Testimonials
Liz Edwards, from Orange, had this to say about her recent trip with Bettina. She joined the “Flavours of Eastern Europe” trip through Romania, Ukraine and Moldova in May/June 2011.
Regarding the trip, as far as I am concerned it was wonderful and I enjoyed every minute of it (even the bad bits!). As you know, I have in the past preferred to travel independently but I always knew it would be difficult, or even impossible, to see places like the painted churchs of Bucovina using public transport, and that was my main reason for taking the opportunity of joining your tour. However, many other places interested me as well, often ones I had only vaguely heard of, such as Brasov and Sibiu, so they were a bonus. The scenery in Romania at this time of year was another bonus – I still miss the luscious green meadows and beech forests of England and Europe. We simply don’t have anything like it in Australia. While Ukraine was a bit difficult, I loved Lviv and Odessa and they made up for any shortcomings in the local guides and difficulties crossing the border. And I wouldn’t have missed Moldova or Transnistria for anything! The whole trip would have been virtually impossible to do independedntly so your tour made it all happen so easily.
The accommodation was far better than I had hoped for, and while I am quite used to a lower standard of room, it was really nice to end the day in a comfortable bed in a large room with my own bathroom, so no complaints there. The food was fine, though as you said, it was better in the smaller guest-houses. Breakfasts at the Soviet style hotels, although lavish, were unnecessary and the standard of the food was not as good as in smaller places.
There was nothing I really disliked, and although the border crossings were tedious, they opened all our eyes to a way of life we are mercifully shielded from in Australia. I don’t think it hurts having a blunt reminder of how other people less fortunate than ourselves have to live.
So Bettina, if you want a reference for potential travellers, please feel free to give them my email address.