COVID 19 Actions
Designed With Safety in Mind
A private, guided, small group tour is undoubtedly one of the safest ways to travel in these uncertain times. We have reacted to the current outbreak to ensure our guests are kept safe while still getting the opportunity to explore our fantastic country in the luxury and comfort of our private guided tours. Below are a list of the actions and extra precautions we have taken to ensure the safety and comfort of all of our guests.
Vehicle Hygiene: Our vehicle has always been washed before and after any trip but we have now added disinfecting the vehicle internally and externally as part of this cleaning process. Guests will be asked to use hand sanitiser each time they enter the vehicle during the tour.
Guest Care: Guests will be provided with personal hand sanitiser sprays and individually wrapped face masks for use in the more congested areas outside of the bus.
Temperature Checks: Our driver will check all guests at the point of pick up with a hand held temperature scanner. Any guests showing signs of a fever will unfortunately be refused entry to the bus. In the event that this results in a cancellation of the tour then a full refund will be provided.
Maintaining Our Bubble: Our vehicle is equipped with fold down tables and chairs and so we can enjoy any pit stops while reducing the risk of external contamination. Additionally our provision of snacks and hot and cold drinks throughout the tour will reduce external contact. Packed lunches can also be provided for a small additional charge.
Cancellation Policy: To provide peace of mind for all of our guests we have introduced a temporary no quibble full refund for any tour cancellation due to COVID concerns. We ask any guests who show symptoms to follow the governments advice at that time but also to cancel the tour with as much notice as possible. Tours cancelled with no notice will be charged expenses for travel to and from the point of pick up.
Good to Go Certificate: Designer Tour Scotland have been certified good to go in partnership with the tourist organisations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This certificate will be available to view in the vehicle.
Stay At Home Days Out
According to our recent survey around 75% of us will be staying at home this year. Designer Tour Scotland have created some exciting days out for a range of groups.
Family Focused Days Out: We have an excellent selection of exciting day trips with the full focus on family entertainment. Our city days out include our adventure packs which will keep the kids and the adults entertained as we visit some of the best family friendly locations in town or take the family out of town on a beautiful scenic tour and we will explore some of the hidden gems you have possibly driven by without even noticing they were there. Either way these tours are designed specifically with families in mind and as such we have considered the cost of these events. Where possible we have focused on free entrance events.
Pals Reunited: We have all missed the interaction with good friends over lock-down and as things start to reopen it’s the perfect time to get together with all your pals and enjoy a hosted day out. No need to worry who is driving and we have a range of activities you can enjoy together all in the comfort and safety of our private luxury Mercedes Vito.
Staff Appreciation Days: Do you have a small group of loyal staff who have supported your business through the turbulent period of the pandemic? Why not show them your appreciation by providing a hosted day out. You can select from a range of trips and events or if you have your own ideas, let us know and we will design a trip to match your requirements. Who would not appreciate a relaxing Spa Day with a personal driver or just being taken on a majestic tour of our stunning country?
Designed For You
Cruise Shore Excursions
Our cruise excursions are designed to make the most of your precious time, to allow you to explore and discover as much as is possible in the limited time you have available. You will always be able to see how far we are from the ship so don’t panic.
Activity & Adventure
We offer a range of tours focused on activities and adventures but if you have something specific in mind just let us know and we will build the trip of your dreams.
Scenic Explorer (Low Activity suitable for wheelchairs)
Limited mobility does not mean dull and boring. Our scenic explorer tours have been designed to let you explore and discover some of Scotland’s most fantastic scenic and historic locations
Family Focused
Our family focused tours are designed specifically for family groups and include an activity pack to keep the full family engaged and entertained for the duration of the trip.
History & Culture
These tours are designed to let our guests explore and discover Scotland’s vast and diverse history and culture and tell the stories that have enthralled many travelers over the years.
Multi-day and Customized Tours
If you have the luxury of an extended stay, let us design a tour to meet your requirements. We will build a trip of a life time based on your interests and specifications.
What We Do
Our knowledgeable local guide will lead you on an exciting voyage of discovery as we explore and uncover some of the little hidden gems of this fantastic country. You will travel as a private group in the luxury and comfort of our spacious 9 seater tour bus with access to hot drinks at any stop. Your unique tour will be modified to cater for all of your needs as we stop to enjoy a “wee taste of Scotland” and possibly share a “wee dram” from our friendship cup.
Your time is precious, spend it doing what you want to do.
Don’t follow the herd.
Your Guide & Transport
Hi my name is Dave and like yourself I have a passion for travel. I love to explore and discover the hidden gems that you can find anywhere in the world but sometimes it can take time to find them. That is where a private tour with a knowledgeable local guide stands out. Come with me and I will take you on a voyage of adventure and discovery as we explore the hidden secrets of my beautiful country and its remarkable history.
My adventures are suitable for all and can be modified to meet the needs of any group from high activity thrill seekers to the more sedate scenic explorers. Don’t worry, even our low activity tours will allow you to explore and discover some hidden gems.
As an avid traveller I have experienced many tours and adventures and as such I have a good understanding of what makes a tour stand out. I have used this knowledge and experience in the design all of my tours to provide a fantastic experience for my guests. It is true that adventure and discovery can still be carried out in luxury and comfort and that is my main focus.
I look forward to meeting you and your group as we embark on another adventure which has been modified to provide the unique experience you are looking for during your short visit to my incredible country.
Now it is time to see Scotland your way.
Our Transport
All of our tours are delivered in the luxury and comfort of our 9 seater tour bus and we recommend a maximum group size of 7 to ensure all of our guests have plenty of space and a fantastic view as we cruise through the country side. The tour bus has been equipped with lots of special touches to ensure our guests comfort. See 10 reasons to book with us below for more details.
10 Reasons To Book With Us
At Designer Tour we believe there are many good reasons to choose a small, private, guided tour over a large group tour, especially if you have limited time to visit our fantastic country. If you have already decided this is the type of tour you want to book, you will be overwhelmed with the choice of tour providers all doing very similar things. So why would you choose Designer Tour over all the other providers? We have spent a lot of time considering your needs and wants and we have tried to come up with ways to make our tour just that little bit more special than to the point where you just won’t want to go anywhere else.
Free Hot Drinks at Any Stop
A nice hot cupa on the go with no queuing and all free.
Stopping for a tea or coffee can cost precious time and money. At each stop we will provide the option to have a hot drink as we get back to the bus, allowing you to drink it as we are driving or just while we are taking in a magnificent view without wasting any time queuing. Drinks are provided in travel safe cups with screw lids.
Route Map & Tour Information
Example Route Map
Your tour will have been booked by one guest and they will most likely know exactly where you are going and what you are doing because they have requested and designed the tour with us, however not all members of the group will have the same understanding. Every tour is different and so we provide an individual customized route map with the itinerary for the day for each guest. These are specific to your tour and can be taken away as a small reminder of the trip.
Picnic Benches
A seat at any stop.
Some of the areas we will be visiting can get quite busy and some times there are no picnic tables available where we may want to use them. We have equipped the bus with folding picnic benches which means we can guarantee our guests a seat at any location it also means we can choose where to enjoy our stops with more flexibility.
Personal Seat Organiser & Bottled Water
Our transport is equipped with individual personal organisers to allow guests to store drinks bottles and cups, mobile phones and other devices providing just that little bit more comfort.
This is quite a basic provision but water will be provided to each guest at the start of the tour with more available on request. As part of our drive for environmental sustainability we provide water in reusable containers but appreciate that some guests prefer plastic bottles, we provide both.
Personal Audio Systems
You will be able to hear us on the move or in the bus, assuming you want to???
We provide each guest with an audio receiver for use both inside and outside the bus. The devices are used to provide clear communication from the guide either while driving or during a guided part of a stop. they have a range of up to 100 meters and can also be used to provide music during parts of our journey without having to play it over the bus audio system. This means our guests can pick and choose when they want to listen and how loud they want the music to be without affecting other guests.
Get Me To My Ship On Time
We’ll keep an eye out for you.
If you are travelling on a cruise you don’t want to be that passenger that is left behind or the one that has to sneak on the ship at the last minute. For cruise excursions our drivers will always have an eye on the traffic with a sat nav set for the cruise terminal just in case traffic takes a turn for the worse. You will always be able to see that your end destination is reachable from any location on our tour. This system has traffic monitoring to keep us up to date.
Umbrellas
Rain drops keep falling on my head, but not on this tour. We’ve got you covered.
Just in case the Scottish weather lives up to it’s unpredictable nature we supply individual golf umbrellas for each of our guests. Most guests come expecting nice dry weather but this can be a little variable, so just in case, we have you covered, literally :)
A Taste of Scotland
At some point during our tour you will be provided with a little sweet treat taste of Scotland. There are some things you should just not leave Scotland without trying, this will be your chance to “gae it a bash” as we say (simply means “try it”).
The Kilted Caterer
During peak season stopping for lunch can be quite time consuming. You don’t want to waste precious time waiting for a seat in a restaurant or cafe. We have teamed up with a local chef to provide a fantastic alternative, a freshly prepared picnic hamper made by our own Scottish chef. All of the products are individually prepared using only fresh local Scottish produce to provide a taste sensation which will leave you full but still hungry for more. Individually wrapped lunches can be consumed while taking in some glorious sights or even en route from one stop to the next saving both time and money as these fantastic packages are very reasonably priced.
A10 Visuals
I am a very keen traveler and have visited some truly awesome locations. I spend most of my time trying to snap that one memorable photograph. My photographs are never as good as the real thing. With a photographer taking care of that you won’t have the same issue and you can simply enjoy the experience. If the weather is not good for photographs and you still want a reminder, John has a stock of photographs from all of the locations we have visited which he will provide at a very competitive rate.
The more observant of you will notice that there are 11 reasons on this page but that is because at Designer Tour we like to under promise and over deliver.
Select Your Tour
If you can’t find the tour you are looking for select multiday & customized tours and we will design a tour specifically for you.
