Frequently asked questions

Our tours are designed for intellectually curious travellers who enjoy discovering places in depth and in congenial company. Expert lecturers, carefully planned itineraries and thoughtful pacing are all central to the experience.

Many clients travel with us for the first time on their own and quickly find themselves among like-minded people with shared interests.

Martin Randall Travel has specialised in expert-led cultural travel for decades – since 1988, to be precise. What distinguishes our tours is the combination of scholarly expertise, meticulous planning, thoughtful pacing and genuine depth of experience.

We place great emphasis on excellent lecturers, carefully chosen hotels, well-balanced itineraries and access that would be difficult or impossible to arrange independently.

We insist on meeting and interviewing all prospective lecturers and ask each one to give a 20-minute talk to a small panel of staff. Around half the speakers we audition in this way are accepted.

Our tour prices generally include accommodation, most meals, entrance fees, expert lectures, guiding, ground transport during the tour and the services of an experienced tour manager. Details vary by itinerary, so we always recommend reading the 'Practicalities' section of the tour page carefully.

Our groups are intentionally kept relatively small to create a more enjoyable and rewarding experience. This allows easier access to sites, a more convivial atmosphere and greater flexibility throughout the tour. Group sizes vary, but many tours operate with around 10–24 participants.

While many clients are retired or semi-retired, we increasingly welcome professionals, academics and younger travellers with a strong interest in history, art, music, archaeology and culture.

Very much so. A significant proportion of our clients travel independently. Our tours are particularly well suited to solo travellers because the shared interests of the group naturally encourage conversation and companionship. Tour managers are always on hand to help everyone feel included and comfortable.

Hotels generally charge by room rather than by occupancy. A single supplement reflects the additional cost of a room used by one person. We negotiate carefully with hotels to keep supplements as low as possible, and MRT does not profit from them.

Yes, where available. However, we often recommend double rooms for sole use, as hotel single rooms can sometimes be considerably smaller.

All tours require a good level of fitness; general guidance can be found on our website. Some itineraries involve leisurely walking through towns and museums, while others may include uneven terrain, archaeological sites or longer days on foot. We provide detailed walking and fitness guidance for every tour – please refer to the ‘Practicalities’ section on the tour page, or contact us directly.

We use a radio guide system on our tours. This enables the lecturer to talk in a normal conversational manner and for participants to hear clearly, from several metres away if need be. Neck loops compatible with the ‘T’ setting of hearing aids can be provided — please let us know in advance if you require this.

Our client base is predominantly British, though we warmly welcome travellers from the US and internationally. Many American clients find the mix an enjoyable part of the experience – you will share the tour with people who are equally enthusiastic about the subject matter, regardless of where they are from.

Many of our tours have the option of including group flight or rail travel from London. US clients typically arrange their own transatlantic flights and join the group at the London departure point or at the destination. We are happy to advise on the best approach for your itinerary.

Upgrades can be requested once your place on the tour is confirmed. We will obtain a quote and you can decide whether to proceed.

If we cancel a tour, you will receive a full refund from us.

Occasionally a tour may be cancelled if numbers are too low, usually no later than 8 weeks before departure — though in practice this is often much earlier. Please bear this in mind if booking travel independently.

Very rarely, a tour may need to be cancelled closer to departure for safety reasons. The wellbeing of our clients and staff always comes first.

Up to 85 days before the tour, only the deposit is forfeit. Thereafter a percentage of the total cost of the tour will be due:

– Between 84 and 43 days: 40%

– Between 42 and 15 days: 70%

– 14 days or fewer: 100%

For cruises only:

– Up to 90 days: deposit only

– Between 89 and 70 days: 40%

– Between 69 and 50 days: 60%

– Between 49 days and 30 days: 80%

– 29 days or fewer: 100%

We take as the day of cancellation that on which we receive your written or emailed confirmation. Please send the request to: bookings@martinrandall.co.uk

We monitor official travel advice closely and continually assess conditions on the ground. US clients may also wish to refer to the US State Department’s travel advisories at travel.state.gov. If we believe a destination cannot be visited safely, we will amend or cancel arrangements accordingly.

Please let us know when booking. We will always do our best to accommodate dietary, mobility or other practical requirements wherever possible.

Visa requirements vary by destination and by nationality. US passport holders benefit from visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to many countries, but requirements do change. We recommend checking current entry requirements via the US State Department website or directly with the relevant embassies well in advance of travel.

We greatly value feedback from our travellers. After your tour, you will be sent a link to an online survey. If anything falls short of expectations — or exceeds them — we would very much like to hear from you. Should you have a specific complaint, please contact us directly. 

As a specialist business, we depend on client reviews. If you are happy to share your experience publicly, please review us on our Trustpilot page. 

Simply contact us and we will update your preferences promptly, or click the ‘unsubscribe’ link on any of our emails.

Call us toll-free at 1-888-422-9935 or email northamerica@martinrandall.co.uk. Our team is available Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm ET.