CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS & REPORTS

Simply Groups very rarely advertise and we have no grand plans to grow to the point where clients become reference numbers and can never speak to someone who can make a decision. Our clients welcome the personal service that we are able to provide and they benefit from the 25 years experience and knowledge that we have. This enables us to discuss options that are available so that an itinerary can be provided that meets with the satisfaction of each member of the group.

DEREK & SYLVIA MARSH TOUR TO YORKSHIRE JUNE 2010
Morning Shauna
As promised one photo of my group this was taken at the Museum of street life in Hull.
Thank you for all your hard work in collating our holiday my group loved every minute and Sylvia and I thank you very sincerely for you wonderful gift to Margaret the lady that had a birthday on holiday, you really do  pull out all the stops don't you love.
And it was very nice to see you at Castle Howard, all in all you and your team did a splendid job and all of my group thank you all very much.
Derek & Sylvia XX

EILEEN FUNNELL IN POLAND - MAY 2009
"Well - that was a brilliant trip to Krakow; I can honestly say that everybody thoroughly enjoyed it. Andels Hotel was great - spotlessly clean, lovely rooms, super bathrooms, very nice staff, great position, and everything for the buffet breakfast - I loved t he smoked salmon and scrambled eggs! There was something for everybody. It was such a great position too.

You must always try to get Dennis McEvoy, our guide, for your groups - he was American, extremely knowledgable, very nice chap, spoke fluent Polish.

Lots of happy customers! THank you all very much. And everyone was pleasantly surprised with Poland, how lovely it was.

DEREK & SYLVIA - ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION QEII CRUISE OCTOBER 2008
"Morning Joanne
This is just to say thanks to all at Simply groups for all that you did to make our trip Perfect even down to the weather, WELL perhaps you didn't have anything to do with that!
But you did do a brilliant job on the rest My group loved MILESTONES, the living History Museum.
And the Meal at THE OLD CUSTOMS HOUSE Portsmouth went down a treat.
But the trip on the Solent to go down with the QE 11 We My group were waving and cheering Like kids and the did not stop talking about it until they got home.
I can say that as an G.T.O you will get more work from me you made my job easy."

Derek and Sylvia were just one of three groups who travelled with us to see the QEII and Queen Mary sail for the last time from Southampton. They took to the Solent to cruise alongside the ship as she departed and there was much cheering and flag waving and a few tears too. The itinerary was complimented by a wide variety of interesting visits as well as lunches and dinners for those staying overnight. This was a unique short break enjoyed by all the groups who travelled.

RENEE'S TOUR TO GLORIOUS YORKSHIRE AUGUST 2008

Renee has been one of Simply Groups greatest supporters and Shauna took the time to spend the day with the group during their tour to our part of the world. Reene kindly wrote this report of the tour.
"After a bright and early start we arrived at Sutton Cheney to do the “Ashby Trip”, a short canal cruise with a Ploughman’s lunch aboard the “Bosworth Lady”. Then onward to the Rendezvous Hotel at Skipton which stands on the Leeds Liverpool canal – the narrow boats tied up right outside whilst their crew opened the nearby swing bridge.

Next day was spent in York with a walking tour of part of the City to start and then we went our various ways, with perhaps a guided tour of the Minster, a look at The Shambles, the shopping centre or the open top bus.

On the Tuesday we went on the Settle-Carlisle railway on a scheduled diesel train as far as Appleby. Unfortunately the torrential rain hid the scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and the Cumbrian Fells but the stations and their history were interesting. The rain had stopped by the time we reached Hawes, our lunch stop. We then continued to Kettlewell to their Scarecrow Festival. The village was grouped around the Kettlewell Beck and the Scarecrows were spread far and wide and we came across a cricket match, a teddy bears’ picnic, a bride with her bridesmaids and a Maypole with dancers. The vicar was in the church porch and many of the biblical characters were portrayed inside – Joseph the carpenter “needed joiners”. The church itself was very interesting with impressive windows in memory of brothers who had been killed in WW II.

On Wednesday morning we went to Skipton, as it was Market Day. The Canal runs just behind the High Street - a very pleasant stroll. There was also the Castle, the Parish Church and the Town Hall with its Museum and Flea Market to explore. In the afternoon we visited Harrogate and the lovely Valley Gardens, the Royal Pump Room Museum and ended up at Betty’s or one of the many tea rooms in the town.

First thing Thursday morning we set off for Castle Howard in a bouncy little coach from a local firm as it was our driver’s day off from driving. We viewed the house with its Great hall and magnificent Dome, the Chapel, and an exhibition of the sets for a film “Brideshead Revisited “ which is due to be released later this year. We saw the Atlas Fountain from the windows of the house but the rain ruled out a visit to the garden. After lunch we went on to Eden Camp at Malton – built originally in 1942 as a Prisoner of War Camp. There were displays of various aspects of WWII and a lively Puppet Music Hall with songs by George Formby, Vera Lynn and other stars of the 40’s that offered a welcome haven from the incessant rain.

Next morning dawned bright and clear and we left for the village of Haworth accompanied by Shauna, a Director of Simply Groups, the company that arranged the holiday. In the Brontë Parsonage Museum the rooms are furnished as they were in the mid 1800’s and others were devoted to displays of the Brontës’ history, their personal possessions and letters. We visited the Church and the village, reminiscent of the Hovis ad. and admired the beautiful views over the Pennine Hills from the tea rooms. Our departure was delayed by a foray into “The Brontë Weaving Shed” (Edinburgh Woollen Mills) to take advantage of their sale! In the afternoon we went to Harewood House and wandered round the State Rooms with their Chippendale furniture, Adam ceilings and interiors. We ventured below stairs to see the kitchen and servants’ quarters with their interesting exhibitions of life there in Victorian times. Then on to the Terrace, designed by Sir Charles Barry in the mid 1800s, to enjoy tea and cake in the glorious sunshine and watch the Red Kites gliding over the Parkland.

Saturday and time to return home but not before a visit to Gainsborough Hall in Lincolnshire, a Medieval Manor House, for lunch. This house was very impressive with a Great Hall bedecked with flags and a vast kitchen with two fireplaces and a Tower which looked out over the town. We had lunch in the Upper Chamber, a very good ploughman’s with home made apple pie to follow, and then boarded the coach for the last time. Thanks to Ron our driver who also acted as our guide, and Renee who arranged our itinerary and looked after us all it was a very enjoyable week."

JIM'S PROBUS TOU TOGLORIOUS YORKSHIRE 2008

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for and congratulate you on the excellent trip to York. We have had nothing but compliments from all the parrticipants as you will see from the comments on the feedback forms . I would like to give Ron, our coach driver, a particular mention. He was brilliant throughout - informative, helpful, patient and I felt that nothing was too much trouble for him. We are now all looking forward to travelling with Simply Groups again next year 
Pat & Jim thank you.

VINCENT'S VISIT TO YORK & YORK RACES 2008

Just to let you know everyone had glowing praise for the weekend, which all went smoothly and to plan.

The hotel was really good with really nice staff, great location and good food.

Lee from Protours was equally impressive, especially for a scouser. 

JOY & BEN'S EASTERN DELIGHT

Thank you very much indeed for organising such a delightful holiday. Please thank everyone concerned for all their hard work. All members received full details in advance about their holiday and were more than satisfied.