Private Tour

by Joyce Bruck, Ocean Ridge, FL

My husband, Andy, and I were part of a group of six traveling to Istanbul, Turkey, in September’07 to join a cruise. We arrived early so we could see the city in more depth.

My husband and I shared many of the same adventures as the writer of the article “Intrepid Travelers Begin Their Overland Journey through West Africa in Mali” (Dec. ’07, pg. 46). However, we used an alternative travel mode, riding in a private, air-conditioned SUV with an English/French-speaking guide and driver and staying at the best available hotels.

We engaged Assou of Saga Tours (B.P. E-1884, Bamako, Mali, West Africa; phone/fax +223 220 2708, www.sagatours.com), to arrange our tour of Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Benin, March 8-25, 2007.

I took a 2-week vacation to Myanmar, Nov. 27-Dec. 9, 2006, and had a wonderful time. Mr. Aung Kyaw Lynn of Majestic Mandalay Tourism Services Company (65 Ayeyarwady Street, Ahlone Township, Yangon, Myanmar; phone 95 1 212882 or e-mail akl-kkn@mptmail.net.mm) arranged everything except reservations for international flights, which I made separately, New York-Bangkok-Yangon and back.

We had a fabulous 3-week trip to New Zealand in February ’06. I wanted to pass on the name of our guide, as he was the best we have ever had in all of our travels. His name is Robert Panzer, of Tailored Travel New Zealand Custom Tours (Thorpe RD 2 Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand; phone +64 3 543 3825, fax 543 3640 or visit www.newzealandcustomtours.com).

I noticed while reading the letters submitted for the piece “The Good or Bad Tour Guide” (June ’06, pg. 50) as well as some comments printed in “Travelers’ Intercom” that many writers offered ways to augment their tour experiences.

by Marcia Brandes, Atlanta, GA

I spent two wonderful weeks on the South Island of New Zealand in March ’05.

Two weeks before Christmas 2004, my husband and I decided to take a much-longed-for trip to the Middle East. Where to go for information? Our ITN magazine, of course. There we spotted a small ad regarding customized trips to the Middle East via Caravan Serai Tours (3806 Whitman Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103; phone 800/451-8097 or visit www.caravan-serai.com). After only three or four back-and-forth phone conversations, a very friendly and capable travel rep, Maha, put together a fabulous trip for us, Dec. 28, ’04-Jan. 11, ’05.

by Fred DeVinney, Oakland, CA