Comments from past Pilgrims ...

in case you're wondering about the quality of our Pilgrimages

Fr. Pat,

 

Some thoughts to share with those thinking about the trip to Poland & Prague. 
 
I debated sending this e-mail. Even at my age (50+) - my "2 year old inner child" sometimes kicks in and doesn't want to share my "favorite toys". Yes, there is a side of me that doesn't want others to know how much fun it is to travel with you and Sister Joselda, but I am glad others shared this info with me. And after my trip to Italy, I realize the more the merrier.
 
Today, I got back from a week in Salt Lake City, and parts surrounding. It was a great time, but there was a lot of planning, from flight plans, hotel plans, meal plans, car rentals, baggage handling, etc..... and this was in the USA. Made me look forward to my trip to Poland where most of these arrangements are being taken care by Pentecost Tours. It is so nice to just show up and enjoy, and that is what I felt I did on the trip to Italy 2 years ago. Having traveled with other tour companies, I have to say Pentecost Tours is one of the best.

 

What sold me on this tour - (by the way my ancestry is not Polish):

 

1) The company - Fr. Pat & Sr. Joselda are great to travel with - great sense of humor.
         Yes, we may visit some churches, but one memory I will always have from the Italy
          trip was our last meal where our group ended up singing Elvis songs in Italian
          with the musicians at the restaurant and we weren't even drunk - what a hoot.
2) Poland & Prague - in talking to those who travel a lot, they loved their trips to Poland &
         Prague. All say the locals are: "warm and welcoming even to visitors from the United
         States- not what you get in all countries". With what is going on in the world, this is 
         one of the safest places for travel.
3) Affordability - I checked around and even paying single supplement, I think the price is right.
4) The pace of the tour - having some free time is a bonus. I look forward to the 2 "free days"
         one in Krakow another in Prague to explore with new friends.
5) I am not getting any younger - I do not want to regret that I let this great opportunity     
         pass.
 
Fr. Pat, I am so looking forward to traveling with you and Sister Joselda again. I hope others
will join us.

 

Take care,
Charlie B.
 

[Comment] Charlie was part of Italy 2003, Poland & Prague 2005, and is signed up for Fatima/Lourdes/Spain 2006.  Charlie is one of our single travelers.

 

Our Parish Choir is planning a trip in June 2007 to Austria, Germany & Switzerland.The 9 day trip with single supplement will cost around $450/day. They hope for 80 to travel.Which probably will mean hotels outside the main cities on the tour. The cost and the size of the group does not make it very attractive. Also there are not going to be many single travelers - I am probably not going to go, and just plan to travel in 2007 with you - wherever that might be. (Any Ideas yet ???)

 

The only reason I am telling you this, is you are right about "The very reasonable price" of your tour around $280/day with single supplement. Also I appreciate the more manageable size of the tour groups you put together. Being a single traveler, I have always found others on your Pilgrimages to "hang out" with both single and couples. I like that we stay in central locations, so that there is more of a chance to explore the sites on our own. I am once again very much looking forward to traveling with you and Sister Joselda.

 

Charlie B.

My husband & I went to Italy with Fr Pat in Nov 2003. My husband had NO interest in going whatsoever. He agreed VERY reluctantly. He's not Catholic & didn't think he would feel comfortable & had no interest in the history, archeology, art etc. Well, as it turned out, he had a FANTASTIC time & was SO glad he went. We had wonderful guides who explained so much that we would have missed had we been on our own.

Some of our hotels were incredibly ancient & brought the history of the area to life. We stayed right down the street from St. Peter's & could see the the basilica from just in front of our hotel. AWESOME!

We had a wonderful group of people who enjoyed each other's company immensely & I still think fondly of my co-travelers. This trip was the trip of a lifetime & I treasure all those memories. What a joy it is to see videos on tv that include places we visited! I'm presently reading "Witness to Hope"-- the authoritative biography of Pope John Paul II-- and it describes many places included on the itinerary of this trip to Poland. If
we go on another European trip, I hope to go with Fr. Pat. 

 

Janice W.

 

[Comment] Janice was part of Italy 2003

To anyone on the fence with this trip to Poland,
 
I have had the opportunity to travel with Fr. Pat, Sr. Joselda, who after careful thought picked Pentecost Travels.  These trips are awesome.  The people at Pentecost check on us frequently to make sure all is well.  Fr. Pat, and Sr. Joselda help plan the itinerary.  Time is built into the itinerary for personal time and relaxation.  There is also a real spiritual component to the travel.   The people we have met have in many instances remained in contact.  Single people are welcomed and actually being single I find this a safe, and practical way to travel and see the world.  As Fr. Pat says also we do stay in great hotels, we visit very spiritual places, along with historical places, and our groups tend to really enjoy being with each other.   Another great consideration is that all the tedious work is done for us.  One sum of money and the tips are taken care of, entrance fees into museums are taken care of.  And best yet, not only are the people you travel with great, Fr. Pat, and Sr. Joselda are warm, fun and witty.  We will have a blast.
 
Why don't you join us.  Like Charlie says, the more the merrier.
 
Chris R.

 

[Comment]  Chris was part of Italy 2003, Ireland 2004 and is signed up for Poland & Prague 2005.  Chris is on the left.  Her lovely sister Muzzie is on the right. Muzzie was part of Italy 2003 and Ireland 2004.  Chris will be one of our many single travelers for Poland & Prague 2005.

My husband and I found our pilgrimage to Ireland to be fun, exhilarating, breath-taking, uplifting, educational, and loaded with experiences that have resulted in grand memories and friendships. If we could accompany Father Pat every year, we would.

As an aside, I recently spoke with a woman who had recently returned from a pilgrimage to Poland. She had tears in her eyes as she spoke about the places they visited and her experiences. She said she'd go back in a minute. Father Pat's trip would be no less memorable ... and perhaps even more so.  ~Jo from Missouri