Blogging from Beyond

Oliver Broad
train, japan

Two new Rail tours: Japan & Andalucia…

Oliver

As featured in Journal magazine, September 2017 issue… We are pleased to be offering our clients two wonderful new escorted rail tours with special booking […]

Read more

Nathan
abu dhabi, UAE

Tried & Tested: Abu Dhabi

Nathan Collins

With so many destinations around the world to choose from, it’s always tough to decide where to spend that all important, quality family holiday. With […]

Read more

Oliver Broad
nicolas-j-leclercq-va_nrBLonf8-unsplash

Tried & Tested: Iceland

Oliver

Iceland; having sold it for many years my preconceived idea was purely a Reykjavik city break, with a trip to the Blue Lagoon and an […]

Read more

Nathan
la gomera, dolphin

La Gomera: The Canary Island Hotspot for Dolphin and Whale Watching

Nathan Collins

There are few sights in the world as impressive and joyful as a school of dolphins playing for an eager audience or a pod of […]

Read more

Oliver Broad
From Burning Bright Productions JOANNA LUMLEYS INDIA Wednesday12th July 2017 on ITV Pictured : Joanna Lumley stands in front of The Gateway of India a monument built during the 20th century in Mumbai City Joanna Lumley travels back to the country of her birth to celebrate the great nation that it is today. A year older than Independent India itself, Joanna was born in India into the last days of The Raj and India was home to both sides of her family for several generations. Joanna travels the length and breadth of India, beginning her epic journey in Tamil Nadu - on the tip of the continent - and working her way up to the north. In this episode, Joanna witnesses religious ceremonies in glorious temples; learns how scientists are enabling people in tea plantations to live alongside wild elephants and with the help of computers is turned into a multi-limbed indian goddess. In Kolkata Joanna takes to the streets at night with a local guide and meets some members of IndiaÕs transgender community. Finally Joanna journeys high into the HimalayaÕs to visit Gangtok in Sikkim where her mother lived as a child, and so holds a strong family connection for Joanna. © Burning Bright For further information please contact Peter Gray 0207 157 3046 peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is © Burning Bright and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme JOANNA LUMLEYS INDIA or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com

Joanna Lumley’s India…

Oliver Broad

Joanna Lumley’s latest travel documentary will begin tonight and we are all very excited to watch her to what she does best – tour one of […]

Read more

Melanie Brown 1

Q&A – Melanie Brown, New Zealand Wine Cellar

Kirsty Taylor

We meet Melanie Brown from the New Zealand Wine Cellar who shares her tips about her home country with us, and a little about wine […]

Read more

Clare
andrea-bocelli

Andrea Bocelli 2018 events…

Clare

Andrea Bocelli in New York: December 2018 Experience New York during the magic of their Christmas period and witness Andrea Bocelli perform at the iconic […]

Read more

Oliver Broad
Curtain Bluff, Antigua

Curtain Bluff, Antigua – Competition winner…

Oliver Broad

Curtain Bluff is located on a picturesque headland on the beautiful island of Antigua, making it an idyllic spot for your next luxury Caribbean beach holiday. This well-established all-inclusive […]

Read more

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Zain Qazi profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
Great cruise, boat, taxi, hotel, meal (and more!) arrangements in Athens and Corfu.
Oliver has this amazing ability to know what we would enjoy, which is why I've already booked my next trip with RB! To the Carribbean we go in November!! 🥳
Thanks Oliver and the entire team at RB!
 
 
 Zain Qazi 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Hilary Carroll profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
‘As usual, Sam at RB Collection arranged our recent Iceland/Scotland cruise with attention to every possible detail. He remembered what had worked for us previously and used that knowledge to enhance our experience. No question was too much trouble for either Sam or his colleague Clare. We would not consider anyone else for our holiday arrangements; RB Collection are truly superb!’
 
 
 Hilary Carroll 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Pandora Bahrami profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
Wonderful way to book a wonderful holiday.
Such a personalised & attentive approach to helping us find the perfect family holiday! Couldn’t recommend more!!!
 
 
 Pandora Bahrami 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Katie May Medley profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
They found us the perfect hotel for our London stay. Exactly the right balance of perfect location, incredible breakfast and they really listened to what we wanted. I even had access to one of London best gyms included in the stay!
 
 
 Katie May Medley 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Janet Goodwin profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
RB Collections are a wonderful family run firm who welcome you into the family from the first holiday you book with them. My special thanks go to Clare who always ensures my booking runs smoothly and takes the stress out of the process of decisions by ‘knowing’ and implementing my preferences using information she has ascertained from previous bookings. I don’t have to remember…..Clare does it for me.
 
 
 Janet Goodwin 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Mike Boyden profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
Having just returned from a fantastic long weekend at Disneyland Paris, we had to leave a review for Sam and the team at RB Collection. They removed all the stress from organising the trip and ensured everything was in place for a truly memorable trip for all the family. We can’t thank them enough and we will certainly be back for future holidays. Our experience has been 10/10 👍🏻
 
 
 Mike Boyden 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Tom&Janet Marks profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
Just returned home from a wonderful holiday in Madeira arranged by Sam from RB Collection. Every detail from flights, hotel, transfers, recommended restaurants and "must to do's" was excellent and all documents arrived by post in good time for checking before departing on our holiday. Due to the weather, our journey was delayed by two days. However after contacting RB on the emergency number in the holiday package, all was sorted by the team - an upgraded hotel room at the same hotel, flight,  transfers,  taking away all the stress from ourselves and allowing us to enjoy our extra two days. One cannot put a price on a phone call and text messages when something unfortunate happens and you feel vulnerable.
On our return, the excellent service has continued by Sam and colleagues who are now dealing with the necessary correspondence with the airline company.
My husband and I and children at home who were concerned when we were stranded, cannot thank the team at RB enough for their support and professionalism and we are looking forward to  many more holidays using the company.
Tom & Janet
 
 
 Tom&Janet Marks 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 David Page profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
We came to RB Collection with an idea of some of the places we wanted to visit in Rajasthan, India - and they made it all happen, expertly and efficiently.  Oliver and Clare were a pleasure to deal with, sorting every aspect and adding their own ideas to really enhance this wonderful trip.  They checked in while we were away to make sure everything was going well (which it was) and I knew they'd be on hand if we needed anything.  Thank you!
 
 
 David Page 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Colin Scott profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
The purpose of this review isn't to confirm that our holiday was a 5 star experience (which it was, by the way) but it's a review to say that RB Collection's involvement in planning, booking and safety netting our holiday experiences has been truly 5 stars.

Are people bothered if my wife and I had a great holiday - I suspect no......

Are people interested in the company that was instrumental in creating 5 star holidays - I suspect yes

......and so it's RB Collection's skills and involvement that get this 5 star rating.

As a family we have booked our own holidays almost exclusively by ourselves for 35 years - until a year ago when we used RB Collection's services for the first time to book a holiday to the Ice Hotel in Sweden. We chose to book through them because we had no experience or knowledge of the Ice Hotel and their exclusive Ice Hotel Website was great.

Their involvement made all the difference - in particular their personal commitment to making things work and since the first contact, they have been getting to know our travel "needs, wants and likes" more by each contact.

Our next holiday was a Silversea Cruise - one that we could easily have booked ourselves, but RB's influence allowed us to save a significant (4 figure!) sum. Reason alone to recommend!

Our third and most recent booking with RB was a safari which could not have been a better holiday experience.

The reasons for this are as follows:
1. Up until raising the possibility, I knew nothing about safaris i.e. where to go / at what time of year / for how long etc. Within 72 hours of a discussion of a suggestion by me for a Tanzania trip (based on a google AI search), I was infinitely far better informed and after weighing up possibilities, we opted for a Kenyan trip to Amboselli and the Masai Mara. What a brilliant decision!
2. Whilst the travel options were perfect for our particular needs, RB's involvement to seamlessly arrange the multiple transfers on our journey came to the fore. This was particularly evident on coming back from Zanzibar (beach unwind) to Nairobi International, which would have presented a significant challenge had we opted for self booking, due to the (multiple) security & immigration stages. (Yes, of course - we would have negotiated the stages - we're grown ups - we can look after ourselves, but oh my. the loss of wasted heartbeats would have been significant!)
Turns out that what was arranged for us was faster than "fast track" and I certainly became aware of lots of people looking enviously towards us and our safari representative as we whizzed by!
3. Photography is an important aspect of our holidays. Good photographic subjects / scenes are our means of ensuring that we're seeing good stuff, which - IMHO - is a main focus of a holiday. Our safari guides had been well briefed about my photography wishes and from the get-go, they discussed what we were looking for from our holiday and so every day we had a mutually planned itinerary for the wildlife that never disappointed. Our guides had been particularly selected from the briefing given by RB pre-travel to the safari people.

In a nutshell, RB have changed our attitude to holidays and their associated experiences. In our time with them, we have undertaken holidays that we have never done before and we are now definitely thinking differently about what to do in the future.

Add to this, the reassurance and safety net that travel agency
booking confers and I think that RB Collection definitely deserves a 5 star review.

By the way - we live distant to their location - all of our dealings have been by telephone and email so don't think you need to be locals to use their services.
 
 
 Colin Scott 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Linda Taylor profile picture 
 
 
 
  
 Posted on Google Google 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
A big shout out for RB Collection ….they have done it again !!!!
Made our World touring a pleasure AGAIN ….having done the cruising in various parts of the world …the Canada trip…..the India & Nepal trip…& just recently the Hongkong Australia New Zealand trip…it’s like being transported on a Dreamliner !every attention to detail from getting to the airport arriving at the destinations & being picked up & taken to the various types of accomadation ….Thanks Team RB & especially to Sam for this last one 🌴☀️😎
 
 
 Linda Taylor