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We were able to cover so much ground in both cities, thanks to the tours! The Hop on Hop off was a wonderful intro to Paris, and the one-day tour was so thorough!

Thank you so much for planning a trip we will fondly remember in our family for a lifetime!!!! I hope to work with you again soon.

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 I was taught in a journalism class to never bury the lead….so here goes:  We loved our driver!  Beth and I spoke to you about finding the right driver for us – Kathy, you found the PERFECT driver. Kieran delivered on everything we could have hoped for and more!  He brought all of your great planning and itineraries to life for us!  He became more than our driver.  He never expected or assumed anything but we always happily included him in our sightseeing, dining and of course pub crawling!  We learned so much from him about the history, land, culture, politics, religion, sports, food, family life – anything we wanted to know, he shared.  We also appreciated that he made suggestions on things to see along the way; he always left it up to us – but in most cases his ideas were spot on!

The 3 hotels in Ireland were terrific.  They were all very different but all first rate and they could not have been more accommodating.  I’m not sure how you could ever beat Dromoland Castle!  We got there early enough that we could walk the gardens and hike through some of the woods.  It is just amazing!  Thank you for booking us into the dining room for dinner – it was simply magnificent; I don’t think we will ever forget the elegance of the service.  Kathy, thank you very much for the room upgrade you arranged for Beth and me.  We actually felt like royalty!  I am not sure we will ever experience a room like that ever again!

You suggested that we use a driver rather than doing the driving ourselves.  And you were absolutely correct about that!  The driving in Ireland is not easy:  the traffic in Dublin and on the roads to Killarney, roads on the Ring and the Cliffs are not easy to navigate and you would miss so many points of interest not knowing what you are looking for or what you are actually looking at!  We would strongly recommend a driver to anyone considering driving themselves!

We very much appreciate your attention to every detail of our trip.  You made this trip – a once in a lifetime experience for all of us!  We can’t thank you enough!

Slainte!…..JOHN

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After Taha’a we ventured off to Bora Bora. In Bora Bora we stayed at the beautiful St. Regis resort. This is the most luxurious and top notch hotel we have every stayed at. It had everything we ever wanted and more. From the first class service to the amenities. The St. Regis staff welcomed us with open arms from the minute we got there. We loved the attention to detail and the care they have for their guests; we were treated wonderfully. We had a large Over-Water Bungalow with the view of the lagoon. We enjoyed the many restaurant offerings from the Italian at Far Niente, to the sushi at Bamboo, to the fine dining at the Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges to the theme nights at Aparima Bar. We really enjoyed the bicycles that we were able to grab when we wanted and we went to and from one spot to another. It also allowed us to explore the resort and the vast grounds. We spent time in the man-made lagoonarium which had a ton of amazing fish and sea life as well. You can’t get any better than that! We also took advantage of the spa where we were able to relax even more. The vast grounds were great to walk around and take in on each beautiful day we were there – not wanting to ever leave! We also took a Safari Jeep tour on the island of Bora Bora where we saw the sunset from the top of a hill, the various canons from American soldiers and saw different views of the water and islands from various spots. We also visited the famous Bloody Mary’s bar. Like I said, the staff and butler services were exceptional and they knew our names from the minute we arrived to the final day we were there. I can’t say anything bad about the St. Regis.

Both of these hotels were dream hotels and we will never forget this experience. This trip was unforgettable. If we could do it again tomorrow we would! Kathy Mueller and the travel team were amazing and we are so grateful for the amazing trip that was put together for us.

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We rented bicycles as the means of touring the beaches and surrounding countryside because we wanted an authentic tour of the area. During our travels, we stumbled upon an amazing local who lead us to a tiny building that housed a museum known only to the locals. Inside, sat an older gentleman referred to by the locals as the expert on local history. He shared with us his memories of the invasion when he was a boy and provided us a hand-written map that contained the Normandy battlefields, as well as, little known villages and roads that were perfect for accessing by bike. I doubt the natives would have been as helpful if we arrived by car and I believe they took a liking to us precisely because we rode up on bikes.

The ride from the museum to the beaches was fascinating because it took us past the hedgerows that proved lethal to soldiers of the invasion forces because they formed a natural defensive barrier that German forces used to their deadly advantage. Another interesting sight on the ride was the monument in every village, hamlet and crossroad honoring the local soldiers killed during WW I. The French casualties in the First World War were far greater than in WW II and that left an indelible impact on the French psyche.

The American Military Cemetery, the beaches and the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc are emotionally overwhelming and moving to a degree that is difficult to describe in words. Needless to say, these sights are awe inspiring and will make every American honored by the sacrifices made by our fathers and grandfathers in the name of freedom.

Our final stop was the village of Sainte Mere Eglise made famous in the film the Longest Day as the landing site for hundreds of U.S. paratroopers during the early hours of D Day invasion. The village is picturesque and is built around a stone square that is dominated by the church of the same name and made famous by a paratrooper whose chute was caught in the steeple and he spent the duration of the battle watching the fighting play out below him. In recognition of the American sacrifice, a replica of the paratrooper hangs in the steeple to this day. The square is surrounded by cafes that are a perfect place to sit back and enjoy this historic village.

On our way back to Paris we visited the charming picturesque seaside town of Honfleur – not to be missed and enjoyed a fabulous night at another Relais & Chateaux property La Ferme Saint-Simeon! Honfleur is a historic shipping port and the starting point for many French expeditions to the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries including Samuel Champlain. The buildings date back centuries and the shops and port are so picturesque. If you want to revisit world history to appreciate what our freedom means, make sure you head to Normandy.

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I can’t say enough good things about our Tour Leader, Rocio Cortéz and our Cusco-Machu Picchu Guide, María Núñez. Each was highly professional, attentive to all our needs, personally engaging, and highly informative. Together they made a highly effective team. Kudos to both.

Mike & Patty

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Windstar Cruises are known for their sailing vessels, but they have added some ocean liners and we cruised on their Star Breeze which accommodates only 212 passengers. Much smaller than your typical ocean liner. The crew was predominately from the Philippines and they were outstanding – genuine and professional. The food was perfect. We had breakfast and lunch each day al fresco on the aft deck and one night to celebrate the big birthday we dined alfresco under the stars. This was the same night that we cruised through the many locks of the Panama Canal.

I didn’t expect the locks to be such an interesting experience but to my surprise it was! My husband was in his glory and had acquired another check on his bucket list.

We spent two nights before the cruise began in the city of Panama, staying at the beautiful Hotel Bristol. The city of Panama is a dichotomy of old & new. I preferred the old. Casco Viejo (Spanish for Old Quarter) is the historic district of Panama City. It was built following the near and total destruction of the original Panama City in 1671 when the city was attacked by pirates.

Today, it is vibrant and authentic with many wonderful restaurants and homes. It’s a must see when traveling to this part of the world.

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