I booked the tour directly from the website of VIATOR although it was more expensive than that advertised by Julia Travel. The reason for this was that when I read the reviews on the tour organised by Julia Travel many complained that the trip from Malaga to Gibraltar took much more time than the advertised duration of two hours. However, to my astonishment, when I booked I received an email form VIATOR informing me that the tour would be organised by Julia Travel. Thus I had paid the extra fee in vain._br/_ The coach from Malaga took almost 4 hours to arrive at Gibraltar despite the fact that VIATOR advertises that the trip would take around 2 hours. This delay was due to the fact that there were many pick-ups on the way and the guide had to distance herself from the coach several times to pick up persons along the way. A more clear indication of the time which would be taken from Malaga to Gibraltar should have been given. We arrived at Gibraltar at around 10.45am and were given free time up to 12.30pm. Then we were led to different mini buses according to the preferred language and were informed that the coach would leave Malaga at 3pm sharp. The local guide for the city tour named Paul was commendable and he was both knowledgeable and friendly. However, we were rushed through the places we had to visit. In fact we were spared only 20 minutes to visit St Michaels caves and on our way to the coach parking area, at 2.45pm, Paul even received a telephone call asking him where we were. However, we arrived at the parking area within the following minute._br/_ Our return to Malaga took much less and we arrived at our destination prior to 6pm. This means that although the tour was advertised as having a duration of approximately 12 hours, in our case it lasted only 11 hours whereas more time could have been allotted to us either during our city tour or during our free time. Prior to dropping the participants off, the guide even told us that whoever wished to give tips to her and the coach driver was free to do so. Notwithstanding this, almost none of those who were dropped off in Malaga gave any tips._br/_ All in all, I opine that the tour was not quite worthwhile and it should give more value for money. It would pay whoever wishes to visit Gibraltar to do so on his own if he is able to do so.
Review by: Cree P, May 2018
Julia Travel really took care of us
Review by: Nancy R, April 2018
This tour was underwhelming. We spent 7 hours on the bus and 4 hrs. actually touring at Gibraltar. Felt like we were on the milk run stopping at the various hotels/locations to pick up passengers. It was an exhausting and pricey tour for so little. The Julia Bus tour guide was pleasant but inefficient. He was not clear in his explanations of what passengers were to do next thus creating confusion. The small bus tour guide at Gibraltar, Phil, who drove us to St. Michael's cave and the monkeys was a 5 star guide. He did a great job. Our tour was on a Saturday which is the Sabbath day for the Jewish shop owners. Therefore their shops were closed thus giving less shopping options during the time on Main Street, Gibraltar, a major portion of the tour. Felt a little cheated in this aspect. I would not recommend this tour.
Review by: lfbutler, March 2018
I would give this a zero if there was an option. In an 11 hour day, only 4 1/2 hours were spent in Gibraltar, less than 2 of which comprised an organized tour. Fully six hours were spent poking along Costa Del Sol picking up and dropping off travellers. Had I been forewarned, I would not have registered for the tour! Further, the bus was old, had some broken seats and was not very comfortable. Finally, no effort was made to pull over so passengers could take the iconic photo of the Rock, impossible from Gibraltar itself. A waste of time and money!
Review by: Katherine G, March 2018
Very disappointing. We never got to the top of the rock as advertised.Maybe about 3/4 of the way up. Certainly not worth the time. We had to meet at 7:00, before breakfast being served at the hotel, and not even a rest stop on the way to Gibraltar. Nothing is open in Malaga before 8:00 am, so no coffee available Many, many stops along the way to pick up passengers. It would have been worth a few dollars more to get a private driver. I personally had a visit there 20 years ago, a much better tour, with a guide who explained the history of the rock and the surge.
Review by: bdparvin, March 2018
This was an enjoyable day tour. It was nice to have some solo time to walk around and have lunch. The Gibraltar tour guide was great and the tour of the rock was really interesting. It would have been nice to have toured some of the bunkers, but that was my only complaint.
Review by: John S, March 2018
Well worth the price !
Review by: jjwalden2, March 2018
Malaga to Gibraltar takes about 1.45hrs. With all the hotel pick ups it took us 3 hours. Thats 6hrs travel there and back. It was an interesting tour, but next time Id stay a couple of nights to see all of The Rock.
Review by: Xavier S, March 2018
3H30mn bus to reach Gibraltar and 3h30mn to get back to Malaga ! ..._br/_ We spent more time in the bus than visiting Gibraltar.
Review by: sandusky, March 2018
Some of us started started early from Malaga because on the way to Gibraltar the coach had to pick up other folks along the way. By the time we got to Gibraltar it's like 10:30 am. Then we were split into groups based on the languages used and on to a smaller coaches that took us to the top of the rock.The views are worth it and the monkeys weren't too bad as I'm not their big fan.
Review by: Jane D, February 2018
The bus drove along the coast road so we enjoyed a lovely view of the countryside and the sea with the towns stringing along, one blending into the other. In Gibraltar, you really must take the gondola up to the top. Oooh! what a view!!!! of Africa as well as the opening to the straits. The natural caves are amazing. The rock of Gibraltar is limestone and lends itself to the development of caves rather like a cheese! Macaque monkeys are everywhere up top, totally unafraid of people. The city itself is very crowded with narrow streets and interesting touristy shops. On the whole, a very nice adventure to check off your bucket list. I wish our guide had given explanations of what was going to happen and when. It was a little confusing, but we just kept asking questions. If you eat lunch there, give yourself ample time as service tends to be slow also expensive.
Review by: Natalie S, February 2018
Enjoyed the minibus tour in Gibraltar. Seeing the monkeys is worth it!
Review by: Jesus I, February 2018
We spent 75 of the tour picking up and dropping off people from hotels.
Review by: Paul M, February 2018
The bus made so many stops along the way to pick up people, I got car sick from the round abouts plus it made the trip so long. It would have been nice to stop for a photo before arriving at the border...photos at the border were cluttered with cars and junk and too close to the Rock. I thought the tour would take us higher up the rock like where the cable car goes. The WiFi on the bus did not work and then the bus broke down.
Review by: Robert B, February 2018
Two hours to pick everyone up, with fifteen minutes waiting at one hotel for what turned out to be a 'no show'. The Julia Travel guide from Malaga was poor, but the local guide in Gibraltar - Victor - was one of the best guides I have had anywhere in the world. Advertised as a 12 hour tour, back in 10 hours 45 minutes from departure. An extra hour in Gibraltar would have been excellent
Review by: Thierry K, January 2018
Horaire respecté, guide quadrilingue et connaissant son métier, petite ville à découvrir et panorama exceptionnel.
Review by: Liz C, January 2018
Buyer beware! Their advertisement mentions that After a roughly 2-hour journey, arrive and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Gibraltars main attractions. This was false, it took three hours and a half to get to Gibraltar and the bus stopped about 20 times along the way to pick up passengers. We ended up spending approximately 4 hrs in Gibraltar and 7 hrs in traveling time. I believe it was very dishonest of this company to do that for a trip that takes a bit under 2 hrs from Málaga. They took detours to pick up passengers without informing us that they were going to do that. The guide was extremely rude and they didn't even stop once on the way back for restrooms.
Review by: Doreen W, January 2018
The trip was enjoyable mainly because the local bus driver was so good at his job. He had fluent English and an easy-going way of imparting information about the history of The Rock and the surrounding area. The ability to shop for English products was a bonus. This trip is rated only three stars because the trip took far too long getting to Gibraltar and returning to Malaga.
Review by: Jia Hao T, January 2018
Extremely touristy and lack of clear instruction from the guide. The tour does not bring you to the top of Gibraltar and you will have to ascend during your free time.
Review by: kathleenpoll5, January 2018
Overall, this was a good tour but having to meet the tour bus in Malaga at 7 am was not fun as we spend the first two hours from 7 to 9 am picking up other people from their hotel locations. I wish we had been given this option since we had to spend around 24 on parking in Malaga adding to the cost and time of this tour. The tour itself of Gibraltar was great but again it was a lot of time spent getting there and getting everyone back to their hotel/Malaga.
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