUR BUT IT WAS ABOUT SELLING TO THEIR VICTIMS. PLIED US WITH ALCOHOL ON THE COACH BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE WAREHOUSES. IF YOU SAID YOU DIDNT WANT TO GO IN YOU WERE PRESSURISED INTO IT. PAID OVER THE ODDS FOR JEWELLERY HAVE HAD IT VALUED AT GOLDSMITHS AND IT IS NOT WORTH WHAT WE PAID. COMPLAINED TO RSD BUT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED.
Went to Northern Cyprus and had a good time, hotels and food excellent
Only had one factory tour and wasn’t pressured to buy anything.
Missed out l day as felt exhausted by early starts, however this is normal on most coach tours even very expensive ones in America.
Think they are good value.
We have been with RSD three times, Turkey Rhodes in 2017 excellent trip guide very good hotels good no pressure from salesmen.
2018 Sril Lanka fantastic good guide fantastic people hotels good .
2019 Morocco very good trip second week excellent, we could all pick foults if you are looking for them due to the price ,put that aside and look at what you are getting overall, I would say the Sri Lanka trip was definitely the best would do it again we were probably lucky good reps, good hotels good food what more can you ask.
I’ve paid the deposit (with free cancellation until 3 months before departure) for the RSD trip to Croatia and Montenegro in March 2021. I’ll be going on my own (a) because they had no rooms for two left and (b) because I’ve never yet been on an RSD trip and, in view of all the comments, don’t feel I can bring someone else along when it might be a bad experience.
Has anyone else been on this particular trip? I’d also love to hear from anyone who has taken any holiday with RSD on their own how you found it? Thank you.
Hi Florence,
my mum just got a letter from RSD (as a ‘valued customer’ although she had never used them before) offering the usual ‘too-good-to-be-true’ discount on a 15-day tour of Croatia and Montenegro, discounted from €1149 to €299 pps.
She asked me to check it out online, so am delighted to have found this fair and informative blog – many thanks and best wishes!
Joe F