Plimbley Travel Reviews 36

We have been regular customers of Plimbleys now for a good few years,mainly for the camaraderie and the wonderful feeling we had on each occasion. This I soon discovered was in the main due to the drivers we had had before, not only on holidays but on day trips as well. Often, we have previously had commentary about various places of interest enroute which was so interesting, relaxing music, laughter and lots of banter. It set the holiday or day trip off.
But then *BANG* this last holiday to the Palace in Inverness was so, so different. While the hotel remained the very best one could hope for (and more) which is why we booked it, sadly the same couldn’t be said of Plimbleys to the point that we will not be returning with our custom.
Where do I begin? The issues started before we even departed with paperwork being sent with incorrect details on the booking and other documentation being sent to the wrong address which is a breach of data protection. I had already raised this with the office and the staff I spoke to were rude and dismissive of my concerns. I should have cancelled at that point but I would have lost the money I had paid so decided that I would persevere as we had always had such a good experience before particularly with the drivers.
So then we get onto our driver this time who was Kevin, together with his wife Susan who sat on the courier seat. He was the very worst driver we have ever known not just with Plimbleys but with other companies we have also used. He had absolutely NO people charisma whatsoever or respect, didn’t even speak and then when he did, it made us wish that he didn’t. He was insulting, unhelpful and positively VILE. It had been explained to him that our son (who also travelled with us) has terminal cancer and that his consultant gave him 12 months and may well be his last holiday so we wanted the best for him. However, even though he was taking morphine he was in severe pain and declined to take a toilet break on one occasion. Kevin ordered him off the coach, our son was not physically able to at that time as the pain was so intense. The response was “well I’ll lock him in then” in an aggressive manner. I had explained that the consultant had said that he wasn’t to be left alone but he didn’t seem to care. When our son did manage to get off at other times, Kevin was asked to lower the step so he didn’t have to drop down from so high, he told me he had already done this and then said the same to my son but as our son was a coach driver himself before his illness he knew this was incorrect and told him this. Kevin didn’t like that challenge and made that plain, very plain. Well on the last day clearly wanting to be tipped he started to make an effort to others on the trip but not to my family.
He drove very aggressivly and as we were sitting in the front seats, we could see this and feared for our lives. Our other family member had not had a holiday for many years and although the hotel experience had taken away his anxiety the driving experience only reignited his stress levels even more to the point where all 4 of us don’t feel like we have even had a holiday. Kevin even held the microphone in his right hand (twice) whilst he rubbed his left leg with his other hand “have you got cramp again dear” his wife asked him, however we have no qualms with her she was nice and approachable. A number of times he very nearly missed serious accidents with not only an artic but motorbikes too. Each time he overtook vehicles he drove over the line towards them, then moved sharply to the opposite line to rectify. On one occasion as he swerved sharply it caused my bag to fly off the racking above the seats and into the aisle. When the road markings indicated there should be 2 chevrons apart, there was barely 1, it was frightening!
No drinks were offered when we had expected them, it made an already long journey seem like an eternity. No program of what, where and when things were happening during our time at the hotel either, I had to ask at reception about lunch who told me our driver should have told us, he hadn’t! There was only an itinerary out up by the hotel because Kevin hadn’t bothered to tell us even the meal times or anything else. He was nowhere to be seen for the majority of the holiday, he wasn’t seen at any of the evening meals and could not find hi, to verify what the plans were for the following day. I didn’t see him at breakfast either, although another passenger told me he had been in very early. Even the hotel said that they had. It seen him eeither and were dealing with passenger queries that he should have been doing. I think he treated it more as a holiday for hi,self and his wife rather than the job he was employed to do.
There is plenty more to say but I have already raised this with the company and they have chosen to ignore it, hence my review on here, only interested in your money - AVOID!!!

Just returned from a trip to Llandudno, I would like to say what a good time we had, and it was mostly down to our driver and partner which was Pauline and Paul, Pauline being the driver, they really made the whole experience a trip to remember with all there knowledge of the area and also showing a lot of patience with some of our elderly fellow travellers, the hotel was clean and tidy, plenty of choice with meals, and nightly entertainment

Plimbley Travel is the best travel company my sister & I have used,they pick you up door to door, drivers are professional with a special mention to Steve who go’s above & beyond to please every passenger, looking forward to booking more holidays with Plimbley, their day trips are also good value. Highly recommend.

This company mis-sold a holiday to my parents. The holiday my parents purchased was for 6 days. Their Travel Documents and Invoices confirmed this.
They were NOT the only ones misled and ripped off by Plimbley Travel
The majority of the customers on this tour also had the same holiday dates as my parents (6 days). And unbelievably it only came to light that holiday was for only 5 Days when they were on their way to their holiday destination by another passenger who happened to mention that their holiday confirmation documents said this holiday was for only 5 days.
Even Plimbley Travels Coach Driver thought holiday was for 6 days and he had been given an itinerary from Plimbley for 6 days.
This Company is completely incompetent
they didn't even find the error themselves to be able to notify my parents / the other passengers or even their own Coach Driver of the change at all.
This is extremely bad practice management and is just unacceptable

On phoning Plimbley Travel to complain all my parents were offered was a measly £10 discount off their next holiday with them. This is an absolute insult
This does not reflect in any way or compensate for the extra day my parents paid for and didn't get. Neither the extra days Holiday Insurance that they needlessly paid for.

I have personally sent an email on behalf of my parents to Plimbley Travel.
Plimbley Travel have openly admitted and accepted that the mis-selling of my parents holiday was a mistake on their part and that they regret the mis-communication but they are NOT in a position or are Liable to offer any refund for the 6th day my parents paid for but didn't get.
Terrible Customer Service on all levels and totally unacceptable that they think that their response is okay
It's unacceptable as a business that this huge discrepancy went completely unnoticed time after time by Plimbleys Management and Admin team and was never even picked up by them

For anyone thinking of taking a holiday through Plimbley Travel I'd advise you to stay well away from this Company.
Not surprising this Company is NOT ABTA Approved either. Explains a lot!!!

Just returned from Palace Hotel Inverness ...fantastic trip made even better by the great driver Stephen Fanthom and his wife Rachel who took wonderful care of us

This coach company uses third party coaches at times which when I looked up that company they state that they will take mobility scooters. Yet Plimbley won’t accept them. Of day trips surely they can relent as there is plenty of room underneath. All the need to do is stipulate the size measurements (car boot travel folding one) and anything over not accepted. This has ment they have lost a lot of custom due trips I’d like to go on but not be allowed to take my mobility scooters. On holidays they state it’s the discretion of the driver if they let you have one on the coach for excursions once at the destination which makes it hard to see if you can go on holiday with them. Mobility scooter batteries are safer than mobile phones.

EXCELENT
VERY NICE ROOM
WOERFULL ENTERTAINMENT
GOOD BREAKFAST
IWOULD RATE THE HOTEL VALUE FOR MONEY VERY GOOD, CRIAG THE DRIVER WAS EXCELLENT AND A VERY FRIENDLY AND HELFUL

My wife and l have just returned home following our 6 day coach holiday to Tenby. All the hotel facilties and daily tours were good.
We would like to make a special mention about our driver Phil. His personality, help and driving ability throughout holiday was exceptional especially some of the tight manoeuvring that he encountered.

Went to Liverpool on 11 aug 2024 had a lovely day driver was great will be booking again thank you

We have just got back from our first trip with Pimbley Travel to the Isle of Mann and just wanted to thank everyone involved for the excellent organisation from start to finish. Yes its fair to say that we did have a small hiccup with evening meal service but this was soon rectified by Colin our tour manager and Steve our Coach Driver who discussed the issue with the Hotel Management and big improvements were made. The Hotel was very clean and the room was adequate for the duration of our stay. The trips where well organised and interesting and the weather was kind. we would just like to say again a big thankyou to Pimbley Travel Bloxwich , our hosts for the trip Colin and Steve who went above and beyond to make our experience enjoyable and also our fellow travellers who we had a laugh and joke with whilst in their company. Already booked on another trip to the Enchanted Forest in October and really looking forward to it.

Great holiday to St.Agnes, hotel was immaculate, friendly and welcoming and the food was delicious. Steve our driver was helpful, sorting our small problem before we even started and great fun all week. Great driving through the Cornish lanes! Would definitely recommend the return visit in October.

A new venue and it couldn't be better. Well, maybe the weather, but even that isn't too bad considering it's March. Staff can't do enough to help, rooms A1, comfort, superb.
Meals? Wow! This hotel has to be rated as your best. An absolutely brilliant place which is beautiful through and through.
Steve was our driver and what a great driver he is too. He went over and above to help me over an "accident". Thank you Steve.
Thank you to everyone. It's just what we needed.
I really hope we can return.

Back after 5 fabulous days at Coulton Hotel Torquay. Hotel room clean and warm, good adequate and enough, entertainment good and as usual Steve our driver was in good spirits and made our journey and days out very enjoyable. Thank you Plimbley's and thank you Steve xxx

Just returned from Falmouth, our first holiday with Plimbleys. Recommended by a friend we were very pleased with the Hotel, accommodation was good as was the food. Neil our driver was excellent, cheerful, helpful and professional. Thank you all for a super holiday. We shall rebook in the new year.

Just had a wonderful holiday to Oban our first with Plimleys won't be our last! Steve our driver was attentive throughout even when he had to reschedule trip to Hollow Mountain and added in few places as we were unable to go over to Mull due to bad weather. Nothing was too much trouble had a great time. Royal hotel was lovely great choice of meals every evening also good breakfasts as well. Oban is a lovely town and all trips were enjoyable.

thanks for a wonderful trip to Oban Scotland and a big thanks to Steve who took great care of us from beginning to end ..it was sad the ferry wasnt running but that was the weather..the hotel and food were excellent and friendly..it was our first trip with you but certainly wont be our last

Comfy coaches, friendly helpful driver.
Hotel well situated in Paignton, but I would not go to the Marine hotel again, because good is very bland and poor choices of food.
I'm looking forward to my next holiday with Plimbleys.

Had a fantastic trip out to the black and white villages yesterday something I’ve always wanted to see and do and I did this with my partner we had the best of best days Neil our driver was a great driver the coach was very comfortable and Neil’s driving very smooth we will be booking again very soon.

We don’t normally write reviews but having traveled with Plimbley travel for the first time just thought we have to praise this company, there where 2 coaches on our tour to Disneyland Paris, we traveled with an excellent driver named Steve on coach 1 our friends booked after us and traveled on coach 2 with John there driver, our driver Steve was a superb driver and had an excellent manner with is passengers although some people where not happy he tried is hardest to keep everyone happy which must be very difficult at times, anyway having been on many coach holidays Plimbley is the one for us, even being picked up at our home and returned after the holiday.could we thank everyone at Plimbley Travel for there wonderful service, we will be calling in soon to book our next holiday in the UK and even thinking of returning to Disneyland next year,

Great Door-to-Door service from start to finish. Our driver David was meticulous, professional and polite. Despite struggling with a back injury he made sure everyone’s belongings were safely loaded onto the vehicle. Itinerary was made clear and the journey on their clean modern coach was a pleasant one. The hotel was of a good standard, room quality, food and entertainment.
Overall a very pleasant experience. Looking forward to my next booking Isle of Wight