NEWS
Dear Friends in Travel
What
is New
for 2011?
Thank you to all travelers who journeyed with/through Brinkman Travel in
2010. It has been an amazing year for us; we served an increasing number
of adventure travelers, a high number of cruisers, and we had the
privilege of organizing (riverboat) tours for many pilgrims, with the
majority traveling to Oberammergau, where the famous Passion Play was
held.
We also had the honour to take many people to the Netherlands; either to
attend the Hortifair, conferences, visiting family and friends or first
timers. These included the members of the Lincoln & Welland Regiment
Band, who performed during the 65th anniversary celebration of
the Liberation of the Netherlands. Along with other group members, we
participated in the many events that touched on war and peace. The Dutch
people, including Ingrid and myself, remain forever grateful to the
Canadian troops who liberated our country.
All these experiences have enriched our lives; enabled us to reach out to
others and to get in touch with our inner self. Traveling is about
experiencing, learning and engaging in other cultures; about reconnecting
with far away family and friends; and meeting new people.
Some of you who are receiving this letter may, due to varying
circumstances, not have been able to travel in 2010. We invite you to come
with us in 2011, as we have a tempting palate of destinations for the
individual as well as the group traveler. Truly the world is our oyster.
I am closing the year out with having visited 104 countries (in my life)
and am anxious to add to my global list in the New Year. On January 18 I
will be flying to South America to be the concierge aboard the magnificent
Crystal Symphony, which will cruise to Antarctica. The sailing is sold
out, but we have many other choices for you.
If you have not made your reservations with us yet, I invite you to join
me in 2011 and encourage you to read on and choose what appeals to you. We
have divided the departures into cruises, pilgrimages, tours and adventure
tours.
Cruises
Feb
15 –
26, 2011 Nearly 30 guests are joining me to the Southern
Caribbean Cruise aboard the ms
Noordam. This is a wonderful mid-winter break to relax and soak up the
sun, while having loads of fun!
July 2 – 14 Do you have an interest in Europe/Scandinavia/Russia? Then join me aboard the ms Azamara Journey. We start in Paris and sail to Amsterdam, through the Kiel Canal, visit Copenhagen, Berlin, Helsinki, St. Petersburg/Russia (overnight); Tallinn and Stockholm. This is an exceptional itinerary at a superb price. Recently we had a client sailing on this ship in the Middle East; upon returning home she said: "Everyone should sail on this cruise line. I am serious. She is so beautiful and so inclusive: gratuities, wine with dinner, specialty coffees/teas and bottled water are all included in your price! The lectures were phenomenal."
July
12 –
21 This
cruise/tour is for all historians, immigrants and those with an affinity
for nostalgia. The train departs from St. Catharines to New York City,
where you will enjoy Manhattan for two nights, including a visit to the
immigration museum and Ellis Island. You will then sail aboard the ms Rotterdam
for nine nights enjoying a Transatlantic sailing with one stop in Ireland
before arriving in Rotterdam. Spend two hotel nights with sightseeing in
the city and then it is time to come home or extend your stay in Europe.
Oct
18 –
Nov 1 I am really
looking forward on taking people on this Black Sea Voyage from Istanbul to
Budapest aboard the beautiful riverboat cruise the ms Amadante.
We have three nights to explore Istanbul, one night in Plovdiv and then
cruise the Black Sea before ending up in Budapest. This is like a
homecoming to the finest riverboat cruise line in the world: Amadeus
Waterways.
Jan
15 –
Feb 1, 2012 Indeed
more than one year from now, but those riverboat cruises book up so
quickly that we have already started booking guests who like myself are
intrigued by Asia. We visit Vietnam, Cambodia and then cruise along the
Mekong River on the riverboat the ms La Marguerite.
We end with two nights in Ho Chi Minh City. Quite spectacular!
Pilgrimages
Sep
19 –
29, 2011 Fr. Stuart
MacDonald has a fine nose when choosing pilgrimage destinations. Coming
this September he would like to take his flock and their friends to
England with a retreat in Walsingham and visits to London, Canterbury,
Rochester and Oxford. This is a customized and unique program following
the lives of St. Thomas More, Blessed John Henry Newman and other Saints
and Martyrs of England.
Oct
27 –
Nov 6 In my humble
opinion every Christian should go the Holy Land and walk in the Footsteps
of Jesus at least once in a lifetime. Fr. Peter Rowe will be the spiritual
leader for this beautiful program to Israel.
Tours
Feb
22 –
Mar 23, 2011 If you like
to get away from snow, ice and cold, then hop on the plane and come to
Portugal, where you make your home away from home. Brinkman Travel has
been able to negotiate a super price of $1717+$383 taxes per person, based
on double occupancy, for a one bedroom sea view apartment in the Algarve.
This will cut down the cost of your Canadian home heating bill! Don't
think too long, but request the space with us now.
Oct
19 –
30 Collette
Vacations in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute put together an
exceptional educational tour of Egypt where you will visit Cairo, the
Pyramids, Memphis, Sakkara, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Queens,
Aswan and of course include a deluxe four night Nile River Cruise. This
tour may be extended with a five day visit to Jordan.
Adventure
Tours
Year
round Only say the word
Adventure and I am on your side and eager to help you plan your tour to
Kilimanjaro, Mt. Everest Base Camp, the Inca Trail, Mt. Elbrus, Mongolia
or anywhere else you may wish to go!
Ask Ingrid
Contact our senior certified travel consultant Ingrid Raakman for a coach tour – ask Ingrid about the fantastic Insight and Trafalgar Tours Winter Breaks we offer at superb prices for first class touring without dealing with the crowds. Ingrid also books flights worldwide, train trips within Canada and abroad – are you familiar with the world famous Rocky Mountaineer and did you hear about Via Rail's coast to coast specials? We do it all and it is unlikely that we have not been there! So count on Brinkman Travel's experience and service.
Travel with Ineke
Often I am asked: "What is your favourite destination?" When I started my career over thirty years ago, it was not a difficult questions to answer. My friend and I traveled around the world for four months and I had fallen in love with Bali/Indonesia. The island and its people had such a magnetic draw; I had no care in the world and figured that I could live simply for more than ten years in Bali versus one year in Canada. However, we had onward airline tickets and my employer expected me back to work.
Now I have had the great privilege of having traveled to many countries my simplistic view has changed somewhat, as each destination has its own attractions, reason and appeal.
The
Travelers' Century Club's official list of countries totals 320. As of
October 27, 2011 I have visited the following 111 destinations: Alaska, Antarctica, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria,
Bahamas, Balearic Islands, Barbados,
Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook
Islands, Corfu, Costa Rica, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Estonia, Falkland
Islands, Fiji
Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Galapagos Islands, Germany,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hawaiian Islands, Honduras, Hong
Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Leeward Islands, Lesser Sunday
Islands, Macau, Madeira, Mexico, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Monaco,
Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Poland,
Portugal, Puerto Rico, Peru, Philippines, Rhodes, Romania, Russia, Singapore,
Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin,
St. Thomas, St. Vincent & The Grenadines., Serbia, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania,
Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks &
Caicos, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, British Virgin
Islands, US Virgin Islands, Wales, Zanzibar. My conclusion is that it is a
beautiful world and that I will for ever hunger to explore more. I feel
blessed by having met the most wonderful people and made great friends
worldwide. I now consider myself a global citizen.
Welcoming New Clients
Our business is cementing relationships. Unfortunately there will be a time that illness or death prevents you from traveling. As a travel agent who has been blessed with customers who have dealt with us for decades, this situation has become reality for us too. Sadly several of our fine customers are no longer able to spread their wings. In order for Brinkman Travel to continue to grow, we rely on your referrals.
We thank you out of the bottom of our hearts.
Respectfully yours,
Ineke Brinkman, CTM, ECC
Owner, Brinkman Travel Inc
Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke
Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 5W3
Phone: 905.988.9100 Email: mail
[at symbol] brinkmantravel.com
Website: brinkmantravel.com
TICO Reg. 4396230
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