Travel Reviews
Blue Parallel has over 20 years’ experience creating truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel experiences in Latin America, the Mediterranean and the Polar regions. We really get to know each one of our guests so we are able to plan highly custom-made journeys incorporating exclusive personal touches and bespoke insider experiences. We have forged long-lasting relationships with many of our travelers over the years, and there is nothing we enjoy more than surprising and delighting them one trip at a time.
Travel Reviews
Blue Parallel has over 20 years’ experience creating truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel experiences in Latin America, the Mediterranean and the Polar regions. We really get to know each one of our guests so we are able to plan highly custom-made journeys incorporating exclusive personal touches and bespoke insider experiences. We have forged long-lasting relationships with many of our travelers over the years, and there is nothing we enjoy more than surprising and delighting them one trip at a time.
What our travelers have to say about Blue Parallel
Ricky Strauss / Head of Marketing at Apple TV+
PERFECT - CROATIA & MONTENEGRO
We LOVED Croatia! GORGEOUS country, wonderful people and the weather was perfect. All the boats we chartered were top notch and comfortable and the crews were fantastic-warm and fun. The Blue Parallel folks were always attentive and available and the guides were excellent. Thank you for the fabulous planning that went into our trip. We were blown away by how beautiful the settings were and the quality of our guides, services and itineraries! It was the perfect trip and a perfect plan.
Irwin Simon / Chairman & CEO at Tilray Brands
HIGH CLASS SERVICE - ARGENTINA
Thank you again for the high class service from Blue Parallel. You and your team were excellent. The trip was phenomenal and each one of our guides was exceptional! The hotels and restaurants were also first class. I know this was done last minute — just think if we really planned! I have been asked for my itinerary by 10 different people… I will refer Blue Parallel!
Bruce Atwater / Former Chairman of General Mills Inc.
SUPER EXECUTION - BRAZIL
As usual, your planning, staff, and execution was super. Everyone with Blue Parallel has been very helpful and knowledgeable throughout our stay in Brazil. They anticipate what needs to be done and make necessary changes with apparent ease. Altogether an excellent trip, as we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.
Susan Barnes / Co-founder and former CFO of NeXT Computer Inc.
WONDERFUL - GREECE
Bottom line this trip to Greece was wonderful, in so many amazing ways. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the Blue Parallel team. We have many good things to say about them.
Donald Meltzer / Vice Chairman of Rabobank
OUTSTANDING - PERU
Our family had a great trip to Peru with your organization and we found the guides, help and accommodations outstanding.
Lily Fischer / Executive Assistant of Geoff Rehnert, Founder of Audax Group
EXCEPTIONAL - GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
I cannot thank you enough for all your work throughout this process. It has been a pleasure working with you on this Galapagos charter, and with such an exceptional company.
Len Berlik / Executive VP for Uniqema, ICI
OUR BEST TRIP YET - MOROCCO
We are now back home after a wonderful trip to Morocco. This may have been our best trip yet with Blue Parallel. Everything ran like a clock. The food was great, the hotels were great and the country was great. We all feel our main guide was exceptionally good. He was very well informed and went above and beyond to make us all happy during the trip. His driver was also outstanding and made us all feel safe on the treacherous roads of Morocco. It was truly one of the best vacations we have ever had.
Jeffrey Mallett / Former President of Yahoo! Inc.
EXCELLENT ADVENTURE - ARGENTINA
All of the Malletts had an excellent experience and adventure, and we highly enjoyed all the folks on the Blue Parallel team. Magadalena was easy-going, accommodating and a perfect host. She was great with all of us and made everything go very smoothly. The staff in the glaciers area were excellent, friendly and helpful. Ernestina in Buenos Aires was perfect; we all loved her and she made our time here very special. The girls wanted to spend as much time with her as we could. We also highly enjoyed Gabriel in Iguazu. He was very knowledgeable.
Michael Kowalski / Chairman of Tiffany & Co.
EXTRAORDINARY - SPAIN
On behalf of all of us who went on this tour, I wanted to thank you for organizing a wonderful trip to Andalucia and for doing it so efficiently and graciously. We also want to extend our compliments to the team; Fabricio was an extraordinary guide and host, and was supported by a great group of drivers and local hosts. We couldn’t have been more pleased.
Ulf Berg / Former President & CEO of Ericsson AB
FIRST CLASS - PATAGONIA
Blue Parallel’s arrangements were first class all the way. We were taken care of in a very exclusive and private manner at all times. We deeply enjoyed the daily outdoor activities and all the first-rate evening programs (especially the private tango lesson and the wine tasting!). Thank you for showing us one of the most beautiful regions and for arranging a unique vacation we will not forget.
Doug Brown / Former Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley
GREAT OPTIONS - SOUTH AMERICA
Our Blue Parallel experience in South America was a perfect combination of sightseeing and exploration, beautiful meals, lovely hotels and superb guides. As a family of six we were provided with options that appealed to all. Thank you Blue Parallel for giving us memories that will last a lifetime!
Susan Crown / Founder of the Susan Crown Exchange
OTHERWORLDLY - CHILE
The trip was amazing. Going to Chilean Patagonia is like going to Mars — otherworldly. The hotels were incredible; I’ve never seen a property quite like it. They do a superb job and I’d recommend to anyone looking for an adventure. We hiked… hard! It’s a physically taxing trip, so great for people interested in athletic activity. Guides, meals, service — all first rate.
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Blue Parallel
Start PlanningWe listen carefully to the unique wants and needs of our guests so we can try to surpass expectations and deliver a first-class service built on trust and attention to the finest details. After each trip, we schedule a post-trip call to collect our guests’ feedback. We also encourage them to share their comments on Facebook and Instagram, and to complete an online post-trip review. Here, we share a sample of reviews our travelers have given us. We would be delighted to help facilitate contact with some of our existing travelers to help you decide on your next luxury journey.
263 Reviews
BEAUTIFULLY CURATED ITINERARY
Chile, October 2024
B.K.S
We were delighted with our trip to Chile and had a fabulous time. All the guides were fantastic and super attentive, and we appreciated how flexible they were. Highlights of this tour included walking across the sand dunes in the Atacama Desert and witnessing flamingoes flying. This was another beautifully curated itinerary perfect for our family.
NEW WAY OF TRAVELING
Portugal & Spain, September 2024
M.R
We felt as though we were discovering something very much special and under the radar. The guides and drivers were great throughout and made the trip feel very special. We loved having so many active excursions in Galicia, especially the biking, boating and hiking. Bainoa was amazing; it was a unique experience to be able to walk around an old fortress every morning. The oysters in Vigo were a highlight of the tour, as well as the picnic lunch nearby the lighthouse.
WOULDN’T CHANGE A THING
Morocco, September 2024
J.Y
We had a terrific trip to Marrakesh and wouldn’t change a thing. The itinerary was great and the accommodation was beautiful. The private cooking class was a highlight! Our guide and driver were superb; they provided us with great recommendations and had a hands-on approach, but also knew when to give us space. The Blue Parallel team was also very responsive.
FLAWLESS EXECUTION
Croatia, September 2024
J.S
Words like “exceptional” and “extraordinary” are overused so that their meanings do not properly capture the essence of the experience we have enjoyed just enjoyed in Croatia. Rarely does the reality of travel exceed the utopian expectations pre-voyage, but this is certainly one of those times. The execution was flawless at every level, from modified itinerary due to weather, to perfect excursions, to food that rivals the best in the world. Croatia and its innumerable quaint marinas tucked into gorgeous protected bays and picturesque seaside villages are what postcards are made of.
AN AWESOME POLAR ADVENTURE
Polar Regions, June 2024
E.P
We visited Iceland, Norway and Sweden and overall, enjoyed our experience. Copenhagen was awesome; it was a cute city with absolutely amazing food. We enjoyed all the activities, as well as everyone we met along the way. Our guide in Stockholm was extremely knowledgeable and we had a good time with him. Highlights included the private helicopter tour in Iceland and the private cruise around Stockholm’s archipelago. The Thief Hotel in Oslo was incredible. We are looking forward to our upcoming tour to Spain and Portugal this year.
INCREDIBLE TRIP TO PERU
Peru, May 2024
K.E.L
Our guides were phenomenal; they were flexible, personable and their knowledge was over the top. They paid attention to the little details and and went beyond expectations. The weaving experience was amazing, the private cooking class was so much fun and the coffee experience at our guide’s daughter’s coffee shop was incredible. All six of us are looking forward to more trips with Blue Parallel.
A BETTER WAY TO TRAVEL
Swedish Lapland, March 2024
J.S
What an amazing time we had! You put together an incredible trip for us that we will truly remember. I want to commend the excellent guides we had in Stockholm, Lulea and at the Ice Hotel. They could not have been more attentive to our needs and very personable and dedicated. The hotel choice in Stockholm was really perfect for location and luxury. The lodge near Lulea was so remote and magical with over the top amenities, excursions and the most delightful meals. We have put Blue Parallel at the top of our go-to list for future trips. You have showed us there really is a better way to travel!
ONE OF OUR BEST TRIPS
Swedish Lapland, March 2024
D.K
Every trip you offer, we will go on. Everything about Sweden was amazing and the guides were some of the top guides we’ve ever had. We loved Stockholm, that was a great city, I could see being there in the spring time would be wonderful. All in all it was a great trip. I would have spent more time with the dogs as we had so much fun dog sledding. This is right up there with some of our best trips with you, it was beautiful.
PRICELESS MEMORIES
Argentina, March 2024
S.L
There was not a detail that was missed and every aspect of the trip was flawlessly organized and implemented. Our accommodations were spectacular; it is not every day that you can wake up with a prime time view of Iguazu Falls or wild monkeys on your balcony! All three guides provided insight into the beauty and culture of Argentina that allowed us to immerse ourselves fully into life in Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls. We cannot thank you enough for the unforgettable experiences and memories we created. These are truly priceless. We look forward to planning our next adventure with you!
IT WAS A DREAM
Colombia & Argentina, March 2024
S.J
We absolutely loved our trip. The guides were excellent and very knowledgeable, and the restaurants were great. One of the highlights was visiting a private gallery in Buenos Aires, it was an exceptional experience. The Blue Parallel touch was phenomenal and we appreciated the responsiveness of the team and the special touches.
HANDS-ON APPROACH
Chile, February 2024
N.R
We were extremely pleased with the trip. We loved our guides and greatly appreciated Blue Parallel’s hands-on approach. The experiences was really professional.
AN EFFORTLESS JOURNEY
Patagonia, February 2024
A.M
We had a really fun trip. Everything was done for us so we could relax and enjoy it. Blue Parallel makes magic happen and I highly recommend you to anyone who wants to see something remote and spectacular. Our guides went above and beyond, and were funny, charming and very energetic. We would definitely return are already considering visiting Patagonia again in the future.
A FABULOUS TRIP
Chile, January 2024
C.F
It was a fabulous trip! The locations were amazing and guides were punctual and organized. Mari Mari was magical; the food was of the utmost quality and the restaurant staff were amazing. The views at The Explora were the most beautiful ever changing views that I have seen. Our guide in El Calafate was AMAZING: fun to be with, very intelligent and super organized! Some of our highlgihts include hiking the path near the glaciers, hiking the glacier, our guacho BBQ lunch and horseback riding experience, and witnessing the Milky Way from our hot tub at Mari Mari!
SIMPLY MARVELOUS
Argentina, January 2024
A.E
Thank you for a simply marvelous trip! We enjoyed every experience and adventure and really can’t thank you enough. One of the highlights of our trip was meeting Sr. Pallarols; what an extraordinary experience to meet someone who is the best in the field of their work! We look forward to planning our next trip to Patagonia.
EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS
Swedish Lapland, January 2024
J.P
Our bucket list desire to see the northern lights was achieved but our trip to Swedish Lapland was so much more than that. It was an utterly fabulous journey that exceeded all of our expectations, by a lot. Thanks so very much!
BLOWN AWAY
Argentina, November 2023
C.W
We were so blown away with level of service. The people, guides and accommodations were all round great. The Park Hyatt and Das Cataratas were beautiful with spacious rooms. Blue Parallel went above and beyond and their competitors do not compete in any way in terms of service. We wouldn’t change a thing if we were to repeat the trip and we are very excited to be traveling with you again next year.
FOREVER MEMORIES
Argentina, November 2023
K.B
We all loved our trip so much! It was so well planned and we definitely felt cared for each step of the way. The guides, hostesses and drivers were truly amazing and all of the accommodations were lovely. We truly enjoyed every location. Thank you again for all your hard work and for making forever memories.
THE BLUE PARALLEL TOUCH
Peru, November 2023
Axel Robert O. Miller
We are extremely happy about our trip to Peru and with lots of fantastic images and memories of the past three weeks. Thank you very much for the outstanding preparation of our trip and for achieving to provide the perfect trip and organization for what we like in vacations like these: active time during the day and great accommodations at night. The organization of the trip was clearly well thought through and the accommodations were all great, especially the Monasterio in Cuzco, the Cirqa in Arequipa and the Titilaka Lodge on Lake Titicaca. We regularly felt the Blue Parallel touch in terms of attention to the details that make you feel special… having someone make you feel special is always a nice phenomenon. After our experience in Patagonia last year, we were once again delighted by the trip you put together for us and will not hesitate to call on Blue Parallel again in the future. We felt pampered and well supported throughout.
EXCEEDED EVERY WISH
Spain, October 2023
S.P
The trip exceeded every wish I ever had. My family are blown away, as am I. There is no way I can ever say how grateful I am for getting all of us together for a vacation of a lifetime. There are no adequate words to express my gratitude for all of the special touches you added to the vacation. The musicians on the boat ride and the musicians at our vow renewal were so special! My family did not have enough compliments to share at your attention to detail, both the Correl Del Ray and Hotel Fuente de la Higuera were outstanding! The restaurants exceptional; first class all the way. All the guides were wonderful!
MOST PROFESSIONAL DREAM TEAM
Greece, September 2023
S.K
I wanted to share with you the “notes” I took on our life changing, heart growing anniversary trip. I simply cannot thank you enough for your arrangements and your patience. We had never sought the services of an agency, and your group was top notch from beginning to end. You employ the cream of the crop… the most professional dream team. Thank you again for a first class and most exceptional experience.
FIRST RATE
Croatia & Montenegro, October 2023
Joseph Kampf / Chairman & CEO of CoVant
The boat crew was first rate, particularly Anna, and all the guides were fantastic. Hvar was a cool island and Dubrovnik was better than expected and we ha a great guide. The private cooking class at the local ranch in Dubrovnik was the best activity. Both the Palace Elisabeth and One & Only Portonovi were amazing. We wouldn’t change anything.
VERY, VERY SPECIAL
Morocco & Portugal, September 2023
N.M
The guides and drivers in each location were excellent, particularly the driver and Berber guide in Marrakesh, the guide and driver in Lisbon and the guide during our drive to Porto. David, our guide for the biking and hiking in the Douro Valley was amazing. The private cooking class in Marrakesh was great fun and the staff were fantastic. The special early entry to Pena Palace in Lisbon was fabulous and invaluable. We loved Coimbra University; the students were all in robes when we visited which was quite a spectacle. The Library and Chapel was a highlight of the experience and was very, very special. Pictures do not do Douro Valley justice. The cooking class, biking adventure and boat excursion were the highlights here. The accommodations were gorgeous.
MANY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES
Iceland, September 2023
H.M & J.A
We are so happy with our recent Iceland holiday. I think it’s probably worth nothing that both of us would have been happy to spend more time there – that’s a measure of a good time! Accommodation was excellent. There is nothing about Deplar Farm that should have less than a rave review. Their helicopter took us over the mountains to the whale watching (wow!) and back along the coast. Fantastic! Each day seemed to lead to another memorable experience. There was also not a single person with whom we interacted that we did not wish for more time but it would be remiss of me not to flag three outstanding individuals: our snorkeling guide in the Silfra fissure, James; our helicopter pilot, Andri; and our tour guide and companion, Atli who was 11 out of 10.
OFF THE CHARTS HIGHLIGHTS
Greece, September 2023
M.K
I cannot express enough how extraordinary this trip was and what excellent service Blue Parallel provided. The off the charts highlights were the sunset picnic with live music in Santorini and the meal on the farm in Crete. Just unbelievable and unforgettable moments. You have real gems in Ruth, Dimitris, and Vangelis in particular.
BEYOND EXPECTATIONS
Brazil, August 2023
David Fishman / Principal at SDG
The travel adventure was beyond expectations. The activities and adventure were customized to our interests and it was an excellent trip that pleased everyone. The accommodations were luxurious, particularly in the Amazon jungle and Rio. The guides throughout our tour were top notch; they were familiar with their local sights, easy to spend time with and available whenever needed. One of the highlights of our tour to Brazil had to be swimming in the Amazon River with gray and pink dolphins. If we could, we would have extended the trip and had more time in Rio.
EACH STOP WAS MEMORABLE
Brazil, August 2023
D.F
All in all, we had a top holiday in Brazil. Each stop was memorable, and the guides were excellent. It rained quite a lot in Rio, so the option for indoor activities was appreciated and we made time for some shopping.
THE BEST OPERATION
Galapagos Islands, July 2023
D.H.F
Blue Parallel is the best operation I’ve ever worked with. We thought our trip to the Galapagos was fantastic and they outdid themselves on this trip! We look so forward to our next adventure with them.
WE RECOMMEND YOUR TEAM
Iceland, June 2023
K.M.M
We are having a wonderful time. Everyone has been wonderful to work with and we wanted to let you know how great Iris and Harrold were. They really took such great care of us! Again, such a great trip. We will definitely recommend your team and likely book another trip with you in the future!
WELL DELIVERED & RECEIVED
Greece, June 2023
S.E.M
The crew was very professional and kind and I would recommend them to anyone. Thank you all for making this transition as smooth as it has been. I’m not naive to how difficult this is for all involved; all service response to this point has been well delivered and received.
PERFECT ORGANIZATION
Sicily, April 2023
H.B.D
Thank you for the perfect organization of our Sicily trip. It would be too long to mention all the interesting places we visited and all the charming people we met (all the drivers were excellent, particularly Alex, and all the guides extremely knowledgeable, particularly Rachele). The books you sent us previously to the trip by John Julius Norwich and Giovanni Verga were most useful and visiting smaller towns which are hardly mentioned in the guides, such as Grammichele, Vizzini or Palazzolo Acreide, was an excellent idea. All hotels and restaurants excellent, the Seven-rooms Villa Dorata in Noto in particular, even if it has now expanded to nine rooms.
TRULY EXCEPTIONAL
Argentina, March 2023
D.A
I have traveled the world and worked with many people over the years but you exceeded any hope/expectation I had for a trip. There were no glitches, every detail was planned and executed, the people who assisted us – from airport to drivers/guides/escorts were truly excellent. Your detailed instructions, advice and printed matter was reassuring and helped us understand what was ahead. I can’t describe your approach as professional as I have dealt with many professionals and what you did was more than that… truly exceptional.
EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS
Chile, March 2023
K.G
I cannot thank you enough for pulling it together so last minute; the trip exceeded our expectations. Wine country was beautiful and what a treat to see the harvest in progress. Our favorite experience was our trip to Montes Winery – our guide Leo was so fun, knowledgable and welcoming. After his amazing tour and tasting, we had a delicious lunch among the vines in the winery restaurant. The Atacama Desert was also such a wonder. Every day we experienced different landscapes and were blown away by the beauty. The Awasi Atacama is a real oasis in a very rustic mountain town. The staff and guides were exceptional. I wish I had done a bit more research before we left as I would have included a tad more physical activity; we might have done a bit more biking.
FLAWLESSLY PLANNED
Chile, February 2023
Eric Dobosh / Principal at Route 66 Ventures
The trip was incredible! Every detail was flawlessly planned and we had an amazing time. Thank you to Blue Parallel for all of your help! The accommodations were incredible; we especially loved Explora and Nayara! The hotels were amazing and some of the best we’ve ever stayed at. The guides were all excellent. We particularly enjoyed spending time with Alvin. He was incredibly knowledgeable and really gave us a great sense of Santiago! Hiking in Patagonia was absolutely incredible. We will never forget the scenery and the crazy wind!
A TREAT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF
Argentina, February 2023
Tina Sauer
We were really very satisfied. LOVED every guide and it was such a treat to be taken care of so well! My favorite overall experience was horseback riding and the asado at the Ranch in La Carrera Valley. I don’t think I will every have a better experience. The family were amazing hosts, and the picnic over the creek was breathtaking.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Belize, February 2023
G.G
We were satisfied with Blue Parallel’s service through the trip and were able to easily get hold of you if and when needed. We were also really happy with the gentleman that accompanied us to the airport. We really enjoyed our stay at the Ka’ana Boutique Resort San Ignacio – the service, food, butlers and accommodations were all outstanding. Our favorite activities included horseback riding, visiting the Mayan temple, hiking, and cave exploring. We also enjoyed the private boat trip from Turtle Inn.
IMPECCABLE ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Argentina, December 2022
Wesley Blair Covell
We thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this trip — the entire trip was flawless The boat ride, including a stow away cellist and chef, was exceptional. The accommodations were fantastic, the guides friendly and informed, and the attention to detail impeccable.
OUR ITINERARY WAS PERFECT
Croatia & Montenegro, November 2022
M.G
We’re wishing we were back on the most wonderful trip to Croatia and Montenegro. Our itinerary was perfect. Natalia was so helpful and a great guide full of knowledge and perfect suggestions, and we were impressed with all of our drivers. We throughly enjoyed Split for its marvelous food, history, shops, bars etc. EVERY restaurant you recommended on the trip was superb. We loved all the walking tours and hikes, and our boat day to Hvar on a lovely 40ft boat was magical. Our hike day was amazing; Pjero was the perfect guide. The Hvarian Peka meal for lunch at Malo Grablje was a trip highlight in such a special location. Korcula was so special! The organic winery was lovely and oyster/mussel tasting was such a highlight! We also loved the organic olive oil farm and tasting in Montenegro — it is a very special place. We would love to use you all again for future trips and will highly recommend you.
STARS IN THE EYES
Chile & Argentina, November 2022
Axel Robert O. Miller
We came back from these two weeks in Patagonia with stars in the eyes and a very high level of satisfaction about the trip. Eolo and Tierra Patagonia are first class; El Chalten was a level below, but largely compensated by the fact that we were in the middle of the action. The guides were all very competent, useful, knowledgeable, kind and they made the difference. Special kudos to Pablo ‘Ecua’ in El Chalten who was the best hiker of all and pulled us forward on the walking paths! Alexis and the Blue Parallel team have done a great job preparing the trip. Not only that, but we felt their background presence at every step, with an outstanding level of real time information when changes or adaptations needed to be made. The liaison between Blue Parallel’s head office and the guides locally was very smooth and flawless, anticipating any and all of our needs and desires. As far as Blue Parallel is concerned, the highlights were overall and unabated level of professionalism, discretion and behind-the scene efficiency.
FANTASTIC – OUT OF THE PARK
Norway, November 2022
S.L.M
Overall, we really enjoyed our tour to Norway. We loved the property in Alesund and would have happily spent more time there; the view was jaw-dropping! The downhill biking was an exciting activity and our guide was excellent. We travel frequently and I always try and arrange boating experiences on each trip. This private boat excursion was one of the best and most fun family travel experiences we’ve ever had; the captain was excellent and everything was stunningly beautiful. The lighthouse on the private island was fantastic – out of the park: the boys got to fish all day and they loved it, the chef prepared a delicious meal, the wood fired hot tub was great and we even got lucky enough to see the Northern Lights for around 20-25 minutes despite it being August! We also loved our hotel in Stockholm and our guide here was excellent. He was super knowledgeable and flexible with our plans – he even added the Viking Museum into our itinerary for the boys.
FLAWLESS AND SEAMLESS
Argentina, November 2022
N.K.B
Flawless and seamless! Everything was perfect: the accommodations, transportation, the food, the scenery and our hikes and fishing too! The guides were terrific, great people, interesting and knowledgeable. The planning and attention to detail was absolutely the best!
THE BEST OF THE BEST
Chile & Argentina, October 2022
Brys & Rita Vasquez-Myers
You raised the standard for all our next trips. All the details were handled with out us having to worry about them. Patagonia is a vast and amazing place and your itinerary allowed us to see three different and beautiful areas; the best of the best for each location. The rooms had amazing views — spectacular ocean view from our villa at Mari Mari.
BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS
Turkey, July 2022
Deborah Anne DeSantis
All of it was amazing and beyond our expectations…the people, the nature, the scenery, the architecture, the culture, the art, the food! Highly recommend Cappadocia (everything!) and the hammam in Istanbul!
THOROUGH AND EXCELLENT
Peru, May 2022
David O'Hara / Strategic Sourcing Manager for NAZ Raw Materials & Utilities
Thorough and excellent. Quickly able to pivot to an equally amazing option. Gabriela was an exceptional resource. Fun, dynamic and knowledgeable. Great communication and smooth experience .
FABULOUS HOLIDAY
Sicily, May 2022
S.M
Fabulous holiday! Excellent planning — the itinerary was quite restful and at a good pace. Stefano, the driver, was kind, knowledgeable, a great dining resource and fun to be with. Rachel may have been our best guide ever; she had a good level of energy, was a lovely person to be around, was flexible and had a deep knowledge of the country and the sites.
TRIP OF A LIFETIME
Ecuador, May 2022
J.R
We had a blast! This was such a fantastic trip. Everyone and everywhere we went was just amazing. It was not only stunningly beautiful but educational as well, thanks to all our expert guides. Mashpi Lodge is heaven! We are were just overwhelmed by how amazing everything was; trip of a lifetime!
IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER
Brazil, May 2022
Gregory Lewis Katzman
Our trip to Rio was great. It could not have been better. The itinerary was perfect for us, especially the flexibility included so that our trip to Christ the Redeemer could occur on a blue sky day. Our guide, Lais, was wonderful. Both personable and knowledgeable, she was great to tour with and was very adept in handling itinerary challenges, such as rearranging a helicopter flight due to clouds and also completely changing one rainy day itinerary into something completely different than planned. Our driver, Alex, was very professional and has the perfect calm demeanor necessary to get around efficiently in Rio.
A SPECIAL VACATION
Portugal, May 2022
D.H.N
All of the guides and drivers selected by your local travel companies were superb. In Lisbon, we had Goncalo and Antonio, both so pleasant that we invited them to join us for the lovely lunch overlooking the sea in Cascais; same with Marta and Marco in Porto. It became a good way for us to get to know the local people! Having an active day of biking on Thursday was a good way of breaking up the trip and gave us an alternative to the churches and urban sights we were visiting on most of our other days. Thank you again for all of your attentiveness and assistance in making this a special vacation.
AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP
Guatemala & Panama, March 2022
Leonard James Berlik / Executive Vice President at ICI
The trip went exceedingly well. All of the guides and drivers were very good and they were always on time meeting us at the airports and for the activity planned. They were also very attentive to my handicap and helped me numerous times during the trip. We were also impressed that they all had some knowledge of local birds and were able to contribute to our interest in birding. You did a great job in putting together a super itinerary. The highlight of the trip was the three days on the catamaran with Fred and Marina; they went above and beyond in taking care of our every need. The food onboard was the best of the trip and the catamaran was very comfortable. This was a wonderful trip we will never forget.
EVERYTHING I HAD HOPED FOR
Panama, January 2022
T.W
The trip was WONDERFUL. We adored the San Blas Islands, a true gem and the sailboat was perfect. As a destination, it was everything I had hoped for: stunningly beautiful, remote, and culturally rich with the Guna people. I would love to go back another time with the family when the boys are older. We also really liked Isla Palenque — very different from the Caribbean side but amazing old-growth tropical forest. Such great activities, too.
A GREAT NETWORK
Panama, January 2022
M.N
We had a fantastic time — it was truly special. Thank you again for all your hard work in making this happen. I wanted to commend Blue Parallel — the VIP airport experience after a long flight from Paris was really nice. It was lovely to have someone take me through the maze of an airport and deal with customs/immigration. The guide in Panama City was very kind and informative. It seems like Blue Parallel has a great network on the ground.
EXTRA SPECIAL
Argentina, December 2021
T.J.L
We loved everything and had a really terrific time. We enjoyed all the activities, but the glacier walk in El Calafate and hikes in Bariloche were definitely highlights. Everyone involved in the trip was outstanding and the team throughout Argentina made the trip so extra special. Our guides were very knowledgeable and informative and we really felt as though we made a good connection with a few of them.
EVERYTHING WORKED SO WELL
Portugal, September 2021
Stephen Kent Stewart / CEO of Reli Settlement Solutions
Two awesome guides and everything worked so well and planned perfectly. Loved adding the biking and the hike through the village. One of the most detailed itineraries we have ever received! Especially appreciated all the health info and forms. Loved all the churches and loved the boating on the river — it was short but so fun.
VERY IMPRESSED
Turkey, July 2021
L.S
Overall, we had an amazing trip. We love the way Blue Parallel work and were happy that everything was pre-planned for in advance, with attention to lots of small details. We were very impressed by Cappadocia and were amazed at how beautiful it genuinely was. We enjoyed all the activities, particularly the outdoor picnic. We loved our guide in Istanbul; he was very knowledgeable and flexible with the day-to-day activities. A highlight was the hammam treatment! The private yacht that took us along the Bosphorus was perfect.
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
Argentina, December 2020
Gabrielle Russomagno / Professor & Coach for Artists
This was one of the best travel experiences of my life! Beginning on Victoria Island, then heading to the The Steps offered such different and equally amazing experiences of terrain. Finishing in Bariloche at Villa Beluna was just divine. Each unique in beautiful locations with every amenity. Every morsel in every location utterly memorable. Alex was a gem — so knowledgable and gracious, lively company that had wonderful intuition about what each of us needed and a very high social IQ. Seeing the eclipse surrounded by such a stunning location was indeed a once-in-a life-time experience.
UNIQUE SPECIAL TOUCHES
Argentina, December 2020
Philipp Cornelius Kurt Thomas Engelhorn / Chair and Founder Cinereach
Blue Parallel and everyone on the ground did an incredible job. We are grateful for everything and amazed you managed to make it happen. The trip was perfectly put together, like a story tale, from Victoria Island to glamping to ending in Villa Beluno as a climax. Alex was fantastic throughout, caring for everything, adapting to the tricky weather at the beginning of the trip and keeping all the special surprises secret. One of our highlights was Los Palotinos, particularly the private chef and violinist awaiting us on the mountainside. We just loved the surprises and special touches and would definitely recommend Blue Parallel to others.
A LOT OF QUALITY FAMILY TIME
Ecuador, February 2020
A.R.C
The trip was amazing and we really appreciate all the hard work and planning and all the little details that made everything go smoothly. La Selva and Zuleta were fantastic choices, and the guides were absolutely fantastic. Most important, we had a lot of quality family time without any of the normal stress of travel. Ending with the relaxing few days at the Hacienda was a great way to conclude the journey.
VERY ACCOMMODATING
Chile, February 2020
Wayne Johnson / CEO at Accuform Signs
Everyone was excellent — we loved the local history and culture lessons we received. Very accommodating — always telling us “it’s your trip, whatever you want to do is fine.”
REALLY GOOD
Argentina, February 2020
David Johnson
I loved the opera in Buenos Aires and the wine country was awesome, but the drive around the mountains was long. All the guides were really good and the helicopter ride over Iguazu Falls was really cool.
MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
Morocco, January 2020
A.Z
Our guide in Casablanca, Marrakesh and Fes, Afraite Abdelaziz Marwane, was the most outstanding guide we have experienced. His caring for us was exemplary. The most outstanding hotel was the Royal Mansour; we had ran amazing three floor townhouse. Thank you and your team for creating our memorable experience.
MY MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY TRIPS
Argentina, December 2019
Andrew Axelrod / Managing Partner of AXAR Capital Management
Thank you for an UNBELIEVABLE trip that I know my mother and I will never forget. The sights in Argentina were breathtaking, the activities were incredible, and everything was planned out really well. Our last minute change to Buenos Aires was a really great move as well. I appreciate your mastery behind some of my most memorable family trips, and look forward to our next!
TRULY MEMORABLE
Ecuador & Colombia, December 2019
P.G
We had a great time; overall, an amazing trip that really exceeded expectations. Truly memorable. Santiago was very, very special and New Years was great. La Movida was really fun and the girls had a great time. Cartegena was a great place to end the vacation… We had a great overview of history, culture, and gastronomy. I believe that the most amazing thing about our trip was the superior quality of all our guides. All of them were amazing and the transitions were seamless.
AMAZING ACTIVITIES
Uruguay, December 2019
J.B
The staff were amazing, at both hotels. The polo lesson I got from Bauti, at Estancia Vik, was absolutely amazing. My kite boarding lesson was great. Eating at La Olada was a high point, as was the La Barra fisherwomen’s cooperative, in La Rocha lagoon, near Las Palomas.
EQUIPPED & ENGAGED
Chile, October 2019
L.S
We had a great time in South America. It was complicated with the protest and the disruptions, but I must say the entire team could not have been better equipped and engaged in the daily actions of our trip. I would say the accommodations were the highlight, as well as the guides that were provided. The personal drivers were also excellent and all the activities were great.
EVERYTHING WAS WELL PLANNED
Croatia & Greece, September 2019
Mardale Gustke
All of the guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and took great care that we were enjoying ourselves; they all get an A. Everything went smoothly, every little detail had been attended to. The weather could not have been better. Everything was well planned and we had no glitches. We appreciate all the planning and effort that was put into our trip.
IMPRESSIVE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE
Peru, May 2019
R.W
Adding immensely to the experience were the various different guides: Hugo our driver, Carlos for mountain biking, the chef from Pachapapa, the Shaman, the chef for the ceviche and pisco demonstrations, and especially Anna. Her depth of knowledge was impressive and appreciated and her professionalism was remarkable.
A VERY NICE TIME
Ecuador, March 2019
N.D
We had a very nice time in the Galapagos — got to see some wildlife up close in their natural habitat. The sea lions and iguanas were really amazing. All in all a very interesting trip. We also loved seeing the Panama Canal on Friday — we are glad that we made this quick side trip.
IT WAS AMAZING
Chile, February 2019
Maureen Strazdon
You and your team did a superb job of rearranging our schedule and taking care of details. The word “amazing” was thrown around, but from our on-the-ground perspective, it was amazing. The arrangements and pre-trip information were excellent. All the guides, greeters, and drivers were professional and friendly.
UNIQUE & INTERESTING
Argentina, December 2018
E.D
Best restaurants I have EVER eaten at — anywhere in the world — that we never would have found searching on our own. Our guide Alex was by far our favorite, but we loved ALL of them; all were friendly, knowledgeable and engaging and made each area unique and interesting. We thoroughly enjoyed their company and expertise — such wonderful people, we were truly sad to leave them! Blue Parallel and Saul were on top of things top to bottom, making adjustments quickly and painlessly and were never tired of our inquiries or changes.
ATTENTION TO EVERY DETAIL
South America, November 2018
A.B
My wife and I enjoyed our trip to Brazil, Argentina and Chile immensely. We appreciate your attention to every detail; it made our trip enjoyable and we have some wonderful memories that we shared with our friends who traveled with us.
AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE
Portugal, September 2018
Elaine Tinberg
The individual experiences that Blue Parallel creates in Portugal are so special. We wanted to do it right, and the unique experiences on offer — including many opportunities to meet local people — are the hallmark of Blue Parallel.
WONDERFUL FROM START TO FINISH
Greece & Sicily, September 2018
Taryn Valle
It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We loved all of our stops and appreciate your ability to change our itinerary on a dime when the weather was not cooperating. Our guides were great.
SHOWCASED PERU
Peru, May 2018
Sheryl Szlosek
Amazing! Having a great time and the activity guides have been great, along with Victoria. She’s so knowledgeable about her country and showcases Peru in the best, most enthusiastic, way!
JUST PERFECT
Morocco, May 2018
Alex Pechnikov
Thank you very much for organizing such a wonderful trip, so far everything was just perfect. Marrakesh is beautiful and Zouhair is an amazing host.
A BALANCED TRIP
Brazil & Argentina, March 2018
G.L
You were really instrumental in creating the fantastic vacation we had. The Iguazu trip goes was a great add on. The trip was a good combination of exercise (biking/walking), site seeing (nature), and thrills (boat/helicopter). In addition, Las Cataratas was a great hotel that we really enjoyed. Our guide, Romina, was terrific: knowledgeable, flexible, and fun to be with. She did an outstanding job anticipating our needs and adjusting our schedule accordingly. We can’t imagine what the trip would have been like without you!
TWO WEEK AFTER GLOW
Argentina, March 2018
Dena Bloom
What an incredible trip we had, it was just amazing! Despite the zaniness we’ve had since our return, we all still are enjoying the trips’ afterglow two weeks later – that says a lot. One of our favorite pass times is to debate which part of our trip was the best. So many highlights. You did a fabulous job – you totally nailed our family. It was a lot crammed into the time we had, but we would not have had it any other way.
WELL BALANCED PROGRAM
Mexico, April 2018
Petra Schadeberg / Ex- Board of Directors at Lindt & Sprüngli GmbH.
Great agenda! Your suggestion to include Mexico City was fantastic. The guide was a real character and very experienced and covered well the historical sites as well as today’s world. He was flexible to requested changes and understood fast what our idea was. The program in Mexico City was well balanced between historical sites, clerical themes and Mexican City life today — including trendy restaurants. We loved Chablé a lot — wonderful design, the tequila tasting was outstanding, very pretty, great service. The day tours have been wonderful — the archeological sites are very impressive. The lunch arrangements have been so special and charming.
COULDN’T HAVE BEEN BETTER
Brazil & Argentina, March 2018
Gary Lamont
We’re having a wonderful morning in Buenos Aires. The trip Iguazu Falls was fantastic! Romina was an awesome guide and we couldn’t have had a better time.
NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING
Morocco, March 2018
Donald Greenwald
Our trip was nothing short of amazing. Our itinerary was perfectly tailored to us! Our guide, Zouhir, and driver, Badhr, were professional, friendly and fun. Mohamed, our guide for the last two days was a bit more of a reserved gentleman. Again, professional and friendly. We were extremely impressed with Jean Paul and his staff at Dar Ahlam. Richard Branson has done an impeccable job at Kasbah Tamadot. La Mamounia deserves all the positive press it has received. All in all, the hotels were stunning, the food delicious, and the people welcoming. It’s safe to say Don, Grace and I will return to Morocco! Hopefully next time we will make to the desert camp!
THE BLUE PARALLEL STYLE
Andalucia, March 2018
Bruce Atwater / Former Chairman and CEO of General Mills Inc.
The trip went well. We loved Fabri and had excellent tour guides throughout. Dominic was a very good driver and companion. Thanks for all your help in planning and then changing the trip to adapt to conditions. This was truly in Blue Parallel style.
VERY ATTENTIVE
Andalucia, March 2018
Maria Laperal
We are enjoying our Spanish vacation tremendously. Luisa and Fabricio are taking good care of us. Very attentive indeed. Our guides have been very knowledgeable and explain quite well.
AN EPIC TRIP
Argentina, February 2018
Lowry Baldwin / Chairman of Baldwin Risk Partners
We have enjoyed a terrific experience throughout our journey in South America. You and your team put together an epic trip with excellent logistical and support oversight.
TERRIFIC, PERSONABLE & HELPFUL
Chile & Argentina, January 2018
Janet Bear
The trip details worked very smoothly and we had a lovely time visiting Chile and Argentina. The local guides were terrific, personable, helpful and more. We will definitely use your company again for future travel needs.
EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS
Argentina & Chile, January 2018
Steven Wynne / Director at JELD-WEN, Inc.
I want to express our appreciation for the work you and your staff did to make our recent foray in Argentina and Chile a wonderful experience. It was, front to back, a great trip and we appreciate the thought and planning that went into making it one that exceeded our expectations.
EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION
Ecuador, December 2017
Melinda Long / Personal Assistant to Melissa and Doug Bernstein
Alessandra was more than thorough in preparing the family for every aspect of their trip. She was excellent in communicating and very timely in responses.
WE WILL REMEMBER IT FONDLY
Ecuador, December 2017
L.R
We had a nice tour of Quito today with Johanna and the lunch at the Chapel of Milagros was lovely. The weather cooperated and we ended with a warm bit of sunshine. Johanna was a terrific guide — very pleasant and easy to be with. The driver was excellent as well. It’s certainly a unique destination! Hotel Plaza Grande was a very solid choice and quite well located. Thanks for all your help in planning and executing our trip. It went very smoothly and the people who facilitated our trip and hotel staff were excellent. Galapagos is obviously an amazing global destination. My teenage sons and my husband really enjoyed the trip a lot — we will remember it fondly.
LOTS OF FUN
Bolivia, December 2017
David Gutierrez
The trip was very nice, we had lots of fun and good experiences. The guides and drivers in Bolivia were excellent and very nice. Thanks for everything, I will get back to within the next few months to program a trip to the Patagonia region in Chile and Argentina for next Christmas of 2018!
TOP NOTCH ITINERARY
Ecuador, December 2017
A.G
We had a great time. Our guides were excellent and drivers too. The itinerary was top notch. The Amazon in particular was amazing and all of the guides, drivers, handlers, hotel managers were great!
WONDERFUL & ENRICHING
Colombia, December 2017
Hariet Heyman
We had a wonderful time in Colombia. Our guides were utterly professional, helpful and simpatico. The places we visited in the highlands and Cartagena were fascinating. We had a wonderful, and enriching visit to Colombia.
ABOVE AND BEYOND
Peru, October 2017
Amanda Radcliffe / Resolution specialist at NCO Financial Systems
We had a remarkable trip! Many thanks to you, and my wonderful sister, for going above and beyond to make my 50th so memorable and special… rainbows and champagne along the Inka Trail?! Wow! I hope to travel with Blue Parallel again; you did exceed my expectations!
ESPECIALLY MEMORABLE
Argentina, October 2017
Spencer & Barbie Stouffer / Former Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield
The behind-the-scene tour of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires was especially memorable. Connie in BA & Carolina in El Calafate were above and beyond exceptional. Kaitlyn did a great job in preparing us for our trip.
LIFE LONG MEMORIES
Peru, October 2017
Stevie Thompson
I echo everything that Amanda said. It was truly magical and I would be thrilled to use Blue Parrallel again for the right trip! From top to bottom, the trip was fabulous! Thank you for creating a life long memory for Amanda and I. My feet and bug bites have almost gotten back to normal!
INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES
Peru, August 2017
Heather Raincsuk
We are having a wonderful time! Veronica is amazing! And, we loved Vanessa, Luis, and Cynthia in Lima. Our experiences, culinary and adventures, have been incredible–we are trying to keep up! Veronica keeps us occupied wherever we go with her great information and demeanor. The boys think she is awesome.
EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS
Peru & Ecuador, July 2017
Jackie Collom
Everything was phenomenal and we are grateful for the experiences Blue Parallel facilitated for us. Our guides were experts in their fields and warm as they welcomed us to their regions.
WE LOVED EVERYTHING
Peru, March 2017
Uli Werner / CEO of EDC Consulting LLC
Our trip was great and we loved everything. The hotels were especially great. Again, we had a fantastic trip. Besides Machu Pichu, the Monasterio Hotel in Cusco was the hit. We have rarely seen a nicer city hotel than that.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
Peru, February 2017
Brian Boxer Wachler / Inventor of Holcomb C3-R
It was amazing. Really fantastic! Blue Parallel is the best of the best. Our tour guide Ana is a must for any future clients.
A TRIP FULL OF FAVORITES
Greece, June 2016
Joyce Lancaster
Our trip was fabulous — the properties, restaurants and activities you selected were outstanding. We have many “favorites” from the trip and almost nothing we would want to miss! Our top picks were the biking at Amazoe, the helicopter to Santorini, the sailing trip, the black sand beach, and the hike on our final night in Santorini. The properties you selected could not have been better. I would say that what made them special was the incredible service, but that would tend to under-sell the incredible locations, property, amenities and food at each place. But, the service was second to none.
A PERFECT ITINERARY
Peru, May 2016
Martin & Loretta Brown
The team were very helpful in planning and developing a perfect itinerary for our Machu Picchu visit. The local expert guides were knowledgeable and very helpful in gaining the most from our time. We have already recommended this trip to family and friends since we returned. Thanks for a wonderful experience!
SO MANY HIGHLIGHTS
Peru, May 2016
Elaine Johnson
Everything has been wonderful! Our days in Machu Picchu were incredible, especially when we climbed Machu Picchu mountain (my family is shocked I did it!). There have been so many highlights: the shaman, the cooking class, the food and hotels… all so amazing!
IT COULDN’T HAVE BEEN BETTER
Spain, May 2016
Minako Oba
Thank you so much for your hard work. We really enjoyed the journey to Spain so much — it couldn’t have been better. Blue Parallel and her Barcelona team were courteous and friendly; they worked hard to help us. The art guide’s (Madrid) knowledge and ability to explain the art was amazing. All of the other guides were amazing too. They were like our family, and we really enjoyed the time we spent together.
THE VERY BEST
Ecuador, May 2016
Jo Anne Doll
The trip was fantastic! The hotel was wonderful. It was so much better than being on a boat and there were only about three other rooms taken when we were there so it was like our private camp! We had the very, very, very best guide with us the whole time — Mattius! He guides the BBC and a lot of famous people. It wasn’t only his knowledge but his personality and how he was so excited for us to see everything. Again, wonderful and the very best!
A PHENOMENAL VACATION
Peru, May 2016
Dawn Peterson / Executive VP & CFO at I-CON Systems Inc.
Everything with our trip was absolutely wonderful! The schedule of events couldn’t have been better or in a better order, and every day was more incredible than the next. Our guide, Sergio, was the best of the best! He had a wide range of ages in our group and was wonderful with all of us. I cannot imagine having a better tour guide. Everyone we worked with was great. Thank you for putting together such a phenomenal vacation!
SUPERIOR GUIDES
Argentina, March 2016
Bill Franke
It was a great trip. We saw unusual and interesting geography with the trip details well-managed. Superior guides and, as importantly, careful and cautious drivers. Ana, who carried us across the Andes into Salta, was a very well informed guide. Camillo in San Pedro de Atacama was quite knowledgeable on the geology of the region. Macarena was a walking encyclopedia on wine/wineries. Maria was a high energy, enthused guide, well-fitted for B.A.
A MEMORABLE VACATION
Brazil, January 2016
Joyce Zeitler
The vacation has been memorable! Everything was seamless: wonderful guides, resorts, activities, and we even lucked out given the dire weather forecasts. We have fallen in love with Brazil, its culture and the people.
AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB
Guatemala, January 2016
Kathryn Ordway
All of the guides were EXCELLENT. Blue Parallel does an unbelievable job of hooking you up with people who are not only knowledgeable, but fun to hang out with as well!
THE ITINERARY WAS PERFECT
Guatemala, January 2016
Caryl Hart
An amazing trip and the guides were over the top. The itinerary was perfect, with great additions as we went. We loved it, especially the picnic at the Mayan ruins on the lake. I wish we could give 100 stars on this one — David, Melvin and Darwin were just fantastic! I was so grateful that Blue Parallel recommended Guatemala as we would never have gone there otherwise given the travel warnings at the time. It was magical and could not have been handled better by Blue Parallel and their team.
THERE ARE NO WORDS…
Spain, December 2015
Marie-France Brunelle
There are no words to express our gratitude for making this trip to Spain so perfect for our family. From the minute of our arrival in Granada, you welcomed us so warmly. We loved learning what was “tipico” and experiencing the wonderful Andalucian culture in such a magical way. From the rooftop Cathedral to underground caves, Andalucian safaris and daily doses of flamenco. [Fabricio’s] interest, patience, knowledge, passion, organization, incarnation (!) and beyond dynamic congeniality were so appreciated. We loved all [his] surprises and attention to details.
EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS
Spain, November 2015
Hugues D'Annoux
We couldn’t wait to congratulate you for the quality of our special journey in Andalusia. This trip allowed us to discover many aspects of this area that is so rich in culture and tradition. The coordination was perfect as well as the hotels, the transportation, the local guides — everyone was just perfect. The private evening tour of the Alhambra in Granada and the Mezquita in Cordoba are unforgettable memories. And above all, we want to especially congratulate you for your local representative, Fabricio, who accompanied us throughout our journey. He was a wonderful companion, he knows everything and everyone there is to know in Andalusia. He continuously did everything he could do to make our trip perfect. You cannot have someone on site who represents you better and more efficiently. Once again, you have exceeded our expectations!
BEYOND WHAT WE EXPECTED
Brazil, September 2015
John Brewer
Lais and Georgia were absolutely fabulous with just the right amount of light structure and flexibility! The character and substance, which is the real “jewel” of Rio, was beautifully portrayed beyond what we expected! Again, thank you for everything!
EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Brazil, September 2015
Joseph L. Moore
Typically within hours of returning to my office after a vacation, the events which occurred on the vacation are forgotten as I am thrust back into the grind of meetings, phone calls, and the numerous opportunities to overcome adversity. However, as I sit here at my desk, I find myself reflecting on the exceptional experience that I had last week during my trip to Rio De Janeiro. The historical and local knowledge, hospitality and white glove treatment that my friends and I received from your representatives Lais and Georgia was incomparable. Their ingenious strategy of providing day time and night time specialization contributed in making our time in Rio unforgettable. Obrigado, Blue Parallel. I cannot wait until the next time that I have an opportunity to use your service.
SAVORING ALL THE MEMORIES
Greece, June 2015
Kirsty D. Ellis
We are safely home and recovering from jet lag but still savoring all the memories of our fantastic trip to Greece. It really was just a perfect experience and the itinerary you put together for us was just exactly right for us. I am already starting to think of where Blue Parallel can take us next!
TERRIFIC EXPERIENCES
Greece & Turkey, June 2015
David Scott
We enjoyed the trip to Turkey and Greece very much. We had some terrific experiences and both thought you organized the whole trip very well. It turned out to be an exciting affair on July 5th on our last night in Athens when we were witnessing the Greek people celebrating the No vote all night in Syntagma Square. Thank you for your help. It was much appreciated.
WORDS ARE INSUFFICIENT
Spain, March 2015
Salvatore Anthony Ranieri
We’d like to highlight all four guides — Cristina, Pablo, Miguel and Mencía — and the driver, Jorge. They made the Madrid part of the trip special. In Seville, Luis’ reputation is well deserved. His knowledge and dry wit are priceless. Lola had an impossible assignment and came as close as humanly possible to pulling it off. Alejandro was terrific on Málaga history. For food, by the way, Málaga had only winners with restaurants we ate in. And then there is Fabricio and his extended family — mother, brother, sisters-in-law, et al. Semana Santa was because of them and about them. Words are insufficient to express our appreciation. If they are representative of their country, there are no more gracious people on earth than the Spanish.
A VERY NICE INTRODUCTION
Morocco, December 2014
Montgomery Simus / Senior Fellow at Harvard University
The trip to Morocco was very nice. Of course, for us, the highlights were the last two “stops” along the way (i.e. Atlas Mountains, desert camp, and Dar Ahlam). Spectacular! The guides we had were very good — particularly the gentleman that was with us for Fes, Marrakesh, Rabat, etc. All the logistics went smoothly (i.e driver, pickups, airport transfers, helicopter, etc.) so I am grateful for that. Zephyr’s drum making session was great fun as was his turn at the pottery wheel in Fes. Thanks for setting these up for him! Overall it was a very nice introduction to Morocco for us — Berber culture, etc. Thanks so much for your time and assistance in putting everything together!
ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF
Peru, May 2014
W.L
Peru is a breath-taking and beautiful country, and Carlos was exceptionally talented at bringing together his heritage in its culture, history, influences, and environmental conditions over the years… Willing to explore and contrast perspectives. He expressed a curiosity to discuss art, societal norms, the beauty and work of nature, beliefs, and next practices, as well as past ones. I majored in art history, but it was a true gift and a humbling one, having a guide to learn from and challenge me. Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu were beyond beautiful! Sarah went out of her way to specialize my itinerary. She is intuitive, goes above and beyond, and is the best I’ve worked with. I spoke with Sarah several times to help answer a number of questions and she was very forthcoming and took care of every need. I always felt safe and taken care of.
A SPECTACULAR ITINERARY FOR US
Turkey, May 2014
Pamela Lewis
Turkey is a fascinating country and Blue Parallel designed a spectacular itinerary for us. Our guide Leyla was fabulous and contributed so much to our overall experience. She was extremely knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor and was constantly thinking of how best to organize our time in order to ensure that we experienced as much as possible. The food, sights, hotels were all top notch and I thank Blue Parallel for another superb holiday.
WONDERFUL PLACES & PEOPLE
Morocco, April 2014
Kevin Waldman / Chief Financial Officer at TRANZACT
I wanted to thank you and the team for coordinating a great trip. Unfortunately much too short but we were exposed to many interesting places, sights and wonderful people. I would like to highlight that Hicham was excellent. He was professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. We greatly enjoyed his company. Our driver Unis was also excellent. Always on time always available. He provided safe and excellent transfer to all locations. Again I hope our feedback makes its way back to both Hicham and Unis who enhanced our overall experience. Always prompt and accommodating. Thanks again for everything. We look forward to our next trip.
WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE
Argentina, February 2014
Linda Burke
We loved every minute and every guide. We have not stopped talking about our delightful experience since our return. Each of our hotels was lovely, especially the Copacabana Palace. We absolutely loved the food, but the dinner at Chili in BA may be among the top five meals of my life. Each guide was simply outstanding; we enjoyed and learned from each one. Sarah was “with” us every step of the way in addition to being very amenable to any changes we wanted to make. She made us feel most relaxed and confident that whatever we needed would be taken care of. When traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language, that is of utmost importance.
THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION
Argentina, February 2014
Louis Sanandres
Everyone involved in our trip deserves the highest recognition for the job they did, which frequently required going “above and beyond”. Not only were they good at what they did, but I really liked them.
REALLY GREAT SERVICE
Chile, January 2014
Phyllis Harrington
It was a great trip. We really got to experience many aspects of Chile. When I called around 6:30pm to notify you that our flight from was delayed and we might not make our MIA connection, I was amazed that you got back to me within five minutes, and stayed in touch until we were on our flight to Santiago. That’s really GREAT service.
A HUGE SUCCESS
Morocco, October 2013
Stuart Berni
We were very happy with the arrangements of our trip. The logistics worked very well, especially the guide and driver in Marrakesh who made that part of the trip a huge success. Thanks so much for all your help.
LIKE CLOCKWORK
Peru, August 2013
Lisbeth Godfray
The Godfray family had an amazing time in Peru. There was a lot of travelling involved, but everything went like clockwork, thanks to you guys and your people who met us at the various destinations. Our Amazon cruise was fantastic with Juan Lois as a very knowledgeable guide who took us canoeing with dolphins, fishing for piranhas and showed us some amazing wild life in the rain forest. Jeremy, our guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu was outstanding, and really made our time there special. His vast knowledge about Peru and especially about the Incas was impressive, and his enthusiasm infectious! He had a great personality and that combined with his extensive knowledge made him an outstanding guide. A big thank-you to him from us! This trip was everything we had hoped for and more. From now on, Peru will always have a special place in our hearts! It was a holiday of a lifetime!
UNEXPECTED HIGHLIGHTS
Brazil, March 2013
Elaine Stuart-Shah
Blue Parallel has identified outstanding local guides with vast knowledge of their areas. This made the trip a truly memorable one. I would not hesitate to recommend Blue Parallel to friends seeking South America adventure. Gabriela was lovely, enthusiastic and always steered us to see the real Salvador without making us feel awkward. The tour of the favela was so interesting and unexpected. Being met at the airport in Fernando de Noronha and taken to the sunset spot with champagne was a first rate start to our stay. Extra kudos to Adrian for arranging the turtle snorkel excursion, again unexpected and a highlight.
SMOOTH & SUCCESSFUL
Peru, December 2012
Joy Posoli
We were thrilled with the trip overall. Every detail was taken care of everything was thought of and planned out for us. It could not have been a nicer, smoother, more successful trip!
AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIPS
Argentina, November 2012
Robin Laub
This trip with my mother and daughter is hard to explain into eloquent words but it will be one of the most unforgettable trips I have ever taken. I fell in love with Mendoza!
IMPECCABLE
Peru, August 2012
J.G
One of the very best trips we have ever taken. The service of guides and drivers was impeccable! Great support from home office as well! Great plan to spend the last day at Cusco after a couple days to acclimate to the high altitude. Like that the Haynu Pichu climb was on day two. Our guide was well informed about the best times to explore Machu Picchu, eat lunch etc. LOVED the Miraflores best. Fabulous breakfast buffet! Inkaterra very nice. Great restaurants! Food was delicious! Gabby is one of your very best tour guides for the active tour at Machu Pichu and trek up Haynu Picchu. Our driver Abraham was very professional.
EVERYTHING WE HAD HOPED FOR
Ecuador, June 2012
B.K.S
The trip was everything we had hoped for. We’d never been met after a flight before, and it was really so much easier than muddling through on our own! I was also really appreciative of having Fernando on hand as we got ready to fly to the Galapagos; it was a bit of a zoo at the airport and I was sure glad to have an expert on hand! We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Fernando. He was well informed, really well-versed in history, and extremely flexible (he willingly accompanied us on our trip to the Equator at the last minute). You are really lucky to have him on your staff – he is warm, welcoming and just wonderful. He is a treasure. Soto was equally welcoming and helpful, but the schedule on Galapagos did not involve as much interaction with him, so we did not get to know him as well. Now that we’ve done this trip, other areas of South America are looking WAY more appealing!
AMAZING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT
Uruguay, February 2012
Julie Hitch
We just returned yesterday after a long trip home and to say we had an amazing visit is an understatement. Your travel advice was spot on and we thoroughly loved everyday part of our stay in both BA and Jose Ignacio. The trip would not have been as special without the guidance and support of our host and hostess. Marcos and Emma were both amazing and invaluable, taking care of every little detail. They were so knowledgable and personable and always made themselves available to us. Both were wonderful with our children as well. I am so appreciative to you and Blue Parallel for giving our family such an amazing gift. We will remember this trip forever and are already hoping to return before too long.
COULDN’T BE HAPPIER
Argentina, February 2012
O.C
Couldn’t be happier with the way the trip went. Flawlessly executed from start to finish. Really terrific itinerary that packed a huge amount in during the short time we had. Superb accommodations living up to the high standard created from our first Blue Parallel trip in March 2011. The transportation provided by Blue Parallel was fantastic. The team did a really wonderful job, especially in the event of long airport delays. Sergio in Ushuaia stayed with us hours longer than he should have making sure we knew where to go and that we had plenty of food. Claudia was equally helpful in El Calafate.
WE LOVED THIS FAMILY TRIP
Argentina, December 2011
Andrea Selig
Every reservation and plan went according to exactly what Blue Parallel had told us to expect; the guides who met us at the airports, and the drivers were informative, helpful and extraordinarily flexible. Bravo! The food quality as well as the service was absolutely first rate! We loved this family trip and know there are many more to take in South America. What beautiful people; what beautiful countries!
EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT
Argentina, October 2011
Margo Vinney
Planning very well executed, even with occasional unforseen glitches. Management and communication within office excellent. Our personal Travel Specialists Mary and Elin were exceptional from beginning to end. Drivers were all very skilled, careful and accommodating. a special thank you to Marcos Ferrazza, our outstanding host in BA. He met us at some ungodly hours and went out of his way to make sure that everything was perfect and that all our needs were met. It is evident how well your hosts and logistic team members are trained. Very impressive in a world where too often responsibilitiy, efficiency, and regard for others are lacking.
EXEMPLARY SERVICES
Argentina, September 2011
Erwin Lenowitz / Chairman of HG Data
We thought your services were exemplary, amongst the best we’ve received worldwide.
SPECIAL MOMENTS & PEOPLE
Peru, September 2011
Ruth Williamson
This trip was full of special moments and special people, from the moment we arrived in Lima until the moment we left, we felt cared for by people who really cared about showing us their country. As Hugo (our host in Lima) said as we changed our afternoon itinerary: ‘relax and enjoy you are Queens for today!’ We felt a bit like that for the whole 10 days. Thank you all.
WELL PLANNED & WELL EXECUTED
Chile, September 2011
Paul Pulver / Paul Pulver
We are extremely pleased with the services of Blue Parallel. The trip to Peru & Chile was well planned and well executed. The guides were the best we have had in our experience and were tailored to our interests. You can always judge a business on how it handles adversity. When our airlines flights were changed by the airline at the last minute, on a weekend, Blue Parallel handled it graciously and professionally, offering quick solutions and stayed in constant contact with us throughout the weekend. I would recomend Blue Parallel to all our friends.
FAMILY TRIP OF A LIFETIME
Ecuador, August 2011
Curt Wozniak
This was a family trip of a lifetime. We learned, bonded, and had a fantastic adventure together. Santiago Martinez in Quito did a fantastic job for us. We always felt safe, cared for, and informed completely. Elin did a great job picking the itinerary.
A GREAT EXPERIENCE
Argentina, April 2011
Larry Leive
We had a terrific time and certainly would not have gone to NW Argentina without your help. That was a great experience. Cora was a terrific guide. Ossian, our host, was incredibly knowledgeable and an interesting guy.
I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH
Peru, April 2011
Melissa Nasser
Beyond expectations… which were pretty high! I can’t say enough about our guide, Gavi; she really made the trip much more special. We learned so much from her and really felt like we were traveling with a great friend. That said, she maintained a wonderful balance between friendship and professionalism, which I really appreciated.
EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF
Peru, March 2011
K.L
I was incredibly satisfied with the trip! The itinerary was great! I loved the food everywhere! Everyone was so great! I especially loved being with Juan de Dios Castillo; what a fantastic man. While I didn’t work with Hallie directly, I read every communication and heard about how great she is to work with from my partner who had all the contact with her. I honestly don’t know how you could have prepared us better! Everything was so well done. I/we felt extremely well taken care of. Juan de Dios was incredible; personable, knowledgeable, easy to be with and connect with. His love of the country is clearly communicated and definitely is contagious! Allan in the jungle was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about his field. Everyone else was great too.
EXCELLENT CHOICES FOR US
Guatemala, March 2011
Sue Crothers
Blue Parallel made excellent choices for us. We really enjoyed our guides. They were incredibly informative and we had long and in depth conversations with them from the politics of Guatemala, the history, ethnic makeup, social classes, to the flora and fauna. Aldolfo and Jose were a wealth of information on these subjects and Melvin was so well versed in Mayan history and culture that we didn’t feel the need to sit the with arranged anthropologist.
BOWLED OVER
Argentina, January 2011
Ann Huebner
The whole trip was AMAZING. The cooking class was one of the culinary highlights of my life — and I am a person who has had a lifetime of fabulous food and top restaurants. What an extraordinary job they did! Manuel talked about the history of the cuisine in the various regions — the visual presentation of the ingredients was gorgeous. He was extraordinary, the food was extraordinary, the wine was extraordinary. The house on Peninsula Valdes was something else! It was also quite a thrill to meet Flavio Quintana. We had rented the National Geographic Great Migrations series, which he was in, so to meet him in person was quite an honor. Also, he came prepared with an excellent slide presentation, so it was really, really informative. My son, who is 13 and loves all things National Geographic, was bowled over. He said it was the highlight of the trip for him. Our whole family is incredibly grateful for the experience. Thank you so much for making it happen for us. Anyway, you absolutely outdid yourself planning everything — and between Christmas and New Year’s to boot.
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER
Chile, January 2011
Robert Bell
Our trip could not have been better! Our personal travel concierge took the worry out of safety questions after the strikes in Punta Arenas, we were comfortable knowing that an alternative schedule would be made for us. We thought you did an excellent job of informing us before we left. Appreciated the books and video. Also, it was very helpful to be able to talk to you directly. All guides were great but particular recognition to Sebastian/connection from Explora through El Calafate, Marcus in BA, and our host (Matius) and wine expert on our horseback ride in Mendoza. Our lunch at Ruca Melan was exceptional and the riding experience with wine tasting and bbq in Mendoza was ‘over the top’.
BEST GUIDE WE HAVE EVER HAD
Chile, December 2010
Linda Street
Had a magnificent trip, Nancy and Suzie were fantastic. Suzie was a great guide and a lovely person. Alwin is by far the best guide we have ever had (and we travel extensively and have had great guides). He went above and beyond to be charming, helpful and was great to be with. He is a true gem.
A VERY SPECIAL HOLIDAY
Brazil, Argentina & Uruguay, December 2010
Lisa Wallace
We were extremely satisfied with our trip to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Each and every person involved went out of their way to make our holiday very special.
A DREAM HONEYMOON
Argentina, December 2010
Aditya Bindal / Partner at STAR Capital
Thank you for organizing a dream honeymoon for us. The time we spent in Argentina was truly special, and far above and beyond our expectations! We would like to make special mention of our hosts Marcos and Cecilia, who did not spare any organizational detail. I am sure we will plan another trip to South America with Blue Parallel in the near future.
FIT TO OUR NEEDS & INTERESTS
Peru, November 2010
Bob & Nancy Deford
Hugo in Lima was accommodating, knowledgeable and most professional. Gaby worked very hard to make our time in Cusco/Sacred Valley very special. She went out of her way to make our time there fit our needs and interests. Our walk through the market in Cusco the last day was a highlight of the trip.
VERY WELL TAKEN OF
Argentina, November 2010
A.D
Everyone was lovely, accommodating, fun, informative. We felt very well taken care of. We had a wonderful time, and would travel with Blue Parallel again. Blake checked in on us on a regular basis and our guides made us feel extremely well cared for. We had never spent time in South America; we loved it! The food, the friendly people, the natural beauty, the lack of jet lag!
A SPECIAL TRIP
Peru, November 2010
Tom Bove
Blake was very helpful and great to deal with. Ana and Antonio definitely helped to make our trip special, they are both very professional and very nice.
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE
Argentina, April 2010
Chris Turett
Excellent customer service. At each point the guide and driver were always around. We didn’t have to think about missed connections, transportation, or the details. It was greatly appreciated.
MORE THAN EXPECTED
Argentina, March 2010
Greg & Robyn Macgee
Not only were our tours and excursions wonderful but all the time in between driving with Alberto and Marcos was very entertaining and enjoyable. The service from Blue Parallel was much more than was expected.
A PERFECT CUSTOM-MADE TRIP
Argentina, March 2010
Mr & Mrs Angelmars
The trip was very positive. We never had the impression of being rushed. Everything went smoothly. It was a very relaxing get away. The 4×4 excursion with Luis and Lucio was amazing. We appreciated not being with the crowd. Hallie set up a prefect custom-made trip for us. She understood our requirements.
OUR ADVENTURES WERE MAGICAL
Argentina, February 2010
Marla & Gregg Felton / Managing Partner of Altus Power America
Our trip wouldn’t have been the same without Blue Parallel. Our adventures in Bariloche were magical. Our guides pushed us to our limits and let us explore Patagonia in a way we couldn’t have on our own.
CLIENT-SERVICE ORIENTED
Peru, January 2010
Pamela Lewis & Kimberly Hanna
We would highly recommend this organization. They are extremely knowledgeable, efficient and client-service oriented. The office staff was excellent. We left for Peru the day after the rains and mudslides. They called us to inform us and helped to reschedule our visit in order for us to enjoy a safe, activity-filled vacation.
A STRESS-FREE TRIP
Brazil, December 2009
Mary Frances Walde
Every detail of our trip to Brazil was planned and managed for us. We were pleased with all of the choices Blue Parallel made and with the flexibility our guide provided when we changed things around. She had great suggestions for the activities and was very entertaining and knowledgeable. In short, all of the stress was taken out of the trip. We would definitely travel with Blue Parallel again.
CARE & PLANNING
Argentina, December 2009
Jan Vasilius
Given my health issues, this trip was possible only due to the knowledge, care and planning of Blue Parallel. They made arrangements so that all was possible!
BLUE PARALLEL DOES IT RIGHT
Chile, November 2009
Tim & Leslie Maloney
Both Tim and I felt this was one of our top trips ever. The itinerary you put together could not have been better, and even though there was quite a bit of travel required, seeing the extremes of Chile (Patagonia and the Atacama) was well worth it. The Torres del Paine National Park was quite simply stunning — well worth the 5 hour drive from Punta Arenas! Our guides were top notch — warmly welcoming us off the plane, attending to our needs, making sure we toured the important things, at the right pace and in comfort, and always providing us with wonderful cultural and social insights. Our lodging was just the right mix of boutique to luxury. Blue Parallel does it right, paying attention to all the important details. Maybe someday we will go back to South America, and if so, we will work with you again.
PERFECT TRAVEL PLANS
Mexico, November 2009
Mr. Jaeger & Mrs Jaeger-Firmenich
Perfect travel plans for culturally interested people with little time. It was great to have the possibility to change all programs at short notice. Excellent guides on site, especially Umberto in Uxmal. The Haciendas were very special, we were almost the only guests which was great. Thanks again for organising this trip for us.
EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AGAIN
Peru, October 2009
Jan & Sue Suwinski
Our trip was terrific in all respects. This was our third trip with Blue Parallel, and again, you have exceeded our expectations. Your guides are always outstanding. Gabriella was exceptional; she knows her history and the area so well. She and our driver, Antonio, made our visit to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu so memorable. In the Peruvian Amazon, our guide Moises was outstanding and always concerned for our comfort. Roland and Daniel on the Aqua cruise were personable and so knowledgeable. We can’t give enough kudos to the people who hosted us. Thanks to all at Blue Parallel for another great job.
INFORMATIVE & ENTHUSIASTIC
Peru, August 2009
Ariel Kochi
Thank you for all your help in arranging our trip. We had a great time and learned a lot about the country and its rich history. Thank you again for helping us when Spenser and Brian got sick. We were not sure what to do. You having the doctor waiting for us when we arrived in Cusco was a godsend. The guides were all wonderful — informative, patient, flexible and enthusiastic. They did a great job keeping the kids interested and engaged. Their pride of the country and enthusiasm for what they do was infectious.
UNFORGETTABLE TRIP
Brazil, August 2009
Jean Philippe Barade
Thank you to Blue Parallel for having made us discover the wonderful environment of Fernando de Noronha with its turtles, dolphins, birds and amazing beaches as well as for the perfect organization which has made our trip an unforgettable experience.
FABULOUS NEW EXPERIENCES
Peru, April 2009
Joseph Kampf / Chairman and CEO of CoVant
We had a fabulous trip. The guides, hotels and meals were all 5 star and we enjoyed everything. The logistics were great as well, particularly since everything worked like a Swiss watch. Lastly, we thoroughly enjoyed the venues — Cusco, Machu, and the lake were new experiences for us and we both learned a lot and enjoyed the uniqueness of the locations. The tour with Enrique Poli was spectacular…it was an amazing experience! Thank you for planning everything and making it a terrific trip.
THE TRIP OF OUR DREAMS
Guatemala, April 2009
Dabney Grinnan
I worked closely with Blue Parallel to plan a trip for my family of six to Belize and Guatemala. I was impressed by their concern to detail — they wanted me to tell them very specifically what we wanted to do, what we valued in a place to stay, what kind of food we liked and how we liked to travel. It was clear that Blue Parallel wanted my family to have the trip of our dreams. And we did! We had eight perfect days and nights! We stayed in beautiful, comfortable places, learned from wise and enjoyable guides and managed to cram countless great experiences into a too short vacation. Blue Parallel is really an amazing group to work with. I wish they planned trips all over the world so that I could use them every time my family traveled!
ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD
Argentina, March 2009
Nancy & Jonathan Kaye
Our private journey to Argentina with Blue Parallel exceeded our expectations! The attention to detail and custom itinerary made our journey extremely memorable. Our hosts and guides were always professional and attentive. Any changes or requests before or during our trip were handled with ease. Blue Parallel’s excellent staff were always one step ahead of us, creating the perfect adventure, one we will always remember. This was by far, the best experience we have ever had with a travel company. Keep doing it because you do it so well! One last comment — expand your trips to all over the world so that we can use Blue Parallel for all our future journeys. Thank you to everyone at Blue Parallel.
SEAMLESS LOGISTICS
Canada, February 2009
Andre Benoit
We had a magical time in the Galapagos. It was more than we originally imagined it. The naturalist guides were passionate and knowledgeable, but in a way that brought us into their world and made us feel part of the experience. The logistics were seamless and we were never rushed. A truly unique combination of awe (the snorkeling!), relaxation (near Cotopaxi) and intellectual stimulation (Quito colonial old city).
BEYOND A FANTASY
Argentina, February 2009
Ted & Gayle Nering
Always magical, beyond a fantasy. Best by far were the many people from Argentina that Blue Parallel brought into our life… new friends and memories forever. Our lunch (in Bariloche) was a miracle and Valle Encantado was in every description amazing. Ida was perfect with ideas and follow up, and concerned that everything be perfect for sensibility and goals of the traveler. Emmanuel has knowledge that is boundless and enables maximum achievement of the opportunity of the time the traveler has. Each person from Blue Parallel was a joy for us and this experience ensures that we will return to this lovely place.
FIRST RATE ITINERARY
Argentina, January 2009
Peter & Maria Kellner
We had a great trip. Your itinerary suggestions and planning were first rate and the local service spot-on. Los Glaciares National Park has beautiful mountain scenery and the glacier walk was very enjoyable. The volcano hike in the Lake District, with 2 excellent guides, was a real treat. The trip to Huerquehue National Park was another pleasant surprise with beautiful countryside passing by a fabulous estancia with a lovely walk to the waterfall. Atacama exceeded our (high) expectations in every aspect: the scenery is diverse and stunning; the lodge could not be more beautiful, the staff very friendly; the walks beautiful; and the food superb. We would not hesitate to return.”
THE WAY WE WANTED IT
Argentina, December 2008
Jennifer Sriprasert
Blue Parallel put together a very good trip to Argentina with only a week´s notice for my family of eight from Bangkok, Thailand. Given that it is also the Argentine New Year period, it’s really remarkable what they were able to do for us. We had a really good time in Argentina. Since it’s a tailor made trip, we were able to do a lot of things the way we wanted and they were very flexible. Thanks again!
A WONDERFUL FAMILY VACATION
Argentina, December 2008
Ulrika & Joel Citron
We’ve had a wonderful family vacation from beginning to end and would use Blue Parallel again. Blue Parallel chose a perfect itinerary for our family where we experienced a little bit of everything in Argentina.
GOOD-MANNERED & HIGH QUALITY
Argentina, December 2008
Paolo Basilico
We particularly appreciated the Blue Parallel office staff for the prompt and quick rearrangements of flights and hotel reservations, and also the staff in Buenos Aires and Santiago who were really kind, good-mannered and high-quality.
EVERYTHING WAS EXCEPTIONAL
Guatemala, September 2008
Paul Pulver / Vice President at Costco Wholesale
We had a fabulous time in Guatemala. We found everything to be exceptional. All the privately prepared food was excellent — the picnics and the private house at Casa Palopo. Adolfo and Melvin, our primary guides are lovely and well-informed persons as well as their drivers. We would definitely want to work with them again. We also enjoyed our tour of Antigua with Jane. What I most liked about Meson Panza Verde is its character and access to the rest of Antigua. I loved the concert on our final night at Panza Verde and the table that was chosen for us. What was particularly good for us about this trip was the number of people we met from all walks of life and their openness to us being there and answering all questions. We left Guatemala feeling as if we had made some new friends!
GUIDES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY
Brazil, August 2008
Alan M. Schwartz / President of Asset Management Solutions LLC
This Brazil family trip was thoughtful, with unique activities and planning, along with guides of the highest quality I have experienced in more than 30 years of worldwide luxury and adventure travel.
A PERFECT CUSTOM TRIP
Peru, July 2008
Linda & John O'Hara
A perfect custom trip that allowed us to see the real, close-up side of Peru. Every day was perfectly planned and our guides were terrific. We even had a spontaneous Peruvian march competition in the middle of an Andean churchyard.
WE SAW SO MUCH
Sicily, May 2008
Kevin Poorman / CEO of PSP Capital Partners and Pritzker Realty Group
It has been a wonderful trip. The helicopter was thrilling and we loved seeing so much of Sicily in such an easy way. Elisa was a lovely guide and Mario was very knowledgeable. The star of the trip was Emmanuelle in Salina — we had a wonderful time hiking with him. He was a delightful young man and a very knowledgeable, helpful guide. Just terrific. Thank you for all your hard work!
VERY ACCOMMODATING
Argentina, March 2008
Christy Oliger
Alberto and Ernestina in Buenos Aires were highlights of our trip. We loved having them throughout our stay. We made several last minute itinerary changes and they were very understanding and accommodating. Ernestina is a very special hostess, I especially appreciated her company shopping and taking pictures of us dancing tango. She always had a great sense of humor, made things fun, and is very professional. Our only wish is that Blue Parallel would expand across the globe!
UNPARALLELED SERVICE
Peru, March 2008
Randy & Mickey Jester
Blue Parallel provided us with unparalleled experiences on this adventure, and exemplary service! Gabriela, our guide, was knowledgeable and accommodating — she made sure we were enjoying ourselves at all times. Our truly memorable experience would not have been possible without Gabby, Walter and Alex. You should be proud to have such wonderful, caring, professional staff.
A FLAWLESS TRIP
Argentina, March 2008
Katherine Taylor
Blue Parallel is a miracle. From the moment I disembarked (really!) and for every moment throughout the rest of my trip, the super-human Blue Parallel staff cared for me in Patagonia with such dedication, a fine focus on every small detail, and such cheer — I don’t know how I’m expected to return to real life. Blue Parallel it is not possible to improve your service; it was flawless.
THE PERFECT TRIP
Argentina, February 2008
Harry Huizenga / Founder of Waste Management Inc., Blockbuster Inc. and AutoNation Inc.
Our trip has been perfect. From the moment we landed to our sad departure — everything, every detail, every smile — all of your wonderful people have treated us as your own. This has been our best trip ever!
OUTSTANDING SETTINGS
Argentina, February 2008
William Greene & Linda Latimer
We had high expectations and they were greatly exceeded! Wow, the guides were so wonderful and their fabulous attitudes made the trip especially fun. The gourmet lunches and settings were outstanding!
FANTASTIC SERVICE
Argentina, February 2008
Jerry & Barbara Greenbaum
Absolutely fantastic service by a most competent staff genuinely interested in our enjoyment.
OUT PERFORMED OTHER AGENCIES
Chile, February 2008
James & Sarah Glyn
The entire experience was wonderful and we found your arrangements and people to be superb. When making more complicated trips we have used various top class agencies but yours has out performed all of them and we would not hesitate to travel with you again and to recommend others to do so. Our experience was completely positive and we were delighted with your arrangements.
SUPERIOR SERVICE
Brazil, January 2008
Jay Davidson
We had a fabulous time. The hosts were outstanding. I am not sure how you recruit but we could sure learn a lot from Blue Parallel. The entire experience was tremendous and superior service was provided. Although our experience was limited, Renata was wonderful in Rio. She was very hospitable, warm, and educational.
EXTRAORDINARILY ATTENTIVE
Argentina, January 2008
Diana Holman
Estancia Alta Vista in El Calafate was a highlight of the trip — it was our favorite; comfortable and gracious and totally charming. In Ushuaia we had stunning accommodations and our excursions and guides were outstanding. The Blue Parallel staff was extraordinarily attentive to our every need before, during and after the trip.
THE MOST AMAZING TRIP OF MY LIFE
Peru & Ecuador, January 2008
David Morgan / Former CEO of Westpac Banking Corporation
Every section of our trip to mainland Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and Peru exceeded our expectations. The hotel in Quito was wonderful and deserves a small luxury hotel listing. The cruise through the Galapagos Islands, was the most amazing trip of my life and the crew couldn’t have been better. The accommodation in Machu Picchu; The Inkaterra, was the best ever, and the service was wonderful. All of our guides were great. Blue Parallel was always very responsive and developed a program well suited to our family. Thank you.
TAKEN CARE OF
Mexico, January 2008
S.S & T.S
We recently had the pleasure of experiencing the sublime via our Blue Parallel-planned honeymoon in the Yucatan and Mayan Riviera. Thanks to Blue Parallel, we enjoyed the best this region had to offer at every moment of our beautiful trip. Emmanuel and his team’s attention to detail ensured that we felt catered to and taken care of in the highest sense. We’ll never forget the sight of the giant ceiba tree against the twilight sky at Uayamon; the Mayan wedding ceremony in the jungles near the ruins of Edzna; breakfast overlooking the gardens and pools at Temozón; sunrise over the Caribbean white-sand beaches at Maroma from our private terrace, thanking our lucky stars we found the experts at Blue Parallel to plan one of the most special trips of our lives!
OUTSTANDING JOB
Argentina, December 2007
Diane Offereins
Blue Parallel did an outstanding job organizing our trip to Patagonia. Marcos made special arrangements to accommodate all of our requirements from shopping to restaurants. Fly-fishing was outstanding with exceptional guides, glacier-walking was terrific and we especially enjoyed the private tour of the glacier.
WELL COORDINATED
Chile, December 2007
Jim Sharkey
We had a very positive experience in Chile. The whole trip was well coordinated, the logistics and planning work that was done before the trip was obvious, and we benefitted greatly from that. Our guides were knowledgable, had great attitudes, and there was a true seamlessness in the pass-off between them. It was definitely worth visiting the Isla Magdalena to see their penguin colony. In general, the tours were brilliant and our guides were very encouraging when we were climbing the Villarrica Volcano.
THE TOUR COMPANY TO USE
Peru, December 2007
Buck Brown
Our experience with Blue Parallel in Peru was simply outstanding. From the planning to the execution, Blue Parallel personnel were very helpful, attentive to detail, and extraordinarily customer-focused. We absolutely adored Gaby, our guide in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. You couldn’t ask for more from a guide! She poured her heart and soul into making our experience the best possible. Her enthusiasm about the sights and the culture were contagious. We all left feeling we had made a new friend. John, our driver, was terrific — we still can’t figure out how he could navigate the vehicle down such narrow streets with such skill! We also enjoyed Hugo and Frankie, our hosts in Lima. Blue Parallel runs a truly first-class operation, and I would have no hesitation recommending them as THE tour company to use for visits to Peru. We hope this won’t be our last trip with Blue Parallel!
THE GREATEST TIME
Argentina, December 2007
Helen Warwick / Former Director of Guggenheim Museum
Wow, we had just the greatest time, and thank you for all your help and advice and for that of all your wonderful colleagues. Argentina is a place we will definitely be visiting again and we will not want to do that without all your help. Blue Parallel thinks of everything!
THE BEST TRIP
Argentina, November 2007
Peter & Eva Thurell
Thank you very much for making our stay in Argentina an unforgettable one. In fact, my wife and I agreed that this was — from all aspects — the best trip we ever made. It will be our pleasure to recommend Argentina and Blue Parallel to anyone and everyone who likes adventure, magnificent sceneries, friendly people, superb food & wine — and tango! We were of course also flattered that you named one of your glaciers after our nearest town in Sweden (Upsala). Please, extend our gratitude to your team!
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Argentina, November 2007
Christine LePoidevin
Thank you so much for organizing a great trip for us. We all had a fabulous time and my mother had a truly unforgettable experience. Your staff and guides were lovely and we enjoyed spending time with all of them. I thank you again and will surely pass on your name to my friends.
UNEXPECTED NATURAL BEAUTY
Argentina, November 2007
Barbara Scapa
I cannot put into words how much we enjoyed our trip through Argentina. Not only were we overwhelmed by the unexpected natural beauty of the country, we also felt the same about the people… and, of course, the food and wine, and, and, and, you get the point. Thank you for all of your planning, basically it was perfect.
PROFESSIONAL, KIND & WARM
Peru, November 2007
Molly Howlett
The trip was better than I thought it could be! I had never traveled with a guide before and it was worth every penny. Gabi made everything so much easier — I didn’t have to worry about anything and was able to relax much more than I would have if I was worried about transportation, tips, language, etc…I am just so impressed with Blue Parallel; our guide and driver were so professional, kind and warm, and your office staff were always friendly on the phone and easy to contact. I can’t say thank you enough. I am already trying to figure out my next vacation and I can’t wait to go back to South America.
WE HAVE BEEN SPOILED
Argentina, November 2007
Mario Greco / Founder of the MG group
My wife and I are extremely busy people who take one long vacation per year and when we decided to go to Argentina, we decided to find an organization that handles everything — especially the small stuff like dinner reservations and insider/local information. Blue Parallel was exactly that. Our trip went off without a single hitch and was one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken — much of which can be attributed to the people at Blue Parallel from Emmanuel himself to every driver or guide we met and had the pleasure to interact with. We cannot imagine taking another vacation without the same level of service and we have been spoiled beyond repair.
PERSONAL, SPECIAL & FLAWLESS
Peru, October 2007
Patti Hart
Peru could not have been better. Roger made every aspect of the trip seem personal, special and flawless…we were very pleased and made certain that Roger knew we were. I cannot thank you enough for making this trip with my husband’s parents truly a “once in a lifetime” experience!
FIRST CLASS & SEAMLESS
Argentina, October 2007
Marla Michaels
This was a 1st class experience. Everything was seamless. The staff and guides were extremely nice and accommodating. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and a perfect way to see Argentina for the first time. We would absolutely recommend Blue Parallel to our friends.
HANDLED WITH FINESSE
Peru, September 2007
The Houser Family
Every detail of the trip was planned and taken care of. We just relaxed and all the work was done for us. The details, both minor and major, were handled with finesse. The true test was when we had a health issue. After a single phone call from us, with great efficiency and sensitivity, everything was taken care of and we were back on track to enjoy the balance of our trip. The staff were gracious and everyone at Blue Parallel focused on our comfort and enjoyment, and on making things easy for us. We will recommend Blue Parallel unqualifiedly, and we will use them again unhesitatingly when our itinerary calls for their services and expertise.
A CARE-FREE TRIP
Brazil, July 2007
Molham and Ihsen Aref
We loved our trip to Brazil. You guys were always there for us, which made it a very care-free trip. Thanks again to our hosts Renata and Robson.
HANDLED TO PERFECTION
Peru, June 2007
Marc & Jodi Schneider
Peru was outstanding on every dimension. We only had to focus on enjoying the adventure as everything else was handled to perfection. Gabriella was a spectacular guide and made the trip memorable. The experience will be with us forever.
ACCOMMODATING & FUN
Argentina, June 2007
Jessica Swoyer
Ernestina was a doll and we enjoyed her immensely. It was great to have a Porteño to show us Buenos Aires! My sister, one night in BA, had a medical need; the Costa Petit Hotel along with Ernestina had a doctor to the hotel within 30 minutes. They diagnosed her issue and prescribed medicine — and my sister was still able to join us for dinner and tango that night. Excellent service. Also, little did we know that our guide Ossian in the Argentine Northwest is a famous photographer in the region! Having Ossian as our guide made a huge difference in our experience in Argentina. Always accommodating, informative, and fun.
UNSURPASSED
Ecuador, April 2007
Jacqueline Ross
The Blue Parallel experience exceeded all expectations. We wanted a family vacation that accommodated family members ranging in age from 14-80. We had a wonderful experience learning the history and culture of Peru. Our native guide was a very knowledgeable and all the hosts were helpful and friendly. Accommodations were perfect — unsurpassed in location and luxury! Thank you for giving my family a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
ACCOMMODATED OUR FAMILY
Peru, April 2007
Ronald Guttman
This trip to Peru was GRAND! Blue Parallel was able to improvise the schedule to accommodate our family. Buying soccer game tickets was a major plus. There was room for not being too strict. Our guides were very simpatico.
CUSTOMIZED WITH CARE
Peru, April 2007
Nathan & Triss Garvis
Our Blue Parallel experience was everything we hoped for and then some. The opportunity to customize our trip was appreciated and done with great personal care. Our guide, Gabriela, really made our trip special. Her passion and knowledge of her home country of Peru made each day exciting and we felt that we had really immersed ourselves in the history, customs and diversity of this wonderful place. Cusco was terrific — love it! Our driver, Pepe, was so nice and warm. We loved him! Machu Picchu was a dream come true and Gabriela was like having a University Professor with us. Peruvian Amazon was a very special surprise for us for when we first started talking about Peru it was all about the Andes and Machu Picchu. Inkaterra is a very special place. We hope to come back!
DEDICATED SERVICE
Argentina, March 2007
Joseph A. Tranfo
I used Blue Parallel because of my concerns about taking my wife and four children — ages 15, 14, 11, and 7 — on a trip to multiple destinations in Argentina. Blue Parallel’s customer service was beyond my expectations, and worth every penny. Blue Parallel’s hosts and hostesses redefine the notion of “tour guide”; they are instead personal concierges, dedicated exclusively to you for the duration of your stay and on call 24 hours. I whole-heartedly recommend the service.
A VERY GOOD TRIP
Ecuador, February 2007
Mary Hubbard
This journey to Ecuador was a very good trip. Santiago was just outstanding. He was extremely knowledgable about the country and helpful to us in all ways. In Quito, the private guided tour of San Augustin was fantastic. As to the Galapagos, the boat was excellent. As it happened, the owner was on board with his family, and had the suite just across from us. Dreis was a very good guide. Having an individual guide was wonderful. Quite a number of other guests asked us what tour company we were traveling with, to get such treatment. We also enjoyed the hacienda as well as Cuenca, which was wonderful. We were both glad that you included Cuenca in the trip. The hike in Cajas National Park was really great — and the picnic at the end was fantastic.
VERY WELL LOOKED AFTER
Brazil, February 2007
William Kirwan
An excellent itinerary to Brazil. Sonia was an excellent hostess. We were very well looked after throughout the trip. We would certainly recommend Blue Parallel to our friends.
BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES
Argentina, February 2007
Nick Higgins & Holly Barnes
We felt very well taken care of! Thank you for your attention to detail and your flexibility. It was great to be able to change our plans, offer new ideas and have the Blue Parallel staff be okay with that! Great, friendly, kind guides and drivers. Thank you so much for helping us create beautiful memories.
OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE
Argentina, January 2007
Terry Garnett / Co-Founder of Inxeption.com and HeyScottie.com
The Blue Parallel guides were outstanding in terms of knowledge, experience and attention to detail. The beauty and scale of Iguazu Falls exceeded our expectations. Truly one of the great wonders of the world.
TOP NOTCH
Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, January 2007
Stephen & Lavinia Boyd
Nothing but superlatives to describe our experience from the initial contact with Blue Parallel to end of the trip itself. This exclusive tour of the most prestigious vineyards of Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile was the best trip ever. Ernestina, Cora, Jorge, Ossian and German have become our friends. Everything top notch.
A FABULOUS THIRD TOUR
Argentina, January 2007
Bruce Atwater / Former Chairman and CEO of General Mills Inc.
This third experience with your group was: fabulous! The two places in Bariloche were terrific, the guides and activities first rate, the oversight by Magdalena exactly right (and she is personally very likeable and efficient), and the gourmet lunch at the end of the Tronador hike a special treat. For golfers the Llao Llao golf course is world class. The Malba museum in Buenos Aires is a jewel if you have people interested in contemporary art. The trip to Jujuy, Salta, and Colomé was fabulous. We loved Anna and everything we did there. The combination of guide and driver is excellent in rural areas. The hotels were all good. Donald and Ursula were wonderful hosts at Colomé. Again many thanks for arranging such a fine experience.
EXCELLENT SERVICE THROUGHOUT
Argentina, December 2006
David Barry / President of Applied Development Company
Excellent service throughout our trip to Argentina. Carolina, Maggie, and Augustine were outstanding!
EVERY NEED WAS ANTICIPATED
Peru, December 2006
Valerie Casey
Thank you for making our trip to Peru such a resounding success. In every instance the services and associates of Blue Parallel exceeded our expectations. Our every need was anticipated and each Blue Parallel representative seemed fully dedicated to our comfort and satisfaction while ensuring that we experienced all of the wonders of Peru. Both Chris and I have agreed that this was one of the most memorable and enjoyable holidays we have experienced in our many years of traveling. We wish to add our accolades for all, including Hugo in Lima and Walter, Percy, Señor Pepe and Gabriela in Cusco. Of course we spent the most time with Gaby whose guidance, dedication, knowledge and commitment was superb.
A VERY EXCITING TRIP
Argentina, November 2006
Jenny & Tim Ewing
This was a fabulous trip, very exciting and well organized. The people of Argentina and your staff could not be more helpful and friendly.
EXCELLENT FROM START TO FINISH
Argentina, November 2006
Linda and John O'Hara
Another excellent trip from start to finish. Blue Parallel manages to exceed your expectations of every location you visit. The tremendous guides and perfectly planned itineraries make the trip flow effortlessly. Having Ossian as a guide for five days made our trip. The ‘extras’ were great — local lunches, massage, making empanadas and going to the family home / winery in Cafayate.
IT WILL NEVER BE SURPASSED
Argentina, November 2006
Addie Ward
Felt so well taken care of. Thanks to Blue Parallel — it was a trip that will never be surpassed. Will use Blue Parallel in the future and recommend to my friends!
AMAZING GROUP EXPERIENCE
Argentina, November 2006
Alexandra McNett
Unparalleled experience. The staff made every effort to meet any and all of our expectations. We had a large group and everyone had an amazing experience. The extreme sun rafting experience is a must. I have never had a more complete group trip run as well.
A WONDERFUL SECOND TRIP
Argentina, October 2006
Howard & Donna Weinstein
This is our second trip with Blue Parallel. This trip to the Northwest of Argentina and the Lake District was entirely different and was equally wonderful. I would use Blue Parallel again and again. In fact, I will contact Emmanuel in a few weeks for another trip.
LIVE THE DREAM
Brazil, August 2006
Amer Hashem & Danah Al-Aitah
One thing is for sure — our trip to Brazil exceeded our expectations in every way. Blue Parallel will make you live the dream.
VERY WELL COORDINATED
Peru, June 2006
Julie Hancock
I wanted to tell you how thrilled and impressed we were with our entire experience with Blue Parallel in Peru. This was the first vacation I have ever taken where I didn’t have to think or worry about a thing. Every aspect of the trip was handled smoothly and was very well coordinated. Our guides were all knowledgeable, kind and patient. All of the excursions met or exceeded our high expectations. Transportation was comfortable and efficient and all of the accommodations were first class. My husband (not a huge fan of international travel) was highly skeptical prior to our leaving for Peru, but in the end he was thoroughly impressed and amazed at the level of service and attention we received. My son said he felt like a rock star the entire time, and LOVED having local well-known surfers to surf and hang out with as a break from spending so much time with his parents! In the end, it was the quality one-on-one time we got to spend with him that we will cherish most of all. In summary, I just want to say, thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
TREASURED MEMORIES
Argentina, February 2006
June McCarthy
Blue Parallel is simply the best. Our adventures with Blue Parallel were over the top. How wonderful it was after our long flight to be met in Lima by Frankie and transported to the Hotel, then on to Cusco only to be met yet again by Juan Carlos, Antonio and Gabby, our outstanding guide. Our time in Cusco and Machu Picchu was everything I had anticipated and more. After our cruise (the highlights being a day’s flight to Antarctica and a tour of Torres Del Paine), we once again entered the exclusive world of Blue Parallel in Buenos Aires. Virginia was a breath of fresh air, so hospitable and energetic. And then the surprises began in earnest. The ranch was a bit of heaven, so beautiful and pristine and Marcelo a perfect host. To be hosted in such style with musicians and a gourmet lunch a top the mountain was truly awesome. It was “Out Of Africa” in Bariloche. Then Llao Llao, a perfect ending with a glorious sail on Nahuel Huapi Lake. Your itinerary was perfect in every detail, and your staff are among the best. We were treated like royalty. We shall treasure our memories.
MEMORABLE & EXCITING
Argentina, January 2006
Mr. and Mrs. Pingitore
We had a fabulous trip and appreciated your and your staff’s efforts to make it memorable and exciting. I must commend you on the whole organization’s fine attention to detail, timely responses to questions, and ability to adjust schedules and activities during the trip as necessary. All of our hosts and guides were friendly and respectful. We would like to thank especially Virginia in Buenos Aires, the guides for the ice trekking, and the guides at Harberton Estancia in Ushuaia. I will highly recommend Blue Parallel to anyone interested in travelling to South America. This trip to Patagonia was first class all the way!
9 LOCATIONS IN 25 DAYS
Argentina, January 2006
Gene Johnson
I strongly recommend anyone contemplating a trip to South America take advantage of the services offered by Blue Parallel. We traveled throughout South America (Brazil, Argentina and Chile) stopping in nine different locations over 25 days and everything went like clockwork. The accommodations and travel arrangements were first class. The people meeting us at each stop were extremely capable and friendly and the locations selected by Blue Parallel were fantastic and well planned. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip!
WE WERE OVERJOYED
Argentina, January 2006
Shallan & Whipple Hazlewood
We had a truly fantastic time in Patagonia, and are quite depressed to be going home! We have been overjoyed with the experiences Blue Parallel has exposed to us. We love the combo of adventure, natural beauty, and of course pampering! Your entire staff (at least the ones we have met), has added a critical and certainly positive element to our trips. We can not thank you enough! Thank you for providing such glorious memories! The question now is where to go next?! We look so forward to our next trip with Blue Parallel.
100% DEDICATION
Peru, December 2005
Mr Devitre / Chief Financial Officer of Altria Group
Blue Parallel hosts are warm, knowledgeable, and 100% dedicated to assuring you enjoy your stay. They can improvise on the fly to ensure your every wish is met. Angra dos Reis and Rio de Janeiro are two of the most visually stunning places we have ever been to.
GREAT EXTRA VALUE
Brazil, December 2005
The Podell Family
The Blue Parallel extra value on this trip to Brazil was great — the helicopters, the speed boats, the flexibility of changing plans, and the ability to adjust to the different demands of the group. The Blue Parallel guides were fabulous — cheerful, flexible, knowledgeable, and around exactly when you need them.
A WONDERFUL VACATION
Argentina & Chile, December 2005
Eric Garfinkel
This two week trip to Argentina and Chile you arranged for my family was one of the best trips we have ever had. Each member of my family had a wonderful vacation. Our time was used very efficiently from beginning to end. The guides and hosts who took care of us were all intelligent, well-educated, and were highly concerned at all times about our well-being. Do not hesitate to ask us for a reference in the future.
FANTASTIC FAMILY TRIP
Patagonia, December 2005
Suzan & John Sullivan
The only thing better would be to spend more time… wonderful people, beautiful and varied landscapes, and excellent, professional service. Thank you for this fantastic family trip throughout Patagonia!
FLAWLESSLY EXECUTED
Peru, August 2005
Kent Stewart / CEO of Reli Inc.
Julie and I had a great time in Peru. Overall, the service from Blue Parallel was excellent. Kathy was wonderful. She was a joy to be with and was extremely knowledgeable. Hugo, Javier and the others were very professional. While in Machu Picchu, we did hike to Huiñay Huayna and also hiked Huayna Picchu which were the highlights of the trip. The accommodations were excellent (especially the Sanctuary Lodge) and the schedule was well planned and flawlessly executed. We will remember this trip forever.
DILIGENT SERVICES
Ecuador, July 2005
Bobby Haas / Chairman of Haas Wheat & Partners
I must reiterate how extremely pleased I am with the diligent services and attention to detail that the entire Blue Parallel team have provided for this grand project. The Ecuador trip was our first opportunity to work together ‘in the field’ and it was an unqualified success!
GREAT ADVENTURE
Peru, June 2005
Linda & Larry Ivins
Our time in Peru with Blue Parallel was absolutely the best. Our hosts, guides and drivers were all very caring, kind, efficient, thorough, and professional. Our experience far exceeded our expectations. Larry and I said to each other the day we left that if we had not been wise enough to secure the services of Blue Parallel, we would have missed a lot. Your guides, most especially (Hugo and Gaby), helped to give so much understanding and meaning to the great adventure we had in Peru. And when there was a glitch on Tuesday in Machu Picchu because of the train strike, Gaby ensured that we had the most wonderful experience on the Luxury Train back to Cusco. I have always wanted to ride on the Orient Express, and it was just the greatest. If we ever plan to be in South America again, we will certainly contact you to help us with our travels.
10/10 FOR EXCELLENCE
Peru, May 2005
Stephen Lyons
From the moment we arrived in Lima and Cusco, the Blue Parallel team has been friendly and helpful. Everything was explained thoroughly and the team went out of their way to make sure our stay was a pleasure. Your service was flawless and your staff exceptional. 10/10 for excellence. We will be referring friends to you without hesitation.
ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE DAY
Ecuador, March 2005
David Heller
Great trip! What you organized for us in the Galapagos was unforgettable. Quito and surroundings was also a fantastic experience. We highly enjoyed every single day of this extraordinary trip to Ecuador.
TOTALLY TAILORED
Patagonia, February 2005
Dr. Cowan
This trip to Patagonia was the most wonderful vacation I have ever experienced! The Blue Parallel hosts and guides were more like family than employees. The itinerary you designed for us was just the best. Each place more beautiful than the next. This trip was totally tailored to our needs. I highly recommend Blue Parallel.
MOST UNIQUE
Peru, January 2005
JK
This trip to Peru ranks amongst the best we have ever taken. Your selection of guides, hotels, and restaurants met and exceeded our expectations. The itinerary was excellent. And of special note, your call during the trip to check on “how was it going” was most unique. We will certainly contact you in the future for travel ideas.
GREAT PERSONAL TOUCHES
Brazil, January 2005
Yefim & Velvina Buzik
This trip to Brazil was first class all the way. Blue Parallel has not only delivered what they promised, but they have exceeded our expectations. We were especially impressed with the attention to details and their personal touch. We highly recommend Blue Parallel and can’t wait to book another trip with them.
ACTION PACKED ITINERARY
Argentina, December 2004
Lisa Gershenson & John Chavez
Every time we show our friends the pictures we took on this trip we become very excited and happy. First of all, the services and personnel associated with your company and YOU could have not been more helpful or kind. We found everyone enthusiastic, energetic, and open. While we had an action packed itinerary, we never felt more relaxed. Your selection of accommodations was outstanding from rustic to city sophisticated and every time elegant and comfortable. We shall return and we are encouraging our friends to travel to Argentina — you made it so very special. I should also thank you for that GREAT bottle of Luigi Bosca 2001 Reserva. We first enjoyed this wine at the private ranch in Patagonia (a recommendation of Marcel Marpegan) during an unforgettable evening of classical music and wonderful asado under the stars. It was so special for us to drink it again at home and recall again this marvelous experience in Argentina. We are still savoring our bottles from San Pedro Yachochuya and Colome!
PROFESSIONAL & FRIENDLY
Peru, December 2004
K.F
This was by far the best vacation we ever had. The tours, transport, guides, and accommodations were top notch (the best). We felt that the Blue Parallel staff was very professional and friendly like family. Thank you for organizing this memorable trip.
EXTRAORDINARY & EXCELLENT
Peru, December 2004
Susan Kaufman
Our guides in Lima and Cusco were consistently impressive in their knowledge and passion for Peru. I felt that we were able to see so many more things off the beaten track under their guidance, especially the special ceremony the last night in Machu Picchu. The entire time I felt like we had none of the “headaches” associated with traveling abroad. The extra attention from our host Carmen made a great difference for us. Overall an extraordinary and an excellent trip, and I will recommend Peru and Blue Parallel to interested friends.
GREAT EXPERIENCE
Argentina, December 2004
Michael Rapp / Chairman of Broadband Capital Management
Great Experience! Our hostess Carolina in Buenos Aires was very pleasant and helpful. Congratulations also to the Blue Parallel team in Brazil. Sonia was very professional and knowledgeable.
CONNECTIONS EVERYWHERE
Argentina, November 2004
Ravi Singh / Global Co-Head of Global Securities Services at Goldman Sachs
We couldn’t have been more pleased overall with Blue Parallel, with all of Argentina, and with all the people we met throughout our trip. You really made us feel as if we had friends and family type connections everywhere, and traveling has never been made easier. We definitely put some tough tests in front of you and we both are really impressed and hugely appreciative of how your team and Evelyn’s team took care of us. I have been talking nonstop the last two days at the office about how much we enjoyed Argentina and its people, and how first-class your group is — thanks again to everyone, our overall appreciation and gratitude could not be greater.
THIS SERVICE IS TRULY THE BEST
Argentina, November 2004
Gail & Robert Stanger / Chairman of Robert A. Stanger & Co
This was our first trip to South America and due to Blue Parallel and their staff it won’t be the last! Everything was perfect, punctual, just as promised. The meals in Buenos Aires and Bariloche were great. The LLao LLao was magnificent in all respects. The hostesses Carolina and Magdalena were terrific. We have traveled all over the world, and this service is truly the best.
A CATEGORY OF ITS OWN
Patagonia, November 2004
Isidore Myers / Founder of Isidore Myers Properties, Inc
This was our first experience with Blue Parallel and I hope it won’t be our last. Your service exceeded by far our expectations. You enabled us to see the best Patagonia has to offer in the most luxurious way possible. I am 87 years old, did world traveling since 1957, and this journey was in a category of its own — this was by far the best escorted tour I have ever taken.
THIS IS ELEGANCE
Argentina, November 2004
Stephen Henderson / Writer for Food & Wine Magazine
What do you most want in a travel advisor? Two things: complete knowledge and absolute discretion. That Blue Parallel has the first is beyond question. All the Blue Parallel employees, guides and escorts that I met in Buenos Aires were marvelously clever, resourceful and flexible. “Discretion” is a rarer attribute and, perhaps, Blue Parallel’s chief strength. Meaning, if you want attention and hand-holding you will get it. But in those moments or hours where you want to be left alone, the folks from Blue Parallel know to disappear. This is elegance. This is taste. This is the way to be shown a new place. I have never been taken care of in a foreign country in such a sophisticated way. Bravo, Blue Parallel!
UNFORGETTABLE GETAWAY
Peru, November 2004
Scott Brackett / President of Eastern Plastics, Inc.
Thank you and everyone at Blue Parallel for organizing such an incredible trip to Peru.To have the opportunity to go hiking, biking, and explore the Andes was an experience I shall remember all of my life. Machu Picchu is truly wonderful; the architecture, the mystery and the stunning surroundings. I’ll never forget the first time I looked out over Machu Picchu. Peru has got to be one of the most beautiful and magical countries in the world. I would like to particularly thank our guide Gabby who went beyond the call of duty to make our trip a truly memorable experience. Many thanks to all who helped in arranging this unforgettable getaway.
EFFICIENT & CREATIVE
Peru, October 2004
Celeste Prince
Our experience was wonderful from beginning to end. All of our arrangements were handled efficiently and creatively. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable. We fell in love with Peru, its people, and its magical sights. This is a country full of mysticism. Thank you so much! We especially loved our experience with the Shaman, Nazario.
FANTASTIC ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Peru, October 2004
Sylvia & Geoffrey Birch
There is no doubt in our minds that Blue Parallel organize the best trips we have ever been on. This trip to Peru and to the Galapagos Islands was remarkable. The attention to detail is fantastic. The guides are first class as are the hotels, and there are little extra surprises along the way! Thank you and we hope to be on another trip soon.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Argentina, September 2004
Michael Delacruz
Thank you for organizing a splendid birthday celebration in Argentina that I will remember for the rest of my life. The graciousness of our host Carolina, the encyclopedic knowledge of our guide Cora, the infinite patience of our tango teacher Laura, and our driver Jorge’s excellent service went a very long way. We also thank the Blue Parallel team in Ushuaia for their outstanding service and knowledge of science and the fueguinian environment. We hope to return to Argentina in the future with Blue Parallel, hopefully sometime in 2005. I have plans of writing to Departures magazine about the extraordinary trip we had in Argentina, courtesy of Blue Parallel, as I feel very fortunate that I learned about your company through Departures magazine.
A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE
Argentina, September 2004
T.P
Our experience with Blue Parallel was remarkable. The knowledge and professionalism of the staff was outstanding. Their ability to adapt to our needs and well being was greatly appreciated. I will have great memories of this vacation in Argentina. Thank you to everyone who took part in arranging this terrific trip.
PROFESSIONAL & KNOWLEDEGABLE
Brazil, August 2004
D.N & B.N
My husband and I set up a trip to Iguazu Falls using Blue Parallel. We found them on the internet and took a chance. We travel all over the world and have set up special, private tours with other travel companies. We found Blue Parallel easy to work with, responsive to our needs and our guides at each location were prompt, professional and knowledegable. We would have no trouble recommending Blue Parallel to anyone who considers traveling to South America.
STRESS FREE VACATION
Argentina & Brazil, June 2004
Andrew Jones
This was a wonderful honeymoon. We never had to worry about transportation, customs, or anything. Blue Parallel took care of everything, even our visas to Brazil. The estancia outside of Buenos Aires was perfect for us. We could relax and recover from the wedding in this beautiful place you chose for us, before proceeding to Iguazu. This was the most stress free vacation ever.
ONE OF THE BEST
Argentina & Brazil, June 2004
C.C
This has been one of the best vacationing experiences I have ever had. The guides in both Argentina and Brazil, and everyone else we met were so wonderful and tried to help us in any way they could. Everyone was so knowledgeable and seemed happy to be working with us. We would definitely work with Blue Parallel again in the future.
FOREVER MEMORABLE
Peru, June 2004
K.M
We had a fantastic trip — what a beautiful country and such great people. It has to be one of the most culturally rich countries I have been to. All our guides along the way were fantastic and overall the trip was exceptional and forever memorable. We would recommend your company, and after coming back and talking to my family — everyone is so excited about Peru.
VIRTUALLY UNPARALLELED TOURS
Argentina & Brazil, December 2003
Slava Rabinovich / Founder of Diamond Age Capital
Blue Parallel organizes high-end tours which are virtually unparalleled in the industry. Never a compromise on quality of services. My wife and I were really impressed by a continuous effort on the part of the entire Blue Parallel team, wherever we traveled, to make our trip perfect. Although there are no perfect things in life, this three-week journey in South America was as close to perfection as you can get.