Private Tours FAQs | Absolute Escapes

This page is designed to answer any questions you may have about our private tours. If you cannot find the information you are looking for then please call our office on +44 (0) 131 610 1210 or email us at enquiries@absoluteescapes.com and we will be more than happy to assist you.

What is a Private Tour?

What is a private tour?

A private tour allows for any of our usual tailor-made itineraries to be undertaken with a personal driver / guide. Your guide will ensure that you have a fantastic journey, visiting many of our most famous landmarks, and exploring places that you would not normally find. We will work with you in the planning of your holiday to tailor your itinerary to your requests.

Our private tours include all accommodation, transport by private vehicle, and the services of a professionally qualified driver / guide. Your guide will be a passionate ambassador for their local area and proud of what our country can offer.

Why choose a private tour with Absolute Escapes?

We understand that planning a holiday can feel daunting, from finding the best accommodation and sightseeing spots to planning the seamless logistics of your transport, and we want to take all that off your hands.

Rather than off-the-shelf packages, we choose to carefully tailor each of our itineraries, working with you to design the individualised holiday you have been dreaming of. Our expert knowledge is based on a shared love of exploration and wild places, and our team have travelled the length and breadth of the UK & Ireland to bring back the best tips and local knowledge, which we want to share with you. Don’t just take our word for it though, have a read of some of our most recent customer reviews.

What’s the difference between a private tour and a self-drive holiday?

On a private tour you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable and experienced guide, who can provide you with a commentary on the areas you will visit and show you places that you perhaps wouldn’t find on your own. On a self-drive holiday, you will travel around the country unaccompanied in your own car, at your own pace. We are delighted to offer any of our itineraries as either a self-drive holiday or a private guided tour.

Will I be sharing my tour with other people?

A private tour is booked just for you, but if you would prefer to travel with other people then we also offer Small Group Tours where you can travel as part of a group of 16 people or less.

Can I book a private tour with a foreign language guide?

We are able to book you a private tour in a foreign language, however, the information pack which we provide (containing your daily itinerary, sightseeing notes and evening recommendations) will be in English.

How much flexibility is there on the tour?

The guides we choose for you specialise in personal guided tours of the UK, so you can be assured of personal attention at all times. You will be able to stop and take pictures and have lunch when you want at the many places that your guide will recommend along the way.

While we will have already mapped out an itinerary with your guide to ensure that you see the regions and attractions you have already requested, you’ll still have the opportunity to fine-tune your tour as you travel. This ensures that you have the ultimate flexibility without the concern of driving and navigating yourself.

Can I combine a private tour with another walking or self-drive holiday?

All of our holidays are completely tailored to your requirements. Please do just let us know if you would like to combine any of our holidays and we will work with you to create an itinerary tailor-made to you.

Choosing your Private Tour

Why choose a private tour with Absolute Escapes?

Our first-hand knowledge and meticulous planning allow us to create memorable holidays exploring some of the best the UK has to offer. You can rest easy knowing that we have researched the very best experiences for your holiday and thought of every little detail.

When is the best time to visit the UK?

The weather varies considerably throughout the UK and according to the time of year. March and April are best for spring flowers, and views of snow-topped mountains. May and June are usually the driest and sunniest months. The days are at their longest towards mid-summer so you can make the most of long, bright evenings to explore. July and August are the warmest months, though usually wetter. September often brings a period of settled weather, and autumnal colours in September and October can be quite spectacular.

July and August are when UK school summer holidays take place, which in many locations makes them the busiest months. However, in recent years May has been by far the busiest period in many Scottish locations.

How long are your private tours?

Your private tour is as long as you want it to be, though we do usually ask for a minimum of 3 nights.

Booking your Private Tour

How do I enquire for and book my private tour??

We recommend having a look at the self-drive holiday itineraries on our website to gather some inspiration and then getting in touch via our enquiry form or by giving us a call to discuss your holiday. To enquire for a Private Tour in our enquiry form, please select ‘Self-Drive Holidays’ as the holiday type and then select ‘Private Tour’ as your vehicle preference in the Transport section below.

Our travel experts will work with you to create an individualised itinerary taking into consideration the time you have available, your budget and the places you would most like to discover and explore. We will then send you a proposal and booking code for your holiday.

If you would like to go ahead and book we simply require a deposit of 20% of the total cost of your holiday. We will then proceed with making all of the arrangements for your holiday.

How do I pay for my holiday?

Once you have sent us an enquiry you will receive a full proposal by email. This will contain the price, inclusions, and full details on how to pay for your booking. We accept the following payment methods:

1. Bank Transfer – Our account details will be included in your proposal. We ask you to make payment in British pounds sterling (£). If your bank charges you for this service we do ask you to ensure that you settle these charges directly with them.

2. Credit or Debit Card – We accept the following credit or debit cards: Switch/Maestro; Visa; Master/Eurocard. We do not accept payment by Amex.

3. Cheque – Please make cheques payable to “Absolute Escapes Ltd.” Cheques must be made in British pounds sterling (£).

How far in advance do I need to book my holiday?

We generally require at least one month’s notice in order to book a holiday.

The further in advance you are able to book your holiday the more likely it is that we will be able to secure you our top choices of accommodation, so we recommend booking as early as possible. If you are looking to travel at peak times such as May or during school holidays please do get in touch as far in advance as possible.

When will I receive the information pack for my holiday?

We will send your information pack to you a few weeks prior to your holiday. In order to reduce paper waste and offset our carbon footprint, our information packs are generally sent by email. These digital packs will provide you with a detailed overview of your trip, including your personalised itinerary and details of your accommodation.

Is my money safe?

In accordance with UK Government regulations, your financial security is guaranteed when you book with Absolute Escapes Ltd. The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Absolute Escapes Ltd (membership number 5443). In the unlikely event of our insolvency protection is provided for all money that has been paid for non-flight packages.

ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if you are abroad. Please note that bookings made outside the EEA are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Absolute Escapes Ltd.

In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call the ABTOT 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company. Further details can be found on abtot.com.

Do I require travel insurance?

We highly recommend that you take out holiday insurance to cover cancellation, personal accident, illness and loss or theft of personal possessions and/or money.

Can I change the dates of my holiday after I have booked?

It is usually possible to change your start date up to 8 weeks before the start of your holiday although it is not advisable. We charge an administration fee of £50.00 to cover the work involved in cancelling and re-booking your accommodation. Requests for changes made less than 8 weeks before the start of your holiday will be treated as a cancellation of your original booking, and our usual booking conditions will apply.

What happens if I have to cancel my holiday?

If you have to cancel your holiday please inform us by email or letter. The date from which we receive your email or letter is the date from which cancellation fees will be calculated. You can find our cancellation policy on our Booking Conditions page.

Package Inclusions

What’s included in the package price?

As your package is tailored to you, inclusions will vary. However, our private tour packages usually include:

Accommodation with breakfast included
Your own personal vehicle with a professional driver / guide
An information pack containing daily itinerary, accommodation details, restaurant and sightseeing recommendations
24-hour contact number in case you require any assistance
Touring map and leaflets for local attractions
Full financial protection

Are tickets to attractions included in the package?

Entry to visitor attractions is not included in your package. You will pay for access into sites such as castles and museums as you arrive and many of them offer a discount for tour participants. This allows flexibility in the sites that you visit each day and also allows your guide to adapt the tour if necessary. It also means that you can choose not to enter any attractions if you prefer and explore the local area instead.

What else is not included in the package price?

Travel insurance
Lunches and evening meals

Can you book flights or train travel for me?

We are more than happy to advise you of the best routes, however, we do not arrange flights or train travel.

Accommodation & Meals

What type of accommodation do you offer?

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. We are proud to work with a fantastic range of B&Bs, Guest Houses and Hotels, a number of which we have worked with for many years. In each of the accommodations we use, we look for hands-on owners whose dedication to a high-quality client experience rivals our own.

Each accommodation included in your itinerary is hand-picked based on your individual requirements and many are off the beaten track in superb locations. In the cities, we work with slightly larger hotels in order to ensure a high-quality experience for our guests where a central location is often a priority.

To simplify the booking process, we offer four accommodation categories:

Budget – 3* B&Bs & Guest Houses
Standard – 4* Guest Houses & 3* Hotels
Premium – 4* Gold and 5* Boutique Guest Houses & 4* Hotels
Special Places to Stay – A collection of unique, often privately owned exclusive retreats and intimate hotels situated in spectacular locations.

If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry and we would be delighted to assist you.

How do you choose my accommodation?

Our team of experts are dedicated to seeking out the highest quality accommodation available in the UK and we only book you into places where we would be excited to stay ourselves. Over the years we have built up a fantastic knowledge of the best places to stay and a great relationship with many accommodations throughout the UK.

We look for high standards of personal service, attention to detail and excellent food and many of the places we use have hands-on owners, who ensure our guests are extremely well looked after.

Can you tell me the names of the accommodation you use?

As we prefer to handpick each of your accommodations based on your individual requirements and availability at the time of booking, we cannot say prior to booking which accommodation you will be staying in. We would be delighted to send some examples of the accommodation we use to give you an overview of the quality on offer – do just ask us! As soon as your holiday is confirmed we can also send a full list of your accommodation.

Will my accommodation be en-suite?

Yes, we always book en-suite rooms on our private tours.

Which meals are provided?

A satisfying breakfast is always included to set you up for the day. Each establishment offers its unique style and regional twists, ranging from hearty cooked breakfasts to continental spreads, or even picnic hampers delivered to your room.

Lunch and dinner are not included, however, your information pack will include recommendations on the best pubs and restaurants to eat and drink at each evening.

Can you cater for my dietary requirements?

Please tell us about your requirements when booking. It is almost always possible to accommodate dietary requirements, but please check with us first before booking.