After reading various ops on tour operators and their terrible service I felt I had to put fingers to keyboard and tell you all about my experience with Cosmos in Gran Canaria. To be honest, tour operators seem to have quite a bad reputation in general but I am pleased to say that I was pleasantly ... Read review
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Advantages: Trouble free holiday Disadvantages: To much hard selling of trips
...all about my experience with Cosmos in Gran Canaria. To be honest, tour operators seem to have quite a bad reputation in general but I am pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Cosmos.
We arrived at Las Palmas airport and were met by the first Rep who directed us to our bus and welcomed us to the island. The half hour journey to the apartments was entertaining enough with Rep number 2 giving us a brief but jolly account ... ...then the big sell started. Cosmos were organising a cruise for £25 per person, which included a meal and all you could drink for the day. I explained to Mark that we had already booked a similar excursion the previous evening at a pub that was to become our local for the holiday but Mark was quite insistent that we should shell out another £25 per person to go on their trip as it would be far more fun. I had to resort to giving him one of my withering ... more
After reading various ops on tour operators and their terrible service I felt I had to put fingers to keyboard and tell you all about my experience with Cosmos in Gran Canaria. To be honest, tour operators seem to have quite a bad reputation in general but I am pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Cosmos.
We arrived at Las Palmas airport and were met by the first Rep who directed us to our bus and welcomed us to the island. The half hour journey to the apartments was entertaining enough with Rep number 2 giving us a brief but jolly account of some of the things to see and do at the resorts and also a few plugs for Cosmos’s organised excursions. We were also handed welcome packs which gave information on nearest medical centres, emergency contact numbers and details of the welcome meeting the following day.
Our group of 7 had already decided, as most of us had been to the island previously, that we were quite happy to do our own thing and find our own entertainment but we all agreed we would go to the welcome meeting as it was being held the following lunchtime at the pool bar and was therefore a good excuse to start the drinking for the day. The meeting lasted half and hour and was actually quite informative for many first timers to the resort. Our Rep, Mark, offered many excursions and drinking outings which all seemed quite good value. He then went through all the contact details once again and told us when he would be available at our apartments if we needed any assistance. I approached him to obtain tickets for Aqua-Sur, a large water park and then the big sell started. Cosmos were organising a cruise for £25 per person, which included a meal and all you could drink for the day. I explained to Mark that we had already booked a similar excursion the previous evening at a pub that was to become our local for the holiday but Mark was quite insistent that we should shell out another £25 per person to go on their trip as it would be far more fun. I had to resort to giving him one of my withering looks before turning tail and heading off to rejoin my friends.
To be honest, that was the only downfall of Cosmos throughout the holiday, Mark was available every evening as he promised and he delivered the tickets for Aqua-Sur. I cannot comment on the rest of the trips that they offered but another party that went on the Cosmos Safari had a great day out.
I must also comment on Cosmos customer services. On our return to the UK we discovered that one of our bags had been opened in between the time of it being checked into the airport and arriving back in Britain. We discovered once we were in the car travelling home that a camera, sunglasses and a mobile phone were stolen from the bag. The travel insurance company were contacted the following morning who sent us on a wild goose chase of phone calls trying to ascertain who would be the correct person to speak to ie, the airline, the baggage carrier company, the tour operator, the airport. We finally phoned Cosmos for assistance as we were rapidly getting nowhere and they gave us a contact number to telephone, a reference number and a contact name if we needed any further help. Sufficed to say the insurance claim is now being processed.
So, in summary, I would recommend Cosmos although I would warn people not to be taken in by their hard sell attitude for their excursions, although I suppose these reps have to make a living somehow.
Advantages: seen lots in a short space of time Disadvantages: was expensive
Cosmos - Cosmopolitan Europe For my honeymoon my husband and I decided to do a tour of Europe. I didn't want to fly as I had a very bad experience on my GAP year after a flight and wanted to be relaxed at all times on our honeymoon. After long hours searching on the internet we decided to book a Cosmos Tour called Cosmopolitan Europe. It lasted 14 nights and 15 days and would start in London and end there too. Booking with Cosmos was easy enough ... ...the boat in Calais. The Cosmos representatives were always somewhere to guide us but you got to travel on the boat by yourself. Once arriving in Calais when you get off the boat you are met by the tour guide for the rest of the tour. Ours was called Lugi and he was very typical stereotype Italian. He had a passion for his job and art so we heard a lot about art and history. You get onto the bus and the people you are with are the ones you will be ...
DeniseKelly40 15.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cosmos
Advantages: Large established company! Easy to book! Disadvantages: Lack of customer care!
...across a guy in a Cosmos uniform with a clipboard. I approached him looking hopeful! I was going to ask him if we were in the right place but before I had chance he asked me very curtly, "Name?" He glanced quickly through his list without looking up and said, "through those doors and coach 114". I realise it was very busy and the chap had to deal with a lot of people but a simple smile and 'hello' would have gone a long way! His abrupt manner did ... ...As we couldn't find another Cosmos rep we desperately wandered around, like kids on their first day at school, trying to find our coach!
By now some of the coaches were departing and we were worried ours would leave us if we went back in the airport and tried to find the rep again. So we persevered and found a coach with the name of the hotel we were stopping at on the front. I approached the driver and tried to ask him if it was our coach. Unfortunately ...
dave_cdcs 26.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cosmos
Advantages: Great value, great service, lovely reps Disadvantages: none
...there have been a few), Cosmos is definitely the best. Their service is second to none, and I now go out of my way to try and book my holidays with them.
When we booked our holiday to Tunisia last year, we found a “palatial” 4 star hotel in the Cosmos brochure for less than half the price that Airtours were offering (we booked out of the brochure, not last minute). We arrived amid problems caused by the airline (JMC), to find two wonderful ... ...arranged to pick up our daughters pushchair (which JMC had left at Manchester airport) when it arrived on a later flight. One of the reps then took our luggage trolley for us, while the other took our daughter, to allow us to catch our breath.
Once on the coach, we were given bottles of water, refresher wipes and sweets, along with a very useful local information guide and emergency telephone numbers.
On the way to the hotel, we were given an excellent ...
lizibeth 06.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cosmos
Advantages: HAPPY TO SEE YOU AT FIRST Disadvantages: UNHELPFUL, HAPPY TO SEE THE BACK OF YOU
In my opinion Cosmos Reps are the most unhelpful of all holiday companies.
For example:-
Last year on holiday to Tenerife, we were supposed to get picked up at 5.00pm from our hotel to take us to the airport.
At 4.30pm we moved our baggage to the main exit at the front of the hotel and waited it came to 5.10pm and no sign of the bus or the rep. then it came to 5.30pm there was still no sign. We phoned the emergency reps number on the Island and ... ...picked us up.
Naturally as anybody would do I confronted her. She said she had been there to pick us up. (what a lie) I told her that she was lying and she smirked. I personally will never travel with Cosmos again thanks to this blatent lying. ...
PAULLIVERPOOL 28.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Cosmos
Advantages: Cost effective if you can take advantage of all activities Disadvantages: You never know quite what is included and what is not. Many hidden extras have to be paid for.
...fact even available.
Furthermore Cosmos kindly sent us to a hotel resort totally catered for Italians, this includes entertainment, staff, books, events etc WITHOUT informing us before our departure.
To add to this they also supplied us with a German speaking rep who had no grasp of the English language and therefore we were unable to take advantage of many of the All-Inclusive offers.
I would definitely recommend all-inclusive if you have the ...
TVL 08.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Cosmos
Advantages: Pretty much everything! Disadvantages: Maybe a little out of the way for some people.
compared to the meals we had in Lardos, costing three times the price and being nowhere near as enjoyable!
Overall the Cosmos Maris is a special place to go on holiday, in a perfect setting with a warm welcome and a family feel. I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing break. ...
Advantages: Breathtaking scenery, amazing relics, good food, knowledgeable Egyptologist and friendly crew Disadvantages: Hassling from traders and local guides
We have just returned from an amazing holiday on the upper Nile. We booked through Cosmos and they used a Flash International boat called Magic 1.
The boat was clean, tidy and realatively plush.
The crew were friendly and always ready for a joke.
The food was very good - not resturant standard but good honest food.
The Egyptologists that came with us were nothing short of fantastic.
It was an all inclusive trip and the local wine and beer was more than quaffable
Cosmos were not brilliant at giving information up front - what would have been useful to know were:
You can use any currency - Sterling, Dollars, Euros or Egyptian Pounds
If you want Egyptian Pounds get them from the hole in the wall at the airpot in Egypt when you land.
Don't take towels for the swimming pool they are provided.
It's very hot in Aswan even in ...
Want_to_travel 28.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nile cruises
Advantages: Attentative and helpful staff, well organised trips Disadvantages: There were none
This cruise was a Flash tour booked through Cosmos. It was wonderful from start to finish. The boat (MS Miss Sara) was in excelent condition. The staff were all friendly and helpful. The food was good and plentiful. All the trips were well organised and the Egyptologist was friendly and interesting. The Cosmos rep was particularly good. From the minute we arrived at the Airport in Luxor to the time we reached our hotel one week later everything was done for us. The extra trips to Abu Simbel and the ballon flight were expensive but realy worth it. Even getting up at 2.30 in the morning. I could recomend this tour to anyone. Its called wonders of the Nile and it really is. ...
barbaragibbs 27.11.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nile cruises
