Friday and it's cold, but sunny. Winter is trying to fight off spring for another day, but it will lose this battle. Six days from now we'll be on our connecting flight to a new destination - Belize. Julie had talked about Belize this year; cave tubing, seeing Mayan ruins, hearing the howler monkeys and simply seeing something different. It was supposed to be our last full family trip, but our sons have jobs and vacation time comes at a premium so 9 days away wasn't in the cards. With delays in a few significant deals, state hockey tournaments and national hockey tournaments, it almost didn't happen at all. Finally, with a couple of big things clearing I decided to look for possibilities. Flights were easy - accommodations - not so much. After scouring sites, emailing, chatting and calling, it was apparent that planning a trip two weeks out was, well, poor planning. Ready to give up I called a travel agent with Adventure Life and after convincing her that I really was looking for a trip in 2016, not 2017, she accepted the challenge with the caveat that I shouldn't expect too much. Several days later, through her hard work and probably some dumb luck, we had an adventure pieced together.
85 and sunny. The simple forecast that seems to prevail in Belize this time of year. Bug juice, 98% DEET - check. Tevas, quick dry shorts, swim suits, flashlights. It's the organizing phase of trip planning now. It's all about figuring out what to bring without looking like the Howells from Gilligan's Island. Do we need shots? Great, the girl's passports are expired. Photos, government applications, seventeen forms of official ids to prove the girls that look just like us do indeed belong to us. Who is going to feed Reg, Reginald when in proper company, our six-year old goldfish that seems to survive despite the chaos in our family. Dogs, cats, lizard - all critters who can't cook for themselves or flush a toilet. That's where the boys come in - it's nice to have them around in our absence to handle some of those sundries.
These six days will disappear all too quickly and we will be on our 5:05 am flight before we know it. Wait, 5:05 am, that means we need to get to the airport at 3:00 am. Who will get up then....boys!
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.