Dear 206 Tours Family,
Over the past two years, I have put out letters updating you, our valued pilgrims, on the state of travel during the misery that is the pandemic. As you know, travel came to a virtual halt, and pilgrimages were unable to depart due to travel restrictions. We postponed, canceled, and rescheduled thousands. These letters were never easy for me to write, as this was the most difficult time in my professional life.
I am happy to say, that today's letter is finally optimistic! Since June 2021, countries have slowly and conservatively began to ease restrictions and reopen. Since then, we have sent more than 1,200 pilgrims to Holy sites and Shrines. We can officially say, Pilgrimages are back, not without challenges, but they are back!
Pilgrimages Are Back:
- Our first departure was to Medjugorje in June for the 40th Anniversary of Our Lady's Apparitions. It renewed my spirit to "restart" pilgrimages where my story started in Medjugorje, 36 years prior.
- Since June we have operated tours to Medjugorje, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Kentucky, and New Mexico
- 1,200 pilgrims have gone on a pilgrimage in the last few months
- 2022 Pilgrimage departures are almost completely sold out
- 2023 Pilgrimage departures are also filling up
- 206 Tours staff, guides, and clients are like no other. Our clients have stuck by us, trusting God, and trusting us - keeping their reservations with 206 Tours for 2 years.
- We moved our headquarters from New York, to Brentwood Tennessee, just outside Nashville. Some of our staff moved with us, and others have stayed in New York. Regardless of where we are, when it comes to pilgrimages, we are still one unbeatable team!
- Many governments are easing restrictions and welcoming tourism. We expect to see an increased ease in restrictions, and more organized travel protocol in the coming months.
Over the past two years:
- I thank you for your Support: Your trust in 206 Tours, sureness that our mission is unwavering, and confidence in keeping your bookings with us, regardless of several postponements, means the world to us. We are incredibly blessed to have such loyal and supportive pilgrims.
- I thank you for your Patience: There was no shortage of uncertainties throughout this period. In fact, there were months on end where we had no answers. Requirements, protocols, and restrictions were continually being changed, overturned, updated, and rolled back. It was near impossible to say with confidence, what countries could be visited, or when we would have more details. Your understanding and patience that we were at the mercy of information, was vital to cooperating while we worked to reschedule tours.
- I thank you for your Prayers: Most of all, thank you for your prayers. We have heard from hundreds of pilgrims and Priests assuring us we were in their prayers. Priests offered Masses for us, pilgrims prayed the Rosary for our intentions, and so many sent kind messages of support and well wishes. These prayers truly sustained us.
The travel industry still faces challenges ahead, but we are more optimistic than we have been in 21 months.
Resuming our pilgrimages has brought so much joy to our guides, drivers, shop keepers, as they, once again, get to do what they love.
Seeing pictures of groups on pilgrimage and receiving client testimonials upon return have been the most long-awaited and fulfilling gift. We are very committed to our pilgrimage mission and will do our due diligence in getting all those who have a calling to get to their Holy Site or Shrine in the most responsible way there.
Travel may never be the same, and just like after 9/11, some regulations may never go away, but, many will.
I, my staff, and our loyal clients, have faith and know that pilgrimages are worth the trouble.
Continue to find travel news here, and keep 206 Tours and its pilgrims in your prayers – be assured you are always in mine!
Over the past two years, I have put out letters updating you, our valued pilgrims, on the state of travel during the misery that is the pandemic. As you know, travel came to a virtual halt, and pilgrimages were unable to depart due to travel restrictions. We postponed, canceled, and rescheduled thousands. These letters were never easy for me to write, as this was the most difficult time in my professional life.
I am happy to say, that today's letter is finally optimistic! Since June 2021, countries slowly and conservatively began to ease restrictions and reopened. Since then, we have sent more than 1,200 pilgrims to Holy sites and Shrines. We can officially say, Pilgrimages are back, not without challenges, but they are back!
Pilgrimages Are Back:
- Our first departure was to Medjugorje in June for the 40th Anniversary of Our Lady's Apparitions. It renewed my spirit to "restart" pilgrimages where my story started in Medjugorje, 36 years prior.
- Since June we have operated tours to Medjugorje, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Kentucky, and New Mexico
- 1,200 pilgrims have gone on a pilgrimage in the last few months
- 2022 Pilgrimage departures are almost completely sold out
- 2023 Pilgrimage departures are also filling up
- 206 Tours staff, guides, and clients are like no other. They have stuck by us, trusting God, and trusting us - keeping their reservations with 206 Tours for 2 years.
- We moved our headquarters from New York, to Brentwood Tennessee, just outside Nashville. Some of our staff moved with us, and others have stayed in New York. Regardless of where we are, when it comes to pilgrimages, we are still one unbeatable team!
- Many governments are easing restrictions and welcoming tourism. We expect to see an increased ease in restrictions, and more organized travel protocol in the coming months.
Over the past two years:
- I thank you for your Support: Your trust in 206 Tours, sureness that our mission is unwavering, and confidence in keeping your bookings with us, regardless of several postponements, means the world to us. We are incredible blessed to have such loyal and supportive pilgrims.
- I thank you for your Patience: There was no shortage of uncertainties throughout this period. In fact, there were months on end where we had no answers. Requirements, protocols, and restrictions were continually being changed, overturned, updated, and rolled back. It was near impossible to say with confidence, what countries could be visited, or when we would have more details. Your understanding and patience that we were at the mercy of information, was vital to cooperating while we worked to reschedule tours.
- I thank you for your Prayers: Most of all, thank you for your prayers. We have heard from hundreds of pilgrims and Priests assuring us we were in their prayers. Priests offered Masses for us, pilgrims prayed the Rosary for our intentions, and so many sent kind messages or support and well wishes. These prayers truly sustained us.
The travel industry still faces challenges ahead, but we are more optimistic than we have been in 21 months.
Our resuming pilgrimages has brought so much joy to our guides, drivers, shop keepers, as they, once again, get to do what they love.
Seeing pictures of groups on pilgrimage and receiving client testimonials upon return have been the most long awaited and fulfilling gift. We are very committed to our pilgrimage mission and will do our due diligence in getting all those who have a calling to get to their shrine in the most responsible way there.
Travel may never be the same, and just like after 9/11 ,some regulations may never go away, but, many will.
I, my staff, and our loyal clients, have faith and know that pilgrimages are worth the trouble.
Continue to find travel news here, and keep 206 Tours and it’s pilgrims in your prayers – be assured you are always in mine!
May God Bless & Protect You!
Milanka Lachman, DGCHS
President & Founder
1000 Health Park Dr Brentwood TN 37027
milanka@206tours.com
www.206tours.com
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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.
Read Milanka's Previous Letter
