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Sicily 2008
I just wanted to tell you I loved everything about the tour--the Hotel
Isabella, the food, the wine (of course), and the archaeological sights
most of all--so well introduced by Jacques' lectures (usually while
he held us captive on the bus!). Also, huge thanks to Aurelio, the
fearless busdriver, and Joanne, the fearless tour escort.
This was my fifth trip with Pauwels Travel and all of the journies
have given me new knowledge and great joy. I was so lucky to find
you!
( Diane McConnell )
Maple Leaf Route tour 2007
"I thought your itinerary was excellent and Jacques
and Joanne were superb at leading this tour. I was VERY impressed.
DO NOT ever cancel this tour... I think that what you offer is financially
reasonable and is great for ALL age groups. I know there is a lot
of Canadians out there that could connect to this. Please continue
to offer this tour..."
(D. A., Trenton)
Silk Road and Tibet 2007
"I felt each day of our 20-day trip was outstanding! Just when
I thought the very first day was wonderful and could not possibly
be improved upon, each day thereafter was just as sensational. The
people, music, food, architecture and history were so very diversified
and unsurpassed I felt I visited three different countries...[this
was] a trip of a lifetime."
( P.A., St. George, Ont. )
Corsica and Sardinia,
May 2007:
"Thank you for the delightful tour of Sardinia and Corsica. What
beautiful islands! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and loved the food
and the sights and of course the people. We'll never forget the beautiful
Mediterranean and of course that boat ride back from Sardinia to Corsica.
Your presentations are always informative and delightful, a highlight
of the tour. A great and fun time was had by all!"
(B. and R. C., Etobicoke)
Aspler Wine Tour
2006
I have been meaning to email for a week or so to say how much I enjoyed
the Italy tour, and meeting you and Cathy. I really do congratulate
you both - you handled everything with enormous tact and efficiency
(not always easy, I know) and made sure that we all had a terrific
time. We could not have wished for more fun, and understanding, leaders.
I was very sad to wave off the bus in Verona, and hope that you all
had a great time in Venice and Florence. They were an entertaining
group, and I missed you all afterwards. I do hope we can get together
for another tour. Very Best Wishes
(F.C. London, UK)
We had a great time on the trip, and you and Cathy did a great job.
We are thinking seriously at this point of joining next year's tour,
especially if it is the same mix of town and countryside, vineyards
and other attractions. Would you ensure that we are on your list when
the plans firm up. We also have friends who are very interested. Keep
us posted. We'll be interested to see the itinerary.
Sincerely,
(B. & M. Victoria, BC)
Stephen and Cathy – Thanks – what great pics you have
posted. The memories come flooding back when I look at them. It truly
was the trip of a lifetime! Thanks for everything you both did to
make it all come together. Of course I want to be kept informed [of
the Bordeaux tour] – I certainly intend to go assuming the timing
is in May. I have told some other people about it and if they want
more info I will send along their e-mail addresses.
Again, thanks for everything – Salute,
( G.P. Toronto,)
Hi Stephen and Cathy,
Thank you very much for the update on the Wine Tour, your fantastic
pictures and a preview of plans for a future wine tour. We wanted
to thank you both for the wonderful job you did escorting this tour.
You made it seem so effortless but I am sure that is not the case.
We certainly enjoyed your company and everyone else on the trip as
well. This was a very special group and I have to think that our common
bond –an appreciation of good wine– provided the chemistry
that made this group so congenial. We feel we have made a friend in
each and every one of you. I hope we can stay in touch.
Our thanks also goes out to Tony Aspler who organized the trip so
beautifully. We really did get to visit some very prestigious wine
producers, stay in some wonderful hotels and visit some of the most
historic landmarks in all of Europe. Last but not least the wonderful
wines we sampled and the wine bars and enotecas we discovered along
the way were just marvelous. Thank you, Tony!
The trip in the works to visit the Bordeaux Region of France sounds
intriguing. I would love to have an opportunity to return there and
take Stella to see it for the first time. While it is difficult to
commit to the trip at this point we will certainly give it consideration
and would like to be kept in the loop as the planning progresses.
Thanks again to everybody for making this trip a memory that will
last for a lifetime. We hope to meet you all again someday soon.
(D. & S. Woodstock, ON)
Maple Leaf Tour 2006
“Your Maple Leaf Tour was wonderful and absolutely overwhelming.
You made it live for us and I only wish I could remember more of the
history you presented to us with facts and figures. It is a trip that
will be in my thoughts many times in the future. Too much good food!!
Sincerely M.T. Waterloo
Egypt tour of October
2006
"I just wanted you to know that I thought the Egypt trip the
best I had ever been on. We certainly had value for money and lots
of fun in the bargain...Ihab was an inspired choice for a guide."
(D. W., Alton, Ont.)
Malaysia
and Borneo 2006
"This is just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed the Malaysian
Trip. Besides being excellent value for the money, it was adventurous,
exotic, informative and fun in more ways than one."
(C. V. I., Toronto)
Argentina
from Top to Bottom, January 2005
"Argentina was a super trip, I loved it all...Thank you for a
terrific experience!"
(M.M., Toronto)
Libya
2004
"Many thanks for your efforts to arrange and guide this Lybian
tour off the beaten track. It was the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna
that hooked us, but it was the days in the desert that we'll remember
as the highlight. I see in your recent flyer that the trip will be
repeated. It will be a winner as well for
anyone that takes it."
(B. and J. U., Waterloo, Ont.)
Berlin
in Depth 2004
"We certainly would include this tour among the best holiday
trips that we have ever taken. The tour arrangements were great, including
the hotel and meals and the well organized day-trips.... We found
Berlin to be a virtual walk-in encyclopedia of arts and architecture.
We also found your daily ‘briefings’ on the history of Germany
to be very helpful in filling in the gaps from our readings preparatory
to the trip."
(Letter from J. and E. S, Don Mills, Ont.)
Berlin in Depth 2003
"Thank you for making the trip so lively and informative. The
depth of information and the effective presentations added immeasurably
to my enjoyment of this visit to Berlin."
(D. D., Arlington, Virginia)
"We have appreciated the balance between guided
tour and free time to explore and experience the city in our own way...[It
was] such an enriching experience, including opera, theatre, and concert."
(D. And O. L., Toronto, Ontario)
Berlin in depth 2002:
"Just a brief comment about the recently-completed Berlin in
Depth tour: Berlin was great! The tour was great!"
(R.F., Brampton, Ontario.)
Paris
in Depth 2004 "Wow! Paris was wonderful, we enjoyed
our nine days so much, I could easily have stayed another week, there
was so much to do and see. We were very pleased with the tour, it
was well organized, we could never have seen so much on our own. Thank
you for sharing your knowledge with us. It was like walking with a
Book of Knowledge...I am confident that some of our friends will join
you on this tour next year. We were very fortunate to have you [Jacques]
and Michael as leaders." (B.A.M., Burlington, Ont.)
"This tour was our first visit to Paris and our
first involvement with your agency. I want you to know that we could
not have been more pleased with both. The trip seemed like very good
value, and it proved to be excellent value. We were very impressed
with Michael [Quinn, the guide]. He was helpful, supportive, patient
and very informative, as well as being a delight to be with."
(E-mail from B. and S. W., Stratford, Ont.)
Paris
in Depth, February 2000:
“I can hardly believe how much we saw, how much
we did and how much fun we had. I certainly feel that I now know Paris...
Thank you so very much for making the trip such a terrific experience”.
(Letter from T.H., Kitchener, Ontario)
“What a wonderful trip to Paris! Thank you so
much for all the planning to make every day so interesting and fun.
I’ve visited Paris twice before but never have I done so much
or seen so many sights”.
(Letter from C.F., Waterloo, Ontario)
Belgium
in Depth 2003
"[We] thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Belgium... Your talks certainly
help to understand the two facets of Belgium,i.e. French and Flemish,
and also the separation of Belgium from Holland. The gourmet meals
that we shared were quite memorable. The farewell dinner was the best
we've ever had." (R. and S. C., Mississauga, Ont.)
"We would like to thank you for an outstanding
trip. Your commentaries and presentation made history and the region
come alive...We also appreciate your patience and generosity in trying
to accommodate the needs and wishes of all your charges and the care
with which you select interesting and accessible drop-off points,
from which we can further explore on our own... Remembrance Day in
Ypres will stay with us all our lives; what a perfect vantage point
we had!
(D. and O. L., Toronto, Ont.)
Belgium
in Depth 2000:
“I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the trip to Belgium...The
emotional dimension provided by learning about the Canadian soldiers’
role in Belgium made this a very different tour. ..Truly a memorable
trip”.
(Letter from B.N., Toronto, Ontario)
“Thank you sincerely for a most enjoyable, informative
and comfortable trip to Belgium. It rates an excellent with me - thanks
to all of you”.
(Letter from J.O., Boone, NC)
The New Germany, May 2002:
"...a really splendid trip... It was so well planned that I have
to go over my notes time and again to convince myself that we really
did do all those fabulous things, thanks!"
(M. M., Toronto, Ont.)
"Our appreciation and thanks for the New Germany
tour you have organized recently. We think that this tour was definitely
one of the best we have participated in, its content very well chosen,
its organization superb and the lectures concerning the background
and history of the sites visited wonderfully informative, entertaining
and thought provoking. In short, we have enjoyed the tour and were
very pleased with all aspects of it, bar none."
(T. and V. H., Etobicoke, Ont.)
European
Primavera: the Lakes of Northern Italy, May 2002:
"My wife and I had a great vacation in northern Italy. In spite
of the rain, we enjoyed it immensely - the scenery, ambiance and food/wine.
Thanks for making it so special for all of us."
(Letter from R. G. W., Kitchener, Ont.)
Ancient
Persia, Modern Iran, October 2001:
"I wish to tell you how very much I enjoyed this trip. Being
particularly interested in archaeology, it was wonderful to visit
the many remains I had read about and find that the actual sights
contained much more than the palace, ziggurat or mausoleum we had
expected to see. Each day brought something unexpected and we could
enjoy the great variety of local food, admire their wonderful gardens
and experience the differences in hotel accommodations. Particularly
enjoyable was the friendliness of the Iranians. The entire trip was
very well organized and the fact that we [women] had to cover ourselves
thoroughly did only occasionally seem a hardship."
(H.K., Mississauga, Ontario.)
Liquid
Gold of Iberia: A Winetour to Spain and Portugal, September 2001:
“We would like to personally thank you for the splendid trip
ot Spain and Portugal. We thoroughly enjoyed the accommodations, food,
wine and historical facts... We will certainly look forward to future
trips with you.”
(D. and M. L., Newmarket, Ont.)
Grand Tour of the Baltic, August 2001:
“I loved the trip, as it fulfilled a dream I have had for many
years. And the historical input was much beyond expectation."
(P. E., Brantford, Ont.)
The
France of Napoleon, May 2001:
“My head is still full of all the wonderful sights and the many
interesting facts we learned...It was all so very enjoyable and you
are to be congratulated for putting together such a great experience
for us.”
(E-mail from K.C., Toronto)
Vienna
in Depth, March 2001:
"Thank you so much for a wonderful trip - truly remarkable in
every way. We learned so much and had so many individual moments of
reflection about what we were seeing and doing."
(Letter from S.B., Toronto)
"Thank you for a ‘first-class’ tour...We
loved every minute of it. The hotel is a "plus" being so
central and convenient but the biggest asset to me was the transportation
ticket... I had never been on the underground or overground transportation
system in Vienna before, but this was quick and easy and took you
everywhere."
(Letter from E.O., Ottawa)
Florence and Tuscany,
February 2001:
“I had a wonderful time in Florence. Thank you so much for the
excellent organization and fine experience in a most interesting city.
You tell great stories - I never know when history ends and fiction
begins!”
(Letter from C.F., Waterloo, Ont.)
Primavera 2000: Alsace-Lorraine:
“We would like to thank you for conducting a tour which surpassed
our expectations. The sights, the people, the knowledge imparted and
yes - the food! - resulted in a most memorable experience.”
(Letter from D. and L. P., Kitchener, Ontario)
Art Tour of Spain 1999:
“Fabulous hotels! Marvelous restaurants! Wonderful
food and drink! Outstanding itinerary! Superb arrangements!...the
tour participants could not seem to say enough good things about their
Spanish experience”.
(From a report about participant reaction at www.artinguelph.com/Pages/gacarchiveja4.html)
Australia and New Zealand
1999:
“I would just once more say how much I enjoyed
that trip. It was very well organized and it got us out into the countryside
to experience the real Australia. Also, it was only about 65% as much
as some similar trips I had looked at. This was my first trip with
Pauwels Travel. I doubt it will be the last”. (Letter from H.M.,
Shanty Bay, Ont.)
“It was a wonderful tour, everything I wanted
and more... The talks about the history and culture added a very special
dimension...” (Letter from A.H., Toronto)
