I have been to Europe four times with Cosmos- UK in 2013, Greece in 2016, Italy in 2017 and Ireland last summer. Everything has always gone perfectly. Heading to Croatia with Cosmos next June. (BTW I had the Croatia trip planned for 2020 but then COVID hit - Cosmos gave me a letter of credit for the money I had already put down on the trip. With two months to go before Croatia 2022 it was cancelled due to not enough people signing on, so I was effortlessly switched to Ireland.)
@John Jamele, that is awesome to hear, that is what I like to hear from others as well, this company is fantastic and is proving to have good ethics in rolling over the credits from the pandemic cancelling tours. I am looking at doing a UK tour next fall with them again myself cause I know you will get your moneys worth. I'm glad you definitely had everything go perfectly including the switchover to Ireland from the cancelled Croatia, I was in Croatia for an extremely short time in 2016 while on my travels through Europe with BusAbout and it is a beautiful country but I want to go again to see more of it but that'll be in 2024. I am glad that you love this company and continue to like the service they provide. Thanks for telling me about your travels with them and enjoy your tour next spring/summer (2023).
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller When you traveled with this company from the U.S. to Europe, what are the logistics once you arrive in Europe? Are you greeted by someone from Cosmos somewhere within the airport of arrival in Europe, or how does that work?
I took Cosmos tours to Europe twice. It was years ago. The drivers and escorts were great. At that time, the hotels were horrible. The itineraries were so packed it ended up as a suitcase tour. Too much time spent on a bus. I see from many satisfied customers that Cosmos has changed. Thank goodness. When choosing an itinerary, please consider how much actual time you have for touring and time spent on the bus. You don’t want a suitcase tour where you are packing and unpacking, riding the bus from one destination to the other everyday for hours. A few days in one place is not only relaxing but you will see more. Europe is amazing. Globus Tours and Cosmos are the same company. Globus was upgraded at the time. Happy travels.
@tonisumblin2719, thanks for your information about your experience with Cosmos, I agree the itinerary should have time to enjoy the cities you are in and yet to be able to see the major sights along the way and such... Too much time on the bus is uncomfortable and not fun, nice thing is my tour was not to bad and was about even when it came bus time, attraction sight seeing length and time in the cities.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller thanks for replying. I think it’s cool that you’ve posted your experiences with Cosmos. And traveling. Many first time overseas travelers are timid to venture so far, and I totally understand. I lived in Italy for years and return often; the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, on the Austrian Slovenian border. In fact, just returned from a month’s stay. It was Wonderful. I’ve met many travelers throughout the years; my observation is that too many Americans compare other countries’ cultures with their own. It’s sad to see because they miss out on what real adventures are. Not to mention the education we receive. Keep traveling and giving us your input. It’s very interesting.
Thanks for the Cosmo facts. I am going on a trip with this company in 2023. I normally go with another company but I am changing it up. To be honest I am not impressed with their facebook page so I was glad to hear you enjoyed the company especially after going on other trip with other tour companies.
Good stuff! My apologies for the delayed response and thanks so much for the kind comments.... I have not seen their FB page but it sounds that they are not updating it which is disappointing. Yes, I have been on several different tours with other companies as well, but I really like Cosmos and I think that you will really enjoy taking them @Cheryl Palubiski. They have a variety a tours so you won't have an issue looking for something that fits your needs and what you are looking for. I have a video(s) that I will be working on in the future that is on a sun destination trip that I am on at this moment of this message so if you like that kind of travel as well watch out for it in the coming months. Thanks again and enjoy planning your future (2023) trip.
Just before COVID-19, I took the Central Europe tour in October 2019 with Cosmos. I have The Best of Netherlands booked later this year. And btw, the photo on my avatar was taken in Vienna during my tour.
@Eurotraveller Jones, Europe is fantastic, and central Europe has many great cities to see that's for sure, I am very happy that you are going to see the Netherlands for Amsterdam is great and the country is beautiful, I don't know if your tour includes seeing a cheese wheel demonstration (how they are made)but if you can go,, go I was supposed to see one but due to heavy traffic after leaving Berlin, Germany we were so late that they said that we weren't able to attend it, though I was on a TopDeck tour at that time. I was wondering what that picture was, can't tell when looking at it. Enjoy your tour.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller Thanks for the tip. I don't know if the cheese wheel is part of the tour, but I will take part in all the excursions offered. My tour will be in late April. So I'll be sure to let you know afterwards.
Hello @Yeti Mallavi, my apologies for the delay in responding and thanks for commenting, so to answer your questions, at the time I took my Cosmos tour it was in October so the group of people I met on this tour there were around 25-30 others and for the coaches themselves they are the typical tour buses, that seat around 50 people and they have a bathroom in them, the seats were big & comfortable and the Cosmos name across the sides of the bus, I don't recall if there were plugs for re-charging your camera or phone....Also there were several steps up to get into the bus so people that use a walker or if they are not able to climb stairs it may be difficult for them so keep that in mind as well, otherwise this company is great. I hope that helps you in determining if Cosmos is right for you.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller Thanks for your response! I booked the Ireland & Scotland trip so I wanted to make sure that the buses were fairly comfortable and was just anticipating how many people will be in a group with us. This gives me a good idea if what to expect!
Thanks for asking me these questions. In Dublin the hotel was in city limits, in fact it was about a10 minute local bus ride north of downtown Dublin. As for the hotels in other parts of Ireland such as Belfast that hotel was in the heart of Central or downtown Belfast (not sure where exactly). When you take a Cosmos tour and book an excursion through them they will make sure you get to that excursion destination pick-up point. If you go to a destination and spend a few days before your tour starts and you purchase an excursion separately from the tour company I would make sure to check the details from the excursion company. Typically the excursion company provides you the specific details on where the excursion goes, the pick-up point (a specific hotel or maybe your hotel or at a landmark, etc), the time it leaves and what vehicle you may take, a bus or by car. I hope I have answered your questions and if you require any clarification or have any other questions please let me know.
@@karensorrentino9498 sadly no I have not been to any other countries with cosmos, but I have been to other countries with topdeck and busabout where I stayec in hostels not hotels.
Is Cosmos as good as Globus? I've done Globus 5 times before, and I'll be doing a Cosmos tour for the first time. I'm just wondering if I'll be missing anything.
Hello @garbutt22, I have never taken a globus tour so I don't know the difference in quality. I can say that Cosmos is a good company with good guides, drivers and many tours to choose from but as for what you think you may be missing anything I don't know what you mean by that.
@jamesmorrisworldtraveller Globus offers luggage portering, and Cosmos doesn't. I'm just wondering if there is anything else I might lose for a lower price. If you say the experience is excellent then I have nothing to worry about.
@@garbutt22 I don't really know any other difference since I have never taken Globus so I am the wrong person to ask about the differences in the 2 companies...I can tell you they only put your luggage under the bus and off the bus and not into the hotels lobby and all that.
I am considering going on a European tour with them in March of this year, but need more information on the logistics when it comes to leaving the U.S. and arriving at the airport in Europe. Do a representative from Cosmos meet you somewhere in the airport? or how does it work? is there a phone number to contact in case something goes wrong?
Hello @Sacred Queen, thanks for commenting, I first off would highly recommend that you go speak with a travel agent that you trust to help answer your questions and deal with the logistics of everything that I may not be able too and to help you book with this company, so that said, as for the info I can answer..Go to Cosmos.com and there is an 1-800 # for Americans and if your a Canadian there a different number, change the country on the top right for the proper number.... As for me I am Canadian and don't know the American logistics specifics, as for the Canadian side after you paid for your tour and flight to the city you start the tour in the agent would give you the paperwork from this company within approximately 30 days of leaving, this paperwork (tour itinerary) gives you every detail of what you require to do and hotels you stay at including your first hotel the day you meet your tour director. You would arrive the day before the tour starts so that you can be in destination and nothing causes you miss the tour, now it would be at the first hotel that the tour starts at that you meet your tour director, then she/he gives you everything you need from there. If anything happens while on tour you would talk with the tour guide(director), they are really helpful for any concerns, questions you have or things you can do on any days that they give you time to explore the city, etc.. If there anything that does happen that while in destination and isn't related to Cosmos then you could email or get a number from your travel agent to contact her if needed when you book the trip.. I hope I answered your questions and if there is something else that you want me to answer please let me know.
Don’t worry. My niece and friends recently went on a Cosmos tour. Like most tour companies, they met them at the airport and took them back when the tour was over.
I have been to Europe four times with Cosmos- UK in 2013, Greece in 2016, Italy in 2017 and Ireland last summer. Everything has always gone perfectly. Heading to Croatia with Cosmos next June. (BTW I had the Croatia trip planned for 2020 but then COVID hit - Cosmos gave me a letter of credit for the money I had already put down on the trip. With two months to go before Croatia 2022 it was cancelled due to not enough people signing on, so I was effortlessly switched to Ireland.)
@John Jamele, that is awesome to hear, that is what I like to hear from others as well, this company is fantastic and is proving to have good ethics in rolling over the credits from the pandemic cancelling tours.
I am looking at doing a UK tour next fall with them again myself cause I know you will get your moneys worth. I'm glad you definitely had everything go perfectly including the switchover to Ireland from the cancelled Croatia, I was in Croatia for an extremely short time in 2016 while on my travels through Europe with BusAbout and it is a beautiful country but I want to go again to see more of it but that'll be in 2024.
I am glad that you love this company and continue to like the service they provide. Thanks for telling me about your travels with them and enjoy your tour next spring/summer (2023).
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller When you traveled with this company from the U.S. to Europe, what are the logistics once you arrive in Europe? Are you greeted by someone from Cosmos somewhere within the airport of arrival in Europe, or how does that work?
I took Cosmos tours to Europe twice. It was years ago. The drivers and escorts were great. At that time, the hotels were horrible. The itineraries were so packed it ended up as a suitcase tour. Too much time spent on a bus.
I see from many satisfied customers that Cosmos has changed. Thank goodness.
When choosing an itinerary, please consider how much actual time you have for touring and time spent on the bus. You don’t want a suitcase tour where you are packing and unpacking, riding the bus from one destination to the other everyday for hours.
A few days in one place is not only relaxing but you will see more. Europe is amazing.
Globus Tours and Cosmos are the same company. Globus was upgraded at the time. Happy travels.
@tonisumblin2719, thanks for your information about your experience with Cosmos, I agree the itinerary should have time to enjoy the cities you are in and yet to be able to see the major sights along the way and such...
Too much time on the bus is uncomfortable and not fun, nice thing is my tour was not to bad and was about even when it came bus time, attraction sight seeing length and time in the cities.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller thanks for replying. I think it’s cool that you’ve posted your experiences with Cosmos. And traveling. Many first time overseas travelers are timid to venture so far, and I totally understand. I lived in Italy for years and return often; the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, on the Austrian Slovenian border. In fact, just returned from a month’s stay. It was Wonderful. I’ve met many travelers throughout the years; my observation is that too many Americans compare other countries’ cultures with their own. It’s sad to see because they miss out on what real adventures are. Not to mention the education we receive.
Keep traveling and giving us your input. It’s very interesting.
Thank you we hoping to do a Europe tour with them in March.
Your very welcome @DASCA I hope that you enjoy the tour company.
Thanks for the Cosmo facts. I am going on a trip with this company in 2023. I normally go with another company but I am changing it up. To be honest I am not impressed with their facebook page so I was glad to hear you enjoyed the company especially after going on other trip with other tour companies.
Good stuff! My apologies for the delayed response and thanks so much for the kind comments....
I have not seen their FB page but it sounds that they are not updating it which is disappointing. Yes, I have been on several different tours with other companies as well, but I really like Cosmos and I think that you will really enjoy taking them @Cheryl Palubiski. They have a variety a tours so you won't have an issue looking for something that fits your needs and what you are looking for.
I have a video(s) that I will be working on in the future that is on a sun destination trip that I am on at this moment of this message so if you like that kind of travel as well watch out for it in the coming months. Thanks again and enjoy planning your future (2023) trip.
Just before COVID-19, I took the Central Europe tour in October 2019 with Cosmos. I have The Best of Netherlands booked later this year. And btw, the photo on my avatar was taken in Vienna during my tour.
@Eurotraveller Jones, Europe is fantastic, and central Europe has many great cities to see that's for sure, I am very happy that you are going to see the Netherlands for Amsterdam is great and the country is beautiful, I don't know if your tour includes seeing a cheese wheel demonstration (how they are made)but if you can go,, go I was supposed to see one but due to heavy traffic after leaving Berlin, Germany we were so late that they said that we weren't able to attend it, though I was on a TopDeck tour at that time. I was wondering what that picture was, can't tell when looking at it. Enjoy your tour.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller Thanks for the tip. I don't know if the cheese wheel is part of the tour, but I will take part in all the excursions offered. My tour will be in late April. So I'll be sure to let you know afterwards.
Hi there, this was very informative! I was curious how big was the group was when you went and what the coaches were like. Thanks!
Hello @Yeti Mallavi, my apologies for the delay in responding and thanks for commenting, so to answer your questions, at the time I took my Cosmos tour it was in October so the group of people I met on this tour there were around 25-30 others and for the coaches themselves they are the typical tour buses, that seat around 50 people and they have a bathroom in them, the seats were big & comfortable and the Cosmos name across the sides of the bus, I don't recall if there were plugs for re-charging your camera or phone....Also there were several steps up to get into the bus so people that use a walker or if they are not able to climb stairs it may be difficult for them so keep that in mind as well, otherwise this company is great.
I hope that helps you in determining if Cosmos is right for you.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller Thanks for your response! I booked the Ireland & Scotland trip so I wanted to make sure that the buses were fairly comfortable and was just anticipating how many people will be in a group with us. This gives me a good idea if what to expect!
At that time, were the hotels outside the city? For the excursions, did you have to get your own cab?
Thanks for asking me these questions. In Dublin the hotel was in city limits, in fact it was about a10 minute local bus ride north of downtown Dublin.
As for the hotels in other parts of Ireland such as Belfast that hotel was in the heart of Central or downtown Belfast (not sure where exactly).
When you take a Cosmos tour and book an excursion through them they will make sure you get to that excursion destination pick-up point.
If you go to a destination and spend a few days before your tour starts and you purchase an excursion separately from the tour company I would make sure to check the details from the excursion company. Typically the excursion company provides you the specific details on where the excursion goes, the pick-up point (a specific hotel or maybe your hotel or at a landmark, etc), the time it leaves and what vehicle you may take, a bus or by car.
I hope I have answered your questions and if you require any clarification or have any other questions please let me know.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller thanks for the speedy reply. Have you booked through Cosmos for any other countries? If so, how were the hotels?
@@karensorrentino9498 sadly no I have not been to any other countries with cosmos, but I have been to other countries with topdeck and busabout where I stayec in hostels not hotels.
Is Cosmos as good as Globus? I've done Globus 5 times before, and I'll be doing a Cosmos tour for the first time. I'm just wondering if I'll be missing anything.
Hello @garbutt22, I have never taken a globus tour so I don't know the difference in quality. I can say that Cosmos is a good company with good guides, drivers and many tours to choose from but as for what you think you may be missing anything I don't know what you mean by that.
@jamesmorrisworldtraveller Globus offers luggage portering, and Cosmos doesn't. I'm just wondering if there is anything else I might lose for a lower price. If you say the experience is excellent then I have nothing to worry about.
@@garbutt22 I don't really know any other difference since I have never taken Globus so I am the wrong person to ask about the differences in the 2 companies...I can tell you they only put your luggage under the bus and off the bus and not into the hotels lobby and all that.
I am considering going on a European tour with them in March of this year, but need more information on the logistics when it comes to leaving the U.S. and arriving at the airport in Europe. Do a representative from Cosmos meet you somewhere in the airport? or how does it work? is there a phone number to contact in case something goes wrong?
Hello @Sacred Queen, thanks for commenting, I first off would highly recommend that you go speak with a travel agent that you trust to help answer your questions and deal with the logistics of everything that I may not be able too and to help you book with this company, so that said, as for the info I can answer..Go to Cosmos.com and there is an 1-800 # for Americans and if your a Canadian there a different number, change the country on the top right for the proper number....
As for me I am Canadian and don't know the American logistics specifics, as for the Canadian side after you paid for your tour and flight to the city you start the tour in the agent would give you the paperwork from this company within approximately 30 days of leaving, this paperwork (tour itinerary) gives you every detail of what you require to do and hotels you stay at including your first hotel the day you meet your tour director.
You would arrive the day before the tour starts so that you can be in destination and nothing causes you miss the tour, now it would be at the first hotel that the tour starts at that you meet your tour director, then she/he gives you everything you need from there.
If anything happens while on tour you would talk with the tour guide(director), they are really helpful for any concerns, questions you have or things you can do on any days that they give you time to explore the city, etc..
If there anything that does happen that while in destination and isn't related to Cosmos then you could email or get a number from your travel agent to contact her if needed when you book the trip..
I hope I answered your questions and if there is something else that you want me to answer please let me know.
@@jamesmorrisworldtraveller thanks so much for the comprehensive answer!
@@SacredQueen Your welcome.
Don’t worry. My niece and friends recently went on a Cosmos tour. Like most tour companies, they met them at the airport and took them back when the tour was over.