4-21-08
To Sun Holidays:
I wish to commend your company for an outstanding tour that I and the family recently completed. We were on the "Best of Andalucia" tour and it was exceptional. All aspects of the tour were truly amazing. Ms. Karen Quigley handled her duties in a very professional manner, and could not do enough for us. Mr. Antonio Arjona did an excellent job on all the tours and gave us exceptional lectures relative to the areas we were visiting.
The hotel accommodations, meals, and service were the best we have had in many years of traveling. Many of our friends have asked how the tour was, and in all instances, we gave an outstanding report on your tour, and highly recommended Sun Holidays.
Our many thanks again for a wonderful vacation.
Norman C. Nadon
Tijeras, New Mexico
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4-2-08
To Sun Holidays:
Just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed my Sun Holiday tour to the coast of Spain in March. Much of this was due to your employees Karen Quigley and Antonio Arjona. Karen was extremely personable and helpful. She was always ready with information of all sorts when we asked her.
Antonio was well-organized, prompt, insightful and most interesting. We all learned much from him about Spanish culture and heritage. He could easily step into any college and fill the shoes of a professor.
Sun Holidays is most fortunate to have these great employees on the front lines for them.
Thanks for a wonderful trip!
J Toner
Wisconsin
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Thank you Sun Holidays for arranging an amazing trip for us to Italy. We have travelled all over the world and used your services for the first time on the recommendation of friends. The professionalism and attention to detail impressed us—which is not an easy feat! Special thanks to Jennifer in your reservations office. She is a true asset to your company.
Lisa and Joe Phelps
Billings, Montana
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Sun Holidays:
What a wonderful trip you put together for me! Everything was just perfect, right down to the meeting at the airport. The very nice driver was right there with my name on a big card! At the hotel there was Festival Tours rep., a delightful gentleman by the name of Sam Pina, who had all the necessary papers for me. Loved the hotel and my room with a balcony overlooking the bay and gardens was very hard to leave in order to do my sightseeing around the island. Food was very good and service was excellent. The staff at Reception was a pleasure to deal with. The Baia Azul has a wonderful location.
Madeira is a beautiful island - - I cannot begin to tell you all the things it offers! Museums, botanical gardens, churches, historical places, concerts, market ... I mean, the list is endless. One could easily spend 20 days in the island just to cover some of the activities .... and let's not even mention the "levada" walks (which I had no time to take) or the Monte palace & gardens or the botanical gardens which I did not have time to take either. I did enjoy the beautiful tours to the East coast, West coast and South coast of the island & Nun's Valley (the latter was offered by Festival Tours in exchange for the Funchal tour which is not operating). Funchal is a city to be "walked" literally, in order to really appreciate its beauty and because its cobblestone streets are narrow and very, very steep. I took a taxi to what seemed to be the top of the world in order to visit the beautiful Quinta das Cruzes museum (there was NO WAY I was going to climb UP THERE) and then on my way down (which felt as if somebody was pushing me forward) I was able to visit the very close Santa Clara church and convent as well as the gorgeous Federico da Freitas museum. The brand-new Madeira Story Center is truly not to be missed.
I took a one-day tour to nearby Porto Santo and loved every minute of it (even if we were all very sick in the ferry on the way over due to very rough seas). I loved Porto Santo ..... and the 5-mile white-sand beach is enough to make your heart stop. The crystal clear water in all hues of turquoise felt like a swimming pool. The tour of the island offered by the ferry company was excellent and gave me a look into this 11 million-year-old island (Madeira is ONLY 4 million years old! - - and we humans worry about being 30 or 60 years old!....)
The Madeira airport is a masterpiece of engineering in my opinion and it won a very prestigious award - - something in engineering equivalent to our "Oscars" for the movie industry.
TAP's service was flawless - - punctuality, service and meals. They even managed to serve a meal on the 1-1/2 hour flight from Lisbon to Madeira. Whatever delay we experienced in and out of Newark was due to air traffic and not TAP's fault.
Somehow I have misplaced the three vouchers Festival Tours gave me for the dine-around in other restaurants around Funchal as I did not use any of them the reason being that when I took full-day tours lunch was either included or had it on my own wherever we were, and with such plentiful lunch I could not possibly have another meal at dinner time! Also, these restaurants were in the downtown area of Funchal and by the end of my local tours I was too tired to start looking for these places closer to downtown. I even did not use one meal voucher at the hotel (and I have it) for the same reason. I really don't know if I would be entitled to a refund (IF I find the three vouchers from Festival Tours - - I really can't think what I did with them as I had them in my bag the last day of the trip).
Now you can anticipate what I am going to say: I have to return to Madeira and for a longer stay .....
I see you have exra days which can be added to the one-week Madeira stay, something which will be necessary for me. There is also the Lisbon/Madeira trip you offer .... could extra days be added in Madeira at the end of this trip or are the extra days only offered on the Madeira-only one week trip ??
I wish I could pin down a date for my return to Madeira, but I have commitments already for September of this year (I will be in Mallorca) and for May of next year (China) ... then there is also Libya and Ethiopia but there seem to be problems, especially with the first one. I suppose any month is good in Madeira, but I noticed that in May-June they have every Friday the Mandolin orchestra concerts, which I missed this time due to time constraints (since I arrived there on a Friday at 10:00 am ... by 5:00 pm my eyes were refusing to stay open, and the concert started at 8:00 pm - their time, which was like 2:00 am in my mind and body) and although there are always flowers in Madeira .... May-June is when the gorgeous jacaranda trees are in full bloom - - a sight to behold, only comparable to the 50,000 trees in Pretoria, South Africa, which bloom in October!
Many years ago, when I took my trip around the world, I gave such a glowing report to the travel agent who arranged it for me that she seemed to only be listening to me & was very pleased to hear what I had to say ...... I did not see her for a few months, but when I stopped by to book my next trip to Australia & New Zealand and asked for her ..... they told me "she is traveling around the world". When she returned she quit her job and moved to Boston! I hope you do not move to Boston, but I do hope you go and visit Madeira - - Festival Tours will take good care of you and you will not be disappointed! Just make sure you go for at least 15 days.
Many thanks for everything. As somebody reported in the International Travel News (that is how I heard about you people) regarding some trips you have planned for him and his wife - - "Sun Holiday Tours did a fantastic job" ..... Keep the good work and until you hear from me again, all the best.
S. Ibanez
New York
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Our family just got back from an amazing trip to South America. This was the trip of a lifetime and we appreciate all of your assistance. What a beautiful part of the world—thank you Sun Holidays for making our dream a reality.
The Rosiscky Family
New York
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4-2-08
To Sun Holidays:
Just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed my Sun Holiday tour to the coast of Spain in March. Much of this was due to your employees Karen Quigley and Antonio Arjona. Karen was extremely personable and helpful. She was always ready with information of all sorts when we asked her.
Antonio was well-organized, prompt, insightful and most interesting. We all learned much from him about Spanish culture and heritage. He could easily step into any college and fill the shoes of a professor.
Sun Holidays is most fortunate to have these great employees on the front lines for them.
Thanks for a wonderful trip!
J Toner
Wisconsin
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11-28-07
To Sun Holidays:
We recently went on your Fall Special to Torremolinos/Andalucia October 19 to November 2 from Boston, Madrid, Malaga. Staying at the Sol Aloha Puerto hotel, with Antonio Arjona as our tour guide made this trip worthwhile. It is to compliment Antonio that I am writing this note. He actually made the trip an educational experience for us. Antonio was patient and caring about our needs. He is extremely knowledgeable. Most of all, he spoke slowly and in a voice we could understand. If ever we travel with you again we would hope to have a guide as great as Antonio.
Sincerely,
Roger & Joan Noone
Venice, FL
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November 1, 2007
To Sun Holiday Tours:
Eight of us have just completed a 2-week stay at Sol Aloha Puerto, Torremolinos, Spain.
We agree that it has been one of the best vacations ever – and we all have traveled extensively.
Our host, Antonio Arjona, entertained us magnificently with the historical background and folklore of each site. His kindness and attention to details was exceptional.
For some of us, who had come before with Charles Gruppe, it was our 6th trip with Sun Holidays. For others, it was the first or second trip. But we all agreed it will not be our last.
Thank you again for providing us with such an enjoyable and reasonable vacation.
Kay Russell - Newport, RI
Roger Moore - Newport, RI
Maria Carroll - Newport, RI
Dorothy Stevenson - Newport, RI
Natalie K. Haustoelf - Newport, RI
Ann Fonti - Newport, RI
D.M. Tornquist - Newport, RI
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We had an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC trip!!!!!!!!! We all had a great time.
If you ever need to use me as a reference, please feel free to do so. Everything went like clockwork, and all your people in Spain were Fantastic,knowledgeable, courteous, considerate, helpful,.....
The hotels were BEYOND our expectations, clean, comfortable, centrally located. Our trip to Moroccowas also great.
Again, thanks for all you help and advice. I look forward to contacting you
in the future.
Liz Clancy-Healy
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Jan 11, 2008
Dear Sir:
Today I booked a tour online with your company and during the process had occasion to talk to two of your travel reps, Jennifer and Carolina. They were extremely courteous, knowledgeable, helpful and professional and are to be commended on the way they do their jobs. It was a real pleasure to talk to them.
You are fortunate to have such employees in your service.
Very Truly Yours,
G.R. Burton
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Dear Mr. Bonnemaison:
I just returned from a trip to Barcelona and Nice and wanted to let you know what a wonderful vacation we had. From the professionalism of your local representatives to the beautiful hotels and great tours—this was an unforgettable vacation. This was our first trip with Sun Holidays and we look forward to many more.
Elizabeth Wilder
Phoenix, Arizona
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From: Rob Bjorgum
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 6:21 PM
To: mail@sunholidaytours.com
Subject: trip
Sun Holiday staff:
Just wanted to send a note of thanks to you. We just got home from Costa de Sol area in Spain. Our stay in the Sol Aloha Puerto Hotel was wonderful. We had a great three week vacation there. We would highly recommend it to anyone. What a delight the nightly shows are. One night a two some playing instruments for dancing to and the next night professional group shows that one would spend a lot of money to go to in the States. We looked forward to each show in the evening. The tours that came with the package were excellent. Three more trips were bought so we would cover more area. And what a gorgeous area it is. Thanks for putting together a wonderful package.
Rob and Sue Bjorgum
Shingle Springs, CA
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To: Sun Holidays, Orlando, FL
Attn Customer Service:
As a long time client of Sun Holidays, I have come to know your company as reputable, service-oriented and committed to details. We have visited the Costa del Sol for many years, and enjoy returning to the hotel, especially to your hostess, Karen, who has become a friend. This year, we decided to try a different location with your company. We recently returned from a Sun Holidays trip to Greece and wanted you to know that the high standards we have come to know in Sun Holiday's Spain program are also apparent in Greece. The hotels and tours were superb and your ground staff in Greece handled us courteously and professionally. Thank you for another great vacation. You can be assured that we will continue to use your company for our future travel needs.
Regards,
Sam & Alice J. Moore
Cincinnati, OH
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To: Sun Holidays, Orlando, FL
My wife and I just returned from our Canary Island Vacation arranged through Sun Holidays. We departed on May 11th and returned on May 19th. I wanted you to know how much we enjoyed this vacation. Everything was as advertised. I’m sorry I did not keep the name of the local travel company on Tenerife with whom you contracted but their representative, Gloria, was simply great. She made certain that we were thoroughly apprised of vacation package and made all the necessary arrangements, i.e. accommodations and tours. Speaking of tours, they were excellent. We took our Mt. Tiede tour on May 15 and our Tenerife Island tour on May 18. In both cases, our guides were superb. If possible, I’d appreciate your passing on many thanks to Gloria and the tour guides and their companies for the wonderful experience.
The Conquistador was a fantastic facility. We found everyone there to be very friendly and helpful. I must admit we were a little concerned about their daily remodeling project on the rooms across from ours on the hall we were on. The hotel did offer to move us to another room but since we were seldom there during the time they were working, we decided to stay in the room originally assigned. Both the breakfast and the evening buffets were immaculate. It reminded us of our only cruise ship experience. This was actually much better.
All of our flights on Iberia Airlines were very smooth and generally on time. The ticket counter people were very friendly and helpful as well. We did feel the flight attendants could have been a little more jovial and friendly, however.
Anyway, many thanks for a memorable travel experience. We’ll be looking for another travel opportunity through Sun Holidays of a similar nature and duration. We are currently thinking about a possibility if Greece in 2003 or later.
Gary Bores
Boise, Idaho
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Monday, April 30, 2007
Hi,
Thank you for your fast action reply. So looking forward to next year, and if you need a recommendation for Sol Timor please let me know.
Facilities were absolutely great, rooms (we had a two room suite—immaculate) entertainment a delight featuring something for everyone, every age. Food was really good as far as selection was concerned, only complaint it was almost always just warm, breakfast and dinner should be hot.
Beach was just gorgeous and cleaned constantly. Was delighted to be aware that you didn't see cigarette butts all over the place, someone was always cleaning something.
Just cannot wait to be there again.
Regards,
R Simone
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