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"I have so many compliments to share about our Eastern Europe trip, but I want to be able to send the pictures from the girls when I get them, so look forward to that soon!!!" "We just got back last night. That was the BEST trip ever! John Lionet was TERRIFIC! Everyone loved him!! France was just wonderful!! Stacey and her replacement did a great job. I honestly can't imagine another travel group giving the same service. Please give my thanks to Peter, Stacey and Clair. "Thank you very much! Our trip was wonderful and Sergio Solazzo was an instant
hit with everyone.
I look forward to traveling with Casterbridge again in 2010."
"We had a wonderful
trip and Casterbridge certainly lived up to my expectations with only
a few minor issues which were immediately solved thanks to Isabella
Franco who was with us." "We had a great
trip, and everything was handled well by the local company. It was an
experience of a lifetime for the kids and for our teachers. I will send
along the evals and some pictures soon. Thanks again for all your help
in making this trip possible. If you have any questions about our experience
feel free to give me a call, as I know that not many U.S. school groups
go to India. Thanks again." "I couldn't recommend
our hotel in Tela more highly. It was a very nice facility and location,
had a helpful staff and a solicitous owner. And our buses were in the
right place at the right time, which is a victory in itself in Honduras."
"I wanted to let you know that we had a great time in Peru! The best place was Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. The hotels in Urumbamba and in Puno were great! Food was good on the trip too (much better than Chinese cuisine, but that's just my opinion).
Lake Titicaca and the Islands were fantastic. I gave out school supplies and loved seeing the kids. The tour company down there was wonderful, they took good care of us, especially looking after me. I thought this might be the last trip, but the others are talking about 'next year's trip'." "We had a grand time in Campania and Rome in large part because Casterbridge made such lovely arrangements for us. Each night at dinner we chaperones would talk about how wonderful our day had been and how we would like to do it again next year. Then I would take notes toward our planning for the next trip. Many, many thanks." "We had a wonderful trip to France. I am so glad I contacted your company for a trip to France. It was so educational and we had so much fun. I am still tired but have wonderful memories. Really enjoyed Sergio and he was so helpful to everyone. Thanks to both of you for all your help and making this trip become a reality." "I want to thank
both of you for your part in making our France/Spain trip such a wonderful
and memorable one. The itinerary was good (special thanks to Pauline
for this part), the chosen stops were all interesting and historical,
the transportation was tops, the guide was great (Silvia), and everything
was so smooth. "We had a great time and by now you should have received a glowing report on the trip and our guides Sev, who was our trip guide, and Jan, our Florence guide. On the basis of this trip I want to start planning a trip to Spain for June of 2009." "I am still trying to catch my breath after such a wonderful experience! Having our own guide and bus was especially important for us with a middle school group. You folks gave us fabulous people in Costa Rica, namely Carlos Canet as guide and Juan Carlos, our driver. The students felt very comfortable with them, and our guides responded with such graciousness and flexibility. Each day was a wonder for me, and students responded enthusiastically to all the activities on the itinerary.
Overall, I would rate the trip as excellent. Our students experienced such unique activities, and I was exceptionally pleased with the attention of Carlos and Juan Carlos in Costa Rica."
"I want to thank you both, and anyone else at Casterbridge who helped with our Paris/Rome trip. Whenever I needed information and/or help, Casterbridge was prompt and very helpful. The parents, students and two sisters enjoyed it immensely. The trip will be a fine memory for a long time. John and the rest of the tour guides were excellent. The places toured were wonderful. Thank you again." "I must say I was very impressed with Casterbidge. Your hotels were fabulous, the food was varied and good, and your guides were sensational. From the planning stages to the actual trip, everyone we had to deal with was knowledgeable and accommodating. You all worked very hard to meet our specific needs and that enthusiasm and know-how was demonstrated each day on our trip. It is not an easy task to move around such a large group of people, but your guides did it with confidence and that made us feel safe and cared for. Even if I am never able to travel with you again, I can now personally recommend Casterbridge as an excellent educational travel company.
Thank you Kathy and the rest of the Casterbridge staff for all of your assistance in making our trip such a successful one. The kids are still talking about what a good time they had!"
"We had a fabulous trip to Costa Rica. I'm sure you have seen the students' evaluations of the trip. Each one gave it an "Excellent" rating. They were just in love with Carlos, our guide, and Juan-Carlos, our bus driver. And, as always with Casterbridge, the idea of all being together on a small bus is just perfect. We were even able to ask to divert the itinerary a bit on our transit route in order to see (and feel) the Pacific Ocean (well, at least a bay leading out to it!). This was very fun for our East Coast students. The sights we saw were absolutely stunning! The animals, the volcanoes, the natural sights were all wonderful. The people we met were great and the students at the school we visited were adorable. Costa Rica is lovely!
I would rate the whole trip as EXCELLENT. The students were great and the learning experiences abounded. Your caliber of guides is still the best! Go Carlos and Juan-Carlos!"
"We had a WONDERFUL time! I knew my students were enjoying themselves while abroad, but to come back to class and hear them recount the stories and facts, etc was just the most rewarding feeling I could've had as a teacher! Thanks again for your help in making this a reality for my students!" "Our tour guide was great, everything was so well organized and the kids and faculty had a wonderful time. We are on spring break right now recuperating! We will be back in the office next week. The kids already want to know where we are going next! Thanks for your help in making London happen, it was all about the kids and I know they had an experience of a lifetime." "We had a great time! I would certainly use Casterbridge again. Thank you for everything." "We had a terrific
trip, and I have nothing but praise for Sergio. The students loved him,
and I was impressed by how committed he was to helping all of us make
the most of our time in Italy and France. "Our group had a
wonderful time in Greece. Everything went as flawlessly as one could
hope. Thanks very much for your work in putting the trip together." "I wanted to thank
all of you for the fabulous trip. Everyone from St. Francis had a terrific
time. Every year that I go to Europe with Casterbridge feels like it's
the best trip until I go again. From the onset of planning the trip
with Pauline to the finalizing the details with Stacey and then travelling
through Spain was amazing. Our tour manager, Jose was the best. I can't
say enough good things about him. He lead us everyday with a positive
attitude and a great deal of vigor. I hope that I will have the fortune
of working with him again in the future." "Just a quick note to say
thank you for all your help to make the Civil Rights program successful.
I really appreciated it and our program was wonderful." "We had an excellent
time in Mexico! It was so warm and beautiful and we did many interesting
things - saw some awesome sights." "We have returned
from another amazing Casterbridge trip. Thank you for your professional
handling of our high maintenance needs!" "The trip was great
- everything went well and we loved our guide; which made all the difference
for us. I enjoyed planning this trip, all the people I worked with at
Casterbridge made it easy for me!" "Parents and children
were very happy with our Casterbridge Tour to Paris. They loved the
itinerary, and the bike ride and cooking classes were a big success.
Most importantly, we were blessed with having such a wonderful guide
as Philippe. Not only was he very knowledgeable about Paris, he had
a great rapport with parents and children alike. He was always poised,
polite, upbeat and very patient and flexible." "The trip was great!
Everyone wanted to stay longer and see more of the country. We simply
cannot say enough about John (guide); he was amazing. The instant rapport
developed between he and the group made the trip even that much more
special. For the week we were in England, it felt as if we were traveling
as a family of fourteen. I have been taking students on trips for over
ten years, and I honestly must say this was the best of the lot. John
and Darren made the trip. Thank you for an amazing trip, it was an experience
none of us will ever forget." "We had a wonderful
time and plan on doing it again. Casterbridge was wonderful and Ciaran
was a grand leader for our group. I have also recommended Casterbridge
to several of my colleagues, most of whom received far inferior service
from their organizers. Thank you again for leading me through this process...You
made a potentially difficult task an absolute pleasure." "We had a terrific
trip, and I have nothing but praise for Sergio. The students loved him,
and I was impressed by how committed he was to helping all of us make
the most of our time in Italy and France." "Now having toured
Europe, South and Central America with Casterbridge for over 15 years,
Casterbridge still manages to beat the competition, hands down." "I would definitely
travel with Casterbridge again. The students gained a great introduction
to English literature and history." "We had a great
trip, and I was very pleased with the experience. We're thinking Italy
during the Fall of 2009!" "Casterbridge is
the best. No doubt about it. Thank you again to you and Claire for the
unfailing logistical support." "Oh, what a marvelous
trip!!!! It was absolutely wonderful!! Everything ran like 'clockwork.'
All the guides were knowledgeable, personable, on time, and so conscientious.
Every bus was on time as were the escorts. It was amazing with all the
different people, buses, locations, etc. that everything was so smooth.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I know what hard work you did for
us and it was so appreciated!!! I just wish everyone could meet you
to thank you personally. The trip was a dream!! All your Greek contacts
were so good to us and so professional. The hotels were excellent. Everyone
liked all of them. I would definitely use all of them again. Everyone
loved the stay in Crete on the beach at the resort. The cruise went
well. It was a dream of
a trip, truly!!!! Thank you seems so inadequate to say because it does
not cover the heartfelt gratitude for this special trip. Tell all concerned
that it was great and thank you." "I just wanted to
let you know that we are back from our trip and it was fantastic. We
had a wonderful time and hope to do it again in two years." "Casterbridge really
did a fantastic job, as you'll see noted time and time again in my evaluation.
And Alan Collier is just amazing!...He's a remarkable tour manager,
and my husband really enjoyed meeting him." "Our trip to London
was fabulous! We were lucky enough to be in the city on the day of the
Queen's birthday parade, and our guide Alan (whom we loved!) made sure
we had front row seats, much to the delight of our travelers." "Home safe from
Costa Rica and we had another amazing experience" "As I type we (my
students and I) are in the computer room of Tianli International School.
We arrived here yesterday afternoon to a rousing welcome, with a school
band and hundreds of students with red banners and flowers and thunderous
applause. Along
the way, everything in Beijing and Xian went smoothly, that includes
the local tour guides, hotels, food, etc.. Thank much to you and your
colleagues for a thoughtful arrangement. Cheers." "I SOOOO enjoyed
the smaller group and the relaxed pace of the Costa Rica trip. Photos
from volunteering are coming!!! It was amazing...THANKS!!!!" "Thank-you for your
follow through and initial help with the itinerary. I feel we increased
the scope of styles and periods of design and architecture over our
previous trips. We also experienced more countryside outside the big
cities than we have previously and the students could understand more
about country. I would highly recommend Casterbridge in all respects.
I feel you and Claire covered all of the details and provided us with
an exceptional experience. I thank-you very much." "Our trip was amazing!
I have traveled to 7 countries so far in my life and Russia has left
the most impressions on me out of every country. It was truely a trip
I will never forget." "First of all, the
trip was a great success, which we owe in no small part to your excellent
advice, the quality of the hotel that you recommended and the guides
that were provided to us." "We had a wonderful,
wonderful time. Our escort, Misia, was absolutely terrific." "We've been thrilled
with all the trips you have organized and I couldn't envision doing
one without your guidance." "Fortunately my
comments are overwhelmingly positive. Not only were we quite pleased
with the hotels, restaurants, sights, specialist guides, bus transport
etc., but having things set well in advance, with almost no last-minute
surprises, made my job so much easier. "We were delighted
with Joanna and our tour/itinerary/flight/coach - all!" "I just want to
say thank you sooooo much for a wonderful trip. Everything was wonderful.
Our guide, John Lionet was superbe! "Thank YOU for all
your work and especially for taking the time to answer all my questions.
I think everyone who travelled with our group had an unforgettable time.
Parents are already asking about the next trip." "The infrastructure
is still very rudimentary compared to Europe and for this reason you
need to travel with a really good guide who is flexible, resourceful
and creative. Fortunately for us, you found us just such a guide who
was all those, plus hard working and invariably cheerful. "The trip went very
well and the students had a great experience." "Thanks for a wonderful
tour. Every detail and connection was excellent. Kudos and hats off
to Sergio! He is the best guide that I have ever had in my 25 years
of touring abroad with students." "I wanted to let
you know what a great time we had in Spain. I also wanted to let you
know what a true treasure Ciaran Moss is. Ciaran keep everyone smiling
with spirits high. He really made the trip for us. I knew from last
year that he was a wonderful guide. Now that I know how truly fantastic
he is." "We had a grand
tour overall and came back with tons of unforgettable pictures and memories.
Everything was well organized and went smoothly. Thank you for everything
you did to make this trip so wonderful overall." "Our trip was fantastic!!!
Tanya was the best tour guide I have ever had…she is soooooooooooooooo
knowledgeable!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you both so much for all you did to
make our trip such a huge success!" "Thank you so much
for your hard work on this monstrosity of a tour. I know everything
will run smoothly and I just want to reiterate how appreciative I am
for all of your hard work and hand-holding with me. Thanks again for
everything- you've treated me (again) like I am your only client, and
for as long as I am able to run trips, I'll be using Casterbridge!" "We had a wonderful
trip. Our two guides, Ciaran Moss and Massimo Cannoletta were loved
by everyone. It was a great success." "Just wanted to
let you know that our trip to Italy was fabulous! Everyone was thrilled
with how smoothly everything went. Everything, absolutely everything,
that I did not like about EF Tours was just wonderful with Casterbridge.
I can't wait to travel with you all again! You took such good care of
arranging this all for us." "We are all
back safely and had a fabulous time. This is the 4th one of these trips
that I have undertaken, and I will be using Casterbridge in the future
- the food, hotels, and tour guide were all super." "Just wanted
to drop you both a quick note to let know fantastic our trip was! Everyone
had a great time. No trip is perfect but this one came as near to perfect
as I could have hoped for. Thank you both for your parts in putting
together a wonderful experience for my students (and me!)." "We had a great
time in Greece and I will mail the evaluations shortly. Our tour guide/manager
was superb with her professionalism and knowledge. I definitely need
someone like her when we travel to Thailand with you this year. Thank
you for your help and look forward to another exciting trip with Casterbridge." "I must say that
I continue to be impressed with Casterbridge. You make travel easy,
educational and enjoyable and our tour was another wonderful experience.
I have traveled extensively with other groups but have traveled exclusively
with Casterbridge for the past several years. I truly believe that there
is no better travel company available in the world today!" "I wanted
to thank you for all that you did to make our trip to Germany such a
success! You and your staff did a great job! Thanks so much!" "Just wanted
to let you know that we are safely back in Chicago after a wonderful
experience in Provence and Paris. Our guide John Lionet was truly excellent
and the blend of language classes, family stays, and touring struck
a great balance. I know that we were irritated with SILC prior to the
trip, but the students LOVED their family stays. I did not get even
a tiny hint of a complaint. The French instructor Jerome Quentin was
very accommodating, patient, and attuned to our needs. He tailored the
language instruction to the needs of the group as well as possible.
John Lionet, Trevett Allen, and I pitched in and worked with the kids,
too, so we were able to give them a good bit of individual attention.
I also want to thank you so much, Stacey, for patiently holding my hand
through the whole planning process. I will definitely use Casterbridge
again, and will recommend your company to other teachers looking to
plan educational excursions abroad." "Yes, we had
an absolutely FANTASTIC trip. Not one thing could have been improved
upon. We loved our guide and driver who both became a part of the group.
I am still recovering from jet lag, and the activities – of which I
did all. Everyone loved the white water rafting, horseback riding, mud
baths, hot springs, zip lines, suspension bridge, etc." "I want to
thank you on behalf of all our travelers for giving us such fine service.
Not only was the itinerary wonderful, but all of the details and guides
were outstanding. Casterbridge, as always, was superb. I can't imagine
traveling with anyone else." "We just got
back from Argentina and I wanted to let you know we had a WONDERFUL
trip. I don't think it could have gone any smoother or we could have
enjoyed it more. Argentina was great and I would highly recommend this
particular trip ("A Patagonian Adventure") to anyone. The glaciers were
especially amazing." "We had a wonderful
trip. Our tour guide, Fiona -- a young woman I had worked with before
-- was exceptional. Thanks for all of your help. " "Our trip was
wonderful. Ciaron Moss was amazing. We definitely want to request him
again for next year's trip. " "The trip to
Greece was great. Our tour guide, Gina Encomidou, was excellent-- the
best tour guide yet. You should always use her for your Casterbridge
tour groups when you can." "Our tour guide,
Valena, was outstanding! She seemed to know everything about Greek culture,
language, mythology, art, archeology, and architecture. Our bus driver,
Antonios, also deserves special credit for being safe and reliable.
All of our hotels were very nice and centrally located, which was a
big plus as well. Thank you for all of your help" "Stacey, thank
you so much for all your work concerning our trip. It was wonderful!
Your restaurant and food arrangements were the best ever, and in general
the hotels were fine. The Salamanca one was wonderful!" "Our trip was
GREAT! Thank you very much for allowing us to have Fiona and for granting
us the requests we asked. One of our students realized she really wanted
to major in Art. And she is even exploring the possibility of studying
in Italy! " "Had a wonderful
tour of Paris (and Loire Valley) and London (incl. Oxford and Windsor).
Am exhausted, but everyone raved about the trip! " "Just returned
from a wonderful, well executed, beautiful weather, expertly led by
a knowledgeable and personable guide Casterbridge tour of Italy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The students had a wonderful time, I was stressfree (as compared to
last year when I did it all by myself), and the total experience was
unforgettable for all of us." "We returned
home safely still dazzled by the lights of Paris. It was a fantastic
trip, masterfully hosted by John Lionet, a wonderful guide who was well
in tune with the needs of the group and the travel philosophy of our
school. Thank you both for all your help in putting this tour together.
We're already fantasizing about Barcelona for the same time next year." "Our tour was
wonderful! Casterbridge made everything so easy for us, and our guide
was phenomenal. We are getting ready to begin planning next years trip
to Spain! As soon as we know our dates for the break next year, we will
be in touch to arrange that trip. In the meantime, I will be looking
at itinerary ideas. Thanks for everything!"
"We had just
a fabulous time in Ireland, and the entire itinerary went off without
a hitch. It is a fine tribute to the efficiency of Casterbridge and
the professional way you manage your accounts. I would anticipate that
we will be doing these trips for several more years to come!! Doug and
Margaret are simply the best guides a trip chaperone could hope for.
We have already kicked around some ideas for a trip in 2006, and
we are thinking of another biking based trip in the same format as the
past two years. "The tour of
Italy was spectacular! I wanted you to know how much we enjoyed the
trip, a truly impressive showcase of Italy's wonders. Again, your selection
of a guide, in this case Rolando, proved to be instrumental in making
the tour so delightful. Rolando is one of the loveliest human beings
I've ever met, and I know that I speak for the rest of the group in
saying so. Not only is he desirous to please, he is also tremendously
knowledgable about what is and is not possible to accomplish within
a day or evening. He knows Italy like the back of his hand, and his
love of the country is evident and contagious. He possesses a precious
sense of humor that kept all of us highly amused, but we also knew when
he meant business. We were in very good hands indeed! Again, Luci, thank
you for steering our course and providing us with another marvelous
European adventure! The art and architecture were as breathtaking as
I remembered them from college a million years ago, and the natural
beauty of Italy - well, words cannot adequately describe it! Casterbridge
did a wonderfully thorough job in showcasing all the treasures. Bravissimo!"
"Dear David,
our trip was fantastic. I have 380 pictures and I will be happy to send
a CD-Rom to you. We will definitely take another trip soon and are looking
forward to working with you again. We enjoyed very much the flexibility
that you alowed in the program. We had a blast. We really liked our
guide, and we are hoping to get the same guide (Luigi) next time. He
was very flexible and understanding, and fun. Next time we are hoping
to go to the south of France through Italy to Germany. "Once again,
the trip was a huge success. I want to thank the two of you for the
time you put into making this such a flawless and quality event for
the kids. We had so much fun, we want to go again! Please put together
a proposed itinerary for next year's trip: the 5th Grade Medieval Scholars
Tour of Scotland." "Just wanted
to let you know that Spencer did a terrific job. He really had a servat's
heart, and that put him in good stead with the students!!! I really
want to use him next year." "This was an
incredible trip for all! The tour lived up to all of our expectations
- without a doubt!!!! We especially loved Sicily this year! Our first
hotel in Sicily was awesome! Near the beach, clean and pretty rooms,
and great food! Our Driver was Incredible and superb in every way! Our
Pompeii guide was the best we've had in my 33 years of travel! The students
adored her. Our Rome guide was also superb! "I have had
three tours with Casterbridge (Greece, China, Peru). I have been amazed
at the quality of service, accommodations and itineraries. I hope to
continue our relationship." ""We had a
wonderful time and a very successful trip. John (Guide) is well versed
in French history and has an easy rapport with the students. They all
hugged him at the airport on Monday and were genuinely sorry to leave
him! They were also very sad to leave France. Our students proved their
fluency by using only the French language and John was surprised by
the level of their knowledge in history and culture. I am trying to
plan a 2 week stay with French families in Normandy for next April."
"We returned
from Rome tired but totally excited about our trip to Rome. All of us
had a great time. Luisa was a terrific guide and very patient with all
of us. We are in the process of planning our next trip." "The trip was
perfect!!! Fiona, our guide, was one of the best things about the tour.
She helped us out and made us feel 100% safe. Thank you!! Jen, Leonardo
and I will be doing a Spain trip with Casterbridge for sure over spring
break next year." "The trip was awesome! On a personal and professional level it was a success because the students behaved well and had a great time. The most useful part of the trip that relates to Casterbridge was that we were our own group, not bound by the ideas and thoughts of other groups and not influenced by other groups' actions. This aspect helped a lot in keeping track of the kids, and establishing boundaries for the students, and making sure that they behaved. As an independent
entity we were also able to change plans as we went. On our way from
Burgos to Segovia our bus driver suggested that we stop in Pedraza,
a tiny, walled, medieval town, just outside Segovia. Well, it was a
great idea and a hit with the kids. We found a bakery there that made
these breads stuffed with chorizo that were tasty! In short, being independent
was great for me as group leader, and essentially is what set this trip
apart from others I have taken. I loved being able to customize the
tour to my needs." "Thanks again
for all that Casterbridge did to make our tour a success. Gregg and
I will be contacting Aaron soon to start planning next year's trip!"
"I have had
three tours with Casterbridge (Greece, China, Peru).
I have been amazed at the quality of service, accommodations and itineraries.
I hope to continue our relationship." "Thanks so
much for all of your help in setting up what was a great tour for our
kids. The students and chaperones all raved about it. So much so, that
future grade 11 / 12 classes are planning on using your services for
future March break trips. I've referred our languages department to
the US office to start the planning for next year's trip. Thanks again
for all of your help." "I just wanted
to thank you and all of Casterbridge Tours for an outstanding, marvelous,
and unforgettable trip. Everything was wonderful. I just want you to
know that once we landed in Italy this trip was a success largely due
to the incredible guidance from Giulio. He is a "class act" and very
hard to top. There aren't enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe
his personality, intelligence, and patience. If all of your tour managers
were like him you would probably be the only tour company in Europe!!!!
He greeted us with a tremendous smile every morning and said goodnight
to us with that same smile. It was truly sad saying goodbye to him at
the airport. He will be missed by everyone. All of the students have
already come to my classroom this morning telling me that they can't
wait to travel again next year with me and that they are praying that
Giulio will once again grace us with his company. I would appreciate
it if you could pass on to the bus companies my gratitude for the two
outstanding bus drivers they assigned to our group. Roberto and Guiseppe
were terrific. They went above and beyond any bus driver that I have
worked with in the past. They had a positive attitude and a phenomenal
personality. Some days were very long for them, but they always smiled
and never gave anything less than perfection.
I am looking forward to working with you once again. You will hear from
me soon. I will start working on next year's trip. Please pass on my
gratitude to all parties involved." "The trip was
wonderful, very successful. John was a great tour guide. I have about
200 digital pictures and I'll figure out how to e-mail some to you.
" "We had, indeed,
a wonderful time in Paris ! Our tour guide, Alan was very knowledgeable,
friendly, and flexible as well. The bike tour of Paris was a
hit, thanks to the upbeat personality of the guide. The museum tours
in the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay were enjoyable as well, thanks to
our wonderful guide (she made it interesting to the kids, and involved
them). The Eiffel Tower was a big success, and our shoppers enjoyed
the walk on the Champs Elysees. Our hotel, the Brebant, was ideally
located, with a metro entrance a few steps away. The rooms were comfortable,
well heated, and the staff very helpful and courteous. Breakfast was
great. I would like to thank you for making it possible for our very
small group to take this trip to Paris. My colleague and I had a wonderful
time. Our thanks again to Alan for being such a caring guide." "Overall, the tour
was wonderful - beyond my expectations, really. Thanks for a life-changing
experience.
Our guide Richard greeted us with a friendly smile (which followed us
consistently throughout the trip). He was clear, helpful and accommodating
- as well as extremely competent. We all loved Norman [our driver] -
he was very much a gentleman. He also made sure that we, and our belongings,
were as safe as possible. Our traveling with [him] was very comfortable.
He kept the bus tidy and drove very smoothly. Our guide at Westminster
Abbey was very informative. She had a great sense of humor as well.
The sightseeing was the highlight of our tour. Every day was filled
with interest. There was no comparison between our experience this year
with Casterbridge and our experience last year with CHA. Casterbridge
is far superior. We saw everything on our itinerary and them some. Richard
[our guide] was so informative when he served as our guide. Educating
us both in the beauty and history of England seemed to be a primary
focus. I was truly delighted with Richard's expertise, and the students
were as well. You could just see them hanging on his every word. Words
are inadequate to express our delight in Richard as our travel guide.
What a brilliant and interesting man! But more than being knowledgeable,
he is very personable and approachable, so the students really bonded
with him. I would definitely request him again on any future excursions.
He gets top billing." "Thank
you so very much for all the arrangements for our trip. We had the best
hotels we've ever had and some of the best meals. The itinerary was
great, and Anthony was the best guide ever! I know that considerable
work goes into the planning, and we do appreciate your time and expertise."
"The Hotel Girasole
in Sorrento was wonderful. It was small and very nice. The restaurant
in the Hotel Girasole was excellent. The food was superb and different
each night. Everyone enjoyed this food. Our driver was wonderful. He
was very courteous and helpful. Our experience with him was very pleasant.
All of our sightseeing excursions were very interesting and informative.
We saw all of the places that we wanted to see. Our tour manager, Manuela,
was superb. She made our trip very memorable. Manuela was very accommodating
and went out of her way to make us happy. She is very knowledgeable
and had everything organized so that the trip went smoothly. All of
the students liked her and related well with her. I would recommend
her to anyone. I would definitely use her again. The local guides were
very good. Each of them was knowledgeable in his or her field of expertise.
They were very open to questions and gave the students excellent information.
This is my
third Casterbridge tour. I am very satisfied with this company. I know
that each tome I use Casterbridge, I will receive the same quality of
service, which is excellent. I don't think that I would ever use any
other company." "We had a wonderful
trip to Austria & Bavaria... thanks to
you. Thanks for receiving all my phone calls up until the last minute.
Casterbridge also successfully paired us with the right person as our
driver. Harry has such a serving spirit - so kind & warm. Excellent,
meticulous, safe driver! Most importantly for you to know is that all
the sojourners returned satisfied -- filled with rich experiences, new
friends and acquaintances, a greater appreciation for other countries
& cultures, our own heritage, contributions to the local economy & treasures
(purchases) in return. What more could we want? Well, there is more,
& that is to do it again! It has truly been a pleasure working with
each one of you." "I look forward
to traveling with Casterbridge again. Thank you for all the effort you
and the good people at Casterbridge put into making our trip (Italy)
last year possible. I have recommended Casterbridge to many of my friends,
and am happy to report that one of them is traveling with you this summer.
I have assured her that she will not be sorry she chose Casterbridge."
"My husband and
I were fortunate enough to be part of a group touring England
in early January. Thanks to Casterbridge, it was a fabulous,
fantastic trip full of fun and VALUE. The quality of our accommodations
and the attractions we visited were far beyond our expectations. Our
tour director, Doug, made the experience a trip of a lifetime to be
remembered and cherished. He is the very best. Looking forward to traveling
again with Casterbridge." "Tour surpassed
my expectations. We saw more than the schedule showed and still felt
unhurried. This was the least hurried tour of the seven we have taken.
Our tour manger, Karine was wonderful - knowledgeable, patient, flexible
and kind. Superior experience. She had a good sense of children's changing
needs, and altered things accordingly." "This
is just a quick note to let you know that the Norfolk Sister City group
returned to Norfolk, VA very early Sunday morning after a lovely trip
to Norfolk England. All of our arrangements went very smoothly and for
that the group wishes to thank you and all of Casterbridge. We most
especially enjoyed the convenience of having our own guide and driver…Ciaran
and Brian were fantastic." "I'm very impressed
with our tour manager, Douglas. He knows groups, he did his research
and he was very good with the students. Very easy to work with: we spent
time each day planning and reorganizing and it was a pleasure to do.
I learned a lot about dealing with groups watching him work." "All gardens and
castles were different, the itinerary took us off the 'beaten path'
(which we wanted), and overall was excellent. Overall, the tour exceeded
my expectations. Iain is an excellent tour manager, especially with
a predominantly adult group. He was very easy to work with in keeping
the itinerary going smoothly." "Our tour manager
had an excellent ability to get around and organize everything. He was
charming, wonderful and we would love to do another tour together. We
were really impressed with the 2 Uffizi guides." "Our tour manager
Paola was a wonderful choice. Paola was at our disposal - fixing rooms,
rearranging schedules and helping get medicine from pharmacy for kids.
Everything I asked for happened and Paola was very kind in arranging
for different times when we needed to change admission to museums due
to the museum strike - we needed to get new admissions the next day
and Paola succeeded in rearranging two museums to allow us to visit
both places! She was great! I want her for our next trip. Wonderful!!!!!
Students got a chance to draw from the masters - fantastic experience
for us all. Nice pace for first day and Alessandro was a perfect driver,
he was a peach! He took excellent care - drove safely, stopped for bathroom
when needed, kind to the kids. A very nice man." "Our tour manager
was wonderful! Flexible! Friendly! Caring! Everything anyone would want
in a guide. The local guides in Pompeii, The Vatican and Arles were
all excellent." "Paola is awesome.
Great guide." "Our driver Salvatore
was very smooth, patient and professional. Our tour manager Manuela
was wonderful. We enjoyed spending the week with her. She was friendly,
professional, adept at handling Italian restaurateurs and good at planning
times. We especially enjoyed her showing us her hometown and taking
us, at our request, to her father's wine shop. I would love to have
her again for a trip guide. Daniella, the local guide at Capri was excellent,
she offered extra information with enthusiasm." "Our tour manager
Carlos was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and great with the
kids." "Thanks again for
your professionalism and dedication to our tour - you've made me feel
like I am the only client you have!" It was a pleasure
to learn about such a treasured place (Costa Rica). The tour exceeded
my expectations." "I just wanted
to let you know that our tour to Ireland was wonderful!!! The weather
was good, the people were friendly, and the performances went very well.
I would like to thank you for your professional handling of our tour.
I would definitely book another trip with Casterbridge in the future.
It is a wonderful company to work with." "My husband
& I recently went to Austria and the Czech Republic with a small group
from Los Angeles. We wanted to express our appreciation for our guide,
Jaroslav. He did an excellent job getting us around the cities and pointing
out the important historical significance and musical importance of
what we saw. He did all this with a sense of humor, a willingness to
be flexible to our needs and a caring attitude. In general, we enjoyed
this tour very much and learned a great deal." "I wanted you
to know that we had a wonderful time. I know I certainly learned a lot.
Of special note is our tour guide, Jaraslav, he was wonderful. He worked
well with us all, made special arrangements for the group, was fun and
best of all - was a Czech national which made getting around in Prague
so easy. I really appreciated him. Casterbridge certainly has my vote
of approval. The city guides were great - especially Ruth in Vienna
and Brigitte in Salzburg. Again, thanks for all your help in making
this tour come together." "Luisa (Guide)
was just wonderful. She communicated very effectively with me every
step of the way and had an excellent rapport with the students. We often
modified plans en route to suit the energy and interests of the students
and she was very helpful in that regard - offering suggestions and alternatives."
"The German
Expressionism tour was very successful. John Lionet was very helpful,
and an excellent guide. We would like to have him do our tour next May,
In the Footsteps of the Impressionists." "What a wonderful
time we had, thanks to all of your tireless efforts and superb touring
skills. The trip was fantastic and the students are still talking about
different aspects of it every day in class. Once again, we are indebted
to Casterbridge for such a terrific time in Spain!" "Just an update-our
tour was fantastic--everyone was well, safe, Anthony Russell was outstanding
as usual and we had fantastic weather. Thanks for all of your help!
Blessings!" "Just wanted
to report that the group had an excellent trip to France. All our flights,
connections and appointments went without a hitch. We were treated well
wherever we went, the crowds weren't bad, and, as you know, the weather
was beautiful the last couple of days.
I just wanted to thank you for all the coordination and support Casterbridge
provided. We received several compliments at hotels, from our bus driver,
etc. about how well our students behaved -- great feedback for us and
especially for our students." "Just wanted
you to know that the trip (Italy and Provence) went beautifully, and
without a hitch, and the students and I had a wonderful time. The guide
was absolutely fantastic. Thank you for all your work on your end--
this was the best student trip I've taken!" "
We indeed had a very nice time and the guide, Nelly Zanolli-Turner,
was wonderful. The girls absolutely adored her! We took many pictures
and once we reconvene at school, we'll all meet up to select some good
digital shots to send along. Also, thanks so much for handling our departing
flight situation. I know it was extremely hectic because of the cancellation,
but you all handled it very well and we got there safely. We appreciated
it!" "Just
wanted to let you folks know that I am most thankful that the trip just
completed was the best one ever and that the guide, Pat, in Italy, did
things above and beyond the call of duty. I sent daily reports home
to my husband, who posted them on a special listserv to the parents,
so that everyone was kept up to date as to activities and safety."
"We
just got back from our trip to Spain. It was GREAT! The kids had a wonderful
time and our guide Santiago was phenomenal, the kids loved him. The
trip was an unqualified success and everyone had a great time. Thanks
for your efforts on my group's behalf and I look forward to booking
another trip with Casterbridge." "Karine
(our guide) is extraordinary! We intend to personally recommend her
to future groups from our school. Excellent rapport with the kids. Extremely
accommodating and resourceful, we were never disappointed. She overcame
all obstacles, we will miss her!"
"Mr.
Anthony Russell is a perfect tour guide. He provided factual and interesting
information, but also gave students the chance to think for themselves."
"I
can't thank you enough for a phenomenal time in Italy. Everything you
did was wonderful." "After
many years of traveling with Casterbridge, you still manage to exceed
my expectations on each tour." "Many
students stated that they would recommend this trip in a heartbeat!"
"Dear
David (Casterbridge Coordinator), please find attached a picture taken
yesterday at the French school. The group was more than enthusiastic
and didn't want to leave school. How wonderful they were. You can tell
the parents. Thank you again." "I
have had firsthand experience with 5 of your guides (and 2 by second
hand), and I can say without fear of exaggeration that John Lionet is
the best. I cannot imagine anyone better. He was not only careful with
the obvious but was able to give a sense of calm in stressful moments.
He was kind, thoughtful, precise yet never overbearing. In 2003 we will
be traveling to Spain and will insist on having him as our guide."
"As
with my past experience, no one compares with Casterbridge." "We
came with high expectations from Casterbridge and they have been met in
every way! What more can we ask? The trip got off to a perfect start on
the arrival day. Our walk in the fresh air at Runnymeade was exactly what
we needed! Also Andrew's unscheduled visit in the late afternoon to Corfe
Castle was a wonderful remedy to our jet-lagged bodies. The students were
intrigued and rejuvenated!"
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s
groups return from their travel programs, we are always heartened to
read the latest comments that are noted on the tour evaluation forms
or e-mailed directly to us. We hope that you find these comments useful
as you prepare for your 2009 and 2010 travel.
