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Costomer Reviews - Platinum Holidays
Costomer Reviews Mobile - Platinum Holidays

Testimonials

Destination: South Africa
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Michelle

8 January 2024

Hi Theo,
Our trip was absolutely perfect! Everything completely exceeded our expectations and I have a friend that actually asked for all your contact information so she could inquire about a trip to Africa as well! Everything travel related went so smoothly and I can't thank you enough!!

Michelle
Destination: South Africa
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Vyas

2 December 2023

Hi Deodene,
The trip was outstanding, we all loved it.
The hotels, itinerary, guides, coordination of services were all wonderful, absolutely no complaints.
Cheers,
Vyas
Destination: South Africa
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Joanna T

1 December 2023

Hello all,
By far our most outstanding experience was the lodge and safari. They were amazing! The amount of animals we saw, the staff, the food, all of it was top notch and we would do it all again just for those 3 days of amazing safaris. Staff couldn't have been more accommodating, it was truly incredible.
Sincerely,
Joanna T
Destination: Greece & Egypt
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Graham

Novemebr 2023

Hello Binod,
Our trip was flawless! We so appreciate the attention to detail that you provided and we have already recommended Platinum Holidays to friends who have asked about the trip. Cairo was wonderful and the guides were very organized and modified the itinerary times so we beat the crowds and had a great Cairo experience. Our guide in Greece was astoundingly informed and we had a great understanding of the history of Greece.
We have planned the trips ourselves and traveled with Rick Steve in Italy and Gate 1 in Thailand and feel that what you planned for us with the small groups was superior. Thank you for your patience with the trip that got canceled due to covid, and again we have recommended and will continue to recommend your wonderful organization.

Graham
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Destination: South Africa
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Michelle and David

Novemebr 2023

Hello
Our trip to South Africa/Victoria Falls/Chobe was the trip of a lifetime! Words can’t explain how wonderful our trip was. We were handled with care and expertise from the minute we made the first call to get details about the trip until we boarded the plane to come home. The customer service staff are amazing. Thank you Jackson and colleagues for all your suggestions and help with booking. Thank you Peter and Marvel-the best safari guides ever! We saw the big 5 in the first 2 days! Thanks to the chefs at Beck’s Lodge for all the plant-based meals! Beck’s Lodge is just amazing. The hospitality, accommodations, spa, and staff are great! Everyone went above and beyond. Thanks to our guide Mehluli who treated us like family while we were in Victoria Falls. We will definitely travel with Platinum Holdiays again.
Michelle and David
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Destination: South Africa
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Ray

27 October 2023

Hi Deodene,
My trip was thoroughly amazing. Safari was awesome! I saw so many animals in the wild, and they were beautiful.
Victoria falls were awesome as well. The add-ons were well worth it. My extra time in Johannesburg was nice also; there is so much to see and do. I had no full agenda in the city and still saw many nice museums.
Thanks again for all your help!
Ray
Destination: Egypt & Jordan
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Allen Parkinson

15 October 2023

Just returned from a 15 day tour of Egypt and Jordan. We had an amazing time. We were well taken care of. First I would like to send a BIG thank you to Binod and all of Tavel Discounters/Platinum Travel. When we were faced with changing travel plans you stepped right up and reorganized our tour. We felt extremely safe in challenging times. We were able to experience everything we imagined. From The Nile Cruise, camping in the desert, camel rides, climbing the Great Pyramid, Petra, and everything in between. Your guides were very professional. Their experience and education showed through time and time again. The accommodations were wonderful. We tasted many wonderful local dishes. Our private driver/guide, Mo, in Jordan was great. We had lots of laughs with Mo. We learned a lot of personal life in Jordan. We saw many amazing sites in Jordan, as well as some extra sites not on the itinerary. You went above and beyond and gave us the best trip. Thank you!
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Destination: Africa
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Sherry Baker

5 October 2023

My beginning flights were cancelled due to weather. Junior answered my phone call within 4 rings and totally reassured me to follow through with my new flights. (I’m an inexperienced, 59yr old, female traveller) Junior has been 110+% wonderful through my whole adventure. (I tried not to bug him too much, so that when I did call, he’d know I needed help. And, he Totally came through) Every connection and ‘met by a rep’ situation was perfectly accurate; just as he promised.
This was truly a trip of a lifetime for me and I am already recommending Travel Discounters (and Junior 😉👍) to everyone I talk to. Thank you so very much. ❤️👍👍👍
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Destination: Jordan
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Kimberly Anderson

5 October 2023

We had a fantastic trip to Petra! Everything was planned perfectly and there was great communication between all parties. We would definitely recommend working with Jackson as he went above and beyond to make sure our vacation was a 5 star experience.
Destination: Egypt
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Bill

October 2023

Outstanding trip that exceeded expectations. You hired excellent guides and Egyptologists for every stop. All were great but the best was Sahar in Cairo who created such a strong connection between our group and the history of Egypt it brought my wife to joyful tears. We look forward to taking another trip through you guys again.
Thank you,
Bill
Destination: Africa
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Pat

September 2023

Hi Junior,
Just got back from our Africa trip and wanted to thank you and your team for a wonderful experience! All transfers were seamless, accommodations great, and the Africa experience overall left us speechless. What a wonderful people and country!!
Great job! thanks again!!
Pat
Destination: Egypt & Morocco
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Athe

18 September 2023

Again I would to thank you and Platinum Tours for a most amazing Best of Egypt and Morocco experience! I can't stop thinking about it!!

Our Egypt reps and drivers were courteous, dependable and very helpful. Our guides Sahar and Ashraf were superb! They were so engaging, extemely knowledgable and very accommodating! Our accommodations at the Swiss Inn and the Nile Cruise were wonderful and all of the excursions were spectacular!
Marrakech was fabulous and so was our driver Ismail! The Riad Jemma was quite charming, the Movenpick Mansur for our last night! What a beautiful hotel!

The Agafay Desert was so much fun and the tents were luxurious, roomy and the AC was working fine! Probably my favorite excursion in Morocco!
Overall the trip was spectacular and I would highly recommend Platinum Tours to friends and family. Thank you so much!
Athe
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Destination: Canada
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Rob & Kathy

August 2023

We had a great time. Very scenic area. Weather was sunny & nice & wildlife sightings (i.e., humpback whales, grizzlies, seals, bald eagles) were great.....we even saw the white spirit bear. year & Kathy was the first to spot it from the boat. Daily excursions were very nice. Meals were very good. Rooms were excellent....very roomy, comfortable & nicely cared for. The staff was very friendly, welcoming & accommodating. The long house/community center experience was memorable. All of the logistics were carried out smoothly.
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Destination: South Africa
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Dina Sargis

07 June 2023

I contacted both Costco Travel and Travel Discounters to help plan a trip for my daughter and me to South Africa to go on a safari and to explore Cape Town. I ended up going with Travel Discounters because the price was almost exactly the same as Costco Travel, and I really enjoyed my time working with Jackson to book the trip. Once the trip was booked and we were on our way, we ran into a snafu with United. Well, it was more than a snafu, United cancelled our transatlantic flight after sitting on the tarmac for 3 hours.
I wasn't sure how the rest of our trip was going to proceed since we had mid country flights and transfers on specific dates. Binod, from Travel Discounters, asked that I call him immediately, which I did, and he managed to rearrange our entire itinerary so that we wouldn't lose any time at either the safari lodge or Cape Town. He took my extremely stressful experience and turned it into a very positive outcome. I honestly cannot thank them enough. The trip was outstanding! The accommodations were top notch and the location of our hotel in Cape Town, right next to the waterfront, could not have been better. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Book with Travel Discounters, you won't regret it!
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Destination: Greece & Egypt
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Lonnie Powers

May 2023

I was on your Oct. 7 to Oct. 23, 2022 Greece/Egypt tour. I just wanted to say how very pleased I was at the accommodations, the guides, the travel arrangements, and the professionalism of all the people involved in making the trip so enjoyable.

Our Egyptian tour guide (Tut) was the best of any I have ever experienced. He was extremely knowledgeable about Egyptian history and a wonderful guide down the Nile and through all the Temples. He was very professional and helpful to all of us, as were his assistants, Kareem and Mimi. All three of them were available 24/7 and extremely helpful at all times. They made our trip so much more enjoyable and fun!!

I certainly hope they continue to work for Travel Discounters because they are a tremendous asset!!

My only complaint was our room accommodations on Santorini. The room was small and shower/bathroom inadequate. I would not recommend The Aegean Plaza!!

The rest of the accommodations were outstanding and the trip was superb!!!!

Thank you, and a special thanks to Tut, Kareem and Mimi.
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Destination: South Africa
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Sam Air

May 2023

We travelled as a family of four! Two adults and two children. Everything ran smoothly as our adventure was well organized in our first trip to South Africa. They planned out wonderful hotels to accommodate us during our stay. I highly recommend this company to friends and family and those who are looking for a fun and safe trip. Overall, I definitely got the value for my money and will continue to use Travel Discounters in the future!
Destination: Greece
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Stephe Sturman

May 2023

Junior,
I just wanted to check in to let you know how great everything is on our trip. The Polis Grand Hotel in Athens was excellent with a fantastic restaurant on top. Looking forward to going back after Santorini. The cruise was wonderful. The ship was nice. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting the lower grade outside cabin and we had the mid grade. Everything about the cruise and sightseeing was great. We got into the Rose Bay Hotel a short while age. It’s beautiful and the man at the desk was incredibly helpful, booking tours for us. Just wanted you to know how great everything is so far. We also met a young couple from Wisconsin who were on the cruise who also happened to book through you. They also were very happy.
Thank you,
Stephe Sturman
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Destination: Morocco
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Keith

May 2023

Our adventure to Morocco went very well. This is our second trip through Travel Discounters and both exceeded expectations. Our driver, Youssef, was outstanding and always available and helpful. This was especially true when the room we were booked into one night had no air conditioning, he was quick to contact the agency and rebook us into another hotel that was amazing. We love the aspect of a personal driver and not being herded onto a huge bus and staying with a large group during excursions.
I have recommended Travel Discounters to numerous of my friends (one is ready to book a South Africa trip with safari through Travel Discounters), and I will continue to recommend your company and will always check if you offer destinations that interest me in the future.
Definitely 5 stars
Thank you,
Keith
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Destination: Egypt
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Tess Hernandez

January 2023

Just got back from our trip to Egypt. Want to thank all the Staffs for such an outstanding service and support given to us for the entire duration of our Tour. Kudos to our Tour guide- Kareem who is so knowledgeable and passionate to his work and very thankful to the supporting Staff - Abd El, and Mimi. They made us feel comfortable and confidently safe at all times. The Tour of Egypt was such an amazing experience. This tour with Travel discounters is highly recommendable.
Destination: Egypt & Jordan
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Wendy Obermeyer

December 2022

First of all, I want to say thanks for all your help. Everything went fairly smoothly and we were able to see everything I had ever dreamed of. It truly was the trip of a lifetime for me, since I had been dreaming of it since I was about 15!

Our tour guide, Kareem Kordy in Egypt was wonderful. Our Egyptologist, Kareem Zohny Shemis was the best. I can say enough good things about both of them. Our private driver in Jordan, Kamel Odetallah was the nicest, most professional man. We were so pleased with him and all the extra benefits he provided for us.

The Steigenberger Hotel in Cairo was awesome. Location was perfect. It truly is a 5 star resort.

The Swiss Inn Pyramids is NOWHWERE near the pyramids. In fact, we were further away from the pyramids there than when we staying on downtown Cairo. The resort is very nice though, but WAY away from the airport and town.

The Nile Cruise Ship was very nice, but I wouldn't give it more than 3 stars. We were on the MS Semiramis. Meals tended to not vary much from day to day.

The problem was the hotel after the cruise back in Cairo. After arriving at the Swiss Inn Pyramids at 3:15am, got everything off the bus to check in (along with the other 30 people), Abdul (tour guide in Cairo only) told us we were the ONLY people, NOT staying there! We loaded our stuff back up on a different van which took us to a different Swiss Inn. While trying to check in after the van dropped us off, the hotel had no idea who we were or what we were doing there. Mind you, it is now 3:30 in the morning and we had to be back at the OTHER Swiss Inn by 8am for breakfast and our ride back to the airport for our flight to Aswan. Needless to say, less than 3 hours of sleep that night and 2 very unhappy travelers.

All internal flights were fine. Would have preferred an earlier flight from Aswan back to Cairo as our 10pm flight was delayed until around Midnight.

Jordan was amazing! The hotel in Aswan was great. Location was excellent.

Can't remember our guide at Jerash, but he did a great job.

The Rose Hotel in Petra was OK. But, they wanted $86 US to use the hot tub for 30 minutes! They must be crazy! Luckily, we were only there for 1 night. Petra itself was incredible! Our local tour guide was Asem Hasanat and he was really good. Provided lots of info and took us on some extra walks that weren't really included on his daily schedule. He really went above and beyond. The Masayen Luxury Camp in Wadi Rum was very cool. Probably our best dinner of the trip! The woman at the Lacosta Hotel in Aqaba was fantastic! She provided the best lunch ever when we arrived. Fresh local grilled fish, salad, veggies and cheesecake with strawberries for dessert. The Ramada Resort Dead Sea was nice. I did manage a swim and a mud bath there!

Can't tell you how much we appreciated you guys providing the hotel for our last night at the Amman Airport Hotel. Kamal dropped us off there about 5pm. Since we didn't need to leave for the airport until 2am (for our 3:40am flight), we were able to get a shower and a few hours of sleep. It really was a lifesaver!

All in all, I really would not have changed a thing about this trip (except maybe some of the flight times!). All hotels were a minimum of 3 stars and some higher.

I would highly recommend Travel Discounters (and already have!) and to work directly with you in particular.
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Destination: Egypt
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Kim K

December 2022

We booked a trip over Christmas to Egypt through Travel Discounters who contracts with Blue Sky Travel in Cairo. The first half of our trip was spent with Ahmed as our guide and Egyptologist. He was fantastic. We learned so much. He made history come to life. Our trip to Egypt and all the wonders it has to offer would not have been the same without Blue Sky travel and especially Ahmed.
Destination: Egypt & Jordan
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Vic Hills

November 2022

My wife and I did the best of Egypt and Petra and Wadi Rum this past month and we couldn't have been happier with the entire trip. From start to finish there is always someone there to lead the way, always felt comfortable and appreciated by all the contacts we had. Our guides (Tut in Cairo, and Ashraf Roma on the Nile were fantastic. We highly recommend Travel Discounters for your trip to Egypt and Jordan.
Destination: Kenya
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Rene Settergren

October 2022

We had an amazing adventure in East Africa, seeing the Big Five and so much more. And the entire trip was truly seamless, from the flights and airport pickup, to the accommodations, our extra day and tour in Nairobi, and especially our guides. Pollman's and Ranger Safaris are top-notch local operators and their guides were, first and foremost, wonderful people, as well as highly skilled and very knowledgeable. Evans, our guide in Kenya, eventually told us that he had been nervous about having an all-women's group, but we had such a great time on safari and getting to know each other that now we are friends for life!
I have already been recommending Travel Discounters and your services to one and all -- Junior did a great job and the trip delivered tremendous value -- thank you again.
Until next trip -
Rene S.
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Destination: Africa
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Carol

24 August 2022

Hello,
We just returned from our trip early this morning. I wanted to let you know the trip was wonderful. The Becks Lodge and Radisson Red was more than we expected (from reviews online). Everyone and everything was absolutely perfect. Could not find fault with anything. The food at Becks Lodge was FABULOUS. The pickup drivers/meet & greets were punctual, warm and kind providing all the information we would need.
I just wanted to let you know for your future tour groups.
Thank you to all who helped put this together. It is a trip I will always remember fondly.
Carol
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Destination: Egypt
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Arnold

24 August 2022

Hi Jackson,
Hope all is well.
Just back from our trip to Egypt and wanted to say very sincere thanks for all your help and support The trip was awesome and really surpassed expectations, and the guides, support, transfers and attention to detail on every level we’re fantastic!
This was a “bucket list” vacation and it delivered in every way!
We will also recommend you to anyone planning similar trips Can’t thank you enough for all your help, support and patience along the way!
Will definitely be using you again in the future! As discussed at some point in the future will want to do the Holy Land and Jordan trip, so if you can send details on options and itineraries it will be good to have those on file.
Thanks again!!
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Destination: South Africa
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Gina Romero

July 2022

Junior did a great job taking care of us.
My husband and I booked our honeymoon trip to South Africa through Travel Discounters. Everything was awesome, and when you take into consideration all that can go wrong when traveling around the world, we were blown away at just about every juncture.
Thank you Junior!!
Destination: Greece & Egypt
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Kimberly and Karyn Thomas

July 2022

We are totally satisfied and completely happy with Mo from Travel Discounters.
He was professional and knowledgeable about all things Greece and Egypt. Mo explained everything very clearly and thoroughly. His helpful tips and suggestions went above and beyond our expectations. We had a ton of questions before booking and Mo answered all of them with patience and compassion. We know our trip will be extraordinary.
Thank you Mo! We will book with Travel Discounters again because of you!
Destination: Peru & Ecuador
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James Hubbard

June 2022

Travel Discounters and "Junior" really took care of us....
We recently took a family trip to Machu Pichu and Galapagos, along with other Peru and Ecuador stops... awesome sights, experiences, and trip!
Had been waiting two years since the COVID shutdowns and we had to switch our trip from the Egypt/Israel/Jordan package on relatively short notice - Travel Discounters flexed and made it happen! Very smooth connections and excellent tour guides at all tour sites!!
Destination: Egypt
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Karen and Mark

March 2022

Hi Binod,
We had a wonderful time in Egypt and were happy to be able to experience the language, culture, music, food, and history of the beautiful country. Our tour guides were wonderful as were our fellow travelers. Thank you for all your help in making the arrangements.
Best,
Karen and Mark
Destination: Egypt
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Esther

21 March 2022

Hi Junior,
My trip to Egypt was amazing! I love the way your company took care of all the details!
Thanks,
Esther
Destination: Egypt & Jordan
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Mary Lou Fritts

January 2022

Travel Discounters did an excellent job of arranging and carrying out our long delayed trip to Egypt and Jordan. Our trip had to be rescheduled twice due to Covid. Originally we were supposed to also go to Israel but they extended our trip in Jordan and added sites there (Red Sea and Baptism Site of Jesus) since Israel has remained closed.
In Egypt, the accommodations were quite lovely from the Ramses Hilton to the cruise ship. The staff in both were helpful and courteous especially at the Ramses Hilton restaurant. Our guides in Egypt were knowledgeable and helpful. In Cairo, Sahar helped us know what we were looking at, why it was important, and she protected us from the vendors! On the cruise, Hamada was the consummate storyteller - it was easy to follow from one site to the next how the history flowed. They were both considerate, accommodating, and helpful. I would definitely want them again if we were to return to Egypt.
In Jordan, Kamel was reassuring and helpful. He made sure we knew what our options were, where to shop, and what was going to occur each day. The accommodations were very nice. Our guides, Saddam and Ahmad, were both excellent! It was easy to see they were passionate about what they were showing us.
While the buffets were great and offered us a way to try different foods, we really enjoyed the local meals: the Egyptian BBQ or the maqluea or the Bedouin pit food or the ful.
Overall, this long delayed trip was incredible. It was apparent that the people of Blue Sky and Bridge Travel were proud to be showing us their respective countries.
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Destination: Egypt
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Elizzy Smith

January 2022

Thank you and your people so very very much for a fantastic adventure to Egypt. It was beyond wonderful! I knew it would be great and it was better than we hoped!
We would both like to give some special shout out to our specific people that make this trip of a lifetime. The first person we met was Abdul and he was amazing. He made us feel comfortable and welcome from the first moment we saw him as soon as we got off the plane.
I never once felt like I was confused or didn’t know what to do. He paved the way for a fantastic trip. He reached out to us every couple days to check in to make sure everything was going well. If I had been worried about anything I would’ve felt very reassured by his watching out for us!
The guides were so fun, knowledgeable, helpful and brought history to life. Tut in Cairo was the PERFECT way to begin and end our journey - he is an inspirational teacher and we learned so much from him. He was a great joy and a blessing to be around. He taught us so many different parts of Egyptian history, culture and way of life. He is so charismatic and we felt like he is a good friend immediately upon meeting him. We enjoyed every moment of our time with him. Hamada in Luxor and on the cruise was excellent as well. He is a gifted storyteller and painted beautiful verbal pictures especially about the ancient gods and goddesses. I knew the basic stories of some of those but he brought them to life which is so amazing especially in a second language or perhaps third language for him. Both of these men made the trip! You could tell everyone in their area loved them – so many people stopped and gave them a big hello when we were going by. It felt like they knew everyone in town and everyone in town loves them as much as we did. They did what all good teachers do and they made you want to learn even more about the subject.Their Enthusiasm and love of Egypt is contagious.
The drivers were fantastic and fearless especially in the awful Cairo traffic! Sheref was very helpful accompanying us to the airport upon our departure and waiting through all the different lines early in the morning.
We cannot begin to thank you enough for setting up such an amazing trip with an outstanding team The trip was seamless and effortless and only fun every minute before, during and afterwards.
We are already looking forward to our next trip with your company. My other children are already clamoring to go to Kenya next year this time with me! I could go on and on and on about this trip and your company and what a great experience. I posted some pictures on Facebook this morning (we got back late last night). I already have a ton of friends asking me for more information about this trip and wanting to go! I certainly will recommend your company!
Thank you again, and I wish you and your family blessings this season.
With many hugs and much appreciation,

Elizabeth and Maizie Smith
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Destination: Kenya
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Warren Bacon

December 2021

Binod, and All at Travel Discounters
Carol, Joan, Joe, and I want to express our sincere thanks for the effort all those at “Travel Discounters” put into route planning in the face of constant COVID-19 changes.
We arrived home last evening, tired from the long series of flights, but still exhilarated from the experience. We loved Kenya. The people were welcoming and we were treated like family everywhere we went. Customer service is what stood out. We were treated like royals.
If there was a “downer” in the entire journey it would have to be the Nile River Cruise experience. Since the riverboat was "branded" as being a "Princess Cruise Ship", we were surprised, having had good experiences with "Princess " on ocean cruises. The dining was the worst of the trip. The staff did the minimum possible. Just getting a cup of coffee was more effort than ( it seemed to us and the others at our table) the half-filled cup was worth. We had laundry done and it was returned more wet than damp. We had to spread clothes around the room to dry them so we could pack. On the upside, viewing the rural Egyptian countryside from the ship was amazing. Seeing how the desert and the Nile are in constant struggle over such a narrow strip of tillable land was enlightening.
The local guides in Egypt were excellent. Tremendously helpful and knowledgeable. That being a guide requires a degree from a four university shows how serious the Egyptians are about preserving their history.
Our driver/guide in Kenya (Daniel) was amazing at spotting wildlife and driving simultaneously. He also had a great sense of humor and we quickly developed a rapport.
The resorts (Lake Naivasha Sopa and Elewana Sand River) were very different, but both wonderful. Lodging, staff, location, dining, game viewing were all unforgettable. Zebras on the resort paths and giraffes in the yard were not uncommon, thus the requirement for an escort from dusk to dawn. We’d happily return to either. At Sand River, one staff member deserves special mention - Phillip was most attentive and personable. The "tents" we were lodged in take "Glamping" to a whole new level - beautiful.
While COVID-19 added extra stress and forced radical itinerary changes, Travel Discounters and Pollman Travel went beyond any reasonable expectations is shepherding us through the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
We’re forever grateful and would not hesitate to place ourselves in the hands of the professionals at either company.
Here’s hoping we get a chance to do just that in the future.

Sincerely,

Carol and Warren
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Destination: South Africa
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Urvil Shah

December 2021

Our group of 10 went to South Africa. We enjoyed very much. The arrangement done by Travel discountres was excellent. The food was very good. Safaris were great. I will recommend them for your future travel plan and will use the for ours again.
customer service is what stood out. We were treated like royals.
Thank you to you and your staff for helping us enjoy such an unforgettable experience.
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Destination: Jordan
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A Linda

16 Novemebr 2021

I was hesitant when I booked through Travel Discounters with Bridge travel because I have never booked with them before. I was overwhelmed with the kind and warm greeting I received everywhere I went. The Jordanian people were great. Jordan is full of so many wonderful treasures. My driver for the week was Jacob and though he started out being a driver by the end of the week he became my friend. He was eager to tell us all about his country. He made sure I had everything I needed. The experience at Mount Nebo was overwhelming. The dead Sea encounter was breathtaking. I was blown away at the sites in Petra. For me one of the highlights of the trip was Wadi Rum. If you’re hesitant about trying this company or going to Jordan please don’t be. You will not be disappointed with Bridge Travel or Travel Discounters.
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Destination: South Africa
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Neil M

November 2021

Hi Binod,
We arrived back from our trip yesterday. I just wanted to share with you what a wonderful experience Neil and I had. It was amazing seeing the sites and wonders that abound in Africa. Everyone in Cape Town, Victoria Falls and Karongwe were super nice and the game drives spectacular. With very few hiccups, your arrangements worked very well, better than expected especially in the Covid environment.
Thank you to you and your staff for helping us enjoy such an unforgettable experience.
Destination: Greece
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Jimme Peters

November 2021

Mo arranged a superb Greece trip for us. Great service and value. Highly recommended.
Destination: Egypt & Jordan
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Marian M. Robinson

13 October 2021

Traveled to Egypt and Jordan in September 2021 with a tour through Travel Discounters. This was the trip of a lifetime visiting the best of both countries on a well-organized and exciting itinerary. Our tour guides in Egypt -- Kareem Zohny Shemis and Sahar Bayoumi -- were very professional and truly made the history and antiquities come to life for our tour group. I highly recommend both Travel Discounters and our in-country travel guides, Blue Sky Travel, for a remarkable vacation.
Destination: Egypt
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Sarah Lynn Robinson

5 October 2021

I'm normally not one to repeat destinations, but this is one trip I would do again in a heartbeat. It was truly the trip of a lifetime. But the absolute highlight was our incredible guides. Our Cairo guide was Sahar Bayoumi, and our cruise guide was Kareem Shemis...they were hands down the best tour guides I have ever had, and are what made the trip so special for me. Both are brilliant Egyptologists, but also incredibly kind and patient people adept at handling anything the day threw at them. We never felt unsafe or uncomfortable, and our group and guides wound up feeling like family by the end of the week. I can't wait to visit again!
Destination: Egypt
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Charity 'Hanks' Chavez

2 October 2021

I have wanted to see Egypt for over twenty years and finally got the opportunity! It was the trip of a lifetime. Very well organized and well thought out agenda. We felt safe and secure the whole trip. Our guide, Kareem, was simply amazing! Highly attentive to meet everyone’s needs and ensured everyone had an amazing time. His knowledge and passion for his job was incredible. I highly recommend Kareem and this entire experience. Well worth the wait! Incredible experience.
Destination: South Africa
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Maryjane Cricks-Arellano

July 2021

Our Safari trip with a stop in Cape Town was 5 star. There were no glitches in our travel. Air and ground transportation was perfect.
Beck's lodge was amazing and we saw The Big 5 within days. The lodge was beautiful! The food was good, but the customer service is what stood out. We were treated like royals.
Travel Discounters and our agent Jackson Tay did a fantastic job and we will use them again.
Bravo, 5 Star vacation in the books!!
Destination: Egypt
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Joe Whelan

July 2021

We recently returned from a trip to Egypt organized by Travel Discounters and to say that it was wonderful was an understatement!
Once we landed in Cairo everything was organized and very professionally done by Blue Sky travel. We saw the highlights of Cairo, the pyramids, the Grand Bazaar, had a 4 day Nile Cruise and a visit to Abu Simbel.
Our guide Kareem was phenomenal and exceptionally knowledgeable of Egyptian history. Also had Hamada, another great guide, during our cruise. We were never concerned about the safety and felt comfortable the entire trip.
I would highly recommend Travel Discounters, Blue Sky, and Kareem to anyone wanting an adventure of a lifetime!
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Destination: Egypt
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Deanna Prochut

July 2021

Just finished a great tour of Egypt/Blue Sky Travel. Our guides Sahir in Cairo and Saber in Luxor were absolutely amazing. Knowledgeable and entertaining is an understatement.
We always felt secure and respected.
Destination: Egypt
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Mira M.

June 2021

Travel Discounters were absolutely fabulous with myself and my family when we needed to reschedule our trip due to COVID. They were honest, transparent and extremely helpful - we really felt that they went above and beyond to ensure we were feeling good about our plans when there was so much uncertainty going on in the world.
We will absolutely be using them for any future trips. Thank you Travel Discounters!
Destination: Egypt
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Seth Leech

May 2021

We just completed the 10-day Luxury Tour package of Egypt through Travel discounters (Blue Sky travel in Egypt). This is the first that I have written a trip review.
The trip involved 3 days Cairo, 2.5 days in Hurghada on the Red Sea and a 4.5 day Nile cruise. While in Cairo we stayed at the Ramses Hilton, in Hurghada at the Marriott resort and the cruise was on the Sonesta Sun Goddess. A detailed overview is as follows In the order that we did it: first afternoon was free to lounge in the pool area and later a traditional Ramadan dinner. The touring was as follows: Saqqara Step pyramids, visiting a traditional alabaster factory (about a half hour), Giza pyramids with camel ride, two days on Hurghadas white sand beaches and clear blue waters at the Caribbean-style Marriott resort (four wheeler safari in the desert and snorkeling- amazing); Nile cruise (visiting Luxor and Karnak temples on day 1 of Nile cruise, Visiting the Valley of the Kings, King Tutts tomb, the Temple of The Queen Hatshepsut on day 2, visiting Edfu and later in the afternoon the Kom Ombo Temple on Day 3 of the cruise, optional tour of Abu Simbel temples on day 4, and highlights of Aswan including a short journey on an Egyptian sailing boat, a stop at unfinished obelisk and an unexpectedly good journey by boat to the Philae Temple); with a final day in Cairo visiting the famous Egyptian museum with King Tuts artifacts, the citadel and Mehmet Ali mosque, Coptic Christian churches and synagogues and at the Khan Al Khalili Bazaar.
Traveling during Covid presents many challenges. From the beginning, people at Travel Discounters were responsive by email and phone to manage these challenges. I worked with Akhil and Binod. Both assisted me with logistics issues and spent significant time designing the itinerary that I wanted during the dates that I wanted. Akhil even responded to me on his days off. Binod was very supportive even in the last moments when I did not think I would be able to get Covid results on time to travel. He gave me his personal cell number and told me to call him anytime that I had questions about the trip or Egypt. I will travel with them again.
Blue Sky was well-organized and responsive in Egypt making sure that all parts of the tour went smoothly. Representatives of Blue sky were available 24 hours a day by WhatsApp, email and phone in each location. Using WhatsApp was simple from my US mobile phone.
It would be very difficult to overrate the individual tour guides. During our time in Cairo we worked with a fluent English speaking Egyptologist named Tut (Tawfiq Shaer). He was hospitable, kind, engaging, knowledgeable, passionate about his country and ancient Egyptian history,accommodating and made our trip successful. When I go back to Egypt I will specifically request him.
During the Nile cruise we had Ahmed Nagy another educated Egyptologist. He is Another that I would specifically request if I go back to Egypt. Ahmed has a more serious personality than Tut, but is highly knowledgeable, kind and has a penchant for organization and taking care of his group. Logistically this is the most complicated part of the trip with numerous pieces to put together (timing, transportation, ticket purchases, etc). He managed this flawlessly - he did the worrying so that we did not have to.
The accommodations were all five star. I was particularly impressed with the cruise which gave us a two room luxury suite. At each location food was included and was very good. Staff in all locations went out of their way to please: Magid (front Desk at Marriot), Yasser (wait staff at the Marriott), Mohammed (chef at the Marriot) and Samer the Blue Sky rep in Hurghada; Mahmoud, Ibrahim, Samy and Emad on the Cruise and Abd El Wahab who managed all logistics for Blue Sky in Cairo.
The hospitality of the Egyptian people is amazing. This is balanced by some of the most persistent Street Merchants I have seen anywhere in the world.
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  4 of 10  
Destination: South Africa
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Leanne

2020

I loved it!
The trip of a lifetime. So many animals.
Taking all of the Covid tests was a bit trying. But Everyone was helpful and accommodating.
The terrain was great and the guide for the hike was EXCELLENT!
Thank you!
Destination: Greece
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Bill Stewart

2020

This was our second trip booked through Jackson at Travel Discounters in Toronto. The first was Africa and it was EXCELLENT. We did the Greece seven day bus trip (intense), three days in Athens, and three days in Santorini. As before in Africa, we were met at the airport to start our journey. Dimitria Papadopoulou was our guide for the seven days bus tour. She was knowledgeable (unbelievable so), courteous, and very patient with close to sixty people on the bus. There was the Thomas Cook travel company collapse which some of our group had booked through and she had to inform our fellow tourists and deal with that (ouch). We were covering a lot of territory and there were times the group did not get to spend as much time in a particular spot as desired. Getting to see so much of the country and learn its history was worth it. The only problem was the hotels provide a similar menu and food became monotonous. Finding some little Greek restaurant was an adventure and usually very good. Our driver was Kostas for GO Tours and his skill level with one of the larger buses was amazing. How we made it without any incidents in those streets and traffic can only be attributed to his abilities. These two people really made the trip great.
Our three days in Athens included a cruise to three islands and a half day tour of Athens. The cruise was good, staff handled us well, boat crew was experienced, and the side trips were worth it. The half day tour of Athens was alright, but the tour guide George was awful. First was his presentation of his educational background to prove he was qualified. This was probably a method to cover up his traits of being a poor people handler and a person that blamed everyone else for problems. Second, he publicly called out a young man who needed a restroom. Third, his directions were unclear and he refused to answer people's questions to clarify.
Santorini was our final destination for three days. We did an evening dinner cruise through Caldera Yachting on the boat Serenity. We loved the perspective of seeing the island from the sea. The captain and crew were excellent and the captain was a GOOD cook too. The next day was a bus tour of the island and the guide was good. The spots we saw from the water we now were visiting. We ended at Oia at sunset. We can say we have been there and done that.
Overall the trip was superb. There was only one guide who was a problem. On leaving, our contact people, alerted us that Athens was going to experience a strike, and recommended we leave for the airport earlier. They picked us up at the new time and we missed the city shutting down.
Jackson, you did a good job.
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Destination: Egypt
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Ocysu

2020

I just returned from a trip to Egypt which included my husband and three of my friends.
I use Gate 1 Travel often, but this trip we used Travel Discounters and did their 7 nts Cruise + 2nts Cairo & Pyramids Tour. www.Platinum Holidays.us I was expecting the worse, but this trip way more than exceeded my expectations. All five of us agreed it was one of the best trips ever.
You could not have better tour guides than we had-so knowledgeable and friendly. The antiquities in Egypt are amazing. We were treated like royalty and never felt unsafe. What an terrific experience.
Note: if you do this tour I suggest adding the King Tut's Deal to it-the trip to Abu Simbel is not to be missed, plus you get a tour of Cairo, meals in Cairo, and all drinks on the riverboat.
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Destination: South Africa
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Pat B.

2020

I just completed the tour that includes Johannesburg, Krueger Private Game Reserve, and Victoria Falls. I added on Cape town. Everything about this trip exceeded my expectations.
Travel Discounters was very easy to work with, including helping me find the best flights for my needs.
The tour exceeded all expectations. The visit to Krueger private game preserve was the best part of the trip. We had an excellent guide and tracker, and saw all of the big five. All accommodations were beautiful, comfortable-even luxurious.
The food at all locations was wonderful. We really enjoyed the opportunity to try a variety of wild game, and wines served were, I believe, the best that South Africa has to offer. Our guides at all locations were well informed, friendly, and recognized that their personal attention made a difference in the traveler’s experience. The small size of our group—7 people was another plus.
I also commend ERM the South African tour service that handled our tour on having someone to meet us at every point, and to guide us through anything that was unfamiliar.
I also found that my add-on to Cape Town was a wonderful experience. Since I was the only one of the 7 who added on, I actually had a private guide for my trip to Robben Island and the townships, and for my final day city tour. I was upgraded to the Marriott in Cape Town, which had a van that took people to the waterfront every hour, and where the staff was gracious and friendly.
All in all, this was a great product for a modest price. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Destination: Greece
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Amy

2020

Our trip was wonderful! It all worked out great. Our favorite hotel, by far, was our Mykonos one. The owner and staff were so personable and we could get anywhere from it's location.
Our least favorite of the trip was Crete. Having been there before, it was disappointing to only see the city. I realize time didn't allow it, but adding one more day and heading into the countryside would have been better. We had a good time though.
The only scary part was that most of our drivers texted while driving. We even had one who was constantly emailing. Culture difference maybe.
Thanks again for all of your help.
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Destination: African Safari trip
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Shaunt Sabounji

2020

I called Travel Discounters after being referred by a friend who was very happy with his multiple dealings with their company. After spending hours researching an African Safari trip I finally called and spoke with Akhil. I told him exactly what kind of trip I was looking for, where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, and within 15 minutes I received 3 itineraries, one of which was exactly what I was looking for. The rest of the booking process went extremely well and smooth, from promptly receiving a quote through to booking the tour and flights etc. it’s not the simplest trip to plan and book but Akhil made it very simple.
As for the trip itself, it was amazing. The tour companies they work with in Africa are top notch and everything went smoothly from being picked up on time from the airports/hotels, quality of accommodations, and quality of safaris.
I couldn’t be happier with the services provided by Akhil well as the actually trip itself. I met other people on the trip who also booked through Travel Discounters and were very happy with everything.
If you’re looking to book a once in a lifetime African Safari trip (or any other trips) then look no further than travel Discounters to take care of everything.
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Destination: Jordan
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Jeff

2020

We traveled to Jordan on April 2021, and we have many wonderful memories from the Dana valley hike.
The terrain was great and the guide for the hike was EXCELLENT!
Destination: India
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Diane

2020

I just returned from the Dubai/India trip with my cousin, Ronda Mader. From my perspective all aspects of the trip were excellent. The tour guides and drivers in all destinations were very courteous, accommodating and very informative. They were always on time, dependable and I felt very safe in their presence.
I really appreciated the way our guides could circumvent some of the long line ups for tickets for some of the venues. They seemed to be well known by the locals and we would be ushered right through!
The vehicles (SUVs) were also large, sturdy and very nice and clean. And our driver always made sure we had cold, bottled water. Whenever we ran out, another one magically appeared!
The hotels were very nice. The one in Dubai (Canal Central) was beautiful! Only a couple years old and very well situated with wonderful views of all the beautiful buildings across the canal including the Barj Khalifa.
In India, our hotels were a little older, but still very nice and the staff was always courteous and attentive to our needs. Our morning buffet breakfasts, which were included in our tour, were wonderful and filling! The evening meals and events that were included were also very good.
Flights and connections were great! No delays or lost baggage.
In all aspects this trip was well worth the money, in my opinion, and I would highly recommend travelling with your group, Travel Discounters, and your representatives in Dubai, and India, to anyone planning to visit those countries.
Thanks again for your help in putting together such a wonderful and memorable trip!
Sincerely.
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Destination: Egypt
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Susan Isaacs

2020

This was my 3rd trip to Egypt and I was very impressed with both Travel Discounters and Blue Sky Tours. Bob met us at the airport and took care of all our transfers. Between the safe drivers, excellent guides, and knowledgeable Egyptologist, Karin Zhongshan Shemis, I felt very safe and well cared for during my entire stay. The Le Meridian Hotel was very accommodating as our first room had a cigarette smell and when we made them aware they gave us three other rooms to chose from. There was a large buffet which included cuisine representing many different nationalities with delicious food. The river boat was a little dated and worn. The crew was nice and also very accommodating. When I made the manager aware of my food allergies he made sure there was always something that I could eat. This trip is of great value. We did everything I've done on my previous trips for less than half the price. I am telling everyone if you've ever wanted to take a trip to Egypt do it now and use Travel Discounters!
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Destination: Egypt
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JPK

2020

We have just returned from our Egypt trip that was organized by Platinum Holidays.us. They did an amazing job!
From the minute we got on Egypt Air, everything was smooth & like clockwork. The Blue Sky Travel representatives were there to meet us & walk us through every step of the way. Special thanks to Kareem, our guide in Cairo, and to Hussein, our guide down the Nile River, and Mr. Mimi, who took care of our needs on the River cruise. All of them, and the rest of the staff were outstanding. The Egyptian people were so friendly and helpful. They were truly happy to see we tourists. Our party of 6 had a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We highly recommend this trip. We've traveled extensively and don't do "tour arranged travel", but this was perfect to get the most out of all the wonderful things to see.
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  5 of 10  
Destination: South Africa
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Lora M.

2020

Just recently I used Platinum Holidays for a trip to Africa. Everything worked perfectly including all the transfers, hotel bookings, flights. This is the first tour package we've been on that was essentially seamless. We will definitely be using this travel agent again.
Destination: Greece
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Heather Masters Pluard

2020

Amazing service. American Airlines cancelled my flight to Greece and Akhil called me right away to help get it sorted - even though it was 1 am! He also fixed everything on the Athens end so I had zero stress starting my vacation.
Their name might say 'Discounters' but this was a first-class experience the whole way. I Recommend this trip 100%!
Destination: Kenya
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Rocio

2020

We had an amazing time! Arriving to Nairobi, we were welcomed at the airport and taken to our hotel. The hotel was very nice and modern. We had a nice dinner and got as much rest as possible to get over the jet lag.
The next morning we drove to Amboseli. Our driver was very nice, friendly and knowledgeable when it came to animals. We enjoyed the drives a lot. The lodge was very nice.
We were lucky enough to see all the animals we could see at Amboseli: huge herd of elephants, lyons (lots of them), giraffes, hippos, etc.... Unfortunately the days were a bit cloudy, and we couldn't admire Kilimanjaro as we should have wanted. Otherwise it was great!
Then we went to Tanzania, in Arusha we met the rest of our tour group (we were accompanied by a couple from Germany and a woman from the US). We then drove to the Serengeti. There, we were lucky enough to see leopards!!! two of them!!!! it was amazing. Kati Kati camp was great, you feel VERY close to nature there, haha... it was a great experience. Our driver was nice, but I felt the one in Kenya knew more about animals and nature in general. However I have to give him points for his driving skills, very safe and experienced.
Subsequently we headed to Ngorongoro crater.... what a place! the most beautiful place I've seen on earth! and we got to see a rhino!!!! We saw all the big 5! We stayed in a beautiful farmhouse, had great food.
After that we headed back to Arusha, our group split and we headed back to Nairobi. The extra night in Dubai was also a nice it was enough time to visit the city.
Overall it was a trip that we will never forget.
Thank you for organizing everything for us and accommodating our needs.
You guys don't disappoint. So far the two trip we have done with you have been amazing!!!! (Egypt last year and Safari now).
Thank you again.
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Destination: Egypt & Jordan
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Juan Portela

2020

I used this company to tour Egypt and Jordan. It was fantastic service and the tour companies they utilized in Egypt (Blue Sky) and in Jordan (Bridge Travel) were top notch. I will use them again for my next trip if they provide the service to that part of the world, which will be Peru to visit Machu Pichu. They took care of everything and allowed me to do the airline upgrades in all my flights.
Destination: Egypt
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Vitaly Levental

2020

Just returned from the trip to Egypt via Travel Discounters. It was fantastic. Before departure Binod was very helpful, answering all our questions immediately and to our satisfaction. Upon arrival we were met by Abdul before we got to the passport control, and he took care of all formalities at the Airport and hotel. Everything went very smoothly, our cruise was better than expected. Food was various and tasty, local drinks drinkable, except whisky. Stay away. By the way, drink package includes not only beer and wine, but also local hard liquor. Our tour managers Abdul and Ashraf were great and very helpful, made our life very easy. Cairo tour guide Maged was great. But Egyptologist on the cruise Yasser was beyond all expectations. Published author and TV show host he was absolute highlight of the tour.
My wife was scared to go to Egypt, but turns out everything was absolutely safe. And, sightseeing is absolutely mind-blowing. Everyone we met was fond of USA and American people, very friendly and nice.
I strongly recommend Travel Discounters Egypt tours!
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Destination: Greece
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Josie

2020

We just returned from a trip to Greece. They were super helpful from the beginning to end. Flights, hotels, ferries, excursions, and taxis were all booked for us.
When we arrived to Athens, Renata met with us and gave us all the vouchers and maps we would need, answered all of our questions, and gave us suggestions.
Unfortunately, the winds were stronger than usual so the ferries were cancelled, leaving us stuck in Mykonos longer than expected. Renata was always available to help and guide us, so it was a lot less stressful.
I absolutely recommend them!
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Destination: Kenya
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Wooddog66

2020

First, we found the trip to be wonderful.
The hotels we stayed at were all first class, we would not hesitate to stay at any of them again. All of them had very nice rooms with comfortable beds, and excellent breakfasts in the morning. The staff at each were also quite helpful. The rooms were all exceptionally clean.
The game drives we took were great, and the tours for the falls were also really good. All of the tour people we came in contact with were first class, and understood their jobs quite well.
The whole package was just excellent. We are so glad that we went, and with the quality that was provided, we are certainly going to strongly consider using them when we take another adventure.
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Destination: Turkey
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Shelley

2020

It was my intention to pass on some "notes" to you. I think I'm now back in this time zone - ha! Having been in the travel industry for 25+ years, I know how important feedback is to a company.
Mostly, I want to say that we had a fabulous time in Turkey and most things were beyond our expectations! The transfers went fairly smoothly, All were on time. The transfer out of Istanbul was handled by a woman by the name of Mary and she was fabulous - very informative and kind.
We enjoyed our stay at the Divan Hotel in Istanbul very much (what wasn't to like; they upgraded us to a suite). The tours were OK, but, I think you need to tell passengers that the first day is a "walking" tour of the attractions and maybe difficult for someone with physical limitations. Also, we were not transferred back to hotel. Only people who were on a full day tour where transferred back to the hotel. The tour on the 2nd day was good and while they didn't deliver everyone back to their hotel, they did drop off people in the vicinity of their hotel and were nice enough to drop us off back at the Spice Market.
The Yunak House was fantastic! Wow, what a place! We had a "not so great" room the first night and my husband went and talked to the manager. They arranged for us to be moved the following day into a wonderful room, so that was very nice. Everyone there was beyond helpful and kind. Our tour of Capadoccia was incredible! Our tour guide, Mehmet, was perhaps one of the best I have ever had. I cannot say enough about him or the tour. Both were exceptional!
All-in-all, we had an extremely great time in Turkey. The people are warm and hospitable, the food is remarkable and there is so much to do and see. We only grazed the surface of Istanbul so there is no doubt that we would like to return and dig a little deeper into the city.
Thank you for all of your help and we will highly recommend Travel Discounters to everyone!
Best regards.
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Destination: Egypt
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Renee

2020

Binod, thank you for patiently helping us last month (March, 2021) navigate our pre-trip trials and tribulations. It was definitely worth the effort!
We felt so fortunate to have Amro Ghanem as our guide from Luxor through Aswan. He was so pleasant and knowledgeable and made the Nile Valley portion of our tour just incredible. We felt as though we made a new friend. He mentioned knowing you so I thought I would pass along how much we enjoyed his guidance in particular.
Kareem also was amazing while we were in Cairo. Very friendly and also very knowledgeable.
Thank you once again for your kind assistance in helping us visit Egypt!
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Destination: Egypt
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Viv Ph

2020

This trip was awesome. We were taken care of very well. From the time we were met at airport to the time we were taken back to airport were always with an extremely knowledgeable guide. History was incredible our Egyptian history guide. Kareem very well educated, excited about his sharing his Homeland with us.
This is a tour that was reasonable but first class.
  6 of 10  
Destination: Egypt
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Sue Davison

2020

Did the best of Egypt that included Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Nile cruise.... Even with a cancelled flight from Chicago to Vienna, I can't say anything negative.
We were met in Cairo and taken care of the entire trip. Hotels was beautiful, buses were comfortable and roomy, tours and tour guides were amazing. Never felt unsafe.... Cruise was perfect.
Will recommend the trip to friends!
Destination: Egypt
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Brian & Russ

2020

Hello Junior,
Please extend our greetings to Binod and we want to thank you both for an amazing journey on our trip to Egypt last month, March 2021.
From the time we landed until we left, we never waited for anything and everyone on destination was amazing. They made special accomodations for Russell and allowed us to see more sites.
The flights, the cruise ship and all excursions were A+ and seem like a dream now. I cannot believe we went on such an amazing adventure and you all made it possible.
Please make sure that everyone knows how much we appreciate our guide Saber, who was amazing and enjoyable to be around. He really went above and beyond to make sure we were cared for and is a great asset to any traveler. We were sad when we had to depart his company and fly back to Cairo. He's a very special person.
We also appreciated Walid and "Abdul 1" as he called himself in Cairo for the assistance from arrival to departure.We always felt comfortable and safe each day we were there.
We saw so much in our week and just want to make sure that we thank everyone.
Best Regards,
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Destination: South Africa
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Randy Siuda

2020

Travel discounters did an incredible job of putting together an outstanding African safari and Victoria Falls travel package. All of our accommodations were first class. We had someone watching over our travel needs the entire trip. Our stay at the Shiduli Safari Lodge was a once in a lifetime experience. We had 4 safaris with our expert guide Evan's. We saw the big 5 the first day! The rooms were extremely comfortable and the meals were delicious.
Victoria Falls was beyond belief. We saw both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides. In May the water level was at a high so the falls were raging. You must wear rain gear and water shoes because you will be soaked.
Binod took good care of us. All travel materials were given to us upon booking so there were no surprises. The only negative is the flights to and from Johannesburg were extremely tiring between the long flights and long layovers.
This trip was probably one of the top 5 trips we have ever taken. I would highly recommend it!
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Destination: Greece & Turkey
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Juelle

2020

My family and I had an amazing time on our Greece/Turkey cruise/trip! The trip went as scheduled, without a hitch. We were picked up and dropped off as planned. The tours in the package were great! We had wonderful tour guides, and each of them was very informative. The tours were enjoyable and we were able to immerse ourselves in the history and culture. Each place that we visited was so different and had something wonderful to offer. My family and I agreed that this was the most enjoyable trip we've had together in a long time.
Pros: Great tours. Itinerary followed as planned. The Santorini Palace hotel was very nice.
Cons: The cruise ship and the Polis Grand Hotel (in Athens) was a little outdated.
Overall, an amazing trip and would highly recommend.
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Destination: Kenya
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Maddur

2020

We had a good time. Our drivers Hasan in Tanzania and Jacob in Kenya were nice and helpful. All the accommodations and transport were good. Food was good in all the places. There was delay in the flight from Chicago, hence they gave us seat in United and flew directly to Paris.
Thank you again. Will recommend you to our friends.
P.S: We were able to see all the animals, and the big 5. And 16 lions close by!
Destination: South Africa
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Jordin Mimran

2020

Thank you for making our African adventure a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To say it was a memorable trip is an understatement.
We felt incredibly safe at all times and definitely could not have managed to plan such an intricate itinerary ourselves. From Capetown to Victoria Falls, we were impressed with the luxury, the people and the price!
We've already recommended you to friends and family - Looking forward to planning our next holiday together.
Destination: Egypt
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Barbara

2020

Returned from this adventure unscathed.
This tour delivered far more than I expected. Right from the minute we stepped off of the plane we were greeted by an exceptional Blue Sky representative. They had all of our names, helped us with luggage and clearly explained what we would be doing every step of the way.
Airport transports were easy. Hotel accommodations were excellent. Daily agendas were well planned. We had daily surprises when it came to our tours (in a fun way). The staff on the cruise went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and all of our needs were met. We celebrated a birthday while on board. The cruise staff chefs prepared an excellent cake AND sang danced and played instruments to acknowledge this birthday. It was so wonderful the birthday girl cried with delight! I have only one negative comment. Drinks on board were not very good.
The Egyptologist was excellent. Rehab in Cairo And Yaser for the seven day tour, very knowledgeable and were passionate about their jobs.
Prior to deciding on this tour I was unsure about our safety. Most important was how very safe we were. At no time did I ever feel the least bit threatened. Safe safe and more safe. If a person is worried about going "don't be"! There is nothing to worry about. The BlueSky representatives ensured we were in good hands. They were with us every single step of the tour.
One of the most exceptional guides was Ashraf Roma. He treated us as if we were family. He met our every needs. If there was something we needed, he helped. If we purchased goods in the market, he made sure the price we paid was fair. Kept us cool from the sun. If there was a special request he helped out from ATM access to the Pharmacy. This gentleman is an asset to this company.
We ended our tour at the Marriott at the Red Sea. What an excellent way to end our journey. Refreshing and relaxing.
I hope this review helps.
Thank you!
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Destination: Greece
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Sabrina

2020

We had a wonderful time! Rhenata our contact in Greece made us feel very welcome also. In fact, we are really grateful we were so well taken care of.
Our flight from the US to Copenhagen was delayed due to problems with TSA (35 passengers had problems getting through TSA was so backed up), so our checked bag didn't make it on the connecting flight with us & it took me a few minutes to track it down with the airport staff. You guys actually called me to make sure everything was ok, because our pickup ride called you guys. We were relieved that the cab didn't leave us & Rhenata was still at the hotel & calling us as well to check on us & greet us. We did get the bag back before we left Athens thankfully. It was a relief knowing that we weren't alone while we were being introduced & getting to know Greece.
The hotels you guys gave us were very lovely & bug free as requested haha. Our favorite was the Alexandra hotel in Santorini but the restaurant connected to the Vanilla hotel was wonderful! We made a few friends :). Vanilla was also in a good location right next to the bus stop & some breakfast spots. The cab pick ups were very nice & right on time. Ferry's were as well & it's very amusing how they pick people up. They have the driving down to an art haha.
We both felt very well taken care of during our stay in Greece with Hetco & travel discounters! Money well spent!
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Destination: Egypt
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Pat G.

2020

I used Travel Discounters out of Canada and I got 11 nights including a 7 night Nile cruise, all meals, upgraded drinks package, r/t flights from California, two of the best guides ever, Rehab in Cairo and Walid on the cruise, camel ride with pictures at the great pyramids, hot air balloon over Luxor and all sight seeing with transportation plus so much more.
It was the trip of a lifetime! The package was Spectacular Egypt which took us from Cairo to Alexandria and down to Abu Simbel. The Egyptians were so gracious and friendly. Egypt is very safe but the vendors were aggressive.
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Destination: Egypt
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Safari261863

2020

We would recommend Blue Sky as a tour provider in a heartbeat.
Right from the beginning, with our initial contact with Alec at Travel Discounters, our trip was a most enjoyable experience. We were treated with the same care and consideration by Blue Sky representatives upon landing in Cairo by Abdul 1, and then by Kareem and Walid, during our cruise. There were another helpful handful of Blue Sky representatives involved, as we spent some time in Cairo and Hurghada.
Not much more to say, as it would only be redundant. EXCELLENT!!
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  7 of 10  
Destination: Egypt
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Catherine McNeil

2020

I was in Egypt on a riverboat cruise at the time of the announcement of the international airport closure and I want to commend you, Akhil, and your team including Blue Sky, especially Kareem, for the excellent service and caring approach in arranging for an early departure for me. It is so much appreciated and really alleviated my stress to know that I had your help and support.
Even though I missed a few days of my trip it was a wonderful adventure filled with breathtaking sights and friendly, helpful people.
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Destination: Kenya
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Joyce

2020

The trip was amazing! The lodges, food, people and guides were exceptional. No bad experiences at all, except I checked my luggage on the trip back from Zanzibar-Nairobi-Paris-Montreal and it got lost, but even that has not upset me, I enjoyed Africa so much!
Many thanks for all your help.
Destination: Israel, Egypt & Jordan
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pscanada

2020

We are a group of twenty-one travelers, mostly from Canada. We embarked on our journey to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel at the end of February. We booked our tour more than six months in advance through our travel consultant Mo with Travel Discounters in Toronto.
Our first day on the ground in Egypt was simply amazing, seeing the Pyramids at Giza with our own eyes. Breathtaking! The staff on the ground in Egypt with Blue Sky Travel were top-notch, ensuring we were met at the airport, transported to our hotels; arranging a safe and comfortable journey through the land of the Pharaohs.
The highlight of the trip, bar none, was the five-day cruise of the Nile River. While the rooms were not up to our expectations, the excellent service from the cruise staff and wonderful vegetarian meals they served us more than compensated for the slight disappointment in accommodation.
Our next stop was in Jordan, where again our tour guide and bus driver with Bridge Travel did their best to offer us honest insight into the history of the country, its people and historic sights such as Mount Nebo and Petra; and make us feel safe, comfortable and well taken care of.
The same can be said of our tour-guide and driver in Israel. We spent the majority of our time visiting sites of great importance to the Christian faith in the city of Jerusalem, while also seeing the Wailing Wall. We also visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Mount of Temptation at Jericho, in the Palestinian Territories. We were disappointed with our accommodations in Jerusalem, though we appreciate that staff of Bridge Travel and the National Hotel did their level best to address our concerns and try to rectify issues with our rooms.
Unfortunately, another challenge for our group was that many were strict vegetarians, and some of the places we ate in Jordan and Israel did not satisfy our requirements. Again, Bridge Travel did hear our concerns and did their best to address the situation on the go, as did our travel consultant in Canada, Mo.
Our final stop was back in Jordan, at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel, which was delightful. A highlight for many was floating in the Dead Sea and covering ourselves in its healing mud.
On balance, the trip was incredible -- and exceeded expectations on many fronts. We appreciated the knowledge and insight provided by our tour-guides, in Egypt - Kareem, Jordan - Abdallah and Israel - George. If you are considering going to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, do make the trip. In all three countries, we felt safe and well cared for. Feel free to book your trip with confidence through Mo at Travel Discounters in Toronto. He helped make this a trip of a lifetime!
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Destination: Egypt
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Karen Welch

2020

Difficult times during this pandemic when our Egypt trip was cut short but the guides on the ground have been fantastic! I think we would still be stranded if it wasn't for Kareem in Aswan and Bob in Cairo helping us with the flights. Even our driver in Cairo was amazing when faced with exceptional floodwaters. Well done everybody and thank you. I wont forget this trip!
Destination: Egypt
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Kathleen Richardson

2020

My daughter and I went and were taken care of meticulously. Travel Discounters arranges an astounding trip. They partner with Blue Sky to provide the on-the-ground representatives and our experience was unbelievable. Sahar, our guide in Cairo, went out of her way to help us even after our tours were completed. She spent her personal time after the tours were completed to make sure all of our needs were met. She shared her love of her country with us and we definitely gained so much more from this experience than simply going on a tour. It was very personal.
Destination: South Africa
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Terry and Linda

2020

Jackson: It was good to hear from you. Thank you for asking about our trip, it was absolutely magical! Shiduli private game reserve was wonderful. ALL the staff were extremely attentive and professional. Everyone made a special effort to make us feel welcome and as if we were the only guests. The food was superb and the dining experience was always unique. The lodge itself is marvelous.... clean, spacious, and a true game lodge experience. The game drives exceeded expectations. Moven (game driver) and Condre (tracker) are extremely knowledgeable and went out of their way to make our time truly exciting. The managers, Tess & Andrew were superb.
Again, thank you for your assistance.... We wish you the best!
Destination: Greece
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Aisha

2020

Our trip to Greece was awesome, everything went very smooth and we enjoyed every moment of it.
Breakfast at Grand Polis was our favorite. Kalambaka and Santorini are unique and beautiful.
All the people from Ms. Renata to all the hotel staff, taxi drivers, everyone was helpful and courteous.
Thank You.
Destination: Kenya
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Harvey

2020

I wanted to let you know my wife and I had a wonderful, absolutely perfect, vacation in Africa.
All flights, activities, lodging exceeded our expectations.
Thanks for delivering all that was promised!
Regards.
Destination: Dubai
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Brenda

2020

Our trip was wonderful! We are still talking about it to each other and our friends. We are trying to convince our friends to go, but have Mo to arrange their trips. We were very well taken care of and felt very safe. We are so pleased with Mo's arrangement and his constant contacts with the preparations to make sure we were satisfied. All of our guides were patient, well informed, comforting.
Right now, as I am writing, I had to stop because the memories of our trip made me feel happy again. I was asked to write the review for all of us because they knew I would best be able to express everyone's feelings.
The Nile cruise was wonderful. The ship was beautiful, the service was great.
We would also like our expressed appreciations be sent to the various tour association and all of our special, great tour guides for Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi. They were very informative and were able to put all information in perspective. It was truly an informing experience, Thanks to them.
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Destination: Egypt
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Murray L.

2020

My wife & I returned Oct. 27, from Egypt, on the Travel Discounts Tour Co. (out of Toronto, ON, CAN).
We flew direct from Toronto to Cairo (~11.5 hrs) and return. Ground support (airport greeters, transportation, checkin, Egyptologist guides, cruise staff, etc) were provided by Blue Sky Travel based in Cairo. This support was all included by Travel Discounters.
Every aspect of the trip was executed perfectly. We spent 2 nights in Cairo, the 4 cruising the Nile, and ended with 2 more in Cairo. We saw everything you could wish for (Pyramids; Temples; Villages) did unreal things (climbed down into tombs under pyramids and Valley of Kings, smoked water pipes, sailed in a Felucca, etc).
Our price, thru Travel Discounters, was $3,100. CAD Excluded were travel insurance, about 4 dinners, beer & wine when not on the cruise, and souvenirs.
WE FELT PERFECTLY SAFE the whole time. If you've held off going to this area of Egypt, because you think it is not safe, you're under the WRONG impression. If you've bucket listed a Pyramid dream vacation, GO NOW!
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  8 of 10  
Destination: Egypt
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Mark S.

2020

This is an appeal to consider traveling to Egypt from the United States. We used Travel Discounters for a fantastic, reasonably-priced trip. They partner with Blue Sky Travel on the ground in Egypt, and together they did a tremendous job.
The Egyptologists were very knowledgeable and personable, and the Blue Sky meet and assist personnel were attentive and helpful. The meet and assist team made location movements within Egypt practically effortless.
The Nile cruise was relaxing and fun, and the daily tours were well-timed to avoid the heat of the day. The sights were amazing, from the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, to the temples along the Nile, to the wonderful Red Sea coast city of Hurghada.
Yes, you can do it yourself, but Travel Discounters/Blue Sky Travel can help maximize your enjoyment of a visit to Egypt.
Check them out!
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Destination: South Africa
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Paul

2020

IT WAS AMAZING! What an awesome experience. If it had cost twice as much, it still would have been a bargain.
I travel a lot for leisure (4 to 6 international trips a year) and this trip was without a doubt, the best trip I have ever had. The lodgings were superb. The personal attention was perfect and the experiences were brilliant. We saw so many animals (up close and personal!).
It was thrilling to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, cheetahs and so much more in their natural habitat. I can never go to a zoo again! The weather was spectacular. The Bush was beautiful, and the detail planning was perfect. This is a "trip of a lifetime" for anyone who wants to see raw nature at its best. I would recommend it to everyone who wants adventure and luxury, that is out of the ordinary.
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Destination: Greece
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Mary

2020

It was the trip of a lifetime.
So well organized. We loved it!
Thank you!!!
We recommended Travelzoo to all the people we met. One of the couples had also used your service.
Kindest Regards.
Destination: Kenya
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Nan

2020

My daughter and I are back in the US for a week now and getting back to normal adjusting to Jet Lag. I just wanted you to know how much we appreciate all your help and consideration for this trip. We both had a great time and it was even better than I expected. The hotel and lodges were exceptionally beautiful with friendly and efficient service. Pollmans was a very good tour company to work with and our driver, Frank, was especially skilled. He went out of his way to get us the best view of animals and to get to our destinations safely and quickly. He deserves a lot of credit. Also, thank you again for help with the visa and please thank Junior, as well. I can certainly recommend Travel Discounters to anyone for a trip and especially you as a great travel agent!
Destination: Jordan
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Sanghab

2020

Mo put together a perfect itinerary for our trip to Egypt and Jordan.
Instructions and booking details were very clear and concise. This was a trip of a life time and something that everyone should try to do to visit the cradle of civilization. The guides were knowledgeable and very helpful.
I know that people are worried about security but Egypt has 10 million tourists a year and there were security checks up the gazoo in all the tourist areas. We felt very safe and I would encourage everyone to do this at least once in their lifetime.
I would like to thank Sahar (Cairo) and Yassir for their enthusiasm, knowledge and determination in protecting us from hustlers. Additionally I would like to thank Kamal in Jordan for his helpfulness and being flexible in the schedule.
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Destination: Egypt
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Deborah

2020

Yes, we made the long journey back to the U.S. and after a weekend resting at my sister's drove the 1300 miles home so we are truly back.
But what a wonderful memories. We took a chance on Egypt and Travel Discounters and were pleased with the outcome. We found Egypt safe, welcoming and extremely interesting for both it's ancient history and learning about modern life. We found Travel Discounters delivered on it's promise and delivered a great tour.
There was a bit of hesitancy regarding the upfront, non refundable cost (travel insurance helps) but the fact the tour would not be cancelled was a plus. We ended up with a private guide (Tut) who gave us a fantastic first 3 days. Then on to Luxor and our Kareem and Kareem duo who took care of details and knowledge throughout our time on the Semiramis Nile cruise ship. They too were amazing. Every need we had was addressed (we needed small change and a shower chair), the ship's staff was friendly (the wine steward entertained us with tricks) and the food was very good, surprising for a buffet (compliments to the chef). Throughout our tour we were met and taken care of by Blue Sky representatives so no stress there.
My sister is very interested in a tour and will most likely use Travel Discounters and we are telling everyone to go to Egypt and see this wonderful country for yourself.
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Destination: Egypt
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Maria B.

2020

I just returned from Egypt... the BEST trip Ever!! (I've done like 30).
I felt Totally Safe the whole time. Our tour included a Cruise on the Nile, Amazing.... saw Everything Egypt had to offer, we were on the go constantly, got more for our money than expected.
All meals included (Big Plus!) it was 4 of us we went through Travel Discounters based out of Canada, talk to Binod, he's extremely helpful.
You will not be Sorry. Great, Amazing and Unforgetable trip.... too many things to say... you Have to go.
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Destination: South Africa
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Phil

2020

I don't normally take the time to write notes of appreciation but, my wife and I just returned from a two week Africa safari/Victoria Falls vacation that Travel Discounters and Gate 1 set up for my family and the family of a friend and we were very impressed. The agent we used, Binod Singh, was great. I wanted to give you positive feedback as we felt the arrangements that Binod and Travel Discounters set up were excellent and exceeded our expectations.
At every location we were met by friendly and well-versed drivers and safari leaders. The game reserves and parks were perfect and the hotels and meals in each of the reserves also exceeded our expectations. The only disappointing hotel was the Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi which was dated, had no air-conditioning, and was quite noisy as the rooms were on the street. I would highly recommend Travel Discounters for African travel needs and look forward to using Binod in the future for other travel vacations. Thank you.
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Destination: Greece
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Andrea

2020

What a fantastic trip to Greece!
I can't thank you enough for a wonderful experience.
From beginning to end, the service, organization and experience was phenomenal!
Thank you very much.
Destination: Kenya
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Bill

2020

The trip was great and the five of us were impressed by the service Daniel, our guide and driver, gave us for the entire trip. The accommodations were comfortable and very relaxing after a day's safari.
We took some photos of the beautiful creatures we viewed during the trip.
  9 of 10  
Destination: Dubai
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Sheila & Jerry

2020

Hi Irene. Just landed in Toronto on our way home. Everything you booked for us went off without any issues. The only bit I was confused about was if we had a tour of Dubai booked. It wasn't really an issue since we went ahead and saw all the places our friend had recommended. The transfer to the airport showed up and we were done. Thank you so much for planning and booking this entire trip for us. We enjoyed it immensely. Celebrity was a nice cruise line with excellent entertainment. If there was one thing they could improve on is the food. The hotel in Dubai was excellent and very helpful. So close to the mall of the emeritus. Not sure where we will go next but will let you know.
Kindest regards and with gratitude.
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Destination: Egypt
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Catherine D.

2020

As a single woman traveller I felt completely safe at all times. There was a Blue Sky representative present upon arrival at the airport in Cairo to show us the ropes and from then on there was always someone to guide us. Transport buses were clean and safe and the drivers experienced in the crazy traffic in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Hotels were 5 star and the Semiramis II, although old, was well maintained and the crew were most pleasant and helpful. The food was excellent in the hotels and on the ship and served buffet style so there was always something you liked and something new to try out. I ended up in a small group of 22 - 5 from Canada, 17 from the US. We all got to know each other well and had a lot of laughs together watching each other struggle up stone stairways and walking on sand in the Egyptian heat.
Best of all we were assigned the same tour guide for the whole trip, so he got to know us and we got to know him and respect his amazing knowledge about the history of Egypt's pyramids, temples, pharaohs, churches and mosques. His English was perfect. His love for his native country shone through everywhere we went. He is a fine teacher and patient with us as we tried to figure out the different gods/goddesses and kings/queens and phaeros And he has a good sense of humour which was needed as we were constantly taking photos or stopping to shop, or asking questions. He even took us to places that were not on the regular tour such as a factory that made rugs by hand, an alabaster factory and a perfumery. Thank you Habibi Kareem Kohny for all your hard work.
Do not be afraid to travel to Egypt! There is lots of security, and you will be accompanied every step of the way. The Egyptian people are very friendly and most of them understand some English. Even the signage is in Arabic and English. I am planning to return and bring friends.
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Destination: Egypt
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Singletk

2020

I'm always slightly hesitant to use a new tour group for travel, especially to an area like Egypt, where I'm not very familiar with the customs, culture, or language. This trip was through Platinum Holidays.ca (in conjunction with Blue Sky Travel) and promised small groups. (The size of a recent group tour I went on was 5 or 6 full, 50+ seat tour buses.) We arrived in Cairo around 30 minutes early (approximately 4 am). After deboarding and proceeding down the escalator, and the first person I saw was Samir, who was holding up a card with our name on it. I later learned he had been waiting for about an hour, meaning he had arrived 90 minutes before our scheduled arrival time of 4:20 am, just in case we arrived early. He expedited our getting VISAs, and quickly guided us through retrieving our luggage and into a van, getting us on our way to the hotel. In addition, he provided a welcome impromptu tour of Cairo on the way. We were in our room by late morning and able to relax the remainder of the day.
We met our Cairo tour guide, Yassir, the following morning. You can imagine my shock at the small group being my daughter and myself. I won't provide a day-by-day accounting of the trip, but will touch on highlights not evident from the itinerary. To have a private guide and driver was amazing... particularly in the middle of August. We were with Yassir and driver Ahmed for two days in Cairo. Yassir revised the order of our schedule to provide us with the best tour possible. We went to areas that were likely to be crowded early, which was an advantage for my taking pictures, as well as temperature-wise. Yassir is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Egypt and it shows. He and Ahmed did everything they could possibly do to provide us with amazing experiences. Because it was only the two of us, we had a lot of latitude concerning timing, and were able to fully explore as much as possible within our time constraints. Yassir had essentially lived in the Egyptian museum doing research for a number of years, so was able to guide us to the highlights while providing detailed information. His knowledge was evident and much appreciated throughout both days. Ahmed was an amazing driver... extremely skilled in dealing with the heavy Cairo traffic, which included both paved and dirt roads, sometimes shared with animals such as cows in the midst of an extremely confusing intersection! While we didn't share a common language, it didn't matter and he was also one of the highlights of my trip (in addition to our guides). We periodically goofed around a little, which was a perfect balance to the intensity of the tour, as I was intent on seeing and absorbing as much as possible. Yassir's personal connections also contributed significantly to the trip... a photo op on a camel became a ride, along with quality pictures taken with my SLR camera. He provided guidance at my request on whether it was worth the extra money to purchase a ticket to take pictures inside various sights. Although significantly more than the price of the ticket (which was already included in our tour), it was worth it to me, especially knowing that the money was going towards preservation and restorations. He also made suggestions as far as how to handle the ever-present guides wanting money, where to make purchases based on our interests, and gave accurate representations of the quality of souvenirs at various sites. Although sad to leave Yassir and Ahmed in Cairo, Yassir assured us that we would enjoy the rest of our tour and have excellent guidance there as well. This proved to be the case, as our subsequent guide, Saber, was equally competent, professional and friendly. Both Yassir and Saber helped me negotiate purchases of my significant souvenirs. Although a different personality, Sabir was also an amazing tour guide and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He likewise had many personal connections, and when guiding us to make purchases from these people, was very up front about it. I trusted both Yassir and Saber implicitly, frequently asking for their thoughts and guidance. In general, we went on tours in the mornings to early afternoon during the Nile cruise, and returned to the boat for lunch and dinner. Sabir decided he was my Egyptian brother, and considered my daughter to be his niece! He was constantly looking out for us, and, as with Yassir, went above and beyond to make sure our experiences were the best they could possibly be. Both clearly love their country and enjoyed sharing information about it with us. At my request, Yassir joined us for meals when he could, which was nice for me as my daughter often skipped dinners. The relaxed pace of the tours while on the Nile was a perfect counterbalance to the intensity of Cairo.
If you have any concerns about visiting Egypt and not knowing the language or area, don't! There was a new driver and meet/greet representative almost every step of the way, from our arrival in Cairo, taking care of check-ins for flights to Luxor from Cairo, to Cairo from Aswan, meeting us at each arrival, and again from Cairo to our return home. We did get to see one meet/greet representative twice, as well as to see our Luxor driver again during the later part of our Aswan tour. We didn't get to see Ahmed, our Cairo driver, again after the first two days as he was on holiday when we returned. As far as safety concerns, we felt very comfortable throughout the trip. The various tourist sites and other areas were well guarded and we felt safe throughout the trip. I would not hesitate to return again.
My take-aways:
- I highly recommend Best of Egypt SemiRamis to anyone interested in visiting Egypt. I recommend the purchase of the Pharoahs Deal, if available. Although I'm not much of a drinker, it was worth it for us for the tea and water on board the cruise, the extra dinners in Cairo, the extra night on the cruise, the Old Cairo city tour, and the trip to Abu Simbel.
- Yasser and Saber are both amazing guides who shared with us their love of Egypt. They are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Egypt; both went above and beyond to make experiences as memorable as possible for us. Both suggested additional stops to sightseeing, stressing that it was our choice and totally up to us if we wanted to make the stops. I found that their recommendations were always appropriate for our interests.
- Ahmed is one of the best drivers I've ever encountered in our travels. Not sharing a common language was irrelevant! When appropriate, Blue Sky guides and representatives always translated for me!
- As expected, I found Egypt to be very hot. I was afraid it would impact my visit, but it did not. Just know that you will likely be hot, that you may sweat a lot, and that you can take a shower upon return to your hotel or room on the boat. I made sure I always had water with me and it wasn't a problem.
- Be aware that Egypt is a tipping country and tips are expected on an ongoing basis! I was surprised at how much I spent on tips, although the vast majority (especially related to Blue Sky Travel) were appropriate and well-earned.
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Destination: South Africa
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Andrew

2020

My trip to Africa was absolutely perfect, the people that you guys work with are amazing they're kind and no just want to do to make one feel welcome and capable. The first resort, it was beyond our imagination. There was 5 safaris and we saw huge numbers of animals.... special kudos to Cobus our guide.
Victoria Falls and the Chobe river were incredible. Best guides and beautiful river resort. Our guide, Sindi was also just amazing. He helped bring Victoria falls to life. This was the best travel for the money without question. Thanks!
Destination: Greece
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Julia

2020

Thank you so much for helping plan this trip of a lifetime!
I loved the flexibility of the tour and the responsiveness of our tour coordinator, She was wonderful! Everything was very organized.
We look forward to booking with you again!
Best regards.
Destination: Kenya
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Barb

2020

I cannot begin to tell you what an amazing trip I had to Kenya. Pollman tours was fantastic and because this is the low season there were not skads of people in parks. The food and lodges were super as well and Amos our guide was the best. I never dreamed that I would see the animals that I saw in the wild. I feel like we saw it all!
Thanks again... where else do you all go???
Destination: Jordan & Egypt
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Carolyn

2020

We liked everything about Egypt and most especially all the people working for you, every one of them was terrific. We felt very welcomed, cared for and safe!
We loved the first three days in Cairo with "Mageb", but then it kept getting better and better on the cruise with Kareem 1 (Luxor based) and Kreem 2 (Cairo based). The people, the accommodations, the food, the activities were all very good and kept us busy, but with some down time as well. I cannot begin to describe the awe and gratitude we feel for having experienced the historical sites we visited... impressive beyond our imagination. We really appreciated starting with the 3 days in Cairo and being able to continue on to the cruise. I would recommend that order and not fewer than the 12 days we had.
Our experience in Jordan was also good with very good guide and van driver. Favorites were Petra, Wadi Rum, Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River and the last dinner in Amman. The hotel and food in the Dead Sea were ok, but not as good as all the others. Only thing which could have been improved for the trip was the process of booking seats on the Delta/Air France flights... quite an extended hassle, with reservations made then disappearing several times. Other than that the flight and service itself were really good.
Thanks for all your help.
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Destination: Egypt
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Mr_and_Mrs_G365

2020

Yes to Travel Discounters and Blue Sky Travel in Egypt. Just returned June 3rd and they delivered on every single thing.
Their trip was comparable to Gate 1 - not luxury but reliable and affordable. Plus, their price was comparable to Gate 1 but the group size was much smaller which is a plus.
Destination: Egypt
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Bill

2020

My major concern, when planning the trip was safety, especially being a Christian in a Muslim nation that has just gone through a political transition. Because of this concern I waited until well after the election to make the trip. Upon my arrival in Egypt, I soon realized that my concerns were unfounded and felt very safe while walking the streets in Cairo or the various places visited along the Nile. Please note, a person must observer the normal diligence one would in any major city.
I enjoyed my trip. However, to the best I can, I would like to provide a reasonably balanced review of my experiences. The best way I can find to break this up is outlined below:

1. The initial purchase and support service
After finding the trip on Travel zoo. I signed up for a 10-day tour with air, cruise and local transportation. My first encounter was with Kevin who was the Sales Agent with Travel Discounters and is originally from Egypt. He was able to make real world recommendations, having traveled back-and-forth to home, and did not try to over sale you. He did a good job of listening to your travel goals and worked with you to optimize trip. Kevin also did a follow-up after I had returned to the states. I did not have any experiences with the other agents but can say that Kevin was excellent to work with. I plan to take other trips to Africa and best believe I will be asking for Kevin.

2. The transportation/Accommodations
Unfortunately, the only direct flights were from JFK. I live in the Philadelphia, PA, area which required transportation to New York. No matter how you cut it getting to JFK from the Philadelphia area are just various versions of bad. The 10 ½ hour Egypt Air flight went very smooth. Upon arrival in Cairo, pickup was performed by a local carrier, Blue Sky Travel, who were waiting and had the visas ready. This tour team ensure smooth hand-offs for every activity. Blue Sky did an excellent job of local transportation. My one complaint was on two tours the van had very little leg room for a person over 5'10", other than that, everything was find. Other than noted, the buses were air conditioned, comfortable and the drivers professional. Just be careful of the small van if you are tall and not real flexible. After leaving Cairo (3 days later) we flew to Luxor and were met by another coordinator. Once again, a very smooth hand-off. In Luxor we went from the airport to a Nile cruise ship. This is where things get funny. The ship was clean and the crew pleasant. The rooms were of a reasonable size, but the decor was like everyone stepped back in time to the 60 Las Vegas lounge look with crushed velvet and large tassels on the curtains included. It was like Tony Bennet or Frank Sinatra was going to appear and start singing. However, everything was kept very clean.
One thing that was noted is that the crew was very strict on feeding drink times. Not that this was a problem, but you need to be aware of this.
My biggest disappointment was the food. One the ship and except for two tour stops, the food was not that impressive. Please understand that this is a personal assessment and will be different for everyone. However, on the ship and on most of the tours, I found the vegetables and the meat to be consistently over cooked, tuff beef, lamb and goat don't do anything for me. The chicken was good, and the spices were fantastic. The other got-ya was the box breakfasts we took with us on early morning tours. They were composed of bread, cheese, juice, and more bread with a little meat from the previous evening, and some more bread.
In all fairness, when I complained about the ship/room décor, I was informed that they were aware and the ship (Rameses II) would soon be taken out of service for an upgrade. Also, it should be noted that the food was very clean and no one in my tour group suffered for food sickness. That to me is most important.

3. The Tour/Food/Guides
Here is where Travel Discounters and Blue-Sky Travel get big points! The tours guide and orchestration of our tours were exceptional. Egypt is so large and has so many sights that you cannot take them all in without spending over a month. However, the tour company has selected major items that are fun and educational. But to top this off they have contracted with awesome tour guides and coordinators. Each guide is a professional Egyptologist. They have the equivalent of a master's degree in Egyptology. The guide for our Cairo stay was Sahar Bayoumi Ebrahim. This woman was phenomenal, her English is excellent, she knows Cairo, and more so, her trade. She kept everyone engaged and taught us how to haggle. In fact, she was like a mother hen taking care of her peeps. Once again, when we went to Luxor, she and Blue-Sky made sure there was a smooth hand-off and we were safe. When in Luxor we were meet by our tour coordinator Karim who took care of everything for us. If there was anything, we needed he was on it. He was one of the very important people who stayed in the background but was there to catch you if you tripped. I cannot say enough about how helpful he was. Last and certainly not lease was our Luxor and beyond tour guide, Walid. Talk about knowing your trade! This guy was incredible. He had a different style than Sahar but equally as effective. He was more technically orientated and was a wealth of knowledge. I which I would have recorded his talks with us. I cannot think of a question asked he could not address.

In closing, this was a great trip and if you have an opportunity, ask for Sahar, Karim and Walid. You will not be disappointed.
Hope this helps.
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Destination: South Africa
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Sharon C.

2020

This is late but I had to respond. We talked to Alec @ Travel Discounters to book the South Africa safari. He was very helpful and very patient, never pressuring us to make a decision. Once in Johannesburg, we were met by a rep that walked us over to the City Lodge. He met us the next morning and helped us with the next part of our journey. The excursions were very, very good and I believe that they were arranged by Kalahari Tours. While we were in Zimbabwe, I accidentally called Travel Discounters, they were closed, and called me back when they reopened! I highly recommend them.
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  10 of 10

Reviews

This tour delivered far more than I expected, right from the minute we stepped off of the plane!

Right from the minute we stepped off the plane we were greeted by an exceptional BlueSky representative. Hotel and Cruise were excellent. Daily agendas were well planned. The staff on the cruise went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and our needs met.

- Barbara

I just wanted to tell you how fabulous our trip to India was and thanks again for your help!

We really enjoyed having our own little car with a driver and guide for the week. It was a wonderful glimpse of this part of India, our recollections of the elephants, the cows, the camels, the traffic and the forts and antiquities will remain near the top of our experiences.

- Roland & Brenda

All in all it was a very memorable nature & cultural experience!

We had a great time. Very scenic area. Weather was sunny & nice & wildlife sightings were great.....we even saw the white spirit bear. It was the lodge's first sighting of the year & Kathy was the first to spot it from the boat. The staff was very friendly, welcoming & accommodating.

- Rob & Kathy
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