Scottish Dream Tours

With Scottish Dream Tours, my wife and I had an experience that equaled their name. We traveled with them last summer to Ireland and Scotland and enjoyed every minute of the tour. The tour guides were also the owner/operators and both provided knowledgeable information and hospitality generally reserved only for friends and family.....we already reserved a spot for another one of their tours this summer !

I have wanted to see Ireland and Scotland for a few years and my husband signed us up for the tour as a surprise birthday gift to me. He knew a regular large tour, on a big tour bus, would not be what either of us would want. We love going off the beaten path and seeing some of the country's sites that a big tour bus would not be set up for, yet we want to see the not to be missed sites also. Scottish Dream Tours turned out to be perfect! We saw beautiful castles, churches, all the historical sites and had informative, entertaining guided tours in many places. On top of [redacted] and [redacted] tour info! We stayed in a variety of B and B's (we would never have known which ones to stay at had we done the tour on our own). [redacted] and [redacted] took care of everything, were a wealth of information, and were so much fun! We can highly recommend them!

I do not usually leave reviews, but I think they are so helpful when you are searching online for a tour, and are not sure if it is a good, reputable business. I am a bit of a worrier :) about these type of things to say the least - lol. [redacted] and [redacted] go out of their way to make sure everyone is happy and enjoying themselves. We even got to see a few extra sites, which made the trip even more unique!

Another plus if you are visiting Ireland and Scotland for the first time - the people are wonderful. Charming, kind, and helpful in general. You'll feel like they are happy to have you in their country.

This tour was a pleasure in every way! [redacted] and [redacted] - if you read this, I want you to know I am still looking for the Paleo and I've told many people about it :()

Ireland had been on my bucket list for several years. In February 2014 I started searching the internet for small groups and evaluating itineraries. Scottish Dream Tours seemed the best choice and then I decided to add Scotland. It turned out I liked Scotland better for several reasons. My husband and I have traveled to many wonderful places but the Scots are perhaps the warmest, kindest, most generous we have yet to encounter. The owner and leader, [redacted], can trace his lineage back 26 generations. He is passionate about his heritage and that is contagious. The lodging and meals were over the top! Someday I would like to return to Scotland, probably with this touring company. Both [redacted] and [redacted] were very knowledgeable about our destinations. Their careful attention to every detail was amazing since we were at the end of their season (late August to late September). In short I enjoyed the nearly 5weeks spent with them and would highly recommend them to anyone contemplating these destinations.[redacted] , New York

Through my many years of travel I was always tasked with doing the majority of the driving. After booking a tour with Scottish Dream Tours (STD) I was amazed at how much I was missing. Not only was it the scenery as we traveled the secondary roads through Scotland but also the itinerary STD had put together. Many of the sites I would have never even imagined. The places we stayed were excellent and the hosts were gracious and always had a smile and a warm greeting. The places we ate, well what can I say other than way way WAY beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend STD to anyone who wishes to have a worry free vacation.

My trip to Scotland was such a joy and it was due to the hard work and planning of the Scottish Dream Tour guides. [redacted] and [redacted] were truly dedicated to making our trip memorable and meaningful. The journey took us to places that were especially selected for us. The small group tour allowed us to go to places not available to large groups. The lodgings were varied and quaint...I'll never forget Scotland, not only the lovely scenery, the history that was shared, the places we stayed, the friendly Scottish people but also [redacted] and [redacted], who were experts in making a trip so pleasurable and fun.

My husband and I traveled with [redacted] & [redacted] in May on their Scotland Highlands & Island Tour. We had a great time traveling through this beautiful country seeing sites we probably would have missed if traveling on our own. Both [redacted] & [redacted] went out of their way to ensure we made the most of our time. Traveling in 2 minivans with a limited number of guests, afforded everyone a window seat and room to stretch out. The B&B's and boutique hotels were top notch and unlike other tours we've traveled with, you could order from the menu for all the included meals (no bland set meals!). If you want to see the highlands and outer islands, consider Scottish Dream Tours.

Traveling through the Highlands with [redacted] and [redacted], Scottish Dream Tours, was absolutely wonderful! Our trip was filled with magical moments--castles, train rides, bagpipes, stone circles, tea time, and laughter! Oh, the laughter! We came home with so many great stories and memories. [redacted] and [redacted] took care of everything, and we could sit back and enjoy it all! They had a great itinerary lined up, but also allowed time for extras that were important to our group. Since we were a small group we were not locked into large, impersonal hotels; we stayed at smaller spots that gave a truer feel of the country. I'm so pleased that I first experienced Scotland with [redacted] and [redacted]; their knowledge and love for the country and its people is readily apparent. I would go on another trip with them in an instant!

In August 2014 we enjoyed an extraordinary journey over Scotland's Highlands and Islands with Scottish Dream Tours, under the direction of [redacted] and his assistant [redacted]. We covered a vast area of Scotland as well as a huge expanse of history. An appealing feature of this tour was the small size of the group of travelers -- 11 divided between two minibuses. Shannon's years of designing tours assured us important places to see (on and off the beaten path), glorious geography, superior accommodation and great places to eat. We observed our guides working tirelessly to give us the very best travel experience. We could never have done this journey on our own. We certainly recommend Scottish Dream Tours and thank them for a splendid holiday!

My wife and I traveled with Scottish Dream tours last June to both Ireland and Scotland.
Overall, our review of the tour is mixed. The two countries we visited are truly beautiful. However, the owner of the company, [redacted], is a paradox. On one hand, he appears to be very open and conversational. On the other hand, there were many instances where he offered little or no communication.
Example… Almost every morning, we boarded our van without so much as a “Good Morning”. We were never given a weather forecast, and more than once several tour guests boarded without the proper rain attire. An in-depth recap of the day’s touring was rarely forthcoming. Rather than sit in the front of the van, Mr. [redacted] and his associate [redacted] sat in the very back, where they obviously were more comfortable. He most often communicated only with people immediately around him, leaving those of us near the front without pertinent information or facts.
During the tour, there were two days where a High Tea experience was scheduled. At both of these events, little or no advance planning was in place… Mr. [redacted] said nothing to us (not one word) as we sat for up to an hour waiting for the supposedly scheduled teas to be set up.
Our time in Belfast was very minimal. We didn’t arrive until almost 10 AM. Mr. [redacted] recommended that we tour the Titanic construction location. He went off on his own with his associate [redacted], and we were left to fend for ourselves. Following the Titanic tour, we went to a restaurant of Mr. [redacted]’s recommendation. That was it IT for Belfast. Surely there must have been other things we should have been directed to, but no time was left for us to see anything else.
Another time we spent two nights at a country home in the middle of nowhere. A very expensive and below average dinner for around $90 US was our only option on the second night. Surely this could’ve been planned better.
On the day we left Ireland for Scotland, there was no afternoon restroom stop schedule. Because of this, one of the guests had an accident on the bus. I personally asked [redacted] a couple of times if we were going to make a bathroom stop, and never received a direct answer.
Once we got into Scotland, Mr. [redacted] came alive, most likely due to his Scottish heritage. He actually began to act like the tour leader we had expected. However, the itinerary we visited missed some major tourist destinations.
Our van driver largely made up for Mr. [redacted]’s silence with enjoyable banter and the level of personal interaction not offered by Mr. [redacted] or [redacted]. Without him, the daily travel would have bordered on being intolerable.
As result of our travel with Scottish Dream Tours, we are now headed on a Spanish tour of some 40 people. We think our chances of meeting some compatible folks will be greatly increased. The company we chose has A+ references numbering into the thousands. Although Mr. [redacted] has been in business for about 14 years, the number of references we found was extremely low.
We strongly recommend that you consider your touring options in Ireland and Scotland thoroughly before booking any company.

I dreamed of going to Scotland. When I saw Scottish Dream Tours, I felt it was meant to be. [redacted] was so obliging when my first traveling partner was unable to go and arranged accommodations for us a day ahead. His helpfulness made me feel comfortable planning my first trip abroad.
We had a wonderful trip! The attention to detail on the part of the guides made it an easy and stress free trip for us. The accommodations were varied and each one terrific! It was clear the hosts viewed our guides as returning friends. (Yes, each one had a hairdryer, soaps, etc.)
The breakfasts were awesome as were the other meals. Again, the variety was great. There were many meals together, but also time to eat and wander about on your own.
The guides were both fun to be with and knowledgeable of the history and details about the areas toured. Being a small group, we were able to go places a larger group could not have gone. There were also many places an individual would never have known to go! The guides were also willing and able to adapt the schedule to interests, weather, etc. They were also good company and easy to be around!
One aspect I did not anticipate was the wonderful people we toured with and how much I enjoyed their company! [redacted] and [redacted], our guides, did a wonderful job of encouraging people to swap seats during the tour so we were really ably to spend time and get to know one another!
My best recommendation is that we are already booked for our second tour with Scottish Dream Tours in 2016!

[redacted] and [redacted],
I can't tell you thank you enough for the amazing time we had on your Romancing the Highlands tour. This being my second tour with you, I knew it was going to be amazing and you did not disappoint! You two do an outstanding job and I hope you never stop. Your love for Scotland is contagious! Thank you for sharing all your wonderful impressive knowledge about the history of this great country. You went out of your way to make sure we had the time of our lives. From the extra stop at Fraser Castle, laughing, singing and writing romance novels in the van to the intense heart wrenching visit to Culldon Battkefield the trip couldn't have been better! Keep doing what you guys do best and I can't wait to see you again! A third tour is in the near future!

My trip of the Highlands and Islands was fabulous. I can not say enough good things about [redacted] and [redacted], their attention to detail and the effort and work that went into this trip was extraordinary. The two week experience was close to flawless. Not one bad meal and the places we stayed were delightful. Thank you, thank you [redacted] and [redacted].

We just got home from a tour with [redacted] and [redacted] to Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Eleven strangers met up with them on a Friday morning, and 2 weeks later parted as friends! [redacted] and [redacted] did a fantastic job of taking us around the UK. They are like walking history books bringing each place we visited come alive. Every detail of our trip was planned out, and the accommodations and food were first class. I would recommend Scottish Dream Tours to anyone who wants a great travel experience!

We had a fabulous holiday in Scotland with [redacted] and [redacted]. Their Scottish Dream tour was one of the best tours we have done. Their knowledge of Scotland made the tour so very interesting and special. The places we stayed in were just lovely the food was fabulous including cafes and restaurants. We saw some amazing scenery where only small Mercedes mini buses could get to. They were extremely comfortable only having six passengers in each vehicle. We had lots of laughs and special events like [redacted] and [redacted] organising a buffet dinner followed by a visit to the theatre was a lovely surprise.
We would highly recommend this company, thanks to [redacted] and [redacted] who had made our holiday so very special. [redacted] Western Australia.

We enjoyed the spring 2014 tour to the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The size of the tour was perfect with just 10 people which allowed us to go to many small B&B's and inns that could not accommodate large tour groups. [redacted] and [redacted] both have an extensive knowledge of the area and its history which makes the tour exciting and interesting as well as educational. They each have great personalities and a keen sense of humor which adds to the fun. [redacted]'s love of Scottish history and his heritage are apparent as is [redacted]'s love of and expertise in photography. We look forward to seeing them both this spring on another tour. We heartily recommend their tours.

My wife and I went on the Scottish Dream Tour of Wales in April of this year. [redacted] and [redacted] (again) provided their unique personal service throughout the tour which they are rightly famous for. Lodging and meals were excellent throughout. Warning: We were simply not prepared for the grandeur of the castles in Wales shown to us on this trip. We cannot say enough about the enjoyment we received from going on this intimate journey across the entire length and breadth of Wales with [redacted] and [redacted].

My sister and I took the tour to Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland in 2014. It was a wonderful, interesting, informative trip. We had so much fun that we booked right away for the English Countryside for 2015. [redacted] and [redacted] were wonderful guides and I would recommend them to any of my friends.

I had the time of my life exploring Scotland with Scottish Dream Tours. Truly, the trip of a lifetime for me. Their Highlands and Islands tour was the perfect sampling of Scotland. The tours are small, so you get very personal attention from Shannon and Mario. And they're the best. They're very knowledgable and a lot of fun to travel with. They take all the stress out of traveling that you can experience when you travel on your own. They made my vacation unforgettable. With them, you're not just another face in an endless stream of people on a bus. It's a very intimate experience, staying in small Bed and Breakfasts and eating the most wonderful food ever. In fact I've never eaten so much in my life. And because you stay in these small out of the way places, you get a one on one chance to really meet the Scottish people. And a nicer people you'll never meet.

If I get the chance to go back to Scotland, or for that matter any of Brittain or Ireland, I am definitely traveling with Shannon and Mario (Scottish Dream Tours).

My wife and I did the Scottish Fall Tour; We are both in our 80s. The small group travelled in two vans. One third of team were repeating with these guides. It is clear why. They are organized, knowledgeable and considerate. It is not the highlights that caught our attention; every traveler is likely to see them; it is the low lights. These are the interesting, often small places you would never see without outstanding leaders. These are the Scottish baronial homes and occasional ancient country inns that were our amazing nighttime stops. We were welcomed as old friends as someone as indicated before. Each day started at a reasonable hour and tended to end in time for tea. Frequently we stayed pit for two days. The small number allowed for deviations. One was to what used to be a little village, now gone, from which my ancestors immigrated. I was the first to return in 231 years. Shannon's knowledge and ability to remember dates was astonishing. He was wise enough to give you some facts but not drown you in the slop of them. He made each place come alive. We also noted such little things as our driver/guides were very quick to give you a hand entering and leaving the van. You never carried your bags. They were delivered to your room, and picked up there in the morning. We saw a great deal of Scotland in a short time but were never rushed. We have travelled quite a bit and this ranks with the best. We strongly recommend small groups and this tour.

Scottish Dream Tours fulfilled all that was listed in the itinerary and more. Lodging and meals were extremely well chosen and did not disappoint. Transport in vans was a plus. Owners provided flexibility to accommodate requests. Excellent service and itinerary for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.