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 Sharing our travellers' favourite memories Travel is not just about checking sites off your list. It’s about the discovery of other ways of living, the connections with welcoming locals and the memories created that can be revisited at times when travel is not possible. At Bestway, we’ve always focused on showing you the true heart of the countries we visit. In celebration of this focus, we’ve asked three of our travellers and one of our travel agents to share their past experiences with Bestway journeys. Read below as they share their treasured memories and favourite destinations from trips across the world. What was your favourite trip you took with Bestway and why? Gene Ward, Forest Hills, NY I’ve taken so many trips with Bestway it is difficult for me to pick a single favorite (editor’s note: Gene has taken 12 trips with us so far!). One of my favorites was the Romania/Bulgaria tour which I took with two friends… Our guide in Romania was eager to show us the treasures of his country. We told him, “Show us anything and everything.” We raced out of the way to see a historic church and had just fifteen minutes before closing. He had the phone numbers of priests on his cell phone. He would call to open small, obscure churches that tourists don’t typically see. It was a wild trip—two nights in Sofia on arrival, then overnight in a different town twelve nights in a row. I was surprised by the beauty of the churches and monasteries in northern Romania…
Photo credit: Gene Ward
Vicki Henry, Ottawa, ONDefinitely Ladakh and Lai and, of course, Poonamallee Lake. They are such remote areas in India. The landscape is bleak and barren, but the views to villages below from each of the mountain climbs were spectacular. Second is the trip to Varanasi. Its rich cultural presence in the lives and, deaths, of all who visit is unforgettable. Varanasi offers beautiful hotels and evening events overlooking the Ganges which in itself is incredibly full of life and activity. Julie H. Ferguson, Penticton, BC Each tour I’ve done with Bestway is a favourite so I won’t pick one but both. Bestway arranged three day tours for me when I visited Dubai (2018) for eight days … Bestway found me a private guide for the first two and he was outstanding. He customized both days for me, taking into account that I’m a photographer and love history. My favourite experience was in Abu Dhabi seeing the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of four in the world open to non-Muslims. It was built recently and is achingly beautiful. Then in 2019, Bestway booked me a 21-day safari in Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe… Everything about this experience was magnificent: the Africans; the beautiful lodges we stayed in; the picnic lunches in remote spots every day; our all-in-one tour leader who was our driver, ranger, safety officer, guide, problem-solver, and mechanic; the sundowners and sunsets with convivial fellow travellers; and, of course, the varied national parks and their prolific wildlife. I’d take this Great Trans-African Safari again in a heartbeat.
Photo credit: © Photos by Pharos (Julie H. Ferguson)
Shammi Rathwell, Travel Advisor at Ixtapa TravelI think my favorite trip with Bestway was our first trip to India. That is when I realized the difference between working with Bestway to customize a trip and choosing a trip which was set in stone. I had ideas about what I wanted my clients to experience and with Bestway’s expertise we really put together an excellent trip. One particular example was experiencing Deogarh Mahal for the first time. I have never seen this on a guided tour before and had no idea what to expect. All three times we have now gone to India, our clients cite this as one of their favorite memories. What is a specific travel experience that will always stand out in your memory? Vicki Henry, Ottawa, ON Definitely being taken by boat to spread my son’s ashes in the Ganges River in a traditional Hindu ceremony.
Photo credit: Vicki Henry
Julie H. Ferguson, Penticton, BCThe tour leaders and local guides stand out for me as they make or break small-group tours. I have never been disappointed with any of the guides organized for me by Bestway, whether they were local guides for just one day or for the whole trip. Every single one was welcoming, knowledgeable, kind, and very helpful. My guides in Africa and India became friends and we are still in touch… Shammi Rathwell, Travel Advisor at Ixtapa Travel There are so many. I think riding on bicycle rickshaws in Varanasi has been a thrill every time. Being in the traffic at traffic level is frightening and exciting! It got us, as tourists, to experience ‘life on the ground’. And then, arriving at the ghats, especially in the evening was a sensory overload – so much to see and discuss after. For people experiencing India for the first time, the guide gave context to what we saw. The morning walk into the ghats was a study in opposites. The absolute peace and glimpse into life along the river was stunning. My favorite moment was when a couple doing morning yoga stood up and ended with a minute of laughter therapy. It was hard not to feel that all was well with the world. Gene Ward, Forest Hills, NY I think my most unforgettable experience on a Bestway tour came in Uzbekistan. We had been driving for hours and pulled into a facility for a rest stop. It was just off the highway in the “middle of nowhere.” I noticed there was a banquet and crept closer to take a few photos. It turned out to be someone’s 60th birthday party; over 100 people sat around big tables segregated by gender. One of the men noticed me and gestured for me to join them. He made it clear, in a friendly way, that I must. They kept refilling my glass with vodka as I ate delicious pilaf. Other travel companions were invited to sit at other tables. Some of them danced. I will never forget the warmth and generosity of those people.
Photo credit: Gene Ward
Why have you chosen to continue to book your travel with Bestway?Vicki Henry, Ottawa, ON India is my second home but my only spiritual one. Gene Ward, Forest Hills, NY I keep taking Bestway tours because they go to fascinating places and focus on history, architecture, culture and religion, not shopping. I also love the fact that I can organize a small group for a guaranteed departure far into the future. Shammi Rathwell, Travel Advisor at Ixtapa Travel I always know Bestway will do the best for our tours. From the beginning, our working relationship has been like a true partnership. From getting the best guides to personal local service, they make me feel that someone has my back. India and Egypt are not easy places to travel to. In Egypt, we had a guide who not only stayed with us the whole time, 24/7, but joined us for meals and took us in our down time, if we wanted to, to local markets etc. I am sure she was exhausted at the end, but it showed her commitment to making our trip an unforgettable experience. On our three trips to India, we had the escort of Amit Malhortra of Bestway India accompanying us. He handled most of the difficult details of airport security, tipping practices and once even going back out to the airport when one of our group left behind her iPad. When he got it back for her, she was overjoyed. Amit also took us to places not on the itinerary, like a fabric dying company where we had a lesson in how Indian fabrics are stamped and dyed. Fascinating. The Bestway staff in Vancouver couldn’t do enough for us. Thanks Mahmood and team. I will definitely use Bestway again for future trips. Julie H. Ferguson, Penticton, ON Very simple — I trust Bestway to provide excellent itineraries, accommodation, and guides, as well as your superb customer service.
Photo credit: © Photos by Pharos (Julie H. Ferguson) We wanted to offer a big thank you to our travellers who chose to share their stories! We sincerely appreciate this window into your travel experiences.** **Please note that no tours taken by travellers or travel agents in this blog post were sponsored.
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Posted by Kierra Jones