Reflections Of A BP Traveler: Three Seamless Journeys Over Time

We have hosted Barb Kline-Schoder and her family on three private tours since 2012, to the Galapagos Islands, Morocco and Chile. To understand more about her unique experiences with Blue Parallel, we interviewed Barb and discussed some of her favorite moments from her three luxury journeys…

How Did You First Hear About Blue Parallel?

My family and I first traveled with Blue Parallel in 2012. We wanted to visit the Galapagos Islands but didn’t want to spend all of our time on a boat. My daughter was looking for alternatives online and found Blue Parallel.

Blue Parallel was offering a land-based tour of the Galapagos Islands which allowed us to stay at luxury lodges and enjoy daily explorations instead. This way we wouldn’t have to “live on the boat” which was ideal for us.

How Was Working With Blue Parallel Different From Planning Your Own Journeys?

We turn to Blue Parallel for destinations that we think might be more difficult to navigate on our own, whether that’s because of the language, culture or sheer size of the country or region.

When we work with Blue Parallel, we have confidence that there will be high standards no matter the destination. We know that the accommodations will be top of the line and health and safety is of the utmost importance.

The team handles every detail so there is seamlessness to the whole experience, from being greeted at the airport to figuring out exactly how much time is needed to easily move from one activity/event to the next. Once we have agreed upon an itinerary, we can relax with the knowledge that the experience will unfold smoothly and comfortably.

What Have You Enjoyed Most About Working With Blue Parallel?

Ultimately, it is both the seamlessness of the whole process and the reliability.

Our journey to the Galapagos Islands worked out so well that we turned to Blue Parallel again for our 2018 tour to Morocco. Once again, it was evident that Blue Parallel had the experience and expertise in all of the destinations they work in, so we booked another tour to Chile in 2024 and have our sights set on a trip to Patagonia for February 2026.

There has been consistency of excellence across all of our tours, from the restaurants to the guides and the overall service. We know we will have a wonderful time and will also be impressed by the experience itself when booking a tour with Blue Parallel.

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Please Summarize Your Blue Parallel Experience In 5 Words/Phrases…

My family and I discussed this together and decided the best words and phrases to describe our experiences with Blue Parallel are:

• Flexible
• Beautifully curated and detailed itineraries
• Great support throughout
• Enormous patience with questions and changes
• Wonderful accommodation recommendations

How Did You Find The Pre-trip Experience With Your Personal Travel Expert?

We’ve always had good experiences with our travel experts. The team is extremely flexible and every detail is planned well. There is a good balance and communication between the team in the office who are planning our itineraries and the team on the ground, including the guides and drivers.

The team definitely listens to what we want and caters to us. We’re not super fancy and aren’t particularly drawn to upscale experiences, and so our travel experts ensure we have options and space to do “regular” activities. For example, we weren’t interested in a private helicopter tour so instead we went on a mountain biking excursion.

Did You Feel Supported By The Blue Parallel Team During Your Trip?

Absolutely! In Chile, we were clearly and cleanly handed over to the team on the ground. We didn’t have to ask any questions or manage anything ourselves; the guides and hosts knew everything we’d already discussed and agreed with the rest of the team prior to the trip.

What’s more, when we were out and about, the guides and hosts handled all of the communication with the team in the office so we didn’t have to worry about checking our phones.

Can You Share Your “Wow Moments” From Your Blue Parallel Trips?

One of the most extraordinary moments was from our tour to Morocco. We were able to visit a nomadic family our guide knew on the edge of the Sahara and visit them in their home, which was a series of adjacent caves. The whole experience was soul shifting and despite the language difference, our guide was able to support our conversation so we could really connect with them. It was an incredible experience.

There are also a number of wow moments from our most recent trip to Chile. I will never forget watching the flamingoes flying across the salt flats in the Atacama Desert. I’ve never seen them fly before so that was amazing in itself, and the backdrop made the whole experience even more magical.

I also loved the Valley of the Moon in the Atacama Desert, where we had the chance to descend down a gigantic sand dune in our bare feet.

My children also loved the wine bath at Vik Chile’s spa in the Chilean Wine Country. This is their signature treatment which utilizes natural ingredients from the grapes grown on site in the vineyards and was a huge treat.

Do You Have Any Favorite Accommodations?

All of the accommodations Blue Parallel have selected for us have been uniformly good.

I have particularly fond memories of the Dar Ahlam in Morocco as it was a really spectacular experience. Their service was impeccable and all of the staff showed a genuine interest in us. What’s more, every meal was served in a different location which was truly extraordinary.

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Did All Of The Guides Meet Your Expectations?

They have been simply wonderful!

One aspect that I particularly enjoy about Blue Parallel’s guides is their flexibility. We always have an itinerary and a plan for what we are going to go each day, but if needed, they are quick to accommodate new requests, last minute changes or unforeseen circumstances.

In Chile, we went for a walk during our leisure time and our guide was able to change our itinerary on the spot to make sure we didn’t repeat any of the things we’d done on our own. This also showed a real depth of knowledge and understanding of the area, which all of Blue Parallel’s guides have.

Our guides have also been really observant and aware of our overall experience and will make alterations or suggestions in the moment based on our available time and energy, as well as our interests.

Throughout our tours, the guides have been genuinely engaged with us and engaged with all of the sights and highlights of our journeys. They must have seen some of these places 100 times but their enthusiasm hasn’t wavered.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about having local guides are the little insights into the region’s culture and traditions. From being incredibly open to cross-cultural conversations to sharing their favorite local snacks that we would never have tried without them, we have been able to get a deeper understanding of the regions we’ve visited because of them.

How Valuable Was The Team’s Insider Knowledge And Experience?

Blue Parallel has a great level of expertise across their destinations. I have been impressed by all of their recommendations and the activities they are able to organize for us.

One of the things that stands out to me is their guidance on how much time we have needed in each area. For instance, at Blue Parallel’s recommendation, we had four days in the Atacama Desert in Chile. There is so much to do here and there were of course things we didn’t get to see during this time, but we didn’t feel as though we missed anything.

We were really happy with everything we got to do and see, and felt that we got an excellent cross-section of available activities. Blue Parallel helped us make the most of our time there.

Is There Anything You Would Have Done Differently?

Our trip to Morocco included many extraordinary meals, in many extraordinary settings. This also meant that we ate quite a bit more food in Morocco that we didn’t really need. It was all delicious but we would have been fine with less.

What Do You Think Makes Blue Parallel Special?

I think Blue Parallel’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence is what makes them special. They have broadened their portfolio of travel destinations since we first traveled with them, but we have experienced the same high level of service during each of our tours.

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