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Hey, I'm Steven & Debbie
Member Since March 2018
New York, United States of America
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My Reviews
Mohammed Merrouch
Our first time using Tour HQ will not be our last! Mohammed was the perfect host for our visit to Tangier. In planning our customized itinerary for the day "Mo" quickly responded to every e-mail and message to ensure that each detail was addressed. He met us on time and with a warm welcome when we arrived in Tangier. He communicated fluently in English without difficulty, and kept the day to a pace that was very much as we requested. For the drive on the first part of our tour, Mo engaged an equally knowledgeable and friendly colleague with a new and very comfortable SUV. As we drove to and then toured the panoramic sites outside the main city, Mo immersed us in the history and culture in a very clear and relevant manner. There were many highlights, including an opportunity to ride on camels, see the ancient caves, the lavish exteriors of embassies and palaces, and of course a photo where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. The subsequent walking tour of the Medina, local markets, shops, and the vibrant city was wonderful and very safe. Many other local guides, shop owners, and residents greeted Mo with reverence as he is so well-known and respected. We had fresh coffee in one of the famous cafes that was otherwise closed to other tourists. There was no "hard sell" in visiting a few local shops; this added to the cultural experience as each craftsman explained things about their goods. We shared many stories with Mo about our own culture and background and when we parted it was like saying good-bye to a member of the family. We highly recommend Mo to other visitors without hesitation (but he must be available for us if we return!). Thanks Mo and Tour HQ!
Roger Stemp
Roger was the perfect host for our trip to Menorca. Roger responded quickly to our posted tour request and communicated frequently with us in the weeks before our trip. He planned a meaningful and enjoyable half-day for us to experience the area during our limited time in port as this was one of our cruise stops. Roger met us early in the morning with a clean and comfortable vehicle to tour the area. His suggestions were excellent to get a good overview of the local attractions and culture. Based on our preliminary communication, we opted for more outdoor sites, panoramas, and strolls around local villages. We improvised a bit on the day of our tour due to intermittent rain, as Roger knew where the views would be impeded by clouds or fog. As a British ex-pat, Roger's English was perfect, but of course his command of the local language allowed us to visit various shops and cafes. We enjoyed the small towns such as Mercadal and the fishing/sailing village of Fornells. Roger was well-versed in the history of important sites such as the fortress of La Mola, the looming mountain of Monte Toro, and the major buildings in the port town of Mahon. He shared many stories about local cuisine, commerce, and tourism, yet knew the "back roads" to help us see the countryside and avoid traffic. Roger is amiable and highly responsive and we would recommend him to others visitng the area.
Emilia Grassi
We spent a wonderful day touring Cinque Terre with Emilia. It was enjoyable to experience this beautiful part of Italy through her eyes. Emilia communicated often with us in the weeks before our trip so we could plan the day together. The weather was spectacular so our decision to maximize our time outdoors was perfect. Emilia met us early as our cruise ship docked near the coast of Portovenere. Emilia was fluent in English so it was like spending the day with a close friend or relative. She planned a great itinerary with visits to several of the five villages, including Vernazza, Monterosso, and Riomaggiore. Emilia helped us purchase an all-day ferry pass, as this was the most cost-effective and efficient way to travel from village to village. We also utilized the local train which was clean and running on time and helped transport us from the center of one town to another. Emilia was well known to other guides, ferry operators, and shopkeepers, so we were greeted warmly everywhere. Her knowledge of where to stand on the ferry and the various docks, as well as shortcuts through some of the streets helped us navigate ahead of many other tourists and visitors. We enjoyed the vigorous walk along the mountain trails, as the panoramic views are stunning. Yet this also takes you through many residential areas and towns to experience the local culture. We stopped at a nice cafe and also purchased some ceramic tiles painted with local scenes at a local shop (it was our choice; Emilia did not steer us to any merchants as some other guides may do). Emilia pointed out many of the important local sites along the way and provided relevant historical references. The expanse of Cinque Terre was wider than we expected so there would be more to see on a future visit. We were able to return to our ship at the time we requested using the ferry schedules. We would not hesitate to recommend Emilia to others visiting this lovely part of Europe. Grazie Emilia!