"Get on your Caledonian bus!"

A review of Caledonian Travel by Valerie McCaffery written on Tuesday 12th of June 2007

In reply to the comments made by Alison Hayton regarding the condition of the coach, hotel and food supplied on her recent tour to Dornoch.

My husband and I have travelled via "Caledonian Coach Tours" for a number of years and have found, in most cases, that we receive value for money - taking into account what the entire tour costs compared to what the total outlay would be, if you paid for all these services separately.

Circumstances vary and over the years on various trips, I have to admit that we have been met with surly drivers, no toilet on board, slightly below par accommodation and food that although, not exactly gourmet, was edible and satisfying.

Caledonian do have a complaints procedure and customers are urged (or should be) to complete a form on every trip taken. You can either hand these to the driver, or complete and send in to their office in Hope Street. I would suggest that if you are complaining about the driver that you send them in to the office though!

In the case of there being no toilet on board. Usually, it is the practice for the driver to make extra stops to compensate - and we should bear in mind that this is OUR break - not the driver's - and we are entitled to enjoy what we have paid for. He is WORKING after all and it is us who keep him in the driver's seat! He is only in charge of the bus - not the people travelling on it. If you're not happy with the service vote with your pocket and DON'T "tip" him!

Hotel accommodation varies greatly on the age of the hotel and who owns it. We cannot expect, for the price we pay, rooms fit for kings and queens. It should be of course, clean and comfortable, frills (if there are any available) are extra, as the case whoever you travel with and wherever you decide to go!

The Scottish Highlands are notorious for extra high prices - you can blame that on the many overseas tourists - who are regularly fleeced without realising it! Their prices will remain extravagant until the tourists complain and stop buying. So, if you choose to head in that direction you have to prepared to suffer the high prices that go with it.

In my opinion the onus is on the particular Hotel's management as far as food provision is concerned. Therefore, complaints should be made at the time to people who are serving you. There is no point dampening other passengers holiday spirit by moaning and griping to them. If YOU are unhappy then it is YOU who has to complain - but PLEASE - not to fellow travellers. There is nothing worse than listening to someone prattling on while you are trying to enjoy your week away. Take your complaint to someone who CAN deal with it. IF you are NOT prepared to do that - then have the good grace to suffer in silence.

Finally, most of our trips with "Caledonian Coach Tours" have been well worth the money spent. Yes - there have been occasions where not everything has been wonderful. We usually try to make the best of it while we are there and follow a course of action that is appropriate to any complaint we have at the time, if that is possible.

So don't be put off by a negative review from ONE tour of the Highlands. Hundred of tours are run throughout the year - and there are many, many people who return to Caledonian year in and year out - so they must be doing something right.

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