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Jules Verne review
Find out how Jules Verne fares for its escorted tours and cultural tours based on our survey of nearly 20,000 package holidays
Who is Jules Verne?
Jules Verne provides small-group escorted tours worldwide, which are packed full of cultural and historical insight. It has been selling holidays since the seventies, and it says its tours give you the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the destination.
Which? verdict
Jules Verne is our top-rated holiday company for cultural tours and a Which? Recommended Provider, and crucially rated the full five stars for the quality and organisation of its tours.
Book a holiday with Jules Verne
Jules Verne customer ratings
| Holiday type | Which? Recommended Provider? | Customer score |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural tours | Yes | 86% |
| Escorted tours | Yes | 82% |
Customer score Based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the company. In August/September 2024, we asked 12,119 Which? Connect panel members and members of the public about 19,958 holidays from the past two years, in an online survey.
We tracked the price of more than 20,000 holidays to find out exactly when to book to get the cheapest price – read our 28 ways to save on your next holiday
What’s a Jules Verne holiday like?
When Jules Verne was set up in the seventies, it sold just one tour: London to Beijing and Hong Kong by train. These days the operator will take you almost anywhere in the world, and its small-group cultural tours have topped our table earning it Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) status. It's also a WRP for its escorted tours overall.
From multi-destination trips, such as the three-week Grand Tour of Indochina, to more affordable breaks, like the four-night Highlights of Albania tour, travellers have rated the tour and its overall organisation five out of five stars.
It also got five stars for ‘description matching reality’. One survey respondent told us: ‘I find they are consistently reliable and everything runs smoothly,’
Many customers raved about the itineraries that include ‘hidden sites that would have been difficult to access on our own.’ And yet more raved about the local guides that Jules Verne uses. They ‘have excellent language and interpersonal skills’, according to one holidaymaker.
And when things went wrong, customers were impressed by ‘their responsive customer service, clear communication and prompt action to address the itinerary discrepancies and accommodation concerns’ which ‘showed a strong commitment to guest satisfaction.’
Jules Verne’s refund, cancellation and surcharge policy
Jules Verne is a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) which means that, as well as being one of the most highly rated holiday firms in our survey, it has also guaranteed to offer a full refund or free changes if the Foreign Office (FCDO) changes its advice about your destination.
It has also promised that in 2025 it won’t apply any additional surcharges to holidays that have already been booked.
Should I book a holiday with Jules Verne?
Yes. Jules Verne offers consistently excellent cultural tours for small groups.
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