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"Well, we are back. As you know, it is an amazing journey. Magical, mystical, unpredictable, surreal, beautiful. Agung and Weda were the perfect guide and driver; gracious, knowledgeable, collaborative and great senses of humor. We learned, laughed, loved and saw much. Thank you so much for all the large and small details you kept your eye on. Very much appreciated!"
Debra Balamos
"I fell in love not only with the people, the island and the tours, but with the way the Balinese lead their lives. The landscapes are so lush and inviting, the food is magnificent and the culture is rich. The combination of cultural trips and relaxation was perfect and we really felt like VIPs the entire time. We were so excited about how you set things up. We absolutely will recommend you in the future and Guenter and I already decided that we will go back for a shopping tour when our house is finished. Thanks for changing our lives!"
Tanya Carter
"We had a wonderful time in Bali, and it was due, in large part, to the great choices you made for us - the most important being Kayumanis, The Oberoi, and our guide, Arta. Both hotels were just great, each in its own way. We cannot say enough good things about Arta. He's was the perfect person to guide us around Bali: a tourist professional who nevertheless is a practicing Hindu and integral member of several of the villages that form the core of Balinese life. The night we stayed in his family village was just a wonderful treat for us. The accommodations there were indeed basic, but that was fine; just what we wanted in a sense in that we got to see true Balinese village life. We felt so welcomed and relaxed and, really just privileged to be able to be there. We were singing YOUR praises throughout the trip, thinking all the time: "what a good choice Diane made here . .. . what a good choice here." In short, thanks very much for a vacation well-planned, and rest assured that we will be telling our friends: If you want to visit Bali, we know just the person to call."
Dave Krogh
"Thank you so much for planning such an awesome trip. There were so many different experiences like the wonderful temples, the island itself and especially the people, that really stood out for us. We really appreciated the sense of community and hospitality of everyone we met. Our guide, Tasman, was incredible. We learned so much. I think if we were to pick one standout it would have to be playing with the village gamelan orchestra. I didn't think I would like it too much, but it was so much fun and the village women were so warm and welcoming. Our accommodations were diverse but we really enjoyed each and every one of them. We had the best time. Also, it was awesome to be there during Galungan with the decorations and fesitivites. I can't even begin to tell you how great it was. Thanks again!"
Mellany Parinas
"I wanted to thank you for helping us plan a fantastic vacation! We had an absolutely wonderful time! We enjoyed everything you recommended from the hotels to the day trips…we would not have known what to do and in turn would have missed a lot if you had not helped us out. We will definitely be recommending your services to our friends and family and would love to work with you again when we go back to Bali!"
Noah Schuffman & Laura Farris
"It was amazing. The Balinese people are the nicest I've ever come across. Our tour guide, Tasman, became a good friend while we were there...we looked forward to his pickups and the knowledge he shared with us. The hotels were beautiful...Four Seasons Sayan was breathtaking...listening to the river flow and the frogs croaking at night was a treat. The snorkeling on Menjangan was better than Hawaii...and far less crowded. I thought coral reefs like that were only in Australia...wow. Thank you for arranging such a memorable trip for us. Your planning and attention to detail let us enjoy every moment without worry. We felt completely prepared and safe on our journey across the world. I will definitely spread the word about Bali and your services to everyone I talk to."
Jamie Kintz
"Our trip was great. Arta was a superb guide and the hotels were wonderful. Tugu Bali was incomparable. I loved Lake Batur, the dance performances, seeing processions and offerings, the village (gamelan orchestra and family temple). To me, the most compelling aspect of the trip was the opportunity to observe a society that is oriented in a way that is different not only from the U.S., but from any other place I have ever visited. A society that revolves around spirituality. We thought Borobudur was a wonderful experience. Here the elephant ride was magnificent. We rode through villages and observed life at a Javanese pace. The experience actually made us think about traveling to other parts of Indonesia in the future. Thanks for planning such a wonderful trip for us. It is an experience we will long remember and think about."
Sharon Nathan
"We had a great trip to Indonesia and you did a great job setting things up. Taman Sari in Pemuteran was, as you said, spectacular. I'm definitely going back there sometime. Highly recommended is the Gajah Wong restaurant in Yogyakarta - probably the best combination of ambience and food of any place we ate, and not terribly expensive. We were delighted with the trip and would be glad to give referrals or testimonials on the work done by you and your local contacts. We were more than pleased and ended up with just what we wanted out of the trip."
Vic Halverson
"Bali was fantastic, everything worked out perfectly, we couldn't have asked for a better trip! Thank you for all of your arrangements. We felt very secure in knowing you had taken care of everything, from airfare to transfers to hotel. Bali is beautiful, we hope to go back within the next few years. The people are so kind and welcoming. Your information, insight and recommendations were excellent. You were right about Ubud, it was a definite must-see, even for beach worshippers. We loved it. It was so eclectic and unique - totally our style! It was truly a pleasure working with you and experiencing a relaxing, beautiful and well planned trip! Wonderful memories!"
Kate Hinshaw
"Everyone had a spectacular time, and that is quite an accomplishment for a group of twelve! While standing around in the pool on our last night, we all remarked on how smoothly everything had gone, from flights to hotels to dining. All of your recommendations were right on the mark. Until this trip we have booked all our own vacations, but our experience working with you has renewed our faith in travel agents. We will certainly recommend you to family and friends. Thanks so much!"
Tracy & Matt Heverly
"WE LOVED BALI!!! We will definitely be going back next year. Ketut was the best guide we could have had,
and he went out of his way to do things for us. We thought that the Pita Maha was the nicest place that we have
ever stayed. We thought that all the people of Bali were so nice, and that Bali was one of the most spiritual
places that we have ever been. The people there live their religion every day. Whether it was purchasing
something or eating dinner, we felt truly welcomed in Bali. You outdid yourself and we loved being so taken
care of. Thanks for everything!"
Cheryl Wilhite & Erin Hickman
"Artayasa met us on time in Bali. He has a policy of always being early to pick up clients.
The unfailing dependability on this point was appreciated. Our guide, Suyasa, was most accommodating
to us without being servile. We felt that we had begun a friendship in the short time that we had with him.
Our driver also was most friendly. Playing in the village gamelan band was a high point of the trip to Bali.
Also a high point was the Ayung river rafting. I was the only one to fall from the raft. Unfortunately, I
drowned and this message is from the spirit world. Suyasa warned me that with my karma I would return as the
left leg of a cricket, but I scoffed. Suyasa said we were the first Americans he had traveled with since the
Kuta bombing. He had two more booked after us, but then no more prospects. Sad!! Toni, Christy, and I feel we
were most fortunate in having your services. I want to return to Southeast Asia again. Do you offer help for
Thailand, Myanmar, and Malaysia as well?" (Yes, we do!)
Joe, Toni and Christy
"The trip was great!!! I went out in Seminyak a lot and that was fun..great shopping and night life.
The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel is very nice. My only reservation was that this area was not in walking distance of
shops/restaurants. Most of the people that were there didn't leave the hotel. If anyone is traveling to Bali
and has concerns of terrorism please let them know that I was welcomed with open arms from the Balinese people.
I felt completely safe. When I went out at night there were an abundance of policemen outside of the
bars/restaurants making sure that the area was safe."
Carrie Robinson
"Bali was so much fun and we had an incredible time on our honeymoon. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
I have to say that Bali is too beautiful of a place to miss! I'm so incredibly happy that we chose to go there
and not let the terrorists ruin our honeymoon. Also, we LOVED the Pita Maha and had such a wonderful time there,
to say the least."
Karen & Pham
"Thank you so much for organizing my trip. It was incredible. Everything went very well and my guide
and driver were fantastic. Singapore Airlines was wonderful as well. I loved the Sacred Mountain Sanctuary and
Taman Sari Cottages. Everyone was very accommodating wherever I went. I saw a lot and on a second trip would
probably do more in the national parks and out of town. I would love to see other parts of Southeast Asia now.
It was definitely the trip of a lifetime, and I really appreciate all your help and information. It made my trip
so enjoyable and carefree."
Diane M.
"The weather in Bali was beautiful! Kuta and the outlying areas were a bit too commercialized for our
tastes. Once we drove out of the main area, it was very beautiful. Artayasa (our guide) was very nice and
informative. I would definitely recommend the Legian Beach Hotel. Everyone was very friendly and the food was
wonderful. The beach was amazing! Big clean beaches! The temples were gorgeous as well. Singapore was an amazingly
clean city! The Holiday Inn Parkview was perfect; not right on Orchard road, so it was quiet. Awesome food. We had
a great time!!! Thank you for arranging everything!!! We did not have a single problem with all of the transfers,
hotels, air tickets, etc. By the way, I definitely think Singapore airlines was the way to go. Every SIA plane was
brand spanking new. The flight attendants were all beautiful and VERY nice. (Jerry couldn't get over the wonderful
service, by the friendly, pretty and pleasant flight crew members.) This definitely made the LONGGGGGGGGG flight
bearable. Thank you again for the hitch-free arrangements. You are the best!!!"
Noreen Lum
"Our guide and driver were excellent, and we enjoyed the outings that they provided, gaining many insights
into the life and culture of the island. Chris took the rice field trek. She said it was an excellent day,
especially the encounter with the gamelan group. Thanks again for arranging our visit to Bali, if we should decide
to return there I will be in touch."
Simon Rickard
"It was an absolutely wonderful trip. I especially liked Pemuteran. The snorkeling there was amazing.
(Our guide) Suyasa was wonderful. Hiking Mt. Batur volcano for sunrise was the highlight of the trip.
Thanks for all your hard work."
Tara Croan
"Our trip was wonderful. Bali is a beautiful place. We loved Pita Maha. The service was incredible. Sacred
Mountain was very pretty and the food was great (very inexpensive also). The service at the Ritz was incredible.
I'm so glad that I choose the Ritz Carlton Club level. The food presentations were wonderful. It also saved us a
lot of money since we'd eat breakfast there everyday and also have our drinks there free of charge. We really
enjoyed the Monkey forest. We are so grateful for all your recommendations and service. Our driver and guide were
awesome and Pita Maha was perfect."
Deanna Martin
"The tours were so amazing and beautiful! The deep sapphire blue of the ocean and the vivid green of the
palms and rice paddys were awe-inspiring. The dances like the Barong and Legong were so exciting and mystifying
leaving you with the thought of: "How are they able to do that with their fingers and move their eyes like one of
those cat clocks?" I did buy my fair share of souvenirs filling a whole suitcase with masks, batiks, books, and
jewelry. The hotel (Pertiwi Resort) was fantastic! I loved it when I would walk into my room after my morning walk
or tan and find a flower on my bed and bathing towel. By the end of the trip almost everybody knew my name and call
me Mr. Steven. The tour guide was also very helpful in telling me the customs, history, amongst other information
of Bali. Diane, thank you so much for setting this trip up for me. I had the time of my life...thus far.
Terima Kasih."
Steven Vander Plaats
"Rachel and I got back home yesterday evening. We had a fantastic time in Bali and were very pleased with
the whole experience. Both of us loved the island, the people, and the things we did and saw there.
Thank you again for putting the vacation together for us -- it was definitely the best planned and executed trip
that we've been on and I think that your (and the local operator's) service exceeded expectations. Our guide,
Suyasa, was absolutely fantastic. He had a great body of knowledge which he shared with us, was extremely flexible
in meeting our interests, and was a truly great guide to the country. The entire "program" portion of the trip was
perfectly planned and executed.
As for the accomodations, we were extremely happy with all of the
places that we stayed. I think that you did an excellent job in figuring out what we were looking for and
recommending the best hotel for the price. In particular, your recommendation of upgrading rooms at Taman Sari
to the Junior Suite was a great one as that room was truly phenomenal. Overall, we have only good things to say.
Thank you again for insuring that this important vacation was so smooth and hassle free."
Edward Shnekendorf, New York, NY
"My husband and I had a fantastic time in Bali! Thank you so very much for arranging such a wonderful trip.
Our only regret was that we didn't have more time to spend there. We will definitely go back there soon--maybe
even next year. The Maya Ubud is a beautiful place. We were quite pleased with it. My husband thought the diving
at Menjangan Island was excellent. Our guide and driver were very nice too. We were very pleased with the level of
service. I loved the food at Casa Luna! In fact, all of the meals we had in Bali were very good. All in all, we had
a great trip. Thanks again for all your hard work. We really enjoyed ourselves. I have recommended you to some of
our other friends who travel so you may be getting some phone calls. It has been such a sincere pleasure working with you."
Farah Bullara
"Singapore Air was outstanding! Bali was perfect. Our guide was fantastic, the hotels were great, the
itinerary was perfect. I loved it all. Amed was beautiful, Ubud was lush, Pemuteran had the best snorkeling
I've ever seen, and I've seen alot. Munduk was a nice change, completely different from the other parts. Actually,
all the areas were different. The hotel in Singapore was perfect. What I've really learned from this trip is that
it definitely pays to book through you guys. The rates for hotels are significantly less and the service is great.
Thanks so much for a wonderful holiday."
Elyse Tannenbaum
"Our Bali trip went very well. We enjoyed it a lot, learned a lot, and I think even the kids will remember
quite a bit from it in the future. There is no question about it that a very big part of this enjoyment was our
guide. Ketut Suyasa was a great person. He told us extensively about Bali, the culture, the Hindu religion and
its influence on everyday life, etc. By having our own tour we were able to spend as much time as we wanted
on each item and never felt rushed. Looking back I can not say that there is anything I am aware of that we
missed."
Diederik Hemmes
"Everything went very smoothly and the hotels were absolutely wonderful--each of them charming and special
in their own way. I especially liked the Sacred Mountain Sanctuary. Josh was in seventh heaven at the Oberoi.
The guide and driver took very good care of us and were very flexible...Thanks so much. The trip was wonderful!"
Charlotte Herscher
"Our honeymoon in Bali was absolutely amazing. It has been, by far, the best vacation we've ever been on.
We had a wonderful guide who was very accommodating and informative. All the excursions were wonderful. And all
the accommodations were superb, especially the Taman Sari in Pemuteran, which was the perfect place to end our
trip. I sincerely hope that we will have the pleasure of having you book our future vacations."
Anna Krueger
"Gary and I would like to thank you for arranging a wonderful trip to Bali for us. We had a great time in
Bali. The hotels we stayed were excellent, the [tour guides] we had were friendly and knowledgeable. It was a
relaxing trip. We will surely recommend your service to our friends should they intend to have a trip to Bali.
By the way, we went to Casa Luna several times. Their food was very good. Thank you for your recommendation."
Christie
"I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed our Bali trip. What a
marvelous country! I was extremely impressed with the professionalism.... Our guide and driver were extremely
nice, accommodating, helpful, knowledgeable and pleasant....They answered each question with a great deal of
enthusiasm for educating us about their country.... we had the opportunity to sample everything from daily
life to durian fruit!! The hotels were also quite nice, especially at Tamansari and Cempaka Belimbing!!
We loved the outdoor showers!! I would happily recommend this tour, these hotels and especially your services
to anyone I encounter who might have the opportunity to visit this fantastic country. Thank you again for all
your help."
Suzanne Anthony, New York
"Words such as enjoyable and smoothly do not do justice to...our vacation. They aren't strong enough.
Try 'fantastic' and 'luxurious!' Thank you for providing such a wonderful part of our vacation. I will certainly
recommend your service to all and any! Thanks again! What you provided for us should be spread far and wide and
I'm more than happy to do so!"
Steve Kramer, Osaka, Japan
"Bali is unquestionably heaven on earth. We are glad you insisted we stay longer at Ubud.... The
accommodations you recommended were perfect and the staff at both hotels could not have been better. Our
guide for the week... was a delight. We had a very, very great time and are 100% pleased with the service
you provided...and will of course recommend you if we know anyone going to Bali for a vacation. Singapore
Airlines unquestionably provided us with the best airline service we can remember. We really hated to leave."
Ben Bradley, Van Nuys, California
"Thank you so much for all of your help in making our vacation happen! We had so much fun and fell in
love with Bali. I can't wait to go back. The hotel was beautiful. The people were so courteous. Our tour guide
and driver were great! They took us everywhere.... very knowledgeable and informative.... The hospitality was
so nice.... The kecak dance was another highlight that was mesmerizing. Beautiful! I could go on and on. Thanks
again for your help."
Katrina
"I had a very nice trip... My guide... was a delight. He was friendly, knowledgeable, open to my
requests, punctual. Everything I could have asked for. The Hotel Tjampuhan was exactly what I was looking
for - convenient, beautiful, efficient, reasonably priced. I really appreciate all the time you spent tailoring
the itinerary to my interests.... hit the things I most wanted to see and left plenty of time to explore on my
own.... Dukun...was one of the high points of the visit.... a great trip. I will certainly recommend you to
anyone interested in visiting. And will contact you should I decide to return in the future."
Jack Nadler, Washington D.C.
"The trip was awesome. I enjoyed both Singapore and Bali. The Singapore Marriott was a good choice...
The only thing I would have changed would be to spend five nights in Ubud and three nights in Kuta. The Ubud
Sari Resort was a treat! The best massage I ever had.... Thanks again for arranging our trip. Everything was
great!"
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