Intelligent Travel Solutions - Customer Travel Reviews

Viagem maravilhosa, organizamos tudo antes, e não tivemos que se preocupar em momento algum com comprovantes de viagem, tudo estava agendado e não tivemos nenhum estresse, somente lazer! Muito obrigada!The trip was amazing, we scheduled everything beforehand and we didn't have to stress with documents and vouchers of the trip, everything worked as planned! Thank you!

Intelligent Travel Solutions was beyond exceptional! I highly highly HIGHLY recommend ITS for your travels. Do not hesitate, call them! My whole family was so pleased with our experience in Brazil, the exceptional service provided by ITS, pre-travel service and the excellent communication about every detail leading up to the trip. We are all seasoned travelers but had no experience in this region. No problem! ITS set us up with exact-right hotels, great bi-lingual drivers and tour guides, and great trouble shooting when the need arose.

I highly recommend ITS for your Brazil travels. My whole family (15 total) was so pleased with our experience in Brazil, the exceptional service provided by ITS, pre-travel coordination, and the excellent communication about every detail leading up to the trip. We are all seasoned travelers but had no experience in this region. No problem! ITS set us up with exact-right hotels, great bi-lingual drivers and tour guides, and great trouble shooting when the need arose. Thank you Robert and team!

My overall experience with Intelligent Travel Solutions has been good.They are efficient in responding, easy to work with and offer very organized and thoughtful itineraries. I have recommended them to friends and will be using them again.

Very satisfied with the high level of efficiency and professionalism! Highly recommend!

ITS created a great vacation package for me and my family to Rio, Iguaçu falls and the Amazon. We had a wonderful time and everything worked flawlessly. Thank you.

Agilidade no atendimento e bom preço!

We have now done two trips with ITS, to southern Argentina and to Peru. Both were great - organized, helpful, wonderful diverse experiences.

We really enjoyed the trip! The scenery was beyond beautiful...nothing we have ever seen before! The farm was simple, but clean..staff was very friendly and accommodating. Loved the feel of just a few families staying there, really got to know the other guests. The activities were fun and informative, if you could just have made more animals come out it would have been perfect, ha! We realize you just never know with the animals what you will see. The best part was our guide!! I would recommend her for any upcoming travelers to that area....she was amazing!! She was knowledgeable, helpful, was great with our kids and very comfortable to be around. Great trip to Pantanal! Looking forward to being in touch with Patricia to schedule our next adventure

Lis Oliveira arranged everything for my trip to Morro de Sao Paulo perfectly. I told her I was concerned about the place being a bit too rowdy and noisey due to crowds because of Carnaval. She picked the perfect place for me to stay which was off the beach and very quiet. Exactly what I needed.

Easy and quick

its good as of now

great

ITS is very reliable and professional.

Great Experience!

Everything was arranged perfectly. Casey was very professional and the recommendations were great. I've had a great experience at Baia das Pedras in the Pantanal.

The trip was asked at a very very late notice in peak New Years season. Robert and his team made the impossible possible by organizing an unforegtable trip at teh amazing Fernando de Noroniha paradise all within budget. I will defiantely ask for Roberts support again!

It was wonderful to find a travel agent so responsive and we had a great trip!

Atendimento personalizado para viagens Uma agencia que prima pela satisfacao do cliente! Oferece atendimento personalizado atraves de agentes de viagens super qualificados e dispostos a fazer de nossa viagem um momento inesquecivel! Recomendo!!

I highly recommend If you want to travel to South America I would highly recommend the team at DiscoverBrazil ITS to help you create your dream vacation! I've worked with Mr. Robert Phillips in the past and know that his is extremely detail oriented, organized and enthusiastic and would make sure your trip runs smoothly.

Uma agência que prima pela satisfação do cliente! Oferece atendimento personalizado através de agentes de viagens super qualificados e dispostos a fazer de nossa viagem um momento inesquecível! Recomendo!!

El servicio es fabuloso El servicio es fabuloso. El detalle en la planificacion perfecto. Realmente la recomiendo como mejor opcion si estas pensando en un viaje disfrutando las maravillas de Brasil. No te lo pierdas!

Excelent option Excelent options for people looking for new destinations

You feel at home Robert is one of the best business people to know in Brazil and when it comes to traveling he know everyone and will make you feel not only at home but will give you an extraordinary experience.

Recomendo, ao planejar sua pr

ITS (Robert) is very prepared and has a knowledge of Brazil's best places and secret spots. I strongly recommend the professional services provided by its team. I have used it a coupple of times and I am very happy to have chosen them.

Robert and his team are top-notch professionals and know how to deliver high quality for the best value!

Robert is one of the best business people to know in Brazil and when it comes to traveling he know everyone and will make you feel not only at home but will give you an extraordinary experience.

Amazing service Amazing team, amazing service in a country that sometimes over charges for bad service. Highly recommended Robert and his team.

This travel agency is really great... going to Brazil ? Ask ITS to help you and have a wonderful experience !!!

This travel agency is really great. going to Brazil ? Ask ITS to help you and have a wonderful experience !!!

Top-notch professionals Robert and his team are top-notch professionals and know how to deliver high quality for the best value!

Only way to plan your trip to Brazil. Knowledgeable staff, creative planning, frankly, it is the only way to plan your trip to Brazil.

I highly recommend I had some friends from Greece planning a trip to Brazil and had them contact Robert to help them with their plans. They had an awesome time traveling the country thanks to Robert's recommendations. If you are planning a trip to Brazil I would highly recommend to contact Robert and his team.

This was my second trip with the help of the great team from DiscoverBrazil. The first time was a extended tour of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Bolivia. This was an eight day trip to enjoy the sights and sounds of Rio and Foz do Iguaçu. My wife had never been to Brazil before and was a little anxious. She was just as thrilled as me by how smoothly the trip went. Thank you ITS for the great job and wonderful memories!

I wouldn't use any other company I have to tell you, if you are considering a trip to Brazil, Robert Phillips and the team at ITS is who you need to contact. They are very knowledgeable and will create a perfect itinerary for your family or group. They are very friendly and willing to accommodate specific needs. They think of everything so you can relax and enjoy the most memorable trip of your life. I wouldn't use any other company.

Very impressed by their services I was referred by a friend for this company, as I am currently planning my next trip to Brazil. ITS has been extremely punctual very professional.I am very impressed by their services and looking forward to thanking the staff in person!

Thrilled how smoothly the trip went This was my second trip with the help of the great team from DiscoverBrazil. The first time was a extended tour of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Bolivia. This was an eight day trip to enjoy the sights and sounds of Rio and Foz do Iguassu. My wife had never been to Brazil before and was a little anxious. She was just as thrilled as me by how smoothly the trip went. Thank you ITS for the great job and wonderful memories!

I was referred by a friend for this company, as I am currently planning my next trip to Brazil.ITS has been extremely punctual very professional.I am very impressed by their services and looking forward to thanking the staff in person!

ITS offers everything they claim and more. Some of the best trips I've experienced have been put together by Mr. Phillips and his team of professionals, who are dedicated to the client experience and provide great value and a unique knowledge base all in one.

I had a superb trip to Brazil - Salvador and Iguassu Falls I had a superb trip to Brasil !! It was made all the better thanks to the terrific scheduling and planning efforts by Intelligent Travel Solutions. Well thought out itinerary, including to two spectacular locations: Salvador and Iguassu Falls. It was a real treat - can't thank the team there enough. Brilliant !!

Highly recommended Highly recommended. Knowledgeable and experienced, connections with excellent providers. Added tremendous value.

Staff at ITS really know their craft Intuitive and insightful travel planning for the discerning globe trotter. The staff at ITS really know their craft, creating trips that inspire well beyond the tour return date.

Extremely well run company that has the customer top of mind!!! Cannot recommend them enough.

Well run from start to finish. From initial contact with ITS to my return home all aspects of the trip came together. Nice job ITS!

Cannot recommend them enough Extremely well run company that has the customer top of mind!!! Cannot recommend them enough.

Intuitive and insightful travel planning for the discerning globe trotter. The staff at ITS really know their craft, creating trips that inspire well beyond the tour return date.

Thank you for a wonderful trip to Brazil, Peru and Argentina Thank you for a wonderful trip. DiscoverBrazil helped us set up a trip to Brazil, Peru and Argentina. Every detail was very well planned out. Recommend highly.

I highly recommend ITS was the only travel service provider to cater to my needs. They offered me smart driven customized solutions. I highly recommend you contact ITS when planning your next trip.

We would use them again for our next tri.We have used Intelligent solutions for several trips and have been so impressed with the attention to detail. We would use them again for our next trip. Great experience

Tailor made packages.As the name suggests, ITS is a smart answer to you travel plans! Tailor made packages with specialists that have been there and done that - I recommend around the world!

Tons of great options.Knowledgeable staff and tons of great options to chose from!!

Our student trip to Brazil was fantastic We used Intelligent Travel Solutions for our first 5th grade Spring Break educational and cultural trip to Salvador, Bahia. We brought 14 children and 5 chaperones from Miami and the trip was fantastic. All the little details and the third party services like transportation, guide, etc. were of a very high quality. Highly recommend ITS.

There is no better way to discover Brazil .ITS stands exactly for what they deliver to you: intelligent travel solutions. There is no better way to discover Brazil than through this company. They offer memorable trips in an amazing context. Highly recommendable 🙂

I am already looking forward to my next trip.Excellent service. My trip was so well planned and everything worked smoothly from beginning to end. My consultant was friendly and knowledgeable as well as flexible to make changes to my package according to my specific needs. He suggested a few very interesting tours and gave very useful INSIDE information that made my trip much more enjoyable and meant I saved time. I am already looking forward to my next trip.

As the name suggests, ITS is a smart answer to you travel plans! Tailor made packages with specialists that have been there and done that - I recommend around the world!

ITS was the only travel service provider to cater to my needs. They offered me smart driven customized solutions. I highly recommend you contact ITS when planning your next trip.

We have used Intelligent solutions for several trips and have been so impressed with the attention to detail. We would use them again for our next trip. Great experience

ITS stands exactly for what they deliver to you: intelligent travel solutions. There is no better way to discover Brazil than through this company. They offer memorable trips in an amazing context. Highly recommendable 🙂

ITS knows Brazil. They plan and execute according to what is in the traveller's best interest keeping in mind that overseas things don't follow the same rules as "back home".

Excellent service. My trip was so well planned and everything worked smoothly from beginning to end. My consultant was friendly and knowledgeable as well as flexible to make changes to my package according to my specific needs. He suggested a few very interesting tours and gave very useful INSIDE information that made my trip much more enjoyable and meant I saved time. I am already looking forward to my next trip.

They know BrazilITS knows Brazil. They plan and execute according to what is in the traveller's best interest keeping in mind that overseas things don't follow the same rules as "back home".

I trust and recommend ITS! They offer a large variety of trips packages, with quality and adaptable to our needs. They take care of every detail. The only doubt is which next destination to chose!

Best adventures imaginable.If you don't use ITS then you are missing out on the best adventures imaginable.

I recommend.I like this company. And recommend.:)

Wonderful service and attention to detail HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Wonderful service and attention to detail.

Profesionales, serios y con grandes propuestas!

Exceptional serviceGuaranteed fun and excepcional service! Imaginative and detailed and Taylor made programs! You won't regret! ITS is quality and consistency.

These folks know BrazilThese folks know Brazil. Every detail was just as described, trip was flawless, weather was great

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Wonderful service and attention to detail.

Exceptional serviceGuaranteed fun and excepcional service! Imaginative and detailed and Taylor made programs! You won't regret! ITS is quality and consistency.

These folks know Brazil. Every detail was just as described, trip was flawless, weather was great

An excellent and highly efficient company to which I would gladly give more stars if I could!

Had the best time ever in Brazil thanks to Robert!

If you don't use ITS then you are missing out on the best adventures imaginable.

Great service, good prices.They have been our corporate solution for a year. Great service, good prices.

Quality service! You can relax and enjoy with confidence, knowing they have every detail covered.

I trust and recommend ITS! They offer a large variety of trips packages, with quality and adaptable to our needs. They take care of every detail. The only doubt is which next destiny chose!

I would gladly give more stars if I could.An excellent and highly efficient company to which I would gladly give more stars if I could!

Best time ever in Brazil Had the best time ever in Brazil thanks to Robert!

Brazil was amazing and I had a great timeHi Casey, I just wanted to say thank you for everything, Brazil was amazing and I had a great time! The cruise was lovely and everything was organised so well so thank you very much. I'm sorry it wasn't so easy with me being out of contact for a lot of the summer so thank you for being patient.

Some of the best trips I've experienced ITS offers everything they claim and more. Some of the best trips I've experienced have been put together by Mr. Phillips and his team of professionals, who are dedicated to the client experience and provide great value and a unique knowledge base all in one.

Thank you for planning our wonderful itinerary to Iguassu, Pantanal, Amazon, Rio and John of God.Boa tarde Casey, This is Parul who was traveling with Smita's group. Hope you are doing well in Boston. Just wanted to get back with you & thank you for planning our wonderful itinerary. We had an awesome time, enjoyed good weather majority of the time and truly enjoyed the culture, food, fauna, flora as well as the Brazilian hospitality. Everything went well and as planned......we were received by drivers at the airports on time and guides were very friendly and helpful. Internal flights operated without delays, offered good services and there was no delay or loss of baggage. There were plenty of vegetarian options at all the hotels/lodges. Iguazu, Pantanal, Amazon and Rio were the highlights for me. My dad had no problems keeping up with the rest of us. I also wanted to inform you that you chose some wonderful guides -Gundi & Klaus Heinemann at the John of God casa. Just wish we had more time.....atleast another day or two there. Overall, it was a hectic trip but I have no complaints. I truly loved every bit of it. Our retreat in Salvador also went amazingly well. I am unsure if Robert was able to make it there. Don't be surprised if a few of my family & friends contact you to plan their trip. Take good care, don't be too second homesick, enjoy your 4th & again, thanks for a very memorable trip. Obrigada, Parul Desai

We had a wonderful time in Brazil - Pantanal, Amazon, Iguassu Falls and John of GodHi Casey, we had wonderful time traveling thru Brazil. Thank u for putting together our travel plan. We saw Jaguar and many birds during river Safari in Pantanal. Amazon Eco lodge gave some insight into amazon jungle. Iguasu fall was spectacular. John of God was an interesting experience. Thank u.

Intelligent Travel Solutions (ITS) is the very best travel company specialized in Brazil. We love their services. Such friendly, helpful and competent people! Their fantastic connections and knowledge about Brazil makes everything still more special: tips on where to go, where to eat, where to stay, all perfect. Recommend with joy and enthusiasm.

Over the years, Robert has successfully handled various groups of friends who come to visit Brazil, arranging travel, hotels and logistics with the insider knowledge of where to go whether you are looking for a fishing expedition in the amazon jungle, participating in the carnaval parades in rio de janeiro, going photographic safari in the pantanal marshlands, scubadiving in the remote atlantic island of fernando de noronha or surfing and hanging out in the southern paradise of florianopolis.but then again, i might be biased, because i have known robert for 4 decades running, vouch for his sterling character and enjoy his easygoing mix of oldtime deep south manners with brazilian bahia relaxation. the most admirable is that he can be this way without ever missing a step or deadline.seriously recommend ITS.

Recomendo

Every detail of my vacation was flawless! Fabrice picked the best hotels for our family and this was a dream vacation. From the falls in Iguassu, to the white beaches in Rio, to the vibrancy that is Salvador, to the pink dolphins in the Amazon; every segment was an adventure! I will definitely use them again for any South American Vacation!

The entire Iguassu trip was fantastic. Everything worked very well with the tour guide. They were on-time and answered all our questions. The bird park was good, but due to the weather we didn't enjoy as much. Cordiality 5, Efficiency 5, Creativity 5, Package Presentaion 5, Communication 5, Customer Service 5

By far the best experience I have ever had with a travel agent. I can't say enough good things. By far the best experience I have ever had with a travel agent. He immediately got what we wanted from the holiday, was very helpful with suggestions, extremely responsive and I very much appreciated the on-going contact after booking. Fantastic level of customer service - many thanks!! Cordiality 5, Efficiency 5, Creativity 5, Package Presentaion 5, Communication 5, Customer Service 5

Fantastic and ExcellentThe guide that did our airport transfer was fantastic, excellent knowledge, very helpful. Would recommend to anyone! Truly knowledgeable about the area and made our trip stress free the entire time we were there. Cordiality 5, Efficiency 5, Creativity 4, Package Presentaion 3, Communication 5, Customer Service 5

Great Custumer Service and Efficiency.Cordiality 5, Efficiency 5, Creativity 5, Package Presentaion 5, Communication 5, Customer Service 5

Rio, Buzios, Amazon and Iguassu Reliable Service.ITS's service is reliable and I feel likely to choose ILS. When I met the problem I'm very confident my consultant will help me through. I will visit Brazil again and hope to receive your service again.

Great Custumer Service and Efficiency.Cordiality 5, Efficiency 5, Creativity 5, Package Presentaion 5, Communication 5, Customer Service 5

Voce é um anjo e minha agente perfeita.Helen, Acabei de chegar e deu tudo certo. O Hotel que voce reservou - excelente e super bem localizado, nao podia estar melhor situada. Obrigada mesmo, vc e um anjo e minha agente perfeita. Mal cheguei e ja preciso comecar a organizar minha proxima viajem. (...) Debora

We had a very good trip to Panama and Costa Rica.All, We had a very good trip to Panama and Costa Rica and we appreciate the customer service we received along the way. With that being said I wanted to point some things that did not go very smoothly. 1. The driver was an hour late to pick us up at the Panama City airport. 2. Las Huacas did not immediately have our reservation and put us into a room with 2 single beds. 3. Playa Tortuga would not pay for our transfer to Tropical Suites even though it was included in our package. 4. The boat never came to pick us up in Bocas for our transfer to Costa Rica. After many phone calls and the associated expense with those phone calls, plans were made to get us to our destination. We do appreciate the effort! 5. Mawamba Lodge put us into a room with 3 single beds. While some of these are items are minor and were easily corrected, they are still inconveniences. I specifically asked for either queen or king beds and for additional information other than what was provided on the confirmation voucher. I hope that given the above issues I will be reimbursed for phone calls made to fix these problems. Thanks, Eric Grzybowski

Hi, Kalu, We had a terrific time, and your work on this was superb. You got us where we wanted to go, doing what we wanted to do and with the help from the guides and transportation arrangements that made it all possible. Best wishes, Kevin

Hi, Kalu, We had a terrific time, and your work on this was superb. You got us where we wanted to go, doing what we wanted to do and with the help from the guides and transportation arrangements that made it all possible. Best wishes, Kevin

I highly recommended your services Hi Kalu, Just a note to thank you so very much for arranging such a wonderful trip to Brazil for me and Christine. We had an amazing time and were so grateful for how well coordinated all of our plans turned out. The tour guides in both Salvador and Rio were excellent and all of the travel in between locations went so smoothly. The lodgings were great..... we especially loved the Pousada Porta da Lua and the Ipanema Plaza. And in general, we loved Brazil and hope to return some day. In the meantime, I may connect another friend to you who is considering a honeymoon in Brazil sometime in the next year or so. I highly recommended your services, so when she's ready, I'll make an introduction. Again, many thanks for everything. It was a truly fabulous vacation. - Wendy

Thank you for an amazing trip to Rio, Paraty and Iguassu Falls. Patricia, Thomas and I just wanted to say thank you for an amazing trip. Everything went so smoothly, and we are so grateful! Our tours were perfect and the hotels were just as we requested. Everyone was on time and so helpful. Christian in Iguazu was absolutely amazing as a host and guide. We added horseback riding into our time in Paraty and Thomas proposed : ) Thanks again, Christine and Thomas

Tudo foi maravilhos.Querida Helen, Desculpe eu nao ter te escrito antes, mas voltei na correria do trabalho. Quero te agradecer muuuuuuuuuuuuito, foi tudo maravilhoso e voce nos ajudou muito. Condor - Excelente companhia aerea, pontual, aeronave nova e espacosa, servico de bordo otimo. Viagens de Trem - otimas. Me confundi apenas porque nao sabia que tinha cadeira marcada e no primeiro trem acabei sentando na 1a classe, mas depois se resolveu. Trem noturno - Otimo! A cabine eram para 6 pessoas e gracas a Deus ficamos com pessoas otimas e foi uma boa oportunidade de conversar. Hoteis - Gostei de todos, bem localizados, limpos e com bom atendimento. Sem queixas. O Cafe da manha do hotel de Berlim era otimo, e de frankfurt nao consegui tomar por causa do horario. Tours - Fiz o Onibus em Berlim e gostei, em Munique preferi fazer o Bike Tour que por 10euros inclui e bicicleta e um passei de 4 horas com guia americano otimo!! Em Nuremberg fiz o walktour indicado por voce e foi otimo tb, pena que o horario ficou apertado ja que no dia estava tendo um festival da cerveja e queria ter aproveitado mais. isso... nao tenho do que reclamar, so elogiar e agradecer pois foi tudo otimo! Nao mudaria nada!! Tenha certeza que indicarei voces a quem me perguntar e que nas proximas viagens entrarei em contato. Falando nisso, voce tem algum pacote com excursao para 3a idade? Queremos presentear minha vo de 78 anos e sua irma de 75 com uma viagem para Italia com Vaticano e Portugal com Fatima. Elas sao bem catolicas e o foco seria esse. Mas, era importante uma excursao com guia em portugues e voltado para 3a idade pois o cuidado e a atencao devem ser especiais. Seria interessante que fosse no verao ou primavera para elas nao sofrerem com a temperatura. Pode ser esse ano ou no proximo, mas queremos aproveitar enquanto ela esta com saude para presentea-la. Abs Mayara

The trip to Rio, Amazon and Iguassu Falls was amazing "Hi Giselle! Sorry took so long to respond back, work took over as soon as I got back from vacation! haha The trip was amazing! Each place has its own special beauty and we loved it! The only issue was that it was a bit HECTIC with all the early flights and the only thing I was not too happy about was that we only had one day at Iguassu Falls we wanted one more! or at least a later flight. however, I want to thank you for helping us book everything. All the tour guides we had were really good and knowledgeable. I will recommend your agency to my friends and family who plan to come to South America. From day one, our TAM Airlines was really good, they had very good service!! Also I want to thank you for letting everyone know that we were vegetarian. Food was great everywhere! even on the plane! The Amazon was amazing! The forest is breath taking and experiencing it from both the Clipper and the Lodge was a great experience. However next time I would prefer staying only 2 nights on the cruise and at least 2 full days, 3 nights at the lodge. We were only at the lodge for one full day and it was not enough to enjoy the lodge. Food and Accomodations were great. I would also like to mention that the food on the Clipper was really good! A real life jungle experience on the Clipper. All the activities were planned out really well Iguassu was the only place where we did not have time to see everything. We had to miss the bird park because we only had one full day there. Unfortunately we couldnt enjoy the hotel at all because of our early morning arrival, whole day out, and early morning departure. But besides that the Recanto Show and the Falls were BEAUTIFUL and we enjoyed the rafting and macuco boat ride a lot! Rio was great. Had a lot of free time to venture the city and people watch. The tour was really good. Corcovados is beautiful I couldve spent the whole day just staring at the statue, and Lunch at the vegetarian restaurant was really good. A great ending to our Vacation. I shall send you pictures as soon as I put them up

Brazil trip was excellent.Hello Mrs. Kalu, I just want to thank you for for all the help you did for me. Brazil trip was excellant. I enjoyed it. God bless you Joel

Wonderful trip to Rio, Pantanal, Iguassu Falls and the Amazon Patricia, It has taken some time, but I am finally sending to you feedback on the trip to Brazil that you organized for me and my partner, Luc. In addition to my sincerest complements to you on a job well done, I thought I would let you know some of the things that were unexpected for us that you should know about for future customers. First of all, the positive feedback. Luc and I could go on and on about how well organized the trip was. Indeed, I don't think I have ever had a trip that so COMPLETELY went according to plan. (1) Everything was on time, all the time. The flights, the guides, the taxi pick-upsÉeverything. This increases the enjoyment and reduces the stress of such a trip enormously. (2) The paperwork you sent me useful and complete. Very helpful. (3) The guides were great. Their level of English was excellent, they were friendly, knowledgeable and punctual. (4)Everyone in the entire country was friendly, even when they didn't speak English well. Brazilians must be among the friendliest people on earth.(5) The wildlife in the Pantanal was varied and plentiful, just as promised. Wonderful! (6) Indeed, all four sites on our itinerary were wonderful: Rio, Pantanal, Iguacu, Amazonas. (7) You told us that you booked a hotel in gay district in Ipanema and, indeed, you did. Right in the middle of it. Other travel agencies often overpromise such arrangements, such that you are disappointed when you arrive to find out the truth. (8) Your personal service to us during the preparations for the trip were thorough, timely and friendly. You went out of your way to ensure that my payments were on time, our paperwork in order and, importantly, that we were informed to changes in flights within Brazil. I hope you won't mind if I also share feedback for you on some things that you might want to know for future customers. This will require some changes to the descriptions you provide to customers. (1) There is no longer any swimming allowed with dolphins at Anavilhanas lodge. We were allowed to feed hem still - a wonderful experience, but it was a disappointment to find out that swimming with them is no longer possible. (2) There is no evening lecture at Anavilhanas lodge. This was also a disappointment, but in actuality, the days are busy enough that the free evenings were welcome. (3) The staff at San Francisco speak English poorly. They were still friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed our stay their thoroughly. Nevertheless, for some of your customers, this could be an issue, so you should know this in the future. (4) Despite all the preparations for the trip, I did not realize that you had arranged guides for us both in Rio and Iguacu. I knew that you had arranged taxis to and from the airports for us, but I did not realize that you had also arranged personal guides for us while we were there. My understanding (it is possible that it was my misunderstanding) was that we would arrange the visits to local sites at our hotel. This was a pleasant and welcome surprise, but a surprise nonetheless. I suggest really emphasizing this point with future customers. (5) I would recommend providing your customers clear guidance on how to tip the guides: should they tip? and, if so, how much? Americans, much more than Europeans, are accustomed to tipping - and enjoy doing so for good services from their guides. Indeed, tipping is so ingrained to Americans, that they are really uncomfortable if they don't know exactly how much to tip. And in Brazil, they don't have a sense on their own of what is appropriate to do (especially how much). You could help greatly by providing guidance to them. (6) For those customers going to see wildlife, I recommend that you remind them one last time just before the leave for Brazil - don't forget to bring binoculars! If you would like feedback on other parts of the trip - hotels, guides, etc - we would be happy to give it to you. Lastly, Luc and I want to thank you for all your help, and for ensuring that our trip to Brazil was safe, orderly and, best of all, memorable. Rich

Outstanding service for Brazil vacation packages Dear Luciana, My partner and I recently took a trip to Brazil using the services of your agency and, in particular, your agent, Patricia Diniz. I have sent her extensive feedback on the trip, itself, both what went well (which was everything) and other feedback you might want to know for future customers. With this email, I want also to take an extra minute to recognize Patricia's outstanding service to us. The trip she arranged for us went flawlessly - something that my partner and I have never experienced before. This was due in large part to Patricia. She was knowledgeable, accessible, responsive, friendly and, best of all, proactive with us in ensuring that we had everything in order before getting on the plane to Rio. The best example of this was her informing us of late changes to our domestic flights within Brazil, which, had we not been informed, would have led to much chaos and frustration during our visit. Yet this did NOT happen - thanks to Patricia. I thought that you would want to know of Patricia's thoughtfulness and thoroughness with your customers. Hers was a job well done, indeed. Regards, Richard Melsheimer

Amazing Honeymoon trip to Brazil.Kalu, Jackie and I would like to thank you for the amazing trip to Brazil you helped us put together. Our honeymoon was everything we wanted and more. Every detail and accommodation was well organized and we sincerely appreciate the job you did. The guides were excellent, safe, spoke good english, informative and fun to be with. The hotels were great, in particular Insolito. I would strongly recommend using them for future packages. Insolito's service and facilities were top notch! This trip only made us more interested in South America and we look forward to working with you in the future. Thanks again, Eric Grzybowski

Overall a fabulous vacation to Iguassu Falls, Rio, Salvador and Praia del ForteHi Kalu: Last 2.5 days at the spectacular Praia del Forte resort were just perfect; we relaxed, ate wonderful food, and just enjoyed the resort. Overall a fabulous vacation. I was very impressed with Sergio our last driver who did me a very special favor--I had left my backpack in the lobby on Saturday at the Hotel---and did not discover it until we got to Praia del Forte--I was completely panic-stricken as my camera with all of my pictures, my mask for my CPAP breathing machine, and all of my diabetic medication were in the backback along with some other things. In any case, the hotel found my backpack and Sergio made a special trip to the hotel and then brought it to the Salvador airport the next day so it was returned to me on Sunday--at no charge; we left him an extra tip but there is no way I can express my undying gratitude to him for this favor. Now I have a favor--Hector, our very wonderful guide, gave us a great tour of the old town--in Salvador on Thursday; in the old town we bought two medium sized Bilbao instruments, but since they could not fit into our bags we had them air-wrapped, pressurized at the Salvador airport on Tuesday; they were always the last to come off the planes, but when we opened them--the flimsy, coconut-colored balls that attach to the instruments were both broken. Ironically, we spent 10 reals on the instruments and $15 U.S. to have them wrapped, but now we need to get two "cocanut colored balls" to be sent to us for the instruments--more like souvenirs--to look authentic. Hector knows where we bought them in the old town. If you could purchase 2 of these cocanut balls and send them to us--slow, snail mail--is fine, we will be happy to pay you for whatever it costs, as long as it is not unreasonable, since we went to a lot of trouble to insure we could bring them home with us. Let me know if this is a favor that you can do for us. We loved our trip; I did give you some feedback along the way. Our favorite experiences were in Buzias, Iguacu, and in Praia del Forte, although we also enjoyed some of Rio; learning a bit of Portuguese--several hundred words to get around--was very, very helpful and the guides in Iguacu, Rio, and Praia del Forte all helped with my learning enough Portuguese to be functional. All the best, Michael

We had a fantastic time in Brazil Hey Kalu,We had a fantastic time in Brazil! We were not quite sure what to expect from ILS but it was pleasantly supprising. I would be happy to give some feedback. All of our guides were very nice and knowledgable, and the fact that we had private tours in Salvador and Rio was very nice too. Salvador was nice because it felt like it had a lot of old culture and the churches were very impressive. The Rio tour was my favorite though because of the Sugar Loaf mountain and Christ Statue, both of which were very cool. All the activities in Manaus were excellent and varied too (we had very busy days in Manaus which kept us occupied almost all of the time) and the extra 100 Reas tour we took in a speed boat of the amazon river was totally worth it. I would reccomed adding it to the package because we got to see the other side of the river including the giant water lillies, a big anaconda, a bunch of birds (which other people were very interested in but personally im not super into birds), the floating houses, the sunken forest (I think thats what he called it) and I got to hold a sloth haha. This extra tour was an addition to the trip to the rubber making place where we had lunch. On the way there we took the big boat and saw the meeting of the waters (pretty awesome), but the way back would not have been as interesting especially since it was rather long (over an hour I think). So we opted to take the speed boat tour on the way back and got to see a lot more cool stuff in the same time span. For the hotels, the Manaus one (Ecopark Lodge?) was very cute and comfy, the people were nice, the food was good and the atmosphere was great! The Salvador hotel (Golden Tulip) was probably our favorite though, the room was great and the view was amazing! The restaurant was also very good in terms of convenience, price and quality (we ate a few meals there). The Rio hotel (Oceano Copacabana) was our least favorite but that might be because it was the one you bumped down to a 3 star. I remember you doing that to lower the cost for us but I don't recall which of the hotels it was. We ended up getting a smoking room where the view was of another building behind us. There was also no restaurant so we had to go further to get a couple meals. The one good thing about it was the location, it was very close to the beach in Copacabana which was good because we got to spend time on the beach and even walked along it from Copacabana into Ipanema to look at the stores there. Overall though, it was okay because I did ask you to try and lower the price of the trip for us and we spent the least time in that Hotel anyways. I feel that the choice of the three cities was well thought out and gave a good representation of Brazil. The only change I would have prefered would have been to make the Salvador part a day shorter and make the Rio part a day longer (I felt like there was much more to do in Rio). The entire trip was great and we enjoyed it very much. We would definitely use ITS again to plan a trip or reccomend it to others. You have been very helpfull the entire way through and I will be sure to keep your email for the future. I will talk to Kelsey about the pictures and testimonial and I'll get back to you. Thanks! Stahs

Thank you very very much Dear Kalu, Catherine and I wanted to thank you very very much for your very professional, flexible, and especially kind help for the planning of our trip, and during the trip. Fernando de Noronha was just amazing, the pousada was excellent, and we had just a beautiful time there! And luckily Catherine said yes when I popped the big question, so we will get married and Fernando de Noronha (and you!) will always have a very special place in our heart! Rio was super fun, and we are already plotting how we can move there in a couple of years ; -) We are in Mexico City now, for a wedding, and will then make our way back home! Thanks again! Catherine and Thomas

Buzios was great.Our night at casa brancas was great. please know that everything went as planned, and the accommodations were as expected. views were great, vibe was pleasant, relaxing was easy. i really don't have any comments that would change any of that, but if i was to really really nitpick, i guess there are a couple of very very small things that i noticed. but again, i assert that the entire process went off very well. you in particular were very patient and helpful throughout the entire process... not to mention courteous and professional. i thank you very much for that! i only mention these things because you asked for input... the check in took a very long time. again though, i recognize that this was because the verification of identity was an important part of the process. i would say it took perhaps an hour to check in with nothing to do but wait. the woman who appeared to be the general manager was a bit "serious" and not very welcoming. luckily, the one who appeared to be the assistant manager was quite warm and helpful! additionally, there was the small problem of checking out by noon when we did not get a shuttle until 430. heading back to the states with a 3 hour drive and then 15 hours of additional travel time, it would have been nice to have been afforded the opportunity to clean up and shower before heading back to rio. in future instances, perhaps a deal could be struck with the hotel/pousada where there would be leeway if a shuttle and/or flight left later in the day. i know we discussed this (noon checkout time) before travel, but it was a bit of an inconvenience when the time came. again though... these are SMALL SMALL problems relative to what was a great experience overall. i share them only because the question was posed to me... on the plus side, casa brancas in buzios was an outstanding property that i will always remember visiting. a unique and beautiful building with great views of the buzios landscape and oceanfront marina area. i loved watching the sunset and sipping cerveja! yummy good! thanks again kalu for being so professional and patient and helpful. you did a great job! in future travels, i will happily seek out the discover travel group as you made the process as easy as i would allow with my wealth of questions and concerns and altering of itinerary. i wish you the very best! thanks again for everything. all the best. kevin lange

Great Buenos Aires Trip.Hi Patricia Here is a video version of our tour around Buenos Aires last week. Thanks for your help. I expect to have a video of our Iguacu visit later today. Regards Paul

I had a great time.Kalu, I had a great time! Thanks for setting it up! Comments and suggestions? Not too many as I thought everything went well. The hotels were all great (especially the Art Hotel in B.A.), except for the brief nights I stayed at in the Days Brava hotel in Punte del Este and got bitten by armies of mosquitoes because they kept leaving the windows open for cleaning when I was out and they came swarming in. I must have killed at least two dozen of them one night alone. Other than that, it was a decent place. The tours were all great, especially the morning bus tour in B.A. and the mountain climbing and horseback riding tours in Bariloche. The tour guides were very friendly and informative and gave great suggestions for places to travel while I was in town. I recommend the following for first-times to Buenos Aires: 1. Get a bus tour -- see La Boca neighborhood/El Caminito, San Telmo, downtown, etc. 2. Eat a good steak meal and try the ice cream 3. Check out the Ricoletta Cemetary where the Eva Peron plot is. 4. Go to the Latin American Museum 5. Catch a good Tango show 6. See the Saturday arts & crafts fair in Palermo Viejo. 7. Try and catch a soccer game (I missed it because I had to transfer out on Sunday) I drank mostly bottled water but sometimes had the tap water and it was fine; I did not get sick or anything. I felt very safe out at night on the town, even after midnight. Solid police presence. The people were friendly and helpful, especially since my Spanish is maybe 30% proficient. Remember there is Italian peppered into the Spanish words there. I will send a few pictures of both my Brazil and Argentina trips. It may take a while because I took over a thousand photos on each trip. Lots to see! Thanks again, Kalu and I hope to be able to see Peru next year, if possible! Jeremy

We had a wonderful and unforgettable experienceDear Kalu - Thank you so much for your time and coordinating this trip! We had a wonderful and unforgettable experience! We absolutely loved each region we were able to see in Brazil and all of the sites, activities and tours were just incredible! Also, all of the staff at each hotel as well as the tour guides were extremely kind and helpful! The only things we would have changed would have been:1. When we arrived in Manaus we had to wait about 3 hours for our guide to pick us up. We knew about this before arriving and definitely understand that sometimes there are these delays due to scheduling conflicts but after a long day of traveling we would have definitely appreciated being able to get to the resort asap! 2. We would have preferred a hotel in Salvador closer to a beach. Although we were on the water and had a gorgeous view, we had to take a taxi to the beach and would have preferred being within walking distance. Thanks again for everything! Sean and Gina

We loved our Brazil experience.Hi Helen Both Barbara and I loved our experience at the Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge. The accommodations were lovely, comfortable and perfectly rustic for the jungle. The food was fresh, local and delicious. The people that worked there were wonderful. We especially enjoyed our guides. They were knowledgeable and very attentive to our safety and interests. We would go again and stay another couple of days as we missed a couple of jungle hikes that sounded like fun. The weather was certainly hot but after all, we were close to the equator and in the jungle!!! Surprisingly there were very few bugs. We loved it! Luxury accommodations in the middle of the jungle and with TV and internet. We laughed about being on the cruise. It was a long 2 weeks. The port visits were way too short. The tours good but limited because of the time. The food was ok but followed international themes....like French, American Country, Italian...along with accompanying music. We were disappointed that we didn't have Brazilian food and music. And in the Carribean, the music and food of that area. We will leave the cruising to Phil and Jerry and I am sure that they will leave the jungle lodge to us. Perhaps it's advisable to let people know that they should be in relatively good shape and have an adventurous open mind to visit the jungle lodge. They were about 6 people there that simply shouldn't have been there but should have stayed in a luxury hotel in Manuas where they could sit in a/c and eat american food. Thanks for your great recommendation! Mary Anne and Barbara

We had a lovely time in Brazil.Hi kalu, we had a lovely time in brasil and thank you for the last minute reservations and your patience with us through the whole process. Kind regards, lisa and john fay

We had a lovely time in Brazil .Hi kalu, we had a lovely time in brasil and thank you for the last minute reservations and your patience with us through the whole process. Kind regards, lisa and john fay

We had a great time overall.Hi Kalu, We had a great time overall. You were extremely helpful and prompt with your answers. I gave your no. to one of the guests at the hotel and would do so in the future as well. We appreciated how promptly you switched the date of the Tango show for us. The private tour guide in Brazil was very good. The hotel in Rio was ok. the transfers in brazil were all good except the day we had to leave Buzzios when the driver came late and we could not communicate with him due to a language barrier. The hotel room in Buzzios had issues with the toilet etc. but the staff were very accomodating and made changes.Buzzios is beautiful and if I had known about ocean view rooms I would have certainly requested it even if we had to pay extra. The hotel in Iguazu was excellent, the best out of all the hotels that we stayed in. the tour guide there was also very good. Overall the tours and other arrangements in Brazil were very good. We did not feel the same way in Buenes Aires.We felt a little lost there in the beginning but were ok later on.The show was good and the tour was ok and transfers were on time.I had left a message for the travel agent in Buenes Aires the day we arrived but did not hear back from her. I enjoyed doing bussiness with you and would recommend you to others anytime. I will try to send you some pictures as soon as I can figure out how to do it. Thanks , Rekha

Fabulous hotel staff in Praia de Fort.I wholeheartedly echo Jill's description and Gail's point about the fabulous hotel staff at the Praia de Fort hotel. They were the best I encountered on the trip. So gracious and helpful! The only other comment, and this is a footnote, is that the Salvador Hotel had a lot of flies in the lobby/restaurant area. There were no flies really in the town itself. It was odd. You should be congratulated Patricia on creating a life affirming and indeed life changing trip for me and the Crew. And Jill, thank YOU for having a birthday and for including me. Now, when are we going back? Joan

Trip was fabulousHello Patricia - Jill's assessment is thorough and accurate. The only thing I would emphasize is that the staff at our hotel in Praia de Forte was one of the most gracious I have ever encountered. They were severely ill-served by the poor leadership of the owner. They deserve better since their dedication and commitment to delivering a positive experience to hotel guests could really make the establishment a great one. Unfortunately ignorance on the part of the owner will hamper his team from reaping the rewards they deserve. Please know that the trip was in fact fabulous, and that the experience with the surly hotelier was merely one bad moment in what was otherwise a wonderful vacation. You really did a great job making this a most wonderful experience. Best, Gail

How much we enjoyed our visit to BrazilI have to agree with Gail and Joan about Jill's accurate description of the trip and accommodation. The only other comment I have is (that got fixed quickly with your help), the hotel in Salvador checked us out a day early. If you were not around we would have been inconvenienced. Elias gave your information to friends who want to spend their honeymoon in Brazil based on the experience we had so that should be a testament on how much we enjoyed our visit to Brazil. Thank you!!!! Sophia Bereket

I had the birthday vacation of a lifetime.Hi Patricia, I urge everyone else to speak up, for myself I had the birthday vacation of a lifetime. The locations were each fabulous in different ways - glamorous and exciting in Rio, trendy shops and great beaches in Buzios, tranquility and beauty in Praia do Forte and history and culture in Salvador - not to mention the most breath-taking waterfalls I've ever seen in Iguassu. So overall the trip was wonderful and the itinerary inspired. We had great food everywhere we went (OK except for at the hotel in Iguassu, but after the culinary delights we experienced, that is of no consequence). In short, brava Patricia, you did an excellent job coordinating the trip. So that was the great news, now let's talk about some of the (few) problems we encountered. The hotels were a mixed bag. The one in Rio was perfectly located and the amenities were fine, but the staff was a little less helpful than I would have expected. For example, we were a party of 8 and so required 2 taxis wherever we went - but the hotel staff wouldn't flag down taxis for us. Also, we didn't have early check-in after an exhausting 15 hours or so of traveling for many of us - although I think that's something you should have arranged if possible. But then the second day, when 3 more or our party arrived and even though the hotel had assured us that they would have rooms when they got in early the next day - they suffered the same fate. In Buzios, the hotel was lovely, quaint and the staff marvelous - except for the flood that made Theo evacuate her room. That aside, the rooms were good, bartender was quite talented and the experience was lovely. Especially memorable was the boat trip we arranged through the hotel with Mauro which was the perfect blend of sightseeing, partying, eating and relaxing.The hotel in Praia do Forte was physically beautiful, and the staff was accommodating, friendly and very helpful. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the owner. You may remember that we had a suite in that hotel, and one night we had a party that lasted from around 8:30pm to around 9:30pm. The next day, the owner confronted one member of our group and said that he'd received a complaint from another guest about the party - that he claimed took place at 3am. I can assure you that by 3am we were all sleeping peacefully. Beside that, the owner stated that it was against hotel policy to have a party - involving fellow hotel guests - in a guest room big enough to sleep an army squadron. Given the fact that we were the only people of color at the hotel who weren't serving the guests, and the fact that certain other guests by their demeanor seemed to indicate that we were less than welcome, we strongly suspect that either the complaining guest lied or the owner did. Either way, you can inform that owner that several of us were considering using that site for large, mulit-day attorney convention spots for national organizations that would have occupied the entire hotel; and because of his actions and the attitudes of certain of his guests, that hotel is no longer under consideration - perhaps we'll consider one of his competitors.On to more pleasant subjects. The hotel in Salvador needed upkeep. While it was well-located, it had suffered from deferred maintenance. The staff was friendly and helpful, though. In Iguassu, the hotel was rather odd. We got the sense that it was where middle class people with kids were directed. Since that description fit none of us, it was not a particularly good choice. Plus the food was terrible. Our tour guides were wonderful --- especially Raquel in Rio. Fred in Salvador was very helpful as was the guy in Iguassu whose name escapes me. I personally had no problems with any of them and thought they were informative and their tours interesting. We did cut short some of the tours, because we prefer to decide for ourselves what we want to see (particularly in Rio and Salvador) and Raquel and Fred got right with that (Raquel sooner than Fred). I'll definitely be returning to your lovely country. And thank you again Patricia for all your hard work. It made this birthday the best so far!Jill

We absolutely loved our whole Brazil trip.Hi Patricia, Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. After we left Praia, we had two really fun and busy days in Buenos Aires before we went back to the US, and we have been catching up with all our mail, house, friends etc that we have missed during these last 6 months.But, we absolutely loved our whole Brazil trip. The whole family enjoyed every place, guide, hotel, excursion etc that you had arranged. The hotel in Rio was perfect, and having a huge suite, with a fantastic sweeping deck, and about as good views you could get for fireworks, people watching etc. . The upgrade was an excellent choice. It really enhanced the whole Rio experience.I will write you a longer email in a day or two, but we really liked the whole thing. Nothing went wrong. Weather, tours, flights, pickup/dropoff by the guides, etc all went well, and they were all great and very knowledgeable. I have already given your name and email to a few people up here in NW USA, but also a few down in Bs As. I told them we were very happy with all your services, from day one when we started looking, until the day we got back. We will be happy to write some testimonials, and maybe a picture or two. We are not sure what we liked the best, but Iguacu, Amazonas, and Rio had some excellent and/or exotic parts to them. Buzios and Praia were perfect beach towns and were nice to visit to catch some breath between all the events, tour and experiences that we had in the other three busier locations. Anyway, thanks again and I will write another email in a day or two. Thanks, Michael

I do not know just how much to say how wonderful our trip wasDear Kalu, I do not know just how much to say how wonderful our trip was - You did such a wonderful job with the hotels and the tours - everything worked out just great - the hotels you chose were all wonderful and great locations - will gladly send you a testimonial and photos as soon as I can get a day or so to catch up here at work. rose

It has been a wonderful experience.Dear Helen, It has been a wonderful experience to be at the Mutum Pantanal Eco-Lodge. Marco has been a fantastic guide and all has worked out splendidly. We've experienced wildlife walking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, laughing but above all enjoying. Thank you so much for organizing such a great trip! Dan Aronson

We did have an excellent visit.Dear Helen, We did have an excellent visit. Carlo was a very good guide - knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and full of good personality. There are a great many birds in the Pantanal and we saw lots of them. Our travel connections were without problem - even driving from the lodge to Cuiaba in a strong storm. The food is very good. We were all extremely happy we chose to go to the Pantanal and with all the arrangements. I would not hesitate to use you and ITS for future travel to Brazil and recommend you to others. Thank you for your efforts and attention to detail.

I will definitely contact you the next time we plan a trip to South America Dear Liz. I would like to personally thank you for your work with regard to the planning of our tip to Brazil. You managed to get everything planned at very short (2 weeks!) notice and were very patient with us along the way. We were very happy that you checked in with us at various points along the trip to make sure everything was okay. The quality and experience of all the guides was very high in Rio, Iguassu and Salvador and the connections, transport and all other aspects went without a hitch. I will definitely contact you the next time we plan a trip to South America!! Many Thanks, Richard, New York.

"I will definitely contact you the next time we plan a trip to South America Dear Liz. I would like to personally thank you for your work with regard to the planning of our tip to Brazil. You managed to get everything planned at very short (2 weeks!) notice and were very patient with us along the way. We were very happy that you checked in with us at various points along the trip to make sure everything was okay. The quality and experience of all the guides was very high in Rio, Iguassu and Salvador and the connections, transport and all other aspects went without a hitch. I will definitely contact you the next time we plan a trip to South America!! Many Thanks, Richard, New York."

I was very pleased with the trip Liz. I was very pleased with the trip. I think with hindsight we would should have reduced our time in Rio. 3 days was maybe too much for us. The guides in Iguacu and Salvador were excellent. The guide in Rio was also good but was not as passionate as the other two. Salvador was very interesting and I think the Guide there made a difference. Iguacu falls was very impressive and the highlight of the trip (for Aya!). In terms of the Eco Resort, the food was excellent, one comment was the number and variety of trips that were available were fairly basic. We hoped there would have been more going on, maybe it was because it was the low season, not sure. In terms of the trip planning and organization I was very pleased with your service. I think the trip had the right amount of guided tours and time we could spend exploring on our own. It was done at very short notice and apart from the weather in Rio (not your fault!) it went pretty much without a hitch. We would definitely contact you if we do any more traveling in South America. I will send a testimonial on your website as well. Thanks, -Richard P.S. A colleague of mine at work may have emailed you asking about enquiries (Charlie Mei). I recommended you, I am not sure what he is looking for though.

We loved Brazil. Dear Vanessa, We loved Brazil. It's an amazing country. Each area we visited was unique, very different from the other areas. We just got home yesterday, after spending 6 days in Ouro Preto. When we got home, the place Sally said she would really like to go back to was Iguassu. Overall, it was a great trip. We have NO complaints. The guides were excelllent. Each of the three spoke good English, were well informed, punctual, efficient, good companions, and very professional. They each had good suggestions for our free time, which was helpful.(It spoiled us for the not well organized tour we took in conection with our convention in Ouro Preto.) We have no complaints about the hotels. They were fine. But I will tell you what we felt were both the good and the bad points of each, so you will be able to inform your customers. Iguassu's Carina was a good location - we were able to hop a public bus for the Bird Park, and had beautiful grounds. It had seen better days, a little run down, but overall fine. The hotel in Salvador was lovely, beautiful ocean view, but a little isolated, no shops or stores in walking distance. We loved the Pousada in Praida do Forte - great location. The Martinique in Copacabana was a great location, clean and modern. But the room was very small with a window facing an air shaft. (The price you pay for such an expensive location.) The staff there was particularly attentive and friendly. Overall, Vanessa, you planned a great trip for us. We had a good time and appreciate all you did to made it work well for us. We're telling everyone they must go visit Brazil We were impressed with your country. Mueta Obrigada.Bettie Lu Lancaster

Iguassu Falls was incredible.Hello Carla, I would be very happy to give you feedback about our trip, and I appreciate you thinking of me. Attached is our favorite picture, taken at Iguacu Falls, on the Argentine side the second day. Left to right it's me (Janie), my mother Florence, my son AJ, and my husband Terry. The weather was gorgeous and the four of us had a fabulous time. All the planning worked out perfectly: Our guide, Arlette, was there to meet us at the airport, and we went with our driver to the hotel to check in and have some coffee. Then Arlette accompanied us for the walk on the Brazilian side, which originally we had left open. It was the right decision to have her with us, as she took very good care of all of us, but she especially looked after my 86 year old mom. Believe me, Mom was the oldest person we saw the whole time we were at the falls! She did great, is in wonderful health, and is always up for anything. But Arlette made sure everything was all right. For the Macuco Safari, Arlette put us on a vehicle where the guide spoke English, and then we said our goodbyes until the next morning. The Safari and boat ride were interesting and exciting - we were screaming with laughter! Our boat driver took us under the Three Musketeers Falls...7 times! Yes, we all got wet, but boy did we have fun. The next morning Arlette and our driver met us after breakfast, and took us to the Argentine side. Although this was just walking and no boat ride, we still enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Then we were taken to the airport, and bid farewell to Arlette, our driver, and Iguacu, and flew back to Sao Paulo for the rest of the week with my cousins. All in all, Arlette, who is a native of Iguacu, was a terrific guide and person to have with us. She was knowledgable, helpful, kind, and funny. I would definitely recommend the tour and Arlette. As for the hotel, etc: Terry and I had been to Iguacu Falls in 1998, and we stayed at the same hotel-Das Cateratas. There was a huge improvement in every aspect of the hotel and surrounding area. The hotel has been upgraded and it is definitely the best place to stay. The rooms are not luxurious, but they are fine. The biggest improvement is the bathroom-which has been redone in every room. Also, in 1998 the pool area was very rundown, and not really inviting looking. Now it has been totally redone, and is a great place to realx after a day of walking and boating at the falls. Another upgrade is that the area now has many outdoor activities to do, such as hiking and rappelling. It has been made into an outdoor enthusiast's destination, and is no longer just the falls and then you leave. On the Argentine side, there is a train that takes you all the way to the end of the falls, known as Devil's Throat, although you still have to walk about a half mile till you get there. But in 1998 we could not get out that far at all. There is an actual Visitors Plaza with shops, and every aspect has been upgraded on that side, too. Anyone who goes to Brazil should definitely make sure they make time to see these fabulous, unique Falls. An overnight is definitely enough time to see both sides and take the Safari. Many thanks to you, Carla, for helping me get this part of our trip done just the way we wanted it. We all loved being there, and it made our whole trip really special. Thanks again, Janie

We can't stop talking about how wonderful our holiday was in Brazil.Hi Marcus, It's good to hear from you. We are settled back into life in San Francisco and we can't stop talking about how wonderful our holiday was in Brazil. In fact, we are having dinner at a Brazilian restaurant tomorrow night with friends to celebrate our return. We are happy to give you feedback on our trip. Thank you so much for providing us with such excellent service and helping us make our trip a true dream vacation. We will be sure to tell friends to use your services if they are planning a trip to Brazil. We really appreciate how well organized everything was, how responsive you were to our needs, and how closely you stayed in communication with us. Thank you for making it all go so smoothly. We were particularly pleased with how smoothly the transfers went. It was such a pleasure to be greeted by friendly, English speaking people upon each arrival. Because we often arrived to our destinations late at night it was so nice to be taken care of. We give a big "thumbs up" to Rodrigo (in Rio), Ellen and Kennedy (in Porto Seguro), Julio (in Natal) and Vincente (in Rio). They were all wonderful! In terms of accomodations, here are our reviews: Praia Ipanema in Rio: It isn't anything fancy but it is a perfect place to stay because it is in a great location, it is safe and clean, it has comfortable beds, great food, towels and chairs for the beach and friendly and helpful staff. It met our needs perfectly. Hotel de Praca in Trancoso: this is a beautiful and wonderful place to stay. We feel lucky that we were able to stay there instead of Bananas where we originally had our reservation. We loved relaxing in the hammocks and on the lounge chairs. Trancoso is a really special place and Hotel de Praca is a perfect place to stay. The only "negative" is that the rooms had a musty smell to them. I don't know if this was because of the recent rains, but the rooms all smelled like they need to be aired out. It didn't effect our happiness but it is worth mentioning.Toca de Coruja in Pipa: This place is paradise. We LOVED staying here. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. We spent 3 nights in a standard room and the last night in the deluxe cottage. We felt like royalty! The staff attended to our every need. The breakfast was a feast of fresh fruit and juice and breads and eggs and yogurt every morning. It felt like heaven. I would suggest recommending this place to anyone who goes to Pipa. We hope to go back some day. And if you are ever able to get to Pipa, GO! Our favorite part of being there was waking up each morning and walking out to the beach to swim with the dolphins. In addition to all of the positive feedback we have for you, we did want to make sure we let you know that we recommend you find a different tour company to work with in Rio. This was the only negative experience we had in Brazil and it was awful. Our second day in Rio we were put on a crowded van for the Corcovado tour. It was awful. We drove for four hours while the tour guide yelled from the front of the van in Spanish, French and a little bit of English to try and accomodate the languages of all of the passengers. She had no microphone so she yelled the entire time in a raspy smokers voice. Most of what she said we could not understand and after a while we stopped trying to listen and just wished were could get out of the hot crowded van. At one point we even thought about leaving the tour and getting a taxi back to the hotel. Although this tour was advertised as going passed the Futbol stadium and to see the Urban Jungle, the only stop we made was at the statue of Christ. We saw a view of the Futbol stadium from the van many, many, many miles away and "seeing" the Urban Jungle consisted of driving through it to get back to the hotel. All in all, it was a very long, frustrating, uncomfortable four hours. We didn't want to repeat the experience the next day so we cancelled our sugar loaf tour. But, if all we can complain about is an unhappy four hours then I would say, life is good! We really loved our time in Brazil and hope we have the opportunity to return to see more of your country. Andrew took many wonderful photos so I'm sure he'll send them when he has them loaded on the computer. Thank you again for everything you did to make our trip so good. All the best,Jami

The trip was wonderful and I really enjoyed it myself.Dear Vanessa: I want to take this time to thank you for all your wonderful efforts on our behalf. The trip was wonderful and I really enjoyed it myself. One suggestion is that if someone wants to stay at the Tropical das Cataratas Hotel, In Iguassu it is necessary to get a better room. Our original room was really depressing but after changing rooms the next day, it was much better. Still, the location cannot be better and having breakfast overlooking the falls is a memory that I will not forget. A superior or better room is a necessity. I understand that the hotel will be under new management and following up on the progress might make it easier to recommend it to your clients in the future. Renata and her husband Mario in Rio were the highlight of the trip. They both are very committed to Making the trip a wonderful experience for anyone who they provide the guide and driver experience. In Buenos Aires, our guide was also very knowledgeable however, she has filled her time to the maximum. After meeting Us at the airport, we were assigned to another guide for the next day tour. This gentlemen, although nice, was not Interesting and seemed unsure of himself. He told us that the largest cathedral (we were across the street at the Pink Palace) was of no interest so we passed. Later our regular guide said that had been a mistake. She was not really Up on the various places to shop (other than the malls) and had a hard time suggesting a place where we could Have a deli sandwichfor lunch. The driver was the one who provided the information. To be a guide means that you Need to have a tremendous amount of information about the city and keep updating this information for restaurants etc. Of all prices. I got the impression that she rarely eats out and is not adventurous when she does. .Lastly, I say thanks. It was a truly memorable trip and I will recommend you to any of my friends.

We had a wonderful time thank you very much.Hi Marcus, We had a wonderful time thank you very much. .In particular we appreciated the assistance of both Jonathan Corkey who picked us up from the airport, and Xe who showed us around Rio. Both were excellent and made it all much more enjoyable. Casa Brancas is perfect, and we would recommend that highly. We only wish we could have spent more time in Rio. If I get organised with photos I will send you some, but I am certainly going to give your details to friends who might want to head to Brazil. Thanks again for making it all so perfect, Jo-Anne

An unforgettable trip to Rio, Salvador, Amazon and Iguassu Falls Good morning to you too . I have been back home after 48 hrs travelling. (you may make out what does this mean) I have caught small skin allergy after being at Amazon/negro river fishing without applying insect repellent , arms and foot slight burns because of not applying lotion solution. Over all It was really a pleasant and unforgettable trip. I have applied some of the principles I have learnt and have now personal experience of the matching solutions. I am now happy enough to inform back my family/ friends colleagues about this trip and how you special service was. I like you to convoy my greetings to all who where in direct and indirect contact during my trip. Especial thanks to you first representing discover brazil. Then to Mrs. Renata in Rio De Janero, Bruno at Salvador, Avo, Manon, and cristov at Amazon, and Felix at Iguassu. I had very less time at Iguassu: 1.late arrival (04:00 am) 2. Scorpion at my room. I have enjoyed the rafting, the Rafain show and the visit to the power plant. I do feel now to continue my visits to other Latin America countries. Of course this will only take place on next year vacation plan. I am thinking to cover both Chile and Argentina, Paraguay É if they are not same. I would again request on next year special guide like Renata who has presented special attitude and shared more of the knowledge. By the way, the guides warn me a lot about Argentina people attitude and some of the tourist I have talk to during my return flight has expressed this issue. Sorry, I have not taken any good photo that deserve sharing I have purchased books and DVDs about the areas I have visited. Thanks a lot for your communication. I will be back on duty next Saturday 03.11.07 for which I might visit my personnel email very rare. Best regards, Ismail AL Khazal

We really enjoyed our time in Argentina Dear Giselle, Well, we really enjoyed our time in Argentina in particular Calafate. My husband took a lot of pictures in fact. By the way, I wonder if you have the contact details of our tour guide in Calafate as I want to send the pictures to her as well? Take care! From Amanda

The trip to Rio and Iguassu Falls was magnificent.Patricia,The trip was magnificent. Many thanks for all of your effort in booking it. Also, thank you for the book that I received through Joseph in Rio. Don't have any photos yet as I still use film and have not gotten it developed yet. As far as feed back is concerned, Elcio in Iguassu was simply outstanding. He really knew all of his facts and really looked out for me. He even carried my shoulder bag on the Argentine side of the falls even though I never asked him to. Joseph was also very helpful in Rio. I really enjoyed his harbor boat tour at the very end of the trip. The guys at Amazon Mystery Tours were also very good. They really looked out for me on the river and conducted the whole operation professionally. Definitely recommend them to anyone interested in that kind of a trip. I guess the only real negative comment I have is that the first hotel in Rio was not on par with the day hotel room in Ipanema. However, the front desk staff at the first hotel was absolutely wonderful. They really looked out for me when it came to dinner suggestions and even provided meal vouchers. Thank you again for all of your excellent help. Will absolutely contact you when I return to South America. Mike

It was an amazing vacation, and I am planning to go back to South America.Thank you for organizing this vacation for us. Beside the money transfer everything was perfect...I am glad that I trusted my gut and decided to go with Robert's transfer solution even if my friends told me that it is insane..:-)). Thank you Robert! Keeping in touch with us during our trip, providing phone numbers and names for every driver or guide that we met, answering all my questions...and I had quite a few...to say the least...:-))...it shows that you care about your customers. It was an amazing vacation, and I am planning to go back to South America...and to contact you again. Warm regards, Dalia

Our trip to brazil (Rio and Amazon Cruise) was SO wonderful.I have to recommend the Discover Travel Group. They booked our trip to brazil (that we took in april) and Patricia was SO wonderful. She got us great fares on TAM out of Miami as well. We did a few days in Rio then went to Manaus for a river cruise, which was beyond words. She was so attentative! she even called us, through our transfer and tour guide, when we arrived. Gave us a great book on brazil as a welcome gift, just went out of her way to make sure our trip was stress free, and it was. and price was great.