Acknowledgements FlashTravel
received from distinguished clients

April 25/07

Flash Travel Agency

Many thanks for the fine adventure we experienced in Ecuador recently. Your organization and commitment to detail made our trip most comfortable and enjoyable.  For example meeting us at the airport each time we flew into Quito was very accommodating.
When we visit any country our intent is to get a complete understanding of that country. We not only want to see the sites in the cities and rural areas but we want to connect with the people and to that end we want to learn about traditions, customs, culture, indigenous peoples, fauna, floral, history, social programs, living arrangements, types of foods eaten, agriculture, government responsibilities, commerce, schooling, environments, foreign policies and everything in between that makes the country function. This can be quite difficult when one does not speak the language. This is where we must give top marks to all our guides. They were never reluctant to discuss any topic or ask another individual for their opinion.  They were not only very knowledgeable in their area of expertise but were very conversant with many other topics.

Our trip to the Amazon basin and the Napo River for the week was certainly worthwhile. Each day was another adventure and more glorious sites to see. We would highly recommend the Manatee for accommodation as this was in our opinion how one should see the sights and sounds of the rainforest. It was very comfortable, clean, safe and the crew were  friendly and helpful. The food was delicious, plentiful and served in a variety of ways. We were not scheduled to do the overnight camping trip and when we decided we would like to do this the crew went out of their way to make it happen. Carlos, the ship's steward, was most gracious, organized and really looked after the guests. In fact, all crew members made us feel most welcome. Raul and Ernesto were our eco-guides for the trip and we were amazed by their knowledge of the area. They were genuinely good people who wanted to make our experience in the rainforest meaningful and they certainly accomplished that. We will not forget the surprises, sites and adventures from that tour … from swimming to camping to night hikes to evenings on the Manatee all created wonderful memories.

The trip arranged to the Galapagos Islands was another wonderful experience. Once again the guides made the trip more than just another outing. We wanted to stay on the Islands for our visit and the accommodation was good.....beds were comfortable and the food was fine. The hotel was situated right in the heart of the town which gave us quick and easy access to see what the people were doing. The evening men’s volleyball games, fish market, and the Darwin Centre were just some of the activities we observed.  The daily organized trips to the surrounding Islands were enjoyable. Each outing gave us a different perspective on animals, environment, vegetation and landscapes. Caesar our eco-guide on the Santa Fe boat which ferried us to the various Islands was a wealth of information. He was a  terrific guide and very dedicated to his profession. He went out of his way to arrange a tour for us to see the wild tortoises and lava tunnels on Santa Cruz Island. The captain and crew of the Santa Fe were friendly, and helpful and made our cruise comfortable and safe on the two days we traveled with them. Each day on the boat we had fresh fish for lunch which was a real treat. We must say that our tour of the Galapagos Islands was another wonderful and unforgettable experience. The people made the trip just that more enjoyable and so special.

Our time in Quito, Otavalo and south to Cuenca were as enjoyable as our trips to the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. Francisco our guide was a most knowledgeable and accommodating person. His outgoing and friendly manner made our extended periods of time with him very comfortable. We certainly enjoyed our time with him on all our outings as well as all our discussions. His understanding of Quito and its history is amazing and this gave us real insight into Ecuadorian culture. Our tour of old Quito at night as well as during the day was most informative as Francisco’s grasp of the history made our understanding of the City more realistic.  Otavalo and the Equator trip were very special as this was our first outing from Quito and Francisco took us to very interesting places and meticulously explained the markets, wood shops, leather shops and the Equator project. We certainly enjoyed our three day trip south to Cotapaxi and Cuenca with Francisco. The drivers in Ecuador can be quite aggressive and we felt very safe and comfortable with him. He was a very cautious driver with us as his passengers.  This trip really demonstrated his knowledge and understanding of Ecuador life, plants, animals, history, culture and local customs. Any questions we had of him were answered in an understandable and forthright manner.  He
provided us with a good understanding of Ecuador and its people to which we are most grateful.

We would like to thank Alexandra for her organization and thoughtfulness during this trip. It seems as though she had a good understanding of what we were looking for and was flexible enough to accommodate us.

Two concerns:

We are accustomed to using our Visa card for all large expenditures and expected to use it for any extras associated with our trip but were unable to do so for the trip south to Quenca.

Secondly, we were assuming we were taking the train from Riobamba to the Devil’s Nose but were told when we boarded the train at 6:45am that we must get off in Alausi which did not include the section of the Devil’s Nose. This came as a complete surprise to us.

Once again we would like to thank Flash Travel for organizing this wonderful trip and subsequent tours in Ecuador.  We left with many photos and memories which we will be sharing with many people.

Yours in travel
Jim & Ruth Ellingson
Cranbrook  B.C.
CANADA

Hi Yossi – we returned home Wednesday and had a great trip both in Ecuador and Peru. Really fantastic. I have a wonderful photo of us all at Puerto Lago and I will try to attach it here. I received the recipe and hope to try it, but some of the ingredients need translation. I tried the computer for translation and got some very funny results.

Thank you for everything you did to make our stay in Quito, interesting, fun, and safe!  We had a wonderful time in Otavalo, Cotacachi, and Quito.

Stephanie Hoffman – Travel Fever / Global Travel – Roberts & Tilton Gallery LA

What I remember with great pleasure about our visit to Equador is the special warmth and welcoming spirit of the people we met, and the spectacular beauty of the mountain countryside in the area around Otavalo with its fields of many different greens, and golden plots of wheat and barley, laid out in sections of color like abstract paintings wrapped around the mountain.

Of course, I never will forget your outstanding driving on the so difficult alternative,(though we had NO ALTERNATIVE) road to Quito!

Best wishes,

Robbie

Our guide, Francisco Jarrin, proved exquisitely sensitive to both our interests and the vagaries of Ecuadorian politics. During the indigenous strike in March 2006 he not only got us safely back to Quito from Otovalo under extremely difficult conditions, but kept us happy throughout our stay. Our plans to explore south of Quito had to be deferred but our time in Otovalo and Quito was thoroughly enjoyable.

Best of Luck to you and Alexandra.

Dick

Dear Francisco

 It is strange to be home and back in the fray. We all had such a great time in Ecuador. It was such fun and a dream come true to have climbed volcanoes, gone canoeing down the Amazon and explored Darwin's Galapagos islands. We had to struggle with Spanish to get around but that was also a challenge and interesting. The weather in Sydney has been very warm and has been a real readjustment for me! Here are a few photos

 Francisco it was wonderful trip

 Regards

 Chris Glen, James and Ed Rikard-Bell

Australia
Feb. 2006

Dear Francisco,

Finally, I have a minute to write to you. How are you doing? We have such wonderful memories of our Ecuador trip and your gracious hospitality. Throughout our travels in the Quito area, your knowledge of the history of your country and your attention to every detail ensured that we would meet our expectations of experiencing another culture. Soon, I hope to find time to type up my notes, and I look forward to re-living the highlights of this very special journey. The trip to the Galapagos was spectacular, as promised. For now, we have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our pictures with family and friends. The incredible mountains, the beautiful art, the delicious meals and the kind, generous spirit of your people will live in our hearts forever.

 We send all our best wishes to you and your staff for a fabulous new year.

 Warmly,

Cynthia and Kevin O'Grady

Hello Francisco,

Nice to hear from you. I have been thinking a lot about Ecuador and telling many of the stories I collected there. I'm not sure if I want to return to the hummingbird forest as a volunteer, but I'd certainly like to visit Ecuador again. And the synagogue in Quito was especially beautiful . Next time, I'll have to be there for a Shabbat.

Thank you for the additional information about Ecuador and some of the places I visited with you. I will be writing the story in the coming days and it will be published in the coming weeks, and I'm sure those resources will be very helpful.

Uriel Heilman

New York Bureau Chief, Jerusalem Post

www.jpost.com

Muy estimado don Francisco:

     He tenido que dejar pasar unos días, para asimilar un poco la experiencia tan rica, tan intensa y tan placentera, que fue mi visita a Ecuador. Como usted sabe, hace décadas que deseaba conocer su país, y por tanto mis espectativas eran muchas: debo decirle que la realidad las rebasó muy ampliamente. La experiencia que yo tuve en él (por desgracia muy corta, ahora me doy cuenta) va más allá de lo cultural, de lo natural y de lo estético, con todo y ser maravillosos sus valores de ese tipo; es una auténtica experiencia vital en todos los sentidos. Encontré paisajes asombrosos; ciudades, plazas, edificios que son toda una lección; páramos, montañas, selvas y playas insuperables; plantas y animales que me dejaron embelesado; una tradición (incluída la culinaria) viva, rica y evolucionante; y una gente noble, digna  y cordial, entre la cual usted y Alexandra están en primera fila.

     Sé muy bien que el éxito de este viaje se lo debo a usted en enorme medida. Gracias por su permanente apoyo y por sus consejos solidarios, don Francisco. Espero que no pase mucho tiempo sin que podamos reunirnos de nuevo en Ecuador; lo deseo de veras y haré lo posible por que así suceda. Para usted y para Alexandra, envío mi honda gratitud y mi permanente amistad: ¡hasta pronto!

     Fernando González Gortázar.

Dear Francisco,

thank you once again for the good time we had with you. Maybe if you come to Vienna some day, we can guide you through the city and the surroundings.

In the attachment you can find 2 of the fotos we made from Illiniza (hope, we did not mix up something here :-)) and 3 fotos on wich you are to be seen. If you want more from this or other mountains, please tell us.

Kind regards

Elisabeth & Karl Honemann

Dear Alexandra.,

Just a note to say thankyou so much for your excellent efficient service booking my trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Everything was organised so well, and even though I booked last minute the quality of your service was flawless.  I was very comforted also knowing

that you were at the end of your mobile phone at any time (even at the supermarket!).

My yacht (Diamante), crew, guides, food, whole Galapagos experience was perfect.

You actually made my dream come true, and I would recommend your company to anyone.

Thank you again.

Georgina Bedford
Devon
England

Ce message pour vous remercier à nouveau pour votre accueil, votre disponibilité et vos compétences qui ont fait de notre séjour aux Galapagos un moment inoubliable: le bateau, l'équipage et le guide étaient parfaits. Merci aussi pour vos conseils et votre gentillesse qui nous ont facilité notre séjour en Équateur et plus précisément à Quito

Béatrice et Loïc (Paris, France).

Wir waren vom 6.-8.03.04 unterwegs am und auf dem Cotopaxi. Das Ganze wurde organisiert von FlashTravel und wir koennen allen Unentschlossenen diese Agentur mit gutem Gewissen empfehlen. Alles war perfekt vorbereitet und wir hatten einen der besten Bergfuehrer, den man sich wuenschen kann (Roberto Gutierrez). Dank seiner Erfahrung und mit einer gehoerigen Portion Wetterglueck erreichten wir sicher den Kraterrand in 5897m Hoehe und konnten einen wunderbaren Rundblick auf unsere weiteren Gipfelziele geniessen. An dieser Stelle nochmals herzlichen Dank an Alle, die an der Organisierung der Tour beteiligt waren.

Garfield und Ricks aus Freiberg / Sachsen / Eastgermany.

March 2004

Hallo Francisco,

thank for your mail, yes we liked your Country and all your and Alex service very much. The Videofilmer are very bussy to finish a good film, it takes time,ok. anyway, what about the pictures Alex made? Since we arrived in Europ we still have Winter, every day snowfalln and cold. So, we come home to early. All the best to you and Alex stefan,

your friend from Austria

Jumbo Touristic Austria - Chaiman Owner

Dear Francisco,
Again, thank you so much for such fantastic service, your company has been wonderful.  I will e mail you when I make the transfer with all of the needed information.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Levin Halifax,
Nova Scotia Canada
Jan 2004

During our recent visit to Ecuador, we received exemplary service from Flash Travel. Senor Jarrin is a highly qualified guide with a PhD in Biology, who provided us with an outstanding overview of the country.
From him we learned much about the culture of the native people, the flora and
fauna of the various ecological zones, and the translation of Renaissance
and Baroque Art into the colonial religious art of Ecuador. We were also afforded ample time for shopping, including visits to the Indian market and Chordeleg, a village famous for jewelry. Senor Jarrin is a cautious driver, and shows a thorough knowledge of Ecuadorian roads.

We also received outstanding logistic services from Alexandra Barragan.
Our visit to Ecuador included a Galapagos cruise, booked through a separate company. This fact notwithstanding, Senorita Barragan ensured that all our reservations were in order. When our airline tickets were not delivered, she tracked them down for us, obtained our boarding passes, and escorted us to the airport
security. Following our return from the Galapagos, she again met us to deliver paperwork for our confirmed return flights. This was considerably more service than we anticipated.

We would recommend Flash Travel to anyone planning to visit Ecuador. Due to the extent of their contacts within the country, and their ability to deal with difficulties, we feel that it is wiser to book with them then through an agent in your home country.

Charlie and Peg Chace

a letter for Lonely Planet:

Most of the tour operators in the most recent edition of Ecuador no longer seem to exist. We made our flight arrangements before doing our research, and were worried that we wouldn't be able to do and see everything we wanted to after we read the book. We found a relatively new company based in Quito (with offices in Peru as well) that really saved the trip for us in more ways than one. FlashTravel (Francisco and Alexandra) worked exceptionally hard for us to connect with a great ship for the Galapagos tour and then for a Rainforest tour while allowing enough time to see some of the rest of the mainland. They saved us several hundred dollars in the process from what other operators were quoting us. They met us at the airport when we arrived and gave us much personal - and extremely appreciated - service throughout our stay earlier this month (July 2003). When we were unable to leave the Rainforest at the scheduled time (due to rain which prevented the planes from landing) they made last minute adjustments and drove us in their own car for our last two full days in the country. As spectacular as the Galapagos and Rainforest are, those two days will remain the highlight for my husband and I. We experienced events and places few "tourists" ever see as well as visiting those places we had listed from our own research, such as the various villages known for specific handicrafts, etc. We can't say enough about FlashTravel and we sincerely hope you will give them a high rating in the next edition. They are located at Reina Victoria 836 y Wilson in Quito, and the phone number is 290 6050 (or 09-955 8139). Their e-mail address is flash@ulo.satnet.net and their web address is www.galapagosfirst.com Francisco J. Jarrin is their Latin American Specialist, but they can serve clients of any language. They will be present at the upcoming trade show in Quito this year so we hope that someone from Lonely Planet attends and will stop by their booth and say hello from Bill and Laurie Mayer in Seattle, Washington.

You can be sure that if any of our friends plan to visit Ecuador, We will recommend that they get in touch with you. James L. Buckley (United States Court of Appeals)

Thanks Again for the Trip to Ecuador and Galapagos
Moshe Tur (University of Tel Aviv, Computer Science)

Thanks a lot (David Even) K-fir Aircraft Vice President New York - Tel Aviv

I want to thank you again for putting together an incredible weekend visit to Ecuador. It is truly a beautiful and diverse country and I am looking forward to returning and exploring more areas. I wish you luck in you business, you are both professional and skilled business travel people. Pamela Vance Supervisor Travel Services and meetings GTE Atlanta

On behalf of American Airlines and myself, I would like to express my deep appreciation and thanks for the outstanding services your company provided for our recent group. Dorothy J. McCracken American Airlines - Area Sales Manager Atlanta GA)

We are avid travellers accustomed to dealing with professional guides, However Francisco and Alexandra went beyond the norm. Tony and Joaquin Lorenzo International Travel News

Besonder hervorheben möchten wir unseren exzellenten Guide Francisco Jarrin, der mit viel Sachkenntnis und Elan uns weit mehr zeigte, als im Programm stand, der viel Geduld hatte und alle Fragen beantworten konnte. Dr. Reinhold Buchmann AKG Acoustics Wien - Österreich

Schönes Schiff, sauber und sehr gute Verpflegung. Sehr aufmerksame Crew. Naturführer sehr informative, wir haben viele Inseln gesehen und alle Tiere und Pflanzen wurden sehr ausführlich erklärt. Alexandra Szikonya. Österreich

We are two travellers from the United Kingdom who used FlashTravel for two excursions, in the Galapagos and the rainforest. We were very delighted by both. Bryn Willwork and Dueeka De Silva

I went through FlashTravel on two occasions. Firstly Colombia and then the Galapagos. Alexandra and Francisco offered friendly efficient service. Rosemay Rad, Australia.

Muchas gracias por toda su ayuda para mi viaje. Alejandro Aguilar México

I cant do more than agree on all above. This is an honest friendly and professional Travel Agency that I recommend for Jungle trips as well as for Mountain climbing. Tanks Peter Cervin Sweden

The best Travel Agency by far is FlashTravel. They can help u with everything. Flight tickets, Galapagos, etc. and they speak English fluently (The woman is called Alexandra). Uri Ron, Tel Aviv - Israel

Мне особо хочется отметить, как хорошо Франциско вел машину по горным дорогам; я, с двумя детьми, чувствовала себя в полной безопасности. Я так же очень ценю его помощь при общении с местным населением, его советы и заботу.

Я настоятельно рекомендую агентство FlashTravel и Франциско своим друзьям в России и Канаде, когда они соберутся поехать в Латинскую Америку.

Наталия Левина

Филипп и Полина

חברת נסיעות מדהימה בקיטו

כינוי כותב ההודעה: מורן

moranserr@hotmail.com דואר אלקטרוני:

תוכן ההודעה:

חברת נסיעות מדהימה בקיטו! יעזרו לכם בכל מה שרק צריכים, כרטיסי טיסה זולים, קביעת תאריכים לכרטיסים פתוחים, גלאפגוס וסתם עצות. סבלנים, נעימים, ומוכנים לעזור. חוץ מזה גם זולים.

FlashTravel - reina victoria 836 & Wilson. Quito
Tel: 593-2-290 6050. e-mail: flash@interactive.net.ec