Our trip to Lourdes, Paris, Nevers, and Lisieux far surpassed my greatest expectations–it was truly a blessed experience.  Our pre-trip experience was made easy by Rinda, Jim and Sandra, even though it was my first pilgrimage, and I needed help in making arrangements, along with my 84-year-old mother, my sister, and my daughter. Everything fell into place and we were on our way in a month’s time- a miracle for me!

Lourdes was a beautiful, warm, and holy city, to which I already long to return.  Our tour guide, Susan, was superb in her presentations, and always available and so eager to help us in every way.

Paris, Nevers, and Lisieux were wonderful.  Our guide, Ziga, was truly amazing.  His descriptions and anecdotes offered us a remarkable and and very interesting little course on the landmarks and holy sites and saints in the cities of Paris, Nevers, and Lisieux.  He was also warm, kind, and helpful in every way.  Let me also mention our kind, friendly bus driver, Abed, who also added a special dimention to our Paris-based excursions.

Our hotels were exceptionally clean and very nice, and our meals were healthful, very good, and “French.”  We could not have asked for more.

Our fellow tourists were the best!  Each was very special to us, Our dear priest, Fr. Mark Carrier, offered Mass each day at the spiritual sites we visited, the experience of which we will always hold special in our hearts. What a wonderful trip!

We thank God for you and the experience!

Love and prayers,

Laure Cazes Van Kerkhove

Tour 12 was a complete success. From the time we began our pilgrimage to the end, all facets of the trip went smoothly.

In particular, I would like to commend you upon the selection of hotels, the organization provided by our leader, Miguel Martin Fernandez, and the safety provided by our bus driver, Pedro. All these led to a tour which will be remembered forever. I will gladly recommend 206 Tours to anyone in search of a catholic pilgrimage.

Thank you so much. Again, thank you for your help and concern. Frankly, this is our first time to join your pilgrimage and I am impressed. I have been with five pilgrimage trips when I was suffering from my cancer treatment but yours seems to be good in communicating and coordinating with the pilgrims regarding their concerns. Very well organized. I’m already feeling great with this trip and will surely relay this information to my family and friends in Ohio. Sorry, I got carried away. Sincerely, Mila

The Pilgrimage was a beautiful spiritual journey that has changed our lives forever. It was something we dreamed about for a long time.

The guides we had were wonderful and we were well taken care of. We had Javier in Spain and Portugal and Georgio in Italy and we felt like they were family by the time the tour ended. My husband had a virus in Padua and the hotel got me a doctor and provided transportation to the pharmacy. (he only missed one day (Venice).

They guides went out of there way to accommodate us and make everything as special as they could. My husband is Italian and speaks the language so he had an especially good time with Georgio who knew all about where my husbands family came from.

We met wonderful people on the tour all sharing our faith and growing together. (we even exchanged addresses when it was time to part and hope to keep in touch).

Our priest Fr Reuter was a beautiful statement of how the priesthood should be. He was always accessible and happy to share all his wisdom.

We went to many moving and beautiful places which we want to go back to but I have to say the most wonderful moment was the audience with our Holy Father.

The hotels were beautiful and the food was wonderful and in Spain , Portugal & Italy the wine and water were provided at no charge. In France they didn’t and if I would have one recommendation it would be that they would also include it.

We can’t wait to plan another journey with 206 tours.

Thank You & God Bless,

Kathleen & Dominick Restuccia

Dear Rinda,

Thanks for the excellent trip. The priest, Fr. Christopher was the perfect selection. He was outgoing, friendly and made all of us feel very welcome. He handed out prayer cards for each Holy site we visited so we could pray together at all the sites. In addition, he gave us Bibles so we could read scripture verses at those sites. He gave excellent sermons applicable to the sites we were visiting. He knew the best gift shop where we could get the best deal. He is by far, the best priest I have traveled with.

In addition, our guide, George, was very knowledgeable and energetic. He provided the group with valuable information. He kept the group right on track so that we were sure to make it to all the sites on time. He stayed with us at the airport to make sure we made it on the planes.

The only thing I wish is that I could have stayed longer. I definitely will go back.

I highly recommend 206 Tours.

Yours in Christ,
Sarah Hill

Dear Rinda,

I had a wonderful and amazingly spiritual time on the trip to the Holy Land. All the sites were awesome, especially being where Jesus was born,buried and rose from the dead. I would definitely go there again. The trip could have been a little longer, maybe two more days in Jerusalem, but it was fantastic.

The hotels were all very good. I especially liked staying in Notre Dame in Jerusalem. Fr. Chris was great and I cannot say enough good things about George Said our, tour guide. He was kind, professional, knowledgeable and went out of his way to give us information and show us as much as possible. I would highly recommend that you ask that he be used for more Catholic pilgrimages tothe Holy Land. Also, it was very safe – you can tell that to anyone who is thinking of going there but is hesitant. There were no problems with security.

Amelia

Dear Rinda,

I’m sharing some pictures from the Holy Land Tour. Again, thank you for your efficiency and professionalism.

With prayers for continued success of 206 Tours!

Agnes

Both of us wish to thank you for arranging this most fabulous religious expierence. The entire trip was well planned and all accomodations were far more than we expected. The tour guides were fantastic, especially Xavier – most talented and well knowledgeable, personable man. The bus driver Miguel performed admirably. We would recommend your company to anyone who would request a tour company for this type of pilgrimage.
Thanks again!

Joe and Othilia

Dear Rinda/Jim,

Our pilgrimage to the Holy Land was absolutely wonderful and inspiring! My husband and I were very grateful that we did not listen to our friends and relatives who tried to discourage us from going to the Holy Land Pilgrimage….they said it was unsafe to go. Well, on the contrary, we can tell them all now that tourists/pilgrims are safe in the Holy Land and we were never intimidated anytime during our eight-day pilgrimage in the Holy Land.

Our spiritual director, Father Philip Pavich, was phenomenal! We learned a lot from him about the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. His residence in the Holy Land for eleven years was truly a blessing for all of us in the group .

Our guide, Rimon, was equally wonderful and his expertise on the history of the Holy Land, the people of Israel, then and now ,is amazing! We are truly blessed by having Father Philip and Rimon with us all throughout our Holy Land Pilgrimage.

We recommend to all who read this testimonial to go and have a pilgrimage to the Holy Land even once in their lifetime.
God bless 206 Tours. We have been very much satisfied with your services. Thank you!!!

Sincerely,

Mervyn and Lorna M. de Guzman

Dear Rinda,

The Tour 12 that we joined was very memorable and interesting. We experienced very touching moments particularly the procession in Fatima and Lourdes, seeing people from different walks of life, different nationalities speaking different languages from all over the world with one/common belief….. so touching experience that you feel the “Holy Spirit” within you….that your eyes cannot stop releasing tears of joy…a feeling that cannot be bought and taken away from you. The group that you associated us with in this tour was exceptional. Even though we didn’t know each other at the airport, we bonded immediately with the good support of our Spiritual Leader, Father Carlos Valencia.

Our tour guide, Javier Gomez, is very knowledgeable and extremely nice, and companion Pedro is an excellent driver. Javier brought us good information referring to all the different places that we’ve been to, and Pedro brought us safely to and from our destination.

Thank you for your kind attention. We will definitely recommend 206 tours with our friends and relatives.

Sincerely,

Rudy and Tessie Almero

I was privileged to join your Lourdes – Paris pilgrimage tour from April 15 to 22, 2005. While it rained almost constantly in Lourdes, our spirits were not dampened. It was a profound experience I will hold for a long time. Our guide, Susan, was very knowledgable and very helpful. Our guide in Paris, Ziga Kobilica, was extraordinary. He went out of his way to help us do things that were not on our itinerary. He managed to make our short stay in Paris even more exciting and fun. This was not my first 206 tour nor will it be my last.

Gloria Hannafin

Dear Milanka:

Thanks so much for your very prompt reply in answering my questions and working on our group. It is a very unique pleasure working with your company — your handling of every detail for all the trips we have taken with your company in the past has been outstanding, and we have the utmost confidence in your assistance with this trip too. Again, thanks for all your help. Your company does a wonderful service to the public.

Warm regards, Joyce

Dear 206 Tours,

Just a quick note to thank you for arranging a fantastic pilgrimage for us. Everything went very smoothly. Even two trips to the emergency room in Lourdes and one to a specialist– ENT went well. Excellent care was given for both pilgrims. Juan Carlos and Miguel were by far the best guide-driver I’ve ever worked with! They were very professional, accommodating, and went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend them for any future pilgrimages. In Lourdes, Susan was excellent, as well. Despite the bad weather we had nearly every day, we enjoyed the breath-taking mountains of Spain and received many graces and blessings at all the holy places we visited.

Thanks again for your expert assistance!

In Jesus and Mary,

Allan

Dear 206 Tours,

The pilgrimage to Guadalupe (Tour 20) this past March was my first trip with you but it certainly won’t be my last. It was an

amazing spiritual and cultural experience for me. From the first day to the last, the people who guided our journey (Ricardo Gomez and his driver Arturo) were knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely warm people who love their country and are eager to share it with others. Through them, I have come to know and appreciate the culture, religion and customs of the Mexican people.

Spiritually, our leader Father Chris Eggleton was a blessing. Throughout the trip he completely devoted himself to the group making sure that our spiritual needs and expectations were fulfilled. Well done, Padre!

There is so much more I could say about how wonderful this pilgrimage was but I will end by just saying that everyone in the group (especially Joan & Mike Riley) made this an experience that I will never forget.

Fondly,

Ellen Bland

P.S. Please tell Ricardo that I will forever be indebted to him for our side trip to the orphanage in Ocotlan.

I just wanted to send an email to thank you again for all you help with getting my mom and I to Rome last week for the Pope’s funeral. We didn’t make it to the Vatican for the actual funeral, but were able to get to the Basilica of Mary Major with about 5 Mill other pilgrims to view it. It was astounding. There was a silent reverence that filled the square. It was very moving to be part of something so filled with the Holy Spirit.

The flight wasn’t crowded, the transport was so great, the hotel was AMAZING!!!! and our time, as I said, in Rome was very blessed. So again, thank you (and Milanka) for all you did to make it possible to be there. May Our Lady continue to bless you and your company in the ministry/services you provide for others.

Peace, Jennifer Bartley

Dear Milanka,

I am your guest from the Cayman Islands, and was on the pilgrimage to Medjugorje with Wayne Weible for Easter. It was my first trip to Medjugorje and I think I can only say, one recognizes that they enter a different world – the real world, as God intended it to be – when one visits Medjugorje . I loved the whole country, as we drove from Sarajevo to Medjugorje and on to Dubrovnik. Our hosts were excellent and accommodation simply ‘at home’. You will not find yourself a better guide than Slavenka!!!!

It was a great blessing to be in Vicka’s and Fr. Jozo’s company. Wayne made the comment that as long as we have contemplated going to Medjugorje , Our Blessed Mother has been waiting for us to accept her invitation. I have always been ‘showered’ with Medjugorje information, my interest has always been high, and I keep a picture of Our Lady of Medjugorje on my bedside table. Wayne’s comments made me cry as indeed, I went to Medjugorje with the usual feeling of not knowing why I was going. To think She waited about 20 years!!!

I peruse your brochure everyday and I hope to book Poland in June, as soon as my boss returns so I can book the time off. Many thanks and keep up the good work with 206 Tours. I found it very interesting when I asked Slavenka why you chose such a name as 206 Tours, why a number? Of course she said, “It’s the best reminder of twenty to six!!!” The hour Our Lady appears…….well done!!!

Sincerely,

Merle McGann-Burke

Hi Rinda,

I truly enjoyed Tour #8 The group was enjoyable and very spiritual Many things happened that were so special due to the wonderful guide Guia! She was fantastic and very informative. She gave info that I had never heard before on my many trips and I felt the group was very fortunate to have had her. I would request her on any future trips I may be taken. Your arrangements were fine and no problems. I like the idea of ending up in Assisi as it is so spiritual and leaves people with a feeling of calm. Some pilgrims commented that they would have liked a little longer stay in Assisi. All in all i’d rate the trip a 9+ since nothing is perfect. I look forward to working with 206 in the future. If you have trips available just give me a call. especially to Greece or southern Italy. I also enjoyed the trip to Prague, Budapest etc that i took in September with 206

Please give my regards to Milanka and Jim.

Hope to her from you again!

Thank you and God Bless you all,

Fr. Frank

Dear 206 Staff,

Michael and I just returned from a magnificent Mexican pilgrimage. To be in Mexico City during Holy Week gave us such insights into the Hispanic spirituality. We attended Holy Thursday Mass at a lovely church near the Royal Hotel where we were greeted warmly. On Good Friday, we saw the re-enactment of the Passion in front of the Cathedral. That evening, Ellen, Father Chris and I (Joan) walked in the Sorrowful Mother procession and then participated in the Seven Sorrows liturgy. Easter Mass was in Guadalupe where the filled church attendees waved flags at momentous moments of the liturgy and the music was beautiful. We will never forget those beautiful opportunities.

We packed so much into 4 1/2 days thanks to the best guide we’ve had yet on your tours: Ricardo Gomez. He was so informative, helpful and had a marvelous sense of humor. Our driver, Arturo, was a delight, too. Both were also men of strong faith.

We were the only ones of our group who had been on a 206 Tour before and our prediction to the group that it would be a quality experience certainly was realized.

We have been blessed on a prior trip to meet Father Philip Pavich and have been able to see him when he comes to our area. He is a wonderful spiritual guide. Well, we met another priest we’ll never forget: Father Chris Eggleton!

What a fine job he did in ministering to us spiritually and whenever there were any difficulties. A flu hit the group one by one and he and our guides were so caring. We would STRONGLY recommend you consider him for other trips. He is easy going, faith filled, and has a great sense of humor.

The shrines and historical sites were amazing; the Mexican people warm, and our group fun to get to know. Mike and I did go the the Folklore Ballet on Easter night – people shouldn’t miss it!

We could go on and on…Thanks again, for giving us a quality tour!

Joan and Mike Riley

Dear Rinda,

To sum up the pilgrimage that I participated… It was a great pilgrimage. Father Anthony is a great priest and a wonderful person.

Javier (our tour director in Portugal and Spain) was a truly amazing person that everyone in our pilgrimage almost cried (many truly did) when he dropped us off to Lourdes. Even Miguel, our drive, was a great person that we will truly miss both of them. Zige in Paris was great too, and did a great job driving and touring us to Paris, Nevers and Lisieaux. All of them (Javier, Miguel, Zige) did not seem to be guides or drivers, but friends.

Would I recommend 206 TOURS? Definitely!!!

Thanks for all your help and “patience” during the booking of my pilgrimage (Tour #12 plus the pre-tour to Fatima & Spain).

God bless you and everyone in your staff.

Cristina Tolentino

It was a wonderful trip I ever have in Portugal, Spain and France. I was overwhelmed with our tour guide, Javier was knowledgeable and kind with the whole group. Also, to our driver Miguel, he was a good driver and respectful. The whole group was having a lot of fun. I would like to mention also our spiritual director Father Anthony Puduchery an excellent priest that has also good sense of humor. When we were in France our tour guide Susan was refine and helpful to us during our stay in Lourdes. It was a fabulous trip.

Thank you for the excellent arrangement.

God bless to 206 tours!

Debbie R. B.

It was a wonderful pilgrimage I had on Tour #12 ( March 7-16’05) which covers Portugal, Spain and France. I felt very blessed when I went to Fatima and Lourdes. Our tour guides Javier was very helpful and very informative and so with our tour driver Michael he was wonderful and respectful. We had a lot of fun during this tour, not only to see the spiritual places it helps me be more closer to our Almighty. Also, our spiritual director Father Anthony Puduchery was excellent prient I ever met. When we arrive Lourdes, Susan was also well cultured and very nice person who help us during our stay in Lourdes. Thank you so much for making this tour successful.

Sincerely, Divina Becker

What a wonderful experience we had in Portugal and Spain with Javier and Miguel. What gentlemen, excellent guide and bus driver, respectively. Everyone in the group was at ease with Javier and Miguel. We hated having to leave them. They went out of the way to be of assistance to everyone.

Gracias Javier and Miguel.

Sincerely,

Jose and Debbie

Thanks for everything ,I had a good time. Everything went well. Thanks again.

God bless you all in 206 Tours. This pilgrimage was the best ever.

Emy D.

Dear Rinda,

Thank you for your welcome home mail; you and your staff are very pleasant to deal with.

I enjoyed my pilgrimage very much; especially enjoyed Slavenka, she is the best. The group of other people were wonderful as well. We took a trip to Dubrovnik that added to the cultural enrichment of my visit to Croatia; this was made possible by a very flexible and most accommodating Slavenka.

I look forward to meeting you one of these days.

Regards,

Michael Dick

Dear Sandra,

We like to let you know that we enjoyed very much our tour of Portugal & Spain. Everything was wonderful & we had a great time. We like to compliment Javier Gomez for doing a great job, helping us all the time even going out of his way to do it. The driver Miguel is also very good at his drivintg. Thank you very much for this wonderful trip.

Anita Go & Conchita Tan

It was the best of all trips. Slavenka was everything and more, always there and Father Mike has even asked me and my sister to get something together for next year because he was so impressed with the religious participation of all the people there and for us being able to enjoy the benefits with them. Five of us were lagging behind our group while walking the stations behind the church towards the Christ figure when we stopped to allow one of the ladies Bernadette from Houston to tie her shoe. Madeline from Brooklyn said “Look at the sun”! and we all did and it was blazing red and revolving like crazy so much so that we started to scream and cry at the same time and the group ahead heard us and said they could not look at it because it was so bright and yet we could stare directly at it for at least 1 minute. One of our group said he also could not look directly but the four of us stood staring and crying. When we reached the group ahead Father said we were so emotional they knew something had happened. The Christ figure teared while we were there and some tasted the tear drops.

We are overwhelmed with emotions attending Mass and services listening to many voices expressing in song their joy in being there. Our accommodations were very clean, the rooms were warm and so was the water for showers. Our host Ivan was very pleasant and always on hand when our meals came…We wish to express our thanks to your tour for placing us with him and his family for the food was outstanding. A unanimous successful trip. We got to meet two visionaries and the priest who has been with them since the beginning. He spoke to us for 2 1/2 hours and then we went to church and he personally blessed some of us including myself.. The Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain are experiences that cannot be replaced. Three of us were physically unable to do the mountain which all who did do it said it was very hard because of the rocky terrain….Since we were already with your tour 206 to Fatima and Lourdes we were able to share our trip experiences with others on the tour. By the way we met Monsignor Matthew Malnar there from our trip last March..

We would be happy to share our experiences so that others may learn a little about Medjugorje…Of course let Ivan and his wife know how much we enjoyed the food. I also should say that the wine served was excellent so much so that when we flew on Lufthansa and they served German wine everyone said that it was not good like our wine at Ivan’s Pension Ana..I guess we got spoiled…Be sure and thank Slavenka who is such a credit to 206 Tours…

Marguerite Schweisthal and Dorothy Ann Guba.

This was a wonderful pilgrimage. Our guide, Slavenka, was terrific. I would definitely recommend 206 tours.

Charlotte Zinsky

The trip was fabulous. Penny was wonderful, our tour guide Slavenka could not have been better, and the family that hosted us for dinner was incredible!

Thanks,
Sr. Mary Elizabeth Wusinich, SV

Kristin, thank you so much for the literature and dvd etc. you sent to us. The DVD is beautiful. We will be in touch with you soon. Thanks again.

We are really impressed with your response to us and your professionalism.

Opex

Hi Billy,

Everything about the trip was exceptional! I had a very enjoyable trip. Everything was organized extremely well, especially since I know I was last minute to the trip.

The people in the group, such as Penny and the tour guide Slavenka, were delightful and pleasant, always patient and kind, (and that was a pretty large crowd). Also, Jozo’s house, our hosts, were an exceptional, beautiful family.

I had a wonderful experience, and I would definately take a 206 Tour again in the future. Thank you for everything, and God Bless You.

Sincerely,

Elaine Marzocchi

I want to thank you especially for the add-on part when we went to Dubrovnik. Sylvia, our guide, met us promptly and guided us through the old city in spite of the freezing rain and cold wind. She seemed in no hurry to leave us. The hotel was fine, nice view of the Adriatic and a nice meal.

Staying in Medjugorje was comfortable with the Jozo Tunin Vasilj family. They made us feel welcomed and the food was healthy and thoughtfully prepared. The whole family was wonderful to us.

Slavenka was very professional, intelligent and well spoken. She is just light-hearted enough. I enjoyed her.

It was a unique experience going to Medjugorje…the memory of it will last forever.

Thank you for good planning….Rosalie Corcoran