Dear Pilgrims,
What an incredible year this has been. After a long pause & the worst 2 years in Travel Industry, due to the pandemic, we’ve had an absolutely booming year.
In 2022 we had; tours in 33 countries, 573 group departures, 3,711 private masses celebrated by our Priests at some of the Holiest sites in the world, 63,036 Hotel overnights and 157,697 meals enjoyed.
In a year where the airlines lacked structure and the hospitality industry was understaffed, we managed to overcome these obstacles and continued to provide amazing pilgrimages to our clients. Our staff worked and prayed really hard, and in the end, we pulled through and I couldn’t be happier. I am embracing 2023 – bookings are looking incredible! Many 2023 groups are already sold out, and we’ve even had to pause taking on new business. Some may have questioned our rationale when turning away business, especially after such an incredibly slow and bleak two years. My reasoning is simple. Over the course of 37 years, my clients have come to know a level of excellence we provide in every pilgrimage we operate – I would never jeopardize the quality my pilgrims have come to expect to better my bottom line. Our aim is simple - maintain high caliber services to provide the best pilgrimages.
Unlike my somber letters of the past two years, today I address you all with nothing but gratitude, joy, and strength as we lay the path for 2023 and beyond. There is no going back!
I am so thankful for my amazing team – my dedicated 206 Tours employees who weathered the storm by my side; my guides, drivers, and suppliers who have grown with me through the decades and endured unimaginable losses during the pandemic; and my beloved family whose support has sustained me throughout.
Thousands of pilgrims have returned home with their bodies and spirits fed, to spend the rest of their pilgrimage on earth evangelizing and reflecting on the saints and their journey.
This Thanksgiving - I’m Thankful for You.
All Glory to God!
Milanka Lachman, DGCHS
President & Founder
1000 Health Park Dr Brentwood TN 37027
milanka@206tours.com
www.206tours.com
New Offerings:
- 2023 & 2024 Series Tours
- 2023 & 2024 Special Tours
- Private Pilgrimages & Family Tours
- Single-Stay Pilgrimages
- Oberammergau Passion Play
- USA Pilgrimages
Quick Links:
Stay in Touch:
How 206 Tours is Preparing for Post-Pandemic Pilgrimages
We are prepared to cultivate an enjoyable spiritual experience that is safe and comfortable. Here are a few pillars of our business that support the safety of our clients:
Book with Confidence
Cancel for Any Reason Policy:
Pilgrims can book with confidence with our new Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy. In addition to purchasing travel insurance, our clients have the option to add CFAR for $299 at the time of booking, or at a later date any time until 60 days prior to departure for $349. Learn more about our Cancel for Any Reason offering, here.
Travel Insurance:
All pilgrims are offered Travel Insurance upon booking and encouraged to add it to their orders. 206 Tours offers Travel Insurance through Travel Insured International. All details on coverage can be found, here.
Health & Safety
Travel Restrictions:
We expect to see changing governmental procedures around health and travel in the months and years to come. While it is too soon to know what these measures may be, we are actively investigating and prepared to react in accordance with any changes. Please continue to check our website for updates.
Health Services:
Health services are always available to our Pilgrims, regardless of if they have purchased insurance. Our guides and drivers are fully trained for emergency situations, and procedures are in place to help pilgrims get medical care if necessary.
Travel Safety:
Our itineraries are strategically cultivated and all locations visited carefully considered. We would never lead pilgrims to or through a known dangerous or unsafe area. We do not visit high risk locations. In the event a location becomes unsafe, changes to avoid the area would be immediately made to the itinerary to preserve our Pilgrim’s safety.
Healthy Staff:
Our suppliers will need to meet our health and safety standards. We plan to arrange for our guides and our Priests to be test ahead of travel, only those with a clean bill of health will be allowed to participate.
Emergencies and Evacuations
We provide a 24/7 emergency phone line to all clients within their travel documents. Should a client ever encounter an emergency, miss a flight, or need to be extracted from a location, we are prepared to do everything in our power to provide immediate assistance. Our online “Know Before You Go” guides detail all one needs to know ahead of travel, including what to do in case of an emergency. Read more, here.
Changes to Group Travel
In the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we are considering adjusting our average group size to allow for more space on buses and at meals, as well as less exposure to each individual Pilgrim. This will enable proper spacing (ex. Assigned every-other-row seating on the bus) we are working with restaurants to ensure seats are spaced out too. Larger groups (ex. 200 people) can still be accommodated, but will also be spaced more evenly on busses, and at masses and restaurants. There will always be a Catholic priest and Mass daily, if more than one bus, the Priest may share his time between buses.
Private Travel
206 Tours has always offered custom and private pilgrimage services. Travel individually, with your family, or with a small group of friends. Learn all about our Private Pilgrimage Services, here.
Cleanliness & Sanitation
Protection:
Masks may be required to be worn in certain places. We have made these available to all our guides, drivers, and staff. If needed, masks will always be available for Pilgrims to use on the bus. Hand sanitizer will also be available to all pilgrims.
Cleanings Increased:
We have instructed all our supplier to increase their daily cleaning to provide safe and sanitary environments.