I was just wondering who you all use for making your travel connections? I remember Gracy Travel, but who else is there? Could you please add contact #'s and/or websites? Thank you.

Have used Shawn with Gracy and have nothing but good things to say about her. Very responsive and helpful.

Used Gracy at Wendells advise last year. Great people to deal with. Will use them again.

I have used Kathi Klimes at Wild Travel, as have many others here on AR and I am very happy.

I have used Kathi at Wild Travel for two safaris and have nothing but praise....

Mike

16 days till the Selous

Both recommendations on this post are excellent to deal with.

I use Kathi from Wild Travel on all my travels. She goes above and beyond to make sure you are taken care of.

quote:

Both recommendations on this post are excellent to deal with.

I second that!

I plan on using Gracy. I tried Kathi and got no response. My understanding from having talked to others is that is not a unique experience on this board and some have had bad experiences. Some have great experiences and some do not.

I have utilized the services of Elaine Porteous at African Odyssey Travel for my last two trips. Excellent service and very knowledgable. aodyssey@gate.net
866-486-9351

John

John,

You would be the odd duck in the group. Gracy and Kathi would be my choices not necessarily in the order. The important thing is to get with someone that understands African travel and specifically travel with guns. Your average travel agent does not have a clue.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Your average travel agent does not have a clue.

AMEN!

Kathi, is currently working on a trip to Namibia for me for next year, and all I can say is she has been working her butt off to this point. My observations are that she Keeps you informed. Communication is excellent. She looks at all the options and gives you lots to choose from.

Kathi Klimes would be my recommendation.

Kathi has not only helped me plan, but has come to my rescue when my plans suddenly changed (as in changing flights for me multiple times via satellite phone from the bush), and Kathi can be relied upon to get it right.

Another vote for Kathi. Besides being a top notch travel agent, she's my friend.

Kathi has arranged a number of trips for us. All have gone perfectly without any hassles whatsoever.

Highly recommended.

I can add in Judy Noth at TATUM INTERNATIONAL, as we have had excellent service from all of them on our last two trips to Namibia.

I would NOT use Kathi Klimes. I found he un-responsive and inaccurate in her handling of my booking. In the end I gave up and did it myself.

maybe some have better luck than I did.

I found Kathi Klimes to be absolutely reponsive to my all my travel questions and needs on my trip in 2005. I often times thought I was being a bother to her with all my questions. She never hesitated to spend the time to explain things and help me out. I highly recommend Kathi

While I have talked to Kathi, we've used Susan Hill at Gracy Travel on our three trips to Africa and a couple of hunts in NA.

I used Kathi once, but now use Elaine Porteous at African Odyssey Travel. Elaine is very responsive and a true African specialist. I would recommend her.

I had no problems with Kathi for an '04 Namibia hunt. All her recommendations were spot on. She and her husband hunt Africa, too. She has the, "been there, done that" factor in her favor.

Kathy has done 6 or 7 Africa bookings for me (and a trip to Florence this past month, too). All were perfect.

Being a travel agent, and especially an "independent" one, is a tough business. In today's world, we expect instant gradification, and if that's your thing, just book at www.travelocity.com I won't, however. I learned the value of a good travel agent like Kathy when I had to change a return date while in Victoria Falls. I called her and it was done with dispatch. I doubt anyone at one of the discount booking services would have given a flip... but Kathi did and does.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
John,

The important thing is to get with someone that understands African travel and specifically travel with guns. Your average travel agent does not have a clue.

Mark

This is sound advice!

I used an "average" (actually, less than aveerage) travel agent on my first hunt to Africa. She booked several less than 40 minute connections and an overnight in Frankfurt. All this knowing we were traveling with firearms and reminding her that things move a little slower in Africa sometimes, even at the airports. Luckily, our Booking Agent helped us straiten out our itinerary.

Two travel agents get good reviews here on AR. I think I would contact both and discuss your travel plans and choose the one you feel the best about.

I shopped all of the above for a trip to Namibia for 8 hunters this year. Gracy was the most expensive and least responsive. Kathi was responsive but no deal there either. In the end, we used Barbara at Cape to Cairo. She got us a MUCH better deal and explored all the possible combos of airlines and routes. We didn't need a lot of help regarding firearms permits, we know the drill.

CAPE TO CAIRO LLC
African Business and Adventure Travel
2761 Unicorn Ln, NW
Washington DC 20015
Tel: (202)244-5954
(800)356-4433
Fax: (202)244-5993
email res@capecairo.com
website http://www.capecairo.com
Discount airfares

You cannot do better than Kathi.

Ive used Steve Turner at Gracy travel four times. Very knowledgeable and prompt.

I used Kathi for my arrangements. I would not use her services again nor recommend them to anyone else.

I checked with a couple of the agents listed in this post and found that Premier Tours http://www.premiertours.com/ had the best rates. I know of quite a few people buying Africa airfare thru Premier and their rates usually beat everyone else.

We flew to Africa in June and back in July on Delta/SAA so we were caught up in the transition to United. We had to get our return tickets reissued in Africa but didn't have any problems. I don't know how well Premier is able to respond to problems that may arise. If you are calling around getting quotes, you should call them and ask if they are available to solve problems outside of the 8-5 US workday.

There were 8 of us traveling. 3 left on 6/22 and 5 left on 6/28 and all 8 returned on 7/8.

Another vote for Steve Turner at Gracey. A last minute change on the return trip was handled with dispatch by Steve at no worry to me, I simply dialed the phone and Steve did the rest. Good shooting.