Across the Pond Vacations

Simon did a fantastic job planning our Ireland and Scotland vacation. Everything turned out perfect, from the driving itinerary to the selection of tours and the best hotels. I would recommend Simon and Across the Pond vacations to anyone planning a UK vacation - I cannot count the number of times my mom and I said how thankful we were to have them on board during our trip!!

We had the most wonderful trip to England and Scotland, thanks to Anne Marie's and Simon's expert help. Our 10-day trip included lovely boutique hotels, a driver/guide through the Cotswolds and wonderful and unique experiences in Edinburgh including dinner with a local food celebrity and a tour of Jewish Edinburgh. Anne Marie and Simon listened to our priorities and truly understood the trip we were looking for. We always felt taken care of and were particularly impressed with the detailed binder they provided complete with directions, tickets and contact information for every leg of our trip. I highly recommend Across the Pond Vacations for your travel needs to England, Scotland and Ireland.

We had one of the best vacations ever from ATP Vacations. The golf excursions and the Stay at Gleneagles resort was 5 Star. We traveled through Wales, England and Scotland and played golf in all three places for my husbands bucket list birthday. Our guides were outstanding knowledgeable and fun. This one will go down in infamy as the top. We travel extensively and have used ATP twice. They are amazing and listened to every one of our requests.

Nearly a month after returning from our spectacular two-week tour of England, I’m still pinching myself that I found Across the Pond Vacations. I’d never been to the U.K. and had only a vague notion of visiting London, Oxford, Liverpool, Hadrian’s Wall, York and whatever additional Roman ruins I could fit in. And I had no clue about how to make such a trip work. So I was absolutely thrilled when Simon Clarke -- an actual Brit whose company is nonetheless based not far from my home in Los Angeles -- got back to me immediately about my inquiry. We had a lovely chat, during which he homed in on my “wish list” and got a sense of my party’s travel style. Thereafter, all our communication was handled by email, which is my preference, with Simon’s response time exceeding my own. We’d decided on a private tour of Roman London the City of London and Westminster Abbey, and Simon suggested a first-day spin on the London Eye and boat trip on the Thames, which was brilliantly designed to help us get the lay of the land and keep us awake until London bedtime to prevent jet lag. We’d booked Champagne Afternoon Tea at the 1889 Savoy Hotel and train tickets and admission to Windsor Castle. Per my request, Simon found us a hotel near the British Museum it turned out to be across a side street, a one-minute walk. Then, just as we’d begun planning the post-London portion of the trip, I started feeling serious anxiety about driving outside London. IN London, you don’t need a car because of all the excellent transportation options. I couldn’t fathom driving on the “wrong” side of the car on the “wrong” side of the street, around the roundabouts, in the dark, in the rain … And how could I pop into a pub for a pint knowing I’d have to do that arduous driving thereafter? I woke up in a cold sweat one night thinking, “Oh my God -- what if I kill someone on the road?!” I wrote to Simon first thing the next morning to see if there was any way he could find someone to drive us from London to Oxford -- and then the hours to Liverpool and additional hours to Hexham Hadrian’s Wall and finally, more hours to York. He responded that he could find us someone to do that driving who’d also be able to tell us all about the points of interest along the way and deliver us to and pick us up from our various excursions. To me, this was a downright revolutionary idea. Simon secured a guide for our journey north who, frankly, made our trip. He was not only a terrific driver -- who seemed completely unfazed by the occasional downpour and handled an accident-driven traffic jam outside Birmingham with aplomb -- but a charming fellow who seemed to know everything about England! The history, geography, culture -- I asked him a million questions and he patiently answered every one. Moreover, he suggested we pop into the Roman Army Museum affiliated with the archeological site of Vindolanda, a fort that supplied Hadrian’s Wall. The museum was one of the highlights of the trip, and I’d never even heard of it! I could go on and on about the highlights of the trip Simon created, but the magic of HOW he created it is the reason I’m taking the time to write this review. The trip was seamless and anxiety-free, starting and ending with the wonderful London black-taxi driver Simon retained to usher us from and to Heathrow who drove us comfortably in his brand-new electric vehicle AND pointed out innumerable landmarks. In fact, Simon is the consummate travel professional and Across the Pond the only travel company I will ever use in the U.K. I’m already scheming a trip to Wales and Scotland. As referenced above, he is highly responsive and creative, with an amazing ability to navigate the many and varied vagaries of travel in the U.K., and he’s an excellent listener who went out of his way to make sure he understood my priorities so we could make the most out of them. This was truly the trip of a lifetime. But I am 100% certain that the next trip I book with Across the Pond Vacations will be, too!

We have just returned from an amazing trip to Scotland planned by Across the Pond and it couldn’t have been more perfect. They took care of every detail, listened carefully to what we really wanted to experience, and made all the arrangements.

My wife and I have been taking our grandchildren on Birthday Trips since each was about 5-6 years old. After a two-year postponement due to Covid, it was time for a very special trip for our two oldest grandsons, cousins aged 15 and 16. We wanted to take them to England to see a couple of Premiere League soccer matches, as well as all the regular sightseeing to learn a little about English history and culture. I honestly don't recall how I found Across the Pond Vacations, but I am eternally grateful that I did! Anne Marie listened carefully to our wants, our likes and dislikes, etc., and designed the perfect trip for us and our boys. A full and clear itinerary was presented for our consideration, and I don't recall changing a thing. I was a bit skeptical about a dinner cruise on the Thames, but as with everything else on this trip, Anne Marie got it right! What I thought might be poor food and a boring ride, turned out to be anything but. The food was actually pretty good, and - it being New Year's Eve - we got a unobstructed, front row seat to the fireworks: Spectacular! I usually do the detailed planning for our trips, but this one presented several obstacles for me: First, I wasn't very familiar with London in particular, and England in general. Second, and this was a big one, I had heard horror stories about soccer ticket scams. So, I turned to ATP Vacations for help and got much more than I expected. Anne Marie arranged private guided tours on several days, some half-day, some full-day. We saw the sights, ate our way through Borough Market, toured the countryside, etc. Each and every guide was wonderful; friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. We could not have enjoyed these tours more. We got to attend two soccer matches, one with Manchester City, my grandson's favorite team. Our match tickets included what the Brit's call< "Hospitality," a semi-private catered meal before, and snacks, etc. after, the match. Former star players from the home team stopped by to chat, take pictures, etc. What a thrill for the boys. She selected a wonderful boutique hotel, well-located in central London, with a friendly and helpful staff. Airport transfers were, of course, provided, as was the most helpful tool: A trip binder with daily itineraries, vouchers and tickets and even printed directions to get to and from our hotel to each activity. She left nothing to chance, but enough free time to allow for a little spontaneity. If you thinking about a trip to any part of Great Britain, or Ireland, talk to Anne Marie. It will be the first step in a journey you will remember for a lifetime.

We had the trip of a lifetime to Ireland thanks to Across the Pond! Anne Marie was so great to work with. We wanted a unique trip around the entirety of Ireland and she delivered. We had an incredible time all thanks to her! If we had attempted to plan the trip ourselves we would have been missing out on some amazing experiences. They sent a binder organized by day with all our itineraries and tickets as well as helpful information on driving, tipping and culture. Having that to reference made every day so easy and stress free. I highly recommend Anne Marie and Across the Pond!!

A friend of mine recommended to look at Across the Pond for a trip to Scotland. I am glad that I did! Anne Marie and ATPv did such a great job lining up everything. A fully customized itinerary, all the tickets to attractions, detailed maps directions, tour guides, and bookings. They removed all the headache of trying to schedule out a nine day trip. Everything ended up perfect! They are incredibly professional, responsive to communication, and friendly. I can't say enough on how positive the interactions with ATPv were and they made it super easy to go abroad.

'Across the Pond Vacations' helped organize and execute a wonderful two week custom vacation for my husband and I throughout Wales. Our adventurous journey was enhanced by a varied itinerary and exceptional hotels. We were accompanied by a very gifted driver/guide arranged for by 'Across the Pond Vacations' who had in-depth knowledge of the history of Wales, it's culture, customs and language. We were well cared for throughout the trip planning process, provided with detailed travel documents and emailed trip updates during our tour. All together, we experienced a lovely, memorable vacation. Many thanks and kudos for the impressive work by 'Across the Pond Vacations'!

We have travelled to the UK multiple times using Anne Marie and Across the Pond Vacations. We created custom made trips with Across the Pond, that allowed us to have absolutely wonderful experiences. Based upon a fun experience from a previous trip, we have even been able to request specific guides for our private tours of London and Highclere Castle, and Anne Marie has made it happen. All I have to do is call Across the Pond Vacations and tell them what I want to do, and the dates I want to travel, and they tailor make my trip. Working so closely with Anne Marie, I have also gained a friend. Anne Marie, Simon and Across the Pond Vacations is the best at what they do. I highly recommend you use them.Services: City tours