Review Time
I do not recommend this company. We made a booking and then had to cancel 10 days ahead of time due to serious illness. We had already paid in full for our holiday, but they would not give us any credit, and kept 90% of what we paid them. No flexibility whatsoever, even for illness. Also, company never seems to respond to email.
As with the previous correspondent I too travelled from Canada for the March 30 Isle of Wight holiday. I was in Brighton when I got the email on Friday night that the holiday was cancelled. This left me stranded in Brighton, on my own, effectively homeless for a week. At significant expense I made alternate arrangements to stay in London for a few days and have booked a flight to Toronto for an eye watering £2200. My long planned two week holiday has been less than a week in length and has been an absolute disaster. I telephoned HF on Saturday morning but after 45 minutes on hold, gave up. I emailed on Saturday yet at the end of Tuesday have yet to get a response. I see that you told the previous reviewer that you tried to contact him but he was unavailable. Please don’t even suggest that in my case. I have been available by phone and email continuously.
My son and I travelled from Vancouver, Canada to visit the Isle of Wight to participate in a HF walking tour. My father passed away from COVID in Dec 2021 and it was our memorial trip to visit this place where his father, my Grandfather, was born, raised, served in WW1 before moving to Saanich, BC. Our tour was scheduled to begin on March 30 and on Good Friday, March 29th, after arriving on the Isle of Wight, I recieved an email with a pdf attached letter stating the walking tour was cancelled and offices were closed until Saturday. No assistance available, no customer service. I requested a phone call and have not heard anything from HF. I regrettably do not recommend this tour group. **Please note: I was not provided with alternative accommodation nor was I provided with a contact telephone number.
I am really surprised by the number of negative reviews about HF holidays. I have just returned from my 4 th short break with HF and I intend to do more. Nearly everyone I meet on these breaks has been on many HF holidays which shows they are doing something right!. I have just been on 3 nights guided walking in Sussex… lovely house, good size rooms, good food pleasant staff, excellent walk leaders. It seems that the trust pilot score is low because of issues with refunds during Covid, not to do with the standard of the holidays which seems unfair. I have already booked another holiday with HF- highly recommended .
An incredible trip and so sad to be home. Extremely knowledgeable, passionate and kind walk leaders, definitely made the week for us. Interesting to learn about the area and local flora and fauna. Walk options were great each day and catered to different abilities. Lovely group of hikers. The scenery is phenomenal. Accommodation was great too - fab location and food options, easy to take packed lunch.Really recommend! Would do it all over again.
Went on a guided walking holiday with HF to St Ives.last Summer and still traumatised by my stay at their house Chy Morvah.I went on one of the walks which was 12 miles/km and decided to relax on the other days around St Ives.Unable to relax in my room which was like a broom cupboard and could not sleep at night as I was over a boiler or laundry room.I asked the 'manager' for a change of room on day 1 and was told they had all been allocated. I was the very first to arrive so that was possible.He, the 'manager' had the attitude of a failed holiday rep, which he was in every way with an appalling unhelpful attitude. Ugh. Horrible, horrible, horrible attitude.Dusters left in my room twice and my belongings disturbed in cabinet drawers.A very expensive holiday for what it was.One day I wanted to swim in the pool which was covered over. Therefore asked for it to be rolled back. Some asst. manager, (not the other failure referred to above) was in the 'office' and said he would do it but that I was lucky as he was in a hurry and would do it.I was so stunned and exhausted after that week long experience and so disgusted at the set up in ChyMorvah to the point of almost being sick. I informed HF Holidays of just some of it this year and they indicated the break was discounted.I never asked for a discount, but HF had agressively marketed their holidays with discounts which they are still doing in 2024. In fact , no money could compensate me for a ruined holiday break which I really needed and looked forward to.My fellow guests were all very nice people which got me through the week. If I hadn't been a 4 hr train journey away from home, I would have checked out.I am still very upset and angry at the toll the stay there had on me, the rip off it transpired to be - after almost a year later still reeling from it.Unable to give exact date of holiday either last June/July.
Everything is always great. I have done about 10 houses so far, and intend to do them all, plus going on a few out of uk trips in the future. The leaders are great, we meet nice people, the managing of the houses is well done, and the food is great. My holidays, flying from Canada is always a good deal. But I would suggest they pay better all the employees, as they do work hard and are always friendly.
We booked a walking holiday with HF holidays, however due to an severe illness we were unable to attend. To move the holiday they change a large fee to basic copy and paste and entry to a new date. The following year I was still severely ill and asked could we change dates and they tried to charge a high fee again. Rather than keep a customer and build their customer base they decided it was better to keep the deposit as I refused to pay their high charges and lose a customer. Customer service needs to improve, then maybe their rating will.
Just back from a 4-night self-guided stay in Shropshire and we had a great time, with good and plentiful food, interesting company, solicitous and friendly service and very clear guides for walks in the glorious countryside around. Longmynd House is undergoing refurbishment so was not looking its best but we had been told about that in advance - and got a free drink each night in compensation.
Thorns Hall, Sedbergh. Fantastic historic house that would cost considerably more to stay with a company that operates for profit. Food was top class and everyone was very friendly. Although the weather was challenging with snow and rain, the walk leaders coped admirably.
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An award-winning British heritage brand, HF Holidays has been leading the way for walking and special interest holidays since 1913.
Choose from over 260 thoughtfully-curated guided and self-guided tours and holidays in six continents, covering nearly 40 destinations in Europe and the rest of the world. We also own and manage 16 characterful UK country houses, all of which are just a skip away from some of the best-loved national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. See more
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