Responsible Travel reviews

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Res Travel Star Rating :
***** - I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on.
****   - Great memories, would recommend it to a friend
***     - Very enjoyable
**       - O.K.
*         - A bit disappointing really

Too good to be true!? Click the "link" on each review to see it on Responsible Travel's web site.

Paul Smyth & group - ****

Winter Walking & Snowshoeing France - April 2008 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - Every day was exciting and memorable because each day we had a different activity and went to a different place. Our guides tailor made and adapted the holiday to suit us. We spent two days snowshoeing, two days skiing, a day hillwalking and a day sightseeing. Brilliant!
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Come prepared with suitable clothing and footwear for whatever activities you're planning to do.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Yes. Our guides encouraged us to 'leave no trace' on the environment and our hosts in Le Grand Chalet benefited from our custom and they were over generous with their wonderful home cooking.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - Excellent.

Rebecca, Richard, Kezia & Sascha - ****

Gîte Accommodation & Family Winter Activities in the Alpes Maritimes - Feb 2008 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - Seeing the mountains both below and above the snow line. For the children - the wolves!
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - It was very straight forward to book this holiday as Liz and Mel are so informative and friendly. I would say definitely go along with what Liz and Mel recommend as they really do know the area and what there is on offer there.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - As we drove there rather than flew, yes. We didn't buy local produce rather shopped in a large Carrefour in Nice...Next time it would be good to investigate local producers further. We used downhill ski slopes which I understand aren';t the most green but through this contributed to the local economy and tourist industry. We also visited the wolf park Alpha.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - It was fantastic, we have already booked again for next year!

Yvonne d'Souza - ****

Christmas in the Alpes Maritimes - Dec 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - Breath-taking views of the Mercantour National Park. The accomodation was great - oodles of delicious home-cooked food. The French people I met were all very friendly.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - It's worth doing some walking beforehand if you get the chance, though not essential. It can get quite chilly in winter once the sun has gone, so take a few warm layers with you.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - We stayed at a locally run guest house which used local produce where possible, so I would say yes. The main activity is walking so this has minimal effect on the environment.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - Excellent - the company was great and the views were stunning.

Elaine Axby - ***

Christmas in the Alpes Maritimes - Dec 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The fantastic views on the walks. The welcome from Christine and Luc at Le Grand Chalet, and of course the fantastic food. The personal attention from Mel and Liz to ensure everything ran smoothly, and their welcoming attitude.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Snowshoeing is hard work!
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - It benefited local people in that it used local resources.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - Overall, it was a great holiday.

Angela Clinch - ****

Transhumance - Oct 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The riding experience was wonderful and completely amazing. Although I ride on Dartmoor all year I had never done anything like this before. I had never been up in the mountains much less in the snow on horseback. We were all led by Denis Longfellow who is a great teacher.
Over the years Denis had bred many of his horses. They were Merens, Lusitanos, and Haflinger, Pottock and Lusitano crosses. They are agile, sure footed, fit, willing, sweet natured, worked in a herd, gave complete confidence and were very forgiving. Denis and they knew the ground. We rode up in the mountains in snow, down in beech, chestnut and oak woods, along wide and narrow trails and along hillsides that smelt of pine, lavender and herbs.
We rode at all paces and walked with our horses down some of the very steep hills. We had a pack horse who carried our food and water and we carried our own stuff for overnight in rolls behind our saddles. The saddles were comfortable for riders and horses (there were no sore backs despite the steep terrain). We rode in bitless bridles and neck reined.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Wear walking boots to ride because you will also need to walk down hill and they will help you to be more surefooted. A small bum bag for stuff you need whilst riding, such as sunscreen and sunglasses might be useful.
Most of the accommodation is basic, communal hostel type which may be an issue for some people, although not for me.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Many very kind and welcoming local people were involved in supporting our trip. They fed us, accommodated us, ferried us in their cars, prepared our picnics and brought extra hay for the horses.
They were there to see us off and welcome us at our destinations. We stayed in a gite d'etape, chambre d'hote rurale and a small local hotel on the last night. We stopped off at bars for tea and drinks and we were welcomed every where. Many local people and also visitors in cars to the area were clearly delighted to meet this fine troupe of horses and people up in the hills.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - This was a truly wonderful riding holiday and I'm planning to go again and for much longer if I can.

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Tracey Hall - ****

Combined cross border trekking and activities - Sept 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The whole "refuge" experience. The via ferrata. 5 course dinners that were an event in themselves.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Don't be scared - it's all safely done and hugely enjoyable.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Yes
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - A wonderful experience. 10/10. Liz and Mel had everything covered, organised, thought out. They really do want their guests to have a great holiday, and do all they can to achieve that. I will certainly be recommending this holiday to people, and would hope to go again myself.

Daniel Spence - ****

Combined cross border trekking and activities - Sept 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - All of the trip was special, but both the Horse Riding (for the new challenge) and the Via Ferrata (for shear terror) stood out. I don't however want to take anything from the walk which was very very good.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Learn a bit of French, this is not Paris and a little French will go a long way!
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Yes
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - Excellent, DO THIS!

Seamus Lynch - ****

GÎte - June 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The walks. Our first was up the valley from Pont de Countet in thunder and lightening that soon turned to snow. The next day we were down around Utelle in lovely heat where we did a walk partly on GR 5 and then looping back to Utelle. The third walk was the high point (in every sense), on the 1st of June 2007 from Madonne de Fenestre to the Italian border at Col de Fenestre, with lots of snow up to 1 metre deep in places.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - If walking be prepared for all types of weather and bring plenty of gear, including rain gear, gloves, fleece hats, etc., as well as the shorts, summer gear and sun tan lotion.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Yes to both. Local impact was in staying locally, buying provisions locally and eating in local restaurants in the evenings. Walking holidays generally make very little impact on the environment.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? - Excellent, made possible with a lot of assistance and recommendations from Liz and Mel at this placce in Berthemont. A return visit is on the agenda.

July Lithgow - ****

Short break horse riding - May 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - I was horse riding in the hills above the French Rivera. The whole weekend was great, the people lovely and friendly and the scenery stunning. Part of the ride takes you through some woods and then out onto the edge of the mountain. You can see for miles, across the sea to the south, the ridges of the Alps to the north, and the occasional mountain village. It was great privilege to be able to be there.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Be prepared to be a bit sore the next morning if you haven't ridden for a while. Other than that, just come ready to be amazed by nature.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - We used local accommodation and the village of Saint Agnes is fairly unspoilt. The ride itself takes you through beautiful countryside, but the impact on the environment was minimal.

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Sarah Boss - ****

Short break horse riding - April 2007 - link     ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The horse riding was fantastic. Great horses, spectacular scenery and we were well looked after.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Just ask for what you want - Liz and Mel where fantastic and made sure they did everything they could to accommodate us. If they can do it they will!! And you feel like you are dealing with good friends rather than a company.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Yes in that they are a small local tour operation who use local people. I don't think this holiday had any negative impact on the environment.

Alex Layard - ****

Winter Activity Break - Feb 2007 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The most memorable part was definitely the ice-climbing. It's something I've always wanted to do, it was in a beautiful, unspoilt spot and the guides were excellent. Also, where we stayed was great with home-cooked five course meals every night and a sauna, which was very welcome after a long hard day outdoors.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - I would encourage them just to book regardless of their experience and fitness, as Mel and Liz were great at adapting it to our individual needs. Also, I would not hesitate going on your own - I did and felt so welcome and comfortable. It's also only 45 minutes from Nice, so definitely accessible by train and Mel and Liz were very flexible about collecting and dropping us of.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - Yes, as we stayed in a locally-owned B&B, the guides were fully qualified alpine guides from there who knew the area like the back of their hands and a lot of our food was sourced locally - excellent cheeses and locally sourced meat and vegetables, including from a local organic farm in the summer.

Joanna McKendrick - ****

Gîte with guided walking - Nov 2006 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - The most memorable aspect of our time in the Mercantor Park was the stunning guided walk we did with Mel. Perfect weather and spectacular mountain scenery coupled with no worries about route finding and safety made our walk to the top of a 2,800m peak a perfect birthday celebration for us.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - A tip for other travellers would be to make sure they clarify what services the tour operator is offering and what they require from Mel and Liz in advance. I think that benefits both parties.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - I think our holiday did benefit local people. We were holidaying out of season so our custom to local shops and restaurants was welcome. It also showed us what a fantastic walking area the Maritime Alps is and would recommend it to friends.
Any other comments? - Our holiday was excellent. The accommodation was perfect and our hosts Mel and Liz were very accommodating and welcoming. I think we will be booking a longer and more adventurous trip next year facilitated by Mel and Liz.

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Graham Jeffs - ****

Walking Short Breaks - October 2006 - link    ..go to this holiday

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? - Watching chamois in the Gordolasque.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? - Get some good binoculars, makes wildlife spotting much easier - the chamois are well camouflaged.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? - All food sourced locally and the walks did not impact on the enviroment.
Any other comments? - Very good, Liz and Mel were excellent hosts. I am very likely to return.
Finally how many stars would you give your holiday overall? - ****

Jane Lloyd Francis - *****

September 2006 - link    ..go to this holiday

Firstly I would like to tell you how very impressed I was with the service from Responsible Travel, the person who answered the phone knew exactly where the Mercantour Park was and was confident in choosing the right people to help with my varied and somewhat eccentric itinerary.
I had a response from the operator within the hour and was with them in France within 24 hours, this was a last minute impulse trip.
The trip was 5 star born again, Liz and Mel were fantastically welcoming, extremely well informed on all aspects of the area and able to provide a very relaxing environment. I packed so much in it's hard to say what was the most memorable, Climbing the sacred Mont Bago with thunder and lightening on the surrounding horizons, being eye to eye with a wolf in the inspiring Alpha wolf park, sharing lunch with a chamoix or scaring myself silly in the via ferrata.
The Valley de Merveilles was all I had hoped for and more, because as well as the fascinating ancient engravings the extraordinary rock colours and formations were art in their own right.
As a single traveller without transport I am sure I was not the ideal client but Mel and Liz went out of their way to accommodate me and they were great fun!
Finally I attended an event with Mel and Liz about sensitive development of the area which is for the moment unspoilt and feel that they are committed to retaining the integrity of this very special area. Thanks to all involved.


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