“Absolutely amazing – very well organised and nothing was too much trouble. Well done – something to be proud of. We met some wonderful people on our tour and although the cricket was rubbish, the holiday and hospitality was second to none. Des and Nick were fantastic! I would find it very hard to make any form of comment on how you could make any of your tours any better than this. Our trip with Howzat Travel was everything we expected and better. We had an amazing time and will be going on another tour with you very soon. Many, many thanks!”
Sharon Morgan & Ray Worth
“Having watched England win at Lords and again in Durham, in October on a whim, we decided to book the Australia Ashes tour. There were so many companies to choose from, but from the very beginning we were so happy that we chose Howzat Travel. The tour was geared around our needs, i.e. a stopover on the way out and back, in Singapore. The transfers were efficient and the hotel was wonderful. On Christmas Eve in Melbourne, we were greeted by Helen and Laurence and directed to our transfer to the Travelodge. Christmas Day was truly wonderful – firstly a bottle of wine as a gift for my birthday that day, then, to make it even more memorable, at the Christmas Day dinner we were seated with Ray Julian, and the table next to Henry Blofeld (again because it was my birthday). Although the cricket didn’t live up to expectations, it was wonderful to be in a stadium with a record MCG crowd. The transfers to Sydney were well-organised, and even the last-minute chance to see in the New Year on the South Steyne restaurant boat in Darling Harbour resulted in a memorable evening. My husband looked forward to playing at the Bradman Oval – another well-organised and wonderful day (Helped by the fact he bowled 4 overs, resulting in figures of 3-9) Thank you Captain Carl! The Q&As were interesting and the farewell dinner was a wonderful end to the holiday. From the initial booking to being waved off by Helen and Laurence in Sydney, it was a memorable holiday. Thank you all for the attention to detail, friendliness and helpfulness. A travel company to be recommended.”
Kay & Jon Fuller
“I had a fabulous time in Australia with Howzat Travel. I will certainly only travel to overseas cricket with your company in the future. I have previously travelled with one or two of your rivals, and I find there is no comparison with the professional service that Howzat Travel provides.”
Alan Roberts
“Excellent. The tour managers were friendly and very helpful and went out of their way to make sure that any issues that were raised were dealt with efficiently. At the welcome meeting in Perth, the Howzat Travel staff made sure that no-one was left out. It’s always a little nerve-wracking for someone travelling alone to feel part of the group but everyone was made to feel really welcome from day one. Great value for money. I thought the tours were realisitically priced and included some great extras. The welcome evening in Perth, the Christmas Dinner in Melbourne and the Farewell Dinner in Sydney were oustanding value for money. Whilst the NYE cruise on Sydney harbour was an optional extra that we had to pay for,it was worth every penny. For me it was brilliant. The ‘holiday of a lifetime’ is an over-used cliche but was defintely true in my case. The cricket was obviously disappointing for all of us, but putting that to one side, the holiday had everything i wanted from it … and more ! I have some fantastic memories that will live with me for ever! It’s hard to suggest anything to add to what seems a successful formula for running sports tours. Good organisation and communication, varied itineraries at realistic prices, and friendly staff to make sure things go smooothly. Don’t change from this.”
David Melling
“This was my first cricket tour and the attention to detail of all the Howzat Travel staff was second to none. The hotels and their respective locations were first class and every member of staff was very approachable and helpful. The tour itself was absolutely superb and I would certainly recommend it to family, friends and anyone considering undertaking a cricket tour. It was great to meet a lot of like-minded people and consequently have made many friends that I am still in contact with. Rest assured, I will definitely be using Howzat Travel for any future tours that I take. The Great Ocean Road was an amazing experience, even though the weather was not at its best, and the scenery at The Bay of Islands and The Twelve Apostles was fantastic. Also, watching wild kangaroos boxing at Halls Gap in the Grampians was something I will never forget. The New Year’s Eve boat trip between Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House was brilliant, and to see the incredible fireworks was certainly a lifetime experience. A big thank you to all the staff at Howzat Travel that made my trip so memorable”
Colin Charman
“Very good value for money, well-organised and friendly. Thank you. The Xmas dinner in Melbourne and farewell dinner in Sydney were very good, especially given the numbers involved.”
Graham Francis
“A big ‘thank you’ for making our tour to Adelaide and Perth so enjoyable. We enjoyed every bit of it, even though the cricket was rubbish and we nearly sweltered to death in Perth! It was the first time we have travelled with Howzat Travel, but it won’t be the last.”
Ann & Doug Matthewman
“I would like to congratulate you and your staff for organising a great tour. Of course, doing well at the cricket would have been the icing on the cake! I would especially like to thank the Howzat Travel staff who I had the pleasure of dealing with, namely Carl, Des, Ross, Nick, Laurence and Helen. Not only were they very professional, but they were also extremely approcahable and friendly. I would have no hesitation in using your company again and would highly recommend your company to friends who would like to experience the same great time that I had.”
Nigel Coetzee
“Excellent tour managers, good value for money, and the quality of the Xmas lunch and Farewell Dinner were excellent considering the numbers catered for.”
Mike Russell
“The accommodatyion was excellent, the transfers were well organised and the tour managers were friendly, knowledgeable, always willing to help and always answered any queries. Excellent value for money too!”
Bob Pinkney
“Once again, may we thank Howzat Travel for another wonderful trip. As usual, it was very well organised with tour leaders Stephen and Karen doing a great job. We will continue to recommend to friends to join your future tours, and we look forward to future tours and the chance of meeting old and new friends.”
Ray & Megan Julian
“The experience has only just sunk in after being back three weeks. Looking back on the tour, each day was filled with happy memories that were made possible by Howzat Travel taking the worry out of arrangements. This left me to experience what was on offer in each city, and the extras that Howzat kept feeding us… each event got better and better! Having centralised pubs in each city is a great idea and meant I formed many friendships on the tour. As a single traveller, I never felt lonely. It’s a reflection of Howzat Travel being an organisation that cares for each and every individual. The accommodation was excellent value and the locations suited my needs. Transfers went like clockwork, communication was great with the notice board was always updated in the hotel. From start to finish, Carl was perfect for me – he appears to know when to include people and when they are best left to their own devices. He always had a word and gauged what was needed. Being one of the ‘younger’ travellers I also appreciated the friendship and pleasant nature of Ross, who maintained the perfect balance of being ‘one of us’ and a tour manager. All the other tour managers who I came into contact with also impressed me with their care and understanding. Many thanks to all staff and fellow travellers for making Australia a ‘trip of a lifetime’.”
Mark Darlow
“A big thank you to you and all of your Ashes tour group at your farewell dinner, for raising over £3,000 for The Broad Appeal. This appeal is obviously very close to the Broad family, so I would just like to thank you for raising money for us through the auction and collection you held. Your customers’ generosity is really humbling, especially with Australia being such an expensive place for us English. Best wishes, Chris.”
Chris Broad
“Thank you and the Howzat Travel team for a wonderful tour and for making it so memorable. It was billed as our ‘holiday of a lifetime’ and it certainly was! It was well-organised and friendly with good add-ons (evenings with …). Good value too. Tour managers were very good – David was very well informed and organised, Laurence and Helen were very friendly, and Des was a star!”
Terry & Sue Cunningham
“A memorable, unforgettable tour! There was something very special about the tour with the Howzat Travel family! Considering that I was one of the very last, late bookings for the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches, the speed and sheer professionalism in which Howzat Travel arranged everything (including obtaining the necessary Visa) was little short of astonishing! The seating at the cricket was absolutely excellent, the transfers were faultless and the tour mangers were a wonderful team. Value for money? To put it simply, and without equivocation, I would have paid double! I look forward to ‘being on board’ the Howzat Travel tours of Australasia 2015 and South Africa 2015/16. My warmest thanks to you and the Howzat Travel team for making my trip to Australia so memorable and unforgettable.”
Arthur de Sybel
“This was our first overseas cricket tour and it exceeded our expectations. Howzat Travel staff were excellent during the booking process and ever present whilst on the tour to deal with any queries in a prompt and professional manner. We were very satisfied with all the arrangements made on our behalf which included several excursions requested by us as well as extra days at the beginning and end of the set tour. We would thoroughly recommend Howzat Travel to anyone looking to book an overseas cricket tour. The tour exceeded expectations. Everything was organised to high standards and no stones were left unturned right from the moment we arrived in Australia to the moment we left. All of the tour mangers were friendly and helpful. Any queries/questions were dealt with promptly. The knowledge of the managers was excellent. Once again, many thanks for an enjoyable tour and hopefully we will tour again with Howzat Travel in the coming years.”
Liz Dobson
“This was our first tour and we had a wonderful time. Much of that is due to the arrangements made on our behalf which made the trip run so smoothly. Pre-tour, the Howzat team were most helpful in sorting out all our queries and requests for add-ons to the tour. On tour, all of the Howzat Travel staff were very friendly and anxious to solve any queries we had, and went out of their way to be helpful. The thing that made this tour was the presence and friendliness of the staff. Don’t lose the personal touch!”
Angela Place
“What can I say about our Ashes tour? Absolutely fantastic. I feel privileged to be one of the group who completed the whole tour, or as David and Des called us “The Bitter Enders”! During those seven plus weeks I met some wonderful people, had many laughs and much fun and watched some abysmal cricket. My favourite part of the tour was Port Douglas, where both the Red and the Blue tours stayed together. This enabled everyone to meet and gel and although we were in different hotels and locations in the subsequent various cricket grounds, these friendships and the banter continued thereafter. I can’t speak highly enough about the way the trip was organised and run. Ian and Steve really are ‘hands on’ people and being in the midst of everything made us all feel part of the ‘Howzat Family’. You have some great staff and while all were very helpful, I have to mention those who were with us throughout the trip and to whom we became close. David, Carl, Laurence, Helen and, of course, Des were fantastic and were always around to help where needed and ready to have a laugh. Who could forget the Cane Toad racing! Thank you both once again for a fantastic trip (forget the cricket), it is one I will never forget. Please pass on my kind regards to everyone at the Howzat Family!”
Bryan Woodford
“I have written a poem for Howzat about Australia…
We caught the Howzat bug on our India tour,
So we went to Australia because we wanted more.
Reunited with Des, he is my Oom,
He liked to do choir practice in his room.
There was also David, he’s a great chap
Often at seen at the cricket having a nap.
Then there was Carl who needed a chick,
So I decided to help him pick.
I also met Nick, he’s a top lad
I didn’t get to say goodbye that made me sad.
And finally Ian, Steve and lovely Jenn,
So Howzat travel you get 10 out of 10!
Thank you for a wonderful trip! I didn’t think that it would be better than India but you doubled that.”
Harry Tyler (Junior Tour Leader), aged 11
“Thank you for organising a great trip to Australia for us. We really didn’t want to come home. School and work commitments meant that we couldn’t fit in with the exact dates of the standard tours, but you dealt with our request very patiently and professionally. We had a brilliant time (despite the cricket results), met up with old friends from our first tour and made new friends that we hope to see again. You manage to a create a great ‘family atmosphere’ which adds to the whole experience. Please pass on our thanks to everyone especially Des, David, Nick, Carl & Jenn. Looking forward to our third Howzat tour in South Africa…”
Michelle, Andy, Holly & Harrison Tyler
“This was my first cricket tour and what a great decision it was to choose Howzat Travel. It surpassed every expectation I had. Forget the cricket result… the people, the events, and the time in Australia made this an unforgettable trip. I was genuinely impressed by pretty much everything. A good number of functions & dinners to attend, without being over the top, and plenty of time to oneself. The tour managers were brilliant – always available (and visible) but not in your face, and very relaxed throughout… they made the tour. Very friendly, knowledgeable on the venues, and nothing was too much trouble. Massive thanks for all your assistance in accommodating me as a wheelchair user. Making the arrangements on my behalf was very much appreciated. I wanted for nothing in terms of the arrangements. No fuss made, but everything was attended to. I have the bug now for cricket tours. Roll on the Windies and South Africa. I won’t look for other tour operators, it’ll be Howzat!”
Anthony Joy
“A very good tour. Very good value for money and excellent tour managers.”
Charles Simpson
“Excellent – a very enjoyable and memorable trip (I’m trying to forget the cricket!). I was very pleased that you could fly me to Perth from Manchester. The accommodation was very good and the tour managers were friendly, approachable, informative and helpful. The hats and suncream were an unexpected bonus, and much appreciated – especially in the baking heat of Perth!”
Roderick Hall
“As a virgin tourist, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but found the experience to be excellent and had enough flexibility to do what I wanted to do as well. There was a great family atmosphere as well. The tour managers were excellent – they were always happy to go the extra mile where they could. Pre-tour, all my emails were responded to within a few hours of being sent, no matter the day of the week or hour of the day.”
Mark Shaw
“Thank you for a amazing trip to Melbourne and Sydney! As a single traveller I knew that I’d be meeting lots of people and that is what certainly happened. I met a good group of friends that I will be keeping in contact with for years, and hopefully be enjoying cricket tours with Howzat Travel again as a group of mates. Every day was better than the day before. Hopefully see you for South Africa 2015.”
Edward Argent
“Forgetting the cricket results, we enjoyed every aspect of the tour thoroughly. Spot on communications – clear, detailed information received at all times. All of our emails were answered the same day. On tour, the location of the hotels was excellent and the transfers were well-organised and efficient at all times. We cannot praise you all highly enough for attention to detail and individual needs.”
Malcolm & Rosemary Welborn
“Best trip of my life! I would recommend Howzat Travel to friends without hesitation. You have a great set of tour managers – all, without exception, are excellent.”
Chris Pople
“Excellent! Fantastic from start to finish, very well organised and thoroughly enjoyable. We absolutely loved it! The tour managers were knowledgeable, informative, friendly, approachable and funny.”
Fiona & Pete Cawsey
“An excellent tour with very good Q&A sessions with well chosen guests. Very good farewell dinner too. I have said it before, you have two of the best tour managers in Des Newton & David Stewart. Very good overall value for money, and everything went like clockwork.”
Colin Wilkes
“Pre-tour, any queries were sorted out by friendly and efficient office staff. On tour, Stephen & Karen were excellent. Any problems dealt with the minimum of fuss.”
Alan H Jones
“An exceptionally well-thought out and catered for tour. The tour managers were very good – helpful, friendly and informative.”
Brian Perry
“The best thing is the friendly, personal service that Howzat Travel have maintained, despite the growth in number of people on tour. Excellent value for money too. The Howzat Travel tour managers are always very good, sometimes outstanding!”
David Donaldson
“Keep up the good work. I cannot praise all connected with Howzat Travel enough. Travelling to the other side of the world on my own could have been risky, but the staff were all excellent and I got to know some very nice people amongst the other ‘tourists’. The tour managers were always helpful, efficient, friendly and prepared to go the extra yard. This was one of the best holidays I have ever had. I look forward to travelling with you again sometime in the future!”
Ivan Segal
“Very good. Makes me want to do it again and if so we will talk to Howzat Travel first. Ian advised us well and handled all our special requests and deviations from the standard tour with no problem. The tour managers were all very good – very visible, approachable and always seemed to know our names. The only thing that would have improved the tour is an England win!”
Nigel & Chris Lord
“Excellent! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Howzat Travel and the arrangements made for us. The tour was an absolute pleasure to be part of – it was superbly organised with well-located hotels.”
The Stimsons
“The tour was excellent. If the England team had performed as well as the Howzat Travel team, we would have won 5-0!”
David Graham
“I have been on many overseas tours to watch England and I am very impressed with Howzat Travel. When booking the trip, Howzat were very flexible, they reply to queries very quickly and are keen to accommodate your requests. On tour the airport pickups and group check-ins are good. The hotels are a good standard and the whole package is excellent value for money. I get the impression Howzat Travel want to deliver more than they promise, as there are numerous Q&As with cricket journalists and former players. Howzat also negotiate discounts in local bars and restaurants, which is a real plus. The number of Howzat Travel customers who used to travel with other companies, including me, is proof of the pudding. I will not single out any of the excellent tour leaders as they are all friendly and welcoming. They work hard to ensure that the customers have a great holiday. I had a great holiday and I am looking forward to the next one.”
David Lowe
“Thanks to Howzat Travel for everything they did to make this holiday as special as it was. Truly unbelievable and organised to the highest standard.”
Andrew Guppy
“I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone at Howzat for making the trip to Australia for Anthony and me such an amazing and memorable one. We did a lot of research on a number of tour companies before selecting and our decision to go with Howzat proved to be an excellent one. Communication and correspondence was always easy from the start and this continued to be the case when we met everyone in person. I appreciate that nothing happens by accident and that there is an awful lot of work that goes on in the background to make everything work in the eyes of your customers. I would like to thank you for this and for the extra effort that you all put in to meet with the requests that we asked for.
I happened to meet with someone who was in Australia as part of another travel company and, after telling him I was with Howzat, he asked about you and if I could recommend you. I had no hesitation I doing so. I would be delighted to travel with you again in the future and wish you well in growing and developing the business.”
Graham Ellinor
“I was anticipating the trip of a lifetime and was in no way disappointed. Indeed the attention to detail, hotel selection, staff availability and overall quality of customer service far outstripped anything I was expecting. The added bonus of meeting David Lloyd, Henry Blofeld, Sir Geoffrey, Jonathan Agnew and actually playing at the Bradman Oval was just a huge layer of icing on a most sumptuous cake! The tour was great value for money and what I received was far in excess of what I had paid for! I would not consider using any other company for future sporting trips and hope it is not to long until I am booking another tour.”
Steve Curzons
“Howzat Travel managers were beyond excellent and the tour was worth every penny – despite the quality of the England team. It was the trip of a lifetime!”
David Wragg
“A big thank you to the Howzat Travel team for a brilliant tour. It was excellently organised and all the arrangements worked perfectly. Thanks too for the various events and for coping with all my last minute changes. And all the managers were a great crowd and fun to be with. The cricket was another matter and I will expect a better performance on the next tour! Thanks for making it a really enjoyable holiday. I’ll definitely be back for more.”
Robert Peacock
“Very good. The tour managers were well-informed and very helpful… the Christmas lunch was superb and totally unexpected. Keep us informed about future tours.”
Ted Cullis
“A great time was had. Regards to all and thanks for everything…”
Margaret Watton
“All the pre-departure information was brilliant, which really helped as a Howzat virgin. The tour managers were outstanding. They were committed, sensitive and excellent socialisers. This really enhanced the experience. I was extremely pleased with the tour and would certainly recommend Howzat Travel!”
Chris Game
“Despite the cricketing debacle, we had an absolutely fantastic time in Australia. Howzat Travel provided a superb level of service to match the needs of our family. We needed a tailored tour and every element was arranged perfectly. All the Howzat team are genuinely interested in your requirements and do everything they can to ensure a great trip. We are already looking forward to booking onto the Caribbean tour in 2015. Howzat provide an excellent personal and bespoke service with really good attention to detail. The tour managers were First Class. A key differentiating feature is their visibility with their red shirts so that in the ground if you had a problem they could be identified quickly. The overall value was therefore excellent and the ability to over-deliver (for example with the Boycott – Aggers dinner) was exceptional.”
Nigel, Hazel, Laura & Graham Maxfield
“Yet another excellent tour! Well planned and organised with helpful and friendly tour leaders, I particularly enjoyed the end of tour meal river cruise on the Swan River. Howzat’s arrangements for my stopover in Kuala Lumpur were also well organised and met my needs perfectly.”
Chris Phillips
“I had not heard of Howzat Travel before coming across the website, so there was a small amount of trepidation before committing. However, after having spoken to Steve on the phone I got the feeling that this was the one for me, as I felt his enthusiasm in wanting to provide a good cricket tour package came across. He also had an interest in me as a customer, I did not feel that I was just another punter added to the ‘sold’ list but felt I was part of a large family group. So, I duly booked the Melbourne & Sydney Opal Tour and we were not disappointed, as all that I had presumed during the booking conversation came to fruition. The hotels were well situated in very handy positions in both cities which made enjoying Christmas and New Year a lot easier. In Melbourne, Howzat Travel put on a Christmas Day dinner in the Crown Complex which was a huge success. Henry Blofeld was the guest speaker who also stood in as a hilarious horse race commentator during the after dinner racing. In Sydney, we had an end of tour party which was again a great success with guest speakers Jonathan Agnew and Geoff Boycott, who let it be known in his inimitable way that England were a major disappointment (expletives edited out). To sum up, our tour managers Steve & Karen were brilliant throughout our stay and we met some lovely people on tour. Christmas in South Africa 2015 is looking very inviting!”
Peter & Helen Moon
“Very good! As usual, the tour managers were very good – friendly and helpful. The notice boards were good and had plenty of information on.”
Sue Robinson
“My second Howzat tour of the year. I thought New Zealand could not be outdone in terms of organisation etc, but this trip did. The three excursions I went on were all organised by Howzat Travel tour managers and were three memorable events. I will never forget easing myself into my Lycra swim suit to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef… I didn’t want to take it off!”
Colin Kightley
“Thank you for another brilliant experience. Excellent value… and all with smiling faces!”
Bob Thompson
“We enjoyed our time with Howzat Travel. We thought the organisation was excellent and efficient, the farewell dinner was really good and all the staff more than helpful and kind.”
Jean & David Ashcroft
“Everything went well… good value for money, excellent accommodation, transfers and tour managers. Pity about the cricket.”
Richard Crompton
“Many thanks – I had a brilliant holiday. Your professionalism and commitment to customer service shines through and makes all the difference. Also, the unexpected ‘extras’ like the speakers at the Christmas and Farewell dinners made the holiday feel really special. Thank you!”
Bernie Hayes
“The pre-tour report was very helpful and the tour managers very approachable. The functions and end of tour dinners were excellent; we will definitely recommend Howzat Travel to friends!”
David & Julia Wilson
“I was surprised with the high quality of additional events including celebrity events and the river cruise in Perth – they were all fantastic! Congratulations for making my first ever cricket tour a very enjoyable experience. All the arrangements were first class, and the Howzat staff did an excellent job in sorting out any issues that arose. Well done. I certainly hope I can do another tour with you in the future.”
Derek Hollingsbee
“The fact that Ian replied personally to my emails made me feel that my custom was important. Keep up the good work.”
Geoff Marshall
“I would like to say a special thank you to Howzat Travel for providing me with what was the exceptional experience of a lifetime. The tour managers were extremely professional in their organisation and attention to detail. The knowledge that the senior directors were present working hard and overseeing every aspect was very re-assuring. Everything went like clockwork, the accommodation and additional tours particularly the sailing and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef was an experience I shall never forget. I would like to say a special thank you to Ross for his organising the golf in Adelaide and other get-togethers which enabled everyone to come together and make some enduring friendships. Well done to all, I had a great time. I am certainly looking forward to the next one! For anyone thinking of going on any sports tours then definitely go with Howzat Travel – they are a fantastic team providing fantastic value for money. Well done to all!”
Keith Eccleston
“I went to Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, and loved every minute! Thanks again for everything you did for us.”
Sydney Smith
“Good overall value for money, excellent bunch of tour managers and excellent, super hotels in great locations. Let me know when the 2015 West Indies tour goes on sale as I’m already thinking about booking!”
Jo North
“We always felt like we were in good hands with Howzat Travel due to the tour managers and the pre-departure organisation.”
Margaret Dolby
“Australia is very expensive, but Howzat Travel is definitely the best value around!”
Paul Badger
“The arrangements before the tour were very good, and when we landed in Australia the tour managers were there to help every step of the way. They were extremely polite and helpful, which added to their humour and made them very good company. We would definitely recommend Howzat Travel to our friends!”
Peter Miller & Ron Swan
“Well organised, good hotels and all went smoothly.”
Rob Homer
“My brother Jeremy and I enjoyed our recent trip to Melbourne and Sydney. Despite the poor performance of the England cricket team, we had a fantastic time and we cannot thank the kind staff of Howzat Travel enough. They were on hand throughout to ensure everything ran smoothly. The accommodation was extremely comfortable and we were able to enjoy some extra days sightseeing.”
Andrew & Jeremy Frank
“We realise how hard the team must work before the tours even begin, firstly with Carl’s pre-trip to Australia, then putting all together the excellent packages. Any slight situation or problem was immediately sorted. The choice of hotels, venues, trips… everything was just perfect, except obviously the English cricket!”
Ann & David Chilcott
“Despite the disappointment of the cricket, I was really impressed with the Howzat Travel staff and their commitment to the welfare of their customers. They were obviously striving to represent their very best and to learn for the benefit of future tours. Thank you very much. It was an enjoyable experience.”
Colin Cleverly
“I am taking the opportunity to thank all at Howzat Travel for the fantastic Oz tour. I attended the first three matches and, despite the cricket performances, we had a great time. There is little negative comment I can make as it all went so well.”
Colin Small
“We would like to thank everyone at Howzat Travel for all the wonderful travel arrangements which you made for us. We were extremely pleased with every aspect of our trip. From the initial contact last June/July through to end of our trip. We were impressed with Howzat Travel as an organisation for cricket tours. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff we came into contact with, both here in the UK and in Australia.”
GWA & RASA
“Congratulations to all the Howzat Travel team for managing an excellent tour. I enjoyed it immensely even if the cricket was pathetic! I look forward to the next one.”
Geoff Duffell
“Firstly, can I thank Howzat Travel for the organising the excellent week I had in Melbourne. The travel arrangements were seamless and the hotel was outstanding. As a result of my experience in Australia, I am looking forward to getting to the West Indies, in particular Barbados in 2015.”
Neil Hubbard
“When I initially contacted you some ten to eleven months before the tour commenced, I was very impressed with your efficiency and helpfulness. Every query was answered with complete professionalism and this trend continued throughout the tour. Having Henry Blofeld as the guest speaker on Christmas Day and Geoffrey Boycott & Jonathan Agnew as guest speakers at the Farewell Dinner was a master stroke. Being a cricket lover for most of my life, I found their talks most enjoyable. Finally, I thought you and all the managers were extremely helpful throughout the tour. Robert and I have been on previous cricket tours with other tour companies to the West Indies and South Africa, where we have had enjoyable times. However, for that ‘family touch’, efficiency, value for money and professionalism, they do not compare favourably with Howzat Travel. I would always recommend your company to anyone undertaking a cricket tour due to the great reputation Howzat Travel has earned. Many thanks again for a most memorable time in Australia.”
Ray Hodgetts
“It was excellently organised and all the arrangements worked perfectly. Thanks for the various events and for coping with all my last minute changes. Above all, you were a great crowd and fun to be with.”
Robert Peacock
“Many thanks for a very enjoyable trip to Melbourne and Sydney, despite the quality of the cricket. The hotels, transfers and internal flights were so well organised. It must take a lot of time to organise such a large tour group. The tour managers and staff based in our hotel were as helpful as ever. We’re now counting the days to the West Indies.”
Mark, Jo and Helen Thomas
“Jim and I would like to thank you and all of your staff for the hard work you all put in arranging such a terrific holiday, and for the professional manner in which it was done. We certainly would have no hesitation in coming again with Howzat Travel in future. We wish you best of luck for everything you do in forthcoming tours.”
Dennis Newby & Jim Smith
“Thank you for a fantastic trip. We had such a wonderful holiday and we thought the Howzat Travel team were brilliant. Please pass on our thanks to everyone. We will definitely be booking with you again. The tour had to be slightly adjusted to fit our work commitments and this was handled with patience and professionalism which was greatly appreciated. It certainly lived up to expectations which were high pre-trip! This was added to the excellent value for money. Discounting the actual cricket results, we had a fantastic trip, our experience was that everything ran like clockwork. We met some great people – both Howzat Travel customers and the Howzat team, and will definitely do another tour in the future.”
Julie & Nick Abbott
“We could not fault Howzat Travel, and we congratulate you and your team on giving us a wonderful experience. We both look forward to the next opportunity to travel with you, and hope that our cricket team will have improved by then!”
Nick & Tom Argent
“Thank you very much for a great tour. It provided everything I had hoped for and more. The expertise and professionalism of your team was second to none. They were always on hand in case of need and worked extremely hard to ensure that the trip went smoothly. I shall definitely be travelling with you again. Bring on the Windies in 2015. Once again a huge thank you for making this a holiday I will never forget.”
Stephen Haycock
“This was my first cricket tour overseas and the organisation, professionalism and ‘never say never’ attention to my specific requirements was first rate. I would absolutely recommend Howzat Travel to friends as they are certainly my first choice travel team (hopefully next time with a better cricket result!). I loved every minute of the trip and the tour team were very friendly and welcoming. As a single traveller, this made me feel at home and included as part of the group. The highlight (cricket aside!) was the New Years Eve boat trip that you arranged which was sensational – I’m pretty sure I did drink my body weight in champagne! It was a brilliant tour with a lovely support team. Howzat Travel will be my first choice every time.”
Jemima Bird
“This was my seventh tour with Howzat travel and as always I had a fantastic time. The team always go the extra mile for you from the moment you book, until you arrive home safely. The business has grown much larger since I began touring with them but they still manage to maintain excellent individual customer service.”
Nigel Boulter
“I am sure at times dealing with so many people was a challenge, but it never showed and everybody was so helpful and happy to chat as well as be of assistance when required. After all my pre-booking research I am very pleased I booked with Howzat Travel. The trip and experience were everything I could have hoped they would be.”
Ian Faraday
“It was clear as soon as we arrived that no detail had been ignored. Everything worked like clockwork. Despite the huge size of the touring group in Melbourne and Sydney, you still managed to maintain the personal touch both in our interactions with you before the tour and then again once we were in Australia, which is both important and impressive.”
Nigel & Chris Lord
“Howzat Travel’s organisation is first class, nothing being left to chance at any time. It’s a small thing, but being met outside the ground at the end of the days play and directed to our coach is an indicator that someone has thought it through and put the planning in place. The trip was superb!”
Malcolm & Cynthia Hill
“On behalf of myself and the other 14 of our group, I would just like to take this opportunity to congratulate you for organising a wonderful trip to the Ashes. The service we received from you all from start to finish was excellent. It really was a pleasure (as group organiser) to deal with such a professional and well-organised company. You really exceeded all expectations. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Howzat Travel again in the future or recommend you to anyone else.”
Terry Groves
“I had a very enjoyable tour despite the cricket results. All the staff did a marvellous job and nothing was too much trouble for them to sort out. I am really looking forward to the next trip.”
Neil Draper
“As a regular ‘tourist’ with the England football team, this was my first time travelling to the cricket and with Howzat Travel. I can only compliment them all on the in-depth organisation both prior and during the tour itself. The Christmas lunch with Henry Blofeld was a delight, as was the farewell dinner with the guest speakers Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott. The atmosphere they created within the group was especially friendly, even for a first timer like myself, and I would highly recommend Howzat Travel to anyone thinking of travelling abroad to watch England Cricket. It’s just a shame you couldn’t had organised the Ashes result in the same way you had arranged this tour!”
Kevin Down
“We had a fabulous time and are keen to use Howzat Travel for South Africa in 15/16. We met lots of lovely people and liked that it was organised by an independent company, rather than large travel firm. We loved the additions such as talks by journalists, start of tour drinks and end of tour dinner. Everything was great… bar the cricket and Aussie crowds!”
Liz & Dave Lynch
“Ann and I enjoyed all aspects of the tour. We had a fabulous time and met some wonderful folk. Although we booked late in the day, we were pleased with the efforts to customise the trip to provide a variety of options for us. This made it feel really personal.”
Mark Bishop
“We had an unforgettable and hugely enjoyable trip with a great bunch of people. New Year’s Eve in Sydney Harbour was an experience not to be missed.”
Colin Terry & Alison Bonsall
“It’s impossible to suggest improvements to the excellent service provided by the organisation in the UK and staff in the field.”
Alex Miller
“It’s the little things like personality and care of the customers that make Howzat Travel services so great. It was a brilliant trip to Oz and once again I had a great time!”
Eric Lummis
“I enjoyed every minute of the tour and hope to do another one someday.”
James Kane
“Many thanks to all the Howzat Travel team for making it such a memorable trip. I will have no problems with booking again in the future, hopefully to South Africa! 10/10 across the board!”
Nigel Wilce
“Thank you very much for a very happy tour. I enjoyed it immensely. The Howzat Travel staff are very helpful and also very cheerful, which must be difficult sometimes! I look forward to more tours in the future.”
Peter Baring
“May I thank you all for the uniformly outstanding service we received on our trip to the Ashes Test in Perth. From the initial booking, nothing was too much trouble and our every query swiftly dealt with. We couldn’t fault your company for its care for its clients and attention to detail. We will definitely travel with you again. The accommodation in Perth at Adina Apartment Hotel was fine, the location terrific for all bars/ restaurants/shopping etc.
A terrific trip from a terrific company, first class!”
Rhys & Margaret Williams
“The flexibility of approach is a great benefit. Many thanks for a great experience, very well organised, lots of fun!”
Robert Gilbert
“You have done really well to achieve the scale you now have whilst retaining the flexibility and personalised touches. It was great to have the evenings with sports journalists/retired stars.”
Rob Homer
“This was my first tour and I was made to feel very welcome. The tour managers were fantastic and always happy to help. They went beyond the call of duty to make sure everyone was happy. The extra entertainment was fantastic, especially the river cruise with David Lloyd. I can’t find anything to complain about!”
Gwen Simpson
“We really enjoyed all aspects of the tour. Looking to do Barbados with you next year, and definitely Bangladesh next time!”
Tony & Diane Garton
“All brilliant, looking forward to future tours.”
Anthony Ashworth
“A very good tour, shame about the cricket. The staff were extremely good and all arrangements worked well.”
John Simmonds
“Despite the cricket being a disaster, the tour was superb and I will look back with fond memories for some time to come. The Christmas meal and the leaving meal in Sydney were both very good.”
Mick Cooke
“Everyone at Howzat Travel are very friendly and helpful. The guest speakers were also outstanding.”
Nigel & Marilyn Hind
“The farewell dinner in Sydney was fantastic. It was a real surprise that everything was included and the Aggers & Boycott slot was brilliant. Howzat Travel are First Class – very friendly and efficient.”
Peter & Linda Miles
“Before the tour, all of our questions were dealt with promptly and when we were on tour this did not change. The tour managers were friendly, they were always on hand to help with any problems. The tour was thoroughly enjoyable.”
Colin & Maureen Jones
“The Howzat Travel team are brilliant, friendly and approachable. The tour went very well and I had an excellent time.”
Michael Hopkinson
“The Howzat Travel tour managers are very good in an emergency!”
David Rush
“Excellent! We would recommend Howzat Travel to friends.”
Philip Sharratt & Gerald Smith
“It was a pleasure to meet the Howzat Travel team during my recent trip to Adelaide. The organisation was excellent and I thank you and all the staff I met for doing a great job. If I travel abroad for the cricket again, I can confirm Howzat Travel will be the first point of investigation. It’s a shame England are getting such an all round thrashing, but a good time was still had…”
Neil Garden
“I had an absolute blast of a trip and loved every moment of it (apart from the poor display of cricket by the England team). Both Carl and Ian were very helpful at all times… very friendly and good fun throughout. Howzat Travel, in my opinion, have it sussed and really don’t need to change a thing. Just keep your costs at a sensible level and I’ll be booking another tour in the future. I shall be recommending you to all my cricketing friends. Thanks to all your team for everything, and may I wish you continued success in the future.”
Jim Dowsett
“Excellent! Well selected accommodation… clear, comprehensive and concise communications. There is nothing I would change, and I will choose to tour with Howzat Travel again in the future.”
Hedley Jenkins
“On behalf of me, Colin, Dave and Ben, can I thank you for the fantastic service, help, dedication and professionalism you and your team have shown throughout our visit to Australia. We had an amazing time in Brisbane and an equally good time in Sydney. Whenever we have had questions or queries, you have always been there to answer them. All the new people we have met, we have always promoted your company so hopefully through word of mouth your empire will grow. I intend to use Howzat again in about eight years time when I bring my little boy to Australia.”
Chas Robey
“I would recommend Howzat Travel to friends.”
Trevor Northfield