"Thanks for thinking of us. We had a fabulous trip!!! Everything
was perfect! All of the travel arrangements you made for us were great &
made the trip carefree. We also had a wonderful tour director, fabulous food,
& great weather. The scenery was spectacular & we met some really nice
people (especially the locals.) I have loads to tell you & would love to
talk to you about it. If you have some time on a Friday (I'm off on Fridays),
could we get together on the phone? I'm looking forward to it!
We hated to leave Rome! We're so familiar with it now that it
almost feels like a second home!
Grice Family, Castro Valley, CA December 2012
We are back and Happy New Year to you too! Everything was great, so thank you. We loved Chaa Creek and all the activities. Guides, Drivers, etc. were all super helpful, pleasant, and knowledgeable. We had our transfer set up between Chaa Creek and Placencia so we were set. Also on the day we transferred we asked them if we could stop and zipline (it was pretty much on the way to Placencia) so we did that for an extra charge and that was great. You may know this, but there is a new air strip right down the road from Chaa Creek and somebody we met used it to get from Chaa Creek to San Pedro (I think their original plan which was to get there via Belize City ).
Same at Chabil Mar. rooms were nice and resort was perfect size. We would definitely recommend both places. If we were to do it again I might try to get second floor units but I don't think that was an option for us when we booked. We all agreed that going to moutains first and then to beach was good, plus once we got to Chabil Mar we had laundry :)) Really nice to finish the trip by relaxing at the beach and walking, biking, golf carting to town so we all loved that.
Also, I heard Peter had some last minute issues with Addie's passport, sounded complicated, but he was SUPER appreciative of all of your help on that so thanks again!!!
I think thats it, so thank you again!!
Bogardus Family San Francisco, CA December 2012
Maggie, know Alec's been in touch too, but thank you!! This has been the trip of a lifetime. Anantara, Thailand was absolutely incredible, thx for pushing us on that. In HK now with friends, but everything's been perfect. Be in touch soon, and thx again! You've given us great peace of mind on this adventure.
The Guettel Family Bedford, NY March 2013
I haven't had a chance to come back and thank you for everything that you did to make our trip to Turkey so special and memorable. We loved every single day, but particularly our time in Cappadochia and Istanbul. Borgu and Ismail were spectacular. We really enjoyed them both and they provided such good background information on all the sites. The hike in Cappadochia with Ismail was FANTASTIC! He totally understood the kids and took us all on one heck of a hike which had the most beautiful vistas. It was a highlight that we will all remember forever. I really appreciated that they both talked openly with us about the politics in Turkey and the demonstrations. It was such a good experience for my kids to hear the passion and love that they both have for their country and see their willingness to stand up for what they believe. As you suspected, we never felt at all concerned about our safety and Brian has (appropriately) eaten a lot of crow for all of his issues and worries! Turkey is amazing and beautiful. I now understand why you love it so very much.
We loved every hotel - each one was each so charming and different. All three were, as you promised, lovely, relaxing and just perfect for a family who has been touring... Too bad about the cancellation of our flight home, but not much anyone could do about that. We ended up enjoying those extra two days and relaxed and had quiet family time...
Thank you, Maggie, so much for everything. It was a great trip!
Farr Family, Hillsborough, CA July 2013
We can't thank you enough for all you did to ensure a wonderful vacation for our family. It was as seamless as it could have been given all the moving parts. I am very happy to debrief on all hotels and the Navilux. The ship and crew were outstanding. We were 100% pleased and would charter again with them tomorrow!
We are headed back to Idaho tomorrow, but I am available on cell and online anytime. Hope you are having a great summer. THANK YOU!!
Gardner Family, San Francisco, CA July 2013
Maggie! I think I'm finally returning to the land of the living...
What a fabulous trip you planned for us! Turkey was everything you promised and more!
From the Blue Mosque to the "fairy chimneys" to the ruins in Ephesus and sailing on the Mediterranean, every leg of our journey was filled with enchantment and adventure! I'm so glad we went!
We especially loved Sirince and the charming Nisanyan house. How did you ever find that place? We loved the hotel's ambiance -- the beautiful garden, the chickens, the peacocks, the wonderful food and the gorgeous swimming pool. And the 2000 year old ruins in Ephesus put Rome to shame in terms of accessiblity and scope! (I still can't believe how sophisticated the Ephesians were back then!) Our tour guide was lovely and very knowledgeable too. We all wished we had more time in Sirince to "dig" a little deeper into the history of the area and to enjoy the accommodations and explore the many hiking trails in the area.
Also, as you probably already know, we met a client of yours from Atlanta, the Wachs, who had a similar itinerary so it was really fun getting to know them and running into them everywhere we went.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. My only regret is that my two other children were not able to join us. I guess we'll just have to make a return trip to Turkey someday!!....
At any rate thank you for putting our trip together so efficiently and professionally. It was definitely one of our best trips yet so I will gladly refer you to my friends/family and will encourage them to visit Turkey too! Lucky for the Halsteds that they get to experience it all next week!
Lang Family, May 2013
So glad we choose to stay here. The Aman Montenegro. Thx for helping us make the decision. Truly amazing. In heaven! Thx again
Knorpp Family Larkspur, CA July 2013
I wanted to tell you we are having a fantastic time. Each day is as wonderful as the day before. Thank you in particular for arranging the full moon and beautiful weddings the night we had dinner at Tugra! My only sadness is that there will be nothing left to eat in Turkey when we are gone--surely we've eaten it all! We have loved each hotel and leave today for the boat, which we all also excited to experience. Thanks so much again!
Luke Family Richmond, VA May 2013
First and foremost, thank you so much for helping us with our recent trip!! We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed getting to know Spain! Your recommendations and advice were all right on!
Hotel Jazz worked for us in Barcelona. Because we were so jet lagged, we didn't really use the pool. I didn't ask/think to ask about breakfast/included, etc.....but, wish I did, as we hit the sights pretty quickly. The front desk was nice, but wasn't able to help with rec's for tours, etc.
We did have a tour with Runner Bean tours (it's in Rick Steves', and they had a cancellation). We had a private 4 hour tour with Ann Marie which was superb! We used public transportation, when needed (easy) and got to see the main sights. She also took us to the 'Giants' museum (not in guide books) and the workshop where these Giants are made (a tradition in Barcelona--really cool, and kids loved it). The price was very reasonable as well.
Sevilla was wonderful! The Alfonso was perfect and we used the pool often. The concierge was really helpful (Anna) and accommodating. She even arranged for our rental car to be delivered to the Hotel (at no charge)!
Sights in Sevilla all worth it.. Cathedral/Bell tower, Alcazar ( go at end of day....less crowded) and Bull Fight Museum. We went to a nice restaurant called San Marco in the Santa Cruz old town area and enjoyed it.
Casa La Siesta in Vejer de la Frontera was incredible! Our childrens' favorite spot. The horse and horsmanship session was unforgettable. The food/dinner prepared by the chef was delicious and they accomodated for the children (simple meal). Vejer de la Frontera and the nearby beaches--great to visit. We were there with the heavy winds, so couldn't really stay or go to the beach. The Casita with our own pool/trampoline--perfect.The restaurant called Patria was well worth it--delicious!
The Alhambra was also lovely in Granada. I wouldn't recommend the food at the Alhambra-but it was nice to sit on the terrace and enjoy a cold drink. It's basic accommodation, but in an unbelievable setting. Breakfast was included--so glad we double checked. I'm really glad we stayed there!
Casa la Concha (the place in Marbella) was really relaxing. It was kind of quirky, almost hippie-like. However, the gal (Marie) that owns/runs it was really lovely and helpful with tips for restaurants, etc. The room was comfortable and breakfast quite good. It was a bit too far to walk to the beach. There was a grocery nearby, so you could have drinks/snacks and enjoy them at the place. The pool was nice for the kids and we enjoyed unwinding there.
Marbella Club Hotel was really nice! At check in they 'included' breakfast, which was great with the kids. We enjoyed the beach quite a bit, collecting shells, swimming/seeing sea life, etc. We ate at a couple of amazing restaurants in the old town which were incredible (Bistro Paloma and Casanis). We didn't see many sights as we just relaxed.
However, we did visit Puerto Banus--a sight to see with all the fancy cars and people.
All in all---a wonderful time! It was so nice to relax at the end of the trip, as we were on the go initially.
Thank you so much for organizing!!
Dahlem Family San Francisco, July 2013
Hi. I just wanted to let you know we are home from our cruise on the Baltic Sea. We had a WONDERFUL time!
The whole trip went perfectly. I can't thank you enough for your help in planning it. We loved Copenhagen, and the hotel you had booked for us (Radisson Blu Royal) was great. The "family room" was phenomenal and the location of the hotel was perfect. The cruise on the NCL Star was great, too. We saw so many ports and fell in love with so many places--it was a whirlwind! I'll remember it forever.
I just wanted to think you for all your help in booking the trip. It was everything we hoped it would be for a "trip of a lifetime" so far. It has certainly whetted our appetites to do more travelling like this in the future, too. Thanks for everything!
The Tewksbury Family Colchester, CT August 2013
"We had the time of our lives on the Esme Sultan II. The boat is beautifully appointed. The crew is extremely professional. Every day was a perfect new adventure. We wake boarded, water skied, and did stand up paddle boarding. The meals were fit for a king. We can’t wait to come back and do it all over again.
The Willrich Family-Piedmont, CA 2012
Mezcal II was gorgeous - thank you. Would be fun to tell you about our experiences.... Bottom line is that we had an absolutely fabulous time and could not have asked for more from you. You were an incredible resource for us and our trip was perfect. So THANK YOU!!! I hope to meet you soon. My best and enjoy these last weeks of summer
The Gardner Family-San Francisco, CA 2012
"Your choices have been magnificent- The St.George in Athens was perfect, we never wanted to leave the tranquil sanctuary and attentive and lovely staff of the Pegasus suites in Santorini. I am in LOVE with this hotel, waiting for our guide now after our seven course artisan breakfast..no calorie counting here!. Thank you for everything- you have made this trip the delight that it is!"
The Polite Family-San Francisco 2012
"As for the trip, we had a wonderful time. The Ciragan was perfect. After sight seeing, it was so nice to come back and refresh by jumping in their beautiful pool. It truly made our trip to Istanbul. Burcu,our guide, was fantastic. We all really enjoyed her and I'm so glad we had her for two days and not just one. She took us all over."
"We loved the Argos. I thought it was beautiful and the woman who runs it is delightful. Our guide, Kadir, was great.
We went straight to Gocek, checked into the Efe hotel We woke up, swam at the hotel, shopped around Gocek and had lunch with Umit. By the way, he was great."
"As for the Parlak, what can I say? We absolutely loved it. The crew was fantastic. My younger son played games with them throughout the trip. They taught him how to play Okay and he taught them dominoes. He had special handshakes with all of them. Lane is now emailing the young deck hand, Engin. Turkay, the captain, was darling. We had the best time with him. He has friends throughout the Mediterranean and he showed us so many great spots. It was truly magical. I literally had tears in my eyes when we said good-bye."
The Stervinou Family Mill Valley, CA 2012
"So glad u reached out to me. We had the best time in the Galapagos and for sure it's a trip we will remember always.
And yes Maggie is the absolute best, greatest, kindest, most diligent travel agent ever.
I am glad you guys are booked and going!!!!!!!"
The Heller Family New York 2012
"Just filled out the survey. It was a fabulous trip. My husband loved the Sirince terrace. And I would go back on the ILIOS in a nano-second. it was spectacular and the crew was superb. It was smooth sailing all the way home. Thanks again for all your help."
The Sellman Family, San Francisco, CA 2012
"My time in London and Paris were like a "Fairy Tale" dream come true...I would actually like to return and stay longer at both places...The Montague was fabulous and as usual everything was perfect due to you and all your hard work....
THANK YOU for another wonderful adventure in Europe...."
The Cordells Sunset Beach, NC 2011
“We are back safely. The trip was great. The whole loved Turkey – the food, culture, people…we definitely want to go back. Also..I wanted to let you know both hotels were awesome…and the guides were even better.”
The Wherry Family, Chevy Chase, MD 2009
“We had a fabulous trip! The tour was amazing, & we have a new appreciation & fondness for Italy. All of the arrangements you made for us worked out well, & the Inn at the Spanish Steps was a perfect location for the time on our own. I’m looking forward to telling you all about it!”
John and Bernie Grice, Castro Valley, CA 2011
“I just wanted to say thank you again for all your help in arranging this trip for me. We had such a indescribable time and we are already wanting to get away together to Napa, Mexico, or just wherever…… The hotel was wonderful, I loved the rooms and the hotel had such a great attention to detail, we even had a picnic in Hyde park one afternoon that topped it all off. David was definitely a fantastic tour guide and I told him that he came highly recommended from you. Thank you thank you thank you for everything!”
Brice/Eason family , Laredo, TX 2010
“We got back a week ago and had a fabulous time! We ended up seeing nine different countries in twenty days. The ship was beautiful and the service impeccable and all the transfers went without a hitch. Ephesus was certainly one of the highlights of our trip and we would love to see more of Turkey in the future. We heard rave reviews about the river cruises in Europe and think that’s what we might do next.
Thank you so much for all your help in making this such an amazing vacation!”
The Bakers, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 2011
“I want to thank you for helping to make our trip to Paris and Venice wonderful. Every aspect of it was perfect! You did a great job in pairing us with the right activities, tours, and guides. Each guide had an excellent personality and offered something a little different from the other. I do have to say that we loved Barbara, the American from A Paris Travel. She is a very unique person and offered us such a true glimpse of the real Paris. Madeline was quite taken with her. But all of the guides were great and each tour was outstanding.
Our hotel accommodations were perfect. We loved each hotel. We were upgraded at the Gritti Palace and when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did! When we arrived at Le Bristol in Paris, we were upgraded there also. Only this time we were upgraded into an apartment – it even had an exercise room! How fantastic is that? We had a beautiful view of the Paris skyline as well as a rooftop terrace. Each hotel was different but I have to say I think my favorite was Le Bristol. So thank you for introducing us to this wonderful hotel. I think I would like it even if we weren’t in such luxurious accommodations as what we had. We were very pleased with the airport transportation arrangements as well. It certainly made everything so much easier.
Madeline had such a great time and truly was overjoyed with the special activities you arranged for her. She loved the cooking school and the mask making workshop. I would recommend these to anyone looking for a unique experience. At each of them, she was the only person and the people totally focused on her. They were so gracious and patient. I would say that anyone interested in cooking would truly enjoy the cooking class. Sebastiano has a great personality, speaks excellent English, and was enjoyable to be with. We first went to the market and purchased the food and the traveled to a private home to do the food preparation. It was a beautiful home and we were treated as guests. After the food preparation, we were seated in the formal dining room and served. It was quite elegant yet comfortable. We felt very welcome and it was nice to see inside a true Venetian home.
Again, it has been such a pleasure to work with you on this trip. I cannot thank you enough for giving us all a wonderful memory. Madeline told me on our last day before coming home that she wasn’t ready to come back and that she “just loved Paris”. I think you helped instill that in her by your attention to such detail. We will keep in touch and you will be my first call on our next trip.”
The Koenig family, Vincennes, IN 2008
“We had a great time. My favorite stops were Ephesus and the Isle of Capri. We (John) bought a small wooden inlaid table in Anacapri which we now have in our living room.
Thanks for your help in making this a trip of a lifetime!”
John and Ann Pollock, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
“WOW! China was absolutely amazing! We took almost 1900 photos & will send you a few soon. This has displaced the Canada/Alaska trip as our Best-Ever.
But the best of the best was our Chinese Tour Escort – Francis Yang. We plan to write Viking & tell them how personable, informed, industrious and efficient he was. The man was someone we’d like to bring home and call our best friend.
So thanks again for your assistance – we’d recommend this trip to anyone.”
Dave and Joan Higinbotham, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Grice Family, Castro Valley, CA December 2012
We are back and Happy New Year to you too! Everything was great, so thank you. We loved Chaa Creek and all the activities. Guides, Drivers, etc. were all super helpful, pleasant, and knowledgeable. We had our transfer set up between Chaa Creek and Placencia so we were set. Also on the day we transferred we asked them if we could stop and zipline (it was pretty much on the way to Placencia) so we did that for an extra charge and that was great. You may know this, but there is a new air strip right down the road from Chaa Creek and somebody we met used it to get from Chaa Creek to San Pedro (I think their original plan which was to get there via Belize City ).
Same at Chabil Mar. rooms were nice and resort was perfect size. We would definitely recommend both places. If we were to do it again I might try to get second floor units but I don't think that was an option for us when we booked. We all agreed that going to moutains first and then to beach was good, plus once we got to Chabil Mar we had laundry :)) Really nice to finish the trip by relaxing at the beach and walking, biking, golf carting to town so we all loved that.
Also, I heard Peter had some last minute issues with Addie's passport, sounded complicated, but he was SUPER appreciative of all of your help on that so thanks again!!!
I think thats it, so thank you again!!
Bogardus Family San Francisco, CA December 2012
Maggie, know Alec's been in touch too, but thank you!! This has been the trip of a lifetime. Anantara, Thailand was absolutely incredible, thx for pushing us on that. In HK now with friends, but everything's been perfect. Be in touch soon, and thx again! You've given us great peace of mind on this adventure.
The Guettel Family Bedford, NY March 2013
I haven't had a chance to come back and thank you for everything that you did to make our trip to Turkey so special and memorable. We loved every single day, but particularly our time in Cappadochia and Istanbul. Borgu and Ismail were spectacular. We really enjoyed them both and they provided such good background information on all the sites. The hike in Cappadochia with Ismail was FANTASTIC! He totally understood the kids and took us all on one heck of a hike which had the most beautiful vistas. It was a highlight that we will all remember forever. I really appreciated that they both talked openly with us about the politics in Turkey and the demonstrations. It was such a good experience for my kids to hear the passion and love that they both have for their country and see their willingness to stand up for what they believe. As you suspected, we never felt at all concerned about our safety and Brian has (appropriately) eaten a lot of crow for all of his issues and worries! Turkey is amazing and beautiful. I now understand why you love it so very much.
We loved every hotel - each one was each so charming and different. All three were, as you promised, lovely, relaxing and just perfect for a family who has been touring... Too bad about the cancellation of our flight home, but not much anyone could do about that. We ended up enjoying those extra two days and relaxed and had quiet family time...
Thank you, Maggie, so much for everything. It was a great trip!
Farr Family, Hillsborough, CA July 2013
We can't thank you enough for all you did to ensure a wonderful vacation for our family. It was as seamless as it could have been given all the moving parts. I am very happy to debrief on all hotels and the Navilux. The ship and crew were outstanding. We were 100% pleased and would charter again with them tomorrow!
We are headed back to Idaho tomorrow, but I am available on cell and online anytime. Hope you are having a great summer. THANK YOU!!
Gardner Family, San Francisco, CA July 2013
Maggie! I think I'm finally returning to the land of the living...
What a fabulous trip you planned for us! Turkey was everything you promised and more!
From the Blue Mosque to the "fairy chimneys" to the ruins in Ephesus and sailing on the Mediterranean, every leg of our journey was filled with enchantment and adventure! I'm so glad we went!
We especially loved Sirince and the charming Nisanyan house. How did you ever find that place? We loved the hotel's ambiance -- the beautiful garden, the chickens, the peacocks, the wonderful food and the gorgeous swimming pool. And the 2000 year old ruins in Ephesus put Rome to shame in terms of accessiblity and scope! (I still can't believe how sophisticated the Ephesians were back then!) Our tour guide was lovely and very knowledgeable too. We all wished we had more time in Sirince to "dig" a little deeper into the history of the area and to enjoy the accommodations and explore the many hiking trails in the area.
Also, as you probably already know, we met a client of yours from Atlanta, the Wachs, who had a similar itinerary so it was really fun getting to know them and running into them everywhere we went.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. My only regret is that my two other children were not able to join us. I guess we'll just have to make a return trip to Turkey someday!!....
At any rate thank you for putting our trip together so efficiently and professionally. It was definitely one of our best trips yet so I will gladly refer you to my friends/family and will encourage them to visit Turkey too! Lucky for the Halsteds that they get to experience it all next week!
Lang Family, May 2013
So glad we choose to stay here. The Aman Montenegro. Thx for helping us make the decision. Truly amazing. In heaven! Thx again
Knorpp Family Larkspur, CA July 2013
I wanted to tell you we are having a fantastic time. Each day is as wonderful as the day before. Thank you in particular for arranging the full moon and beautiful weddings the night we had dinner at Tugra! My only sadness is that there will be nothing left to eat in Turkey when we are gone--surely we've eaten it all! We have loved each hotel and leave today for the boat, which we all also excited to experience. Thanks so much again!
Luke Family Richmond, VA May 2013
First and foremost, thank you so much for helping us with our recent trip!! We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed getting to know Spain! Your recommendations and advice were all right on!
Hotel Jazz worked for us in Barcelona. Because we were so jet lagged, we didn't really use the pool. I didn't ask/think to ask about breakfast/included, etc.....but, wish I did, as we hit the sights pretty quickly. The front desk was nice, but wasn't able to help with rec's for tours, etc.
We did have a tour with Runner Bean tours (it's in Rick Steves', and they had a cancellation). We had a private 4 hour tour with Ann Marie which was superb! We used public transportation, when needed (easy) and got to see the main sights. She also took us to the 'Giants' museum (not in guide books) and the workshop where these Giants are made (a tradition in Barcelona--really cool, and kids loved it). The price was very reasonable as well.
Sevilla was wonderful! The Alfonso was perfect and we used the pool often. The concierge was really helpful (Anna) and accommodating. She even arranged for our rental car to be delivered to the Hotel (at no charge)!
Sights in Sevilla all worth it.. Cathedral/Bell tower, Alcazar ( go at end of day....less crowded) and Bull Fight Museum. We went to a nice restaurant called San Marco in the Santa Cruz old town area and enjoyed it.
Casa La Siesta in Vejer de la Frontera was incredible! Our childrens' favorite spot. The horse and horsmanship session was unforgettable. The food/dinner prepared by the chef was delicious and they accomodated for the children (simple meal). Vejer de la Frontera and the nearby beaches--great to visit. We were there with the heavy winds, so couldn't really stay or go to the beach. The Casita with our own pool/trampoline--perfect.The restaurant called Patria was well worth it--delicious!
The Alhambra was also lovely in Granada. I wouldn't recommend the food at the Alhambra-but it was nice to sit on the terrace and enjoy a cold drink. It's basic accommodation, but in an unbelievable setting. Breakfast was included--so glad we double checked. I'm really glad we stayed there!
Casa la Concha (the place in Marbella) was really relaxing. It was kind of quirky, almost hippie-like. However, the gal (Marie) that owns/runs it was really lovely and helpful with tips for restaurants, etc. The room was comfortable and breakfast quite good. It was a bit too far to walk to the beach. There was a grocery nearby, so you could have drinks/snacks and enjoy them at the place. The pool was nice for the kids and we enjoyed unwinding there.
Marbella Club Hotel was really nice! At check in they 'included' breakfast, which was great with the kids. We enjoyed the beach quite a bit, collecting shells, swimming/seeing sea life, etc. We ate at a couple of amazing restaurants in the old town which were incredible (Bistro Paloma and Casanis). We didn't see many sights as we just relaxed.
However, we did visit Puerto Banus--a sight to see with all the fancy cars and people.
All in all---a wonderful time! It was so nice to relax at the end of the trip, as we were on the go initially.
Thank you so much for organizing!!
Dahlem Family San Francisco, July 2013
Hi. I just wanted to let you know we are home from our cruise on the Baltic Sea. We had a WONDERFUL time!
The whole trip went perfectly. I can't thank you enough for your help in planning it. We loved Copenhagen, and the hotel you had booked for us (Radisson Blu Royal) was great. The "family room" was phenomenal and the location of the hotel was perfect. The cruise on the NCL Star was great, too. We saw so many ports and fell in love with so many places--it was a whirlwind! I'll remember it forever.
I just wanted to think you for all your help in booking the trip. It was everything we hoped it would be for a "trip of a lifetime" so far. It has certainly whetted our appetites to do more travelling like this in the future, too. Thanks for everything!
The Tewksbury Family Colchester, CT August 2013
"We had the time of our lives on the Esme Sultan II. The boat is beautifully appointed. The crew is extremely professional. Every day was a perfect new adventure. We wake boarded, water skied, and did stand up paddle boarding. The meals were fit for a king. We can’t wait to come back and do it all over again.
The Willrich Family-Piedmont, CA 2012
Mezcal II was gorgeous - thank you. Would be fun to tell you about our experiences.... Bottom line is that we had an absolutely fabulous time and could not have asked for more from you. You were an incredible resource for us and our trip was perfect. So THANK YOU!!! I hope to meet you soon. My best and enjoy these last weeks of summer
The Gardner Family-San Francisco, CA 2012
"Your choices have been magnificent- The St.George in Athens was perfect, we never wanted to leave the tranquil sanctuary and attentive and lovely staff of the Pegasus suites in Santorini. I am in LOVE with this hotel, waiting for our guide now after our seven course artisan breakfast..no calorie counting here!. Thank you for everything- you have made this trip the delight that it is!"
The Polite Family-San Francisco 2012
"As for the trip, we had a wonderful time. The Ciragan was perfect. After sight seeing, it was so nice to come back and refresh by jumping in their beautiful pool. It truly made our trip to Istanbul. Burcu,our guide, was fantastic. We all really enjoyed her and I'm so glad we had her for two days and not just one. She took us all over."
"We loved the Argos. I thought it was beautiful and the woman who runs it is delightful. Our guide, Kadir, was great.
We went straight to Gocek, checked into the Efe hotel We woke up, swam at the hotel, shopped around Gocek and had lunch with Umit. By the way, he was great."
"As for the Parlak, what can I say? We absolutely loved it. The crew was fantastic. My younger son played games with them throughout the trip. They taught him how to play Okay and he taught them dominoes. He had special handshakes with all of them. Lane is now emailing the young deck hand, Engin. Turkay, the captain, was darling. We had the best time with him. He has friends throughout the Mediterranean and he showed us so many great spots. It was truly magical. I literally had tears in my eyes when we said good-bye."
The Stervinou Family Mill Valley, CA 2012
"So glad u reached out to me. We had the best time in the Galapagos and for sure it's a trip we will remember always.
And yes Maggie is the absolute best, greatest, kindest, most diligent travel agent ever.
I am glad you guys are booked and going!!!!!!!"
The Heller Family New York 2012
"Just filled out the survey. It was a fabulous trip. My husband loved the Sirince terrace. And I would go back on the ILIOS in a nano-second. it was spectacular and the crew was superb. It was smooth sailing all the way home. Thanks again for all your help."
The Sellman Family, San Francisco, CA 2012
"My time in London and Paris were like a "Fairy Tale" dream come true...I would actually like to return and stay longer at both places...The Montague was fabulous and as usual everything was perfect due to you and all your hard work....
THANK YOU for another wonderful adventure in Europe...."
The Cordells Sunset Beach, NC 2011
“We are back safely. The trip was great. The whole loved Turkey – the food, culture, people…we definitely want to go back. Also..I wanted to let you know both hotels were awesome…and the guides were even better.”
The Wherry Family, Chevy Chase, MD 2009
“We had a fabulous trip! The tour was amazing, & we have a new appreciation & fondness for Italy. All of the arrangements you made for us worked out well, & the Inn at the Spanish Steps was a perfect location for the time on our own. I’m looking forward to telling you all about it!”
John and Bernie Grice, Castro Valley, CA 2011
“I just wanted to say thank you again for all your help in arranging this trip for me. We had such a indescribable time and we are already wanting to get away together to Napa, Mexico, or just wherever…… The hotel was wonderful, I loved the rooms and the hotel had such a great attention to detail, we even had a picnic in Hyde park one afternoon that topped it all off. David was definitely a fantastic tour guide and I told him that he came highly recommended from you. Thank you thank you thank you for everything!”
Brice/Eason family , Laredo, TX 2010
“We got back a week ago and had a fabulous time! We ended up seeing nine different countries in twenty days. The ship was beautiful and the service impeccable and all the transfers went without a hitch. Ephesus was certainly one of the highlights of our trip and we would love to see more of Turkey in the future. We heard rave reviews about the river cruises in Europe and think that’s what we might do next.
Thank you so much for all your help in making this such an amazing vacation!”
The Bakers, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 2011
“I want to thank you for helping to make our trip to Paris and Venice wonderful. Every aspect of it was perfect! You did a great job in pairing us with the right activities, tours, and guides. Each guide had an excellent personality and offered something a little different from the other. I do have to say that we loved Barbara, the American from A Paris Travel. She is a very unique person and offered us such a true glimpse of the real Paris. Madeline was quite taken with her. But all of the guides were great and each tour was outstanding.
Our hotel accommodations were perfect. We loved each hotel. We were upgraded at the Gritti Palace and when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did! When we arrived at Le Bristol in Paris, we were upgraded there also. Only this time we were upgraded into an apartment – it even had an exercise room! How fantastic is that? We had a beautiful view of the Paris skyline as well as a rooftop terrace. Each hotel was different but I have to say I think my favorite was Le Bristol. So thank you for introducing us to this wonderful hotel. I think I would like it even if we weren’t in such luxurious accommodations as what we had. We were very pleased with the airport transportation arrangements as well. It certainly made everything so much easier.
Madeline had such a great time and truly was overjoyed with the special activities you arranged for her. She loved the cooking school and the mask making workshop. I would recommend these to anyone looking for a unique experience. At each of them, she was the only person and the people totally focused on her. They were so gracious and patient. I would say that anyone interested in cooking would truly enjoy the cooking class. Sebastiano has a great personality, speaks excellent English, and was enjoyable to be with. We first went to the market and purchased the food and the traveled to a private home to do the food preparation. It was a beautiful home and we were treated as guests. After the food preparation, we were seated in the formal dining room and served. It was quite elegant yet comfortable. We felt very welcome and it was nice to see inside a true Venetian home.
Again, it has been such a pleasure to work with you on this trip. I cannot thank you enough for giving us all a wonderful memory. Madeline told me on our last day before coming home that she wasn’t ready to come back and that she “just loved Paris”. I think you helped instill that in her by your attention to such detail. We will keep in touch and you will be my first call on our next trip.”
The Koenig family, Vincennes, IN 2008
“We had a great time. My favorite stops were Ephesus and the Isle of Capri. We (John) bought a small wooden inlaid table in Anacapri which we now have in our living room.
Thanks for your help in making this a trip of a lifetime!”
John and Ann Pollock, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
“WOW! China was absolutely amazing! We took almost 1900 photos & will send you a few soon. This has displaced the Canada/Alaska trip as our Best-Ever.
But the best of the best was our Chinese Tour Escort – Francis Yang. We plan to write Viking & tell them how personable, informed, industrious and efficient he was. The man was someone we’d like to bring home and call our best friend.
So thanks again for your assistance – we’d recommend this trip to anyone.”
Dave and Joan Higinbotham, Ocean Isle Beach, NC