Recently updated on April 10th, 2025 at 01:26 pm
A Trafalgar tour to Europe is always an unforgettable experience, but securing a spot on a winners-exclusive Trafalgar tour to Europe is something else. That’s exactly what the winners of the Trafalgar Unlocked Awards 2025 have got their hands on – a European trip of a lifetime to Prague, Vienna and Budapest.
We saw over 7,000 entries fly in from past guests for this year’s awards, so competition was tough. Only 13 past guests (and their equally lucky plus ones) claimed a spot on our winners’ tour.
Without further ado, let’s meet our Trafalgar Unlocked Awards 2025 winners who will be having the time of their lives on a Trafalgar tour to Europe later this year!
Meet the winners of a Trafalgar tour to Central Europe
Heather, Australia
Heather and Sue met in primary school and have been close friends ever since – after a scary bout with cancer, Sue was determined to make every day count and decided to book onto Trafalgar’s Best of Italy tour with Heather. Heather’s entry recounts two incredible weeks filled with more memories than she can count, from Renaissance art to homemade gelato.
She wrote in her entry: “We will never forget seeing so many beautiful parts of Italy, enjoying the culture, the history, the delicious food and wines and having so much fun together.”
Keith, USA
Keith’s entry told the story of celebrating his 25th anniversary with his partner Greg with a trip to Italy with Trafalgar, exploring the historic streets of Rome, savoring the exquisite cuisine of Florence, and marveling at the beauty of San Gimignano.
He wrote in his entry: “This journey was more than just a vacation; it was a celebration of love, life, and the joy of being together.”
Jill, USA
Jill’s entry was a beautiful celebration of her Best of Britain trip with her youngest son, after a number of tragic family losses and illness. When her son suggested they take a trip together she jumped at the chance, having learned to enjoy life to the fullest and never take anyone or anything for granted.
She wrote in her entry: “We saw so many incredible historical sites that I will not forget but the memories with my son are priceless! The adventure, the silliness, and the love are something you can never replace. They are in my heart forever.”
Ariel, USA
Ariel channels main character energy wherever she goes – though particularly in Lake Como, where she traveled with Trafalgar. Her entry told the story of how she got to live out her own Shakespeare-Taylor Swift mashup moment in Verona, and was gripped by her Travel Director serving up stories and history like they were a Netflix drama.
She wrote in her entry: “Lake Como in person? Absolutely breathtaking. Riding in our private boat? Next-level fabulous. My hair? Blowing in the wind like I was auditioning for a shampoo commercial.”
Stewart, Canada
Stewart’s entry was about the profound impact that seeing Antoni Gaudí’s famous Sagrada Familia had on him, from the stained glass windows to the view from the top.
He wrote in his entry: “We were looking down on Barcelona, framed by the towers of Sagrada Familia. It was a transcendent moment that I still savour.”
Chloe, Australia
Chloe and her boyfriend Ben both share Italian heritage – on their very first date he told her that one day they would go to Italy together, and he was true to his word. Her entry was about the feeling of coming home when they stepped off the plane in Rome, and having her family’s language, culture and traditions surround her.
She wrote in her entry: “This trip has made us both feel so much closer to our grandparents and to each other and has filled us with even more love, a sense of community and belonging.”
Stella, USA
Stella sadly lost her husband after 33 years of marriage together, and found the adjustment to doing things solo – especially traveling – very hard. But she realized she couldn’t let her fear stop her from living her life to the fullest, and found comfort in traveling with Trafalgar knowing everything was taken care of and that she’d meet more wonderful fellow travelers along the way.
She wrote in her entry: “Don’t let fear or any other concerns deprive you of travel!”
Heather, Australia
After Heather went with her daughter to see The Book Club 2 movie, they both knew they had to take a trip to the film’s location, Italy – and Trafalgar’s Italy Bellissimo tour fit the bill. Not only do they have so many memories to look back on together, but they’re also still in touch with the friends they made on tour.
She wrote in her entry: “We decided to do a Trafalgar tour so we could see as many sights and experiences together in a very short time. We weren’t disappointed!”
May, New Zealand
May wanted to honor her mum’s memory by traveling to Venice with her dad – a city that he and her mum had traveled to before May was born. Her entry was about stepping into a piece of her parents’ history and feeling close to her mum, while making new memories with her dad.
She wrote in her entry: “For both of us, that gondola ride wasn’t just a moment in time; it was a bridge between past and present, a way of honouring my mum’s memory while also creating something new.”
Neliswa, South Africa
Neliswa took herself on a solo trip to Japan, joining Trafalgar’s Splendours of Japan tour during cherry blossom season. Her love of Japanese cuisine was taken to the next level, and she bonded with her fellow travelers over the excitement of the cherry blossom.
She wrote in her entry: “I marvelled at how the whole country just blossomed. Whenever we spotted the cherry trees my fellow travellers would call out my name and offer to take pictures.”
Loretta, United Kingdom
Loretta’s entry was about her incredible time in Southern America, from Nashville to New Orleans. It was a music-filled trip, and visiting the Grand Ole Opry show was something on her bucket list – and it didn’t disappoint.
She wrote in her entry: “ From the moment we met our Trafalgar rep till we departed New Orleans we had an absolute ball!”
Shruti, Asia
Shruti and her family traveled to Scotland to celebrate her sister’s graduation from university. Her most treasured memories from the shared family meals, made even better by beautiful sunsets and double rainbows.
She wrote in her entry: “The most cherished moment was the warmth and family bonding on the dinner table!”
William, USA
William’s entry recounted his time on our Splendours of Japan tour, as he whizzed around the country on bullet trains and ferries ticking 8 cities off his travel bucket list. He was particularly moved by the kindness, thoughtfulness and consideration of the Japanese people, and their pride in taking care of their country.
He wrote in his entry: “It was hard to say sayonara to this beautiful country of Japan, our travel friends, and our amazing travel director who taught us so much about her country.”
Don’t forget to keep up to date with the Trafalgar Unlocked Awards and our winners’ journey on their Trafalgar tour to Europe!