Czech and Slovak Heritage Tours
Celebrating our 16th Year
Actual comments taken from our 2002 tour evaluation forms :
"...I
plan business meetings and events for a living, you did a great job (as I
should know)!
I was very pleased with the tour. We hope the whole family can go soon!"
Nancy Grech, MN
"It was
outstanding - great tour, we will be back again you can count on that! Jay
Wittak Bessemer, Mich.
(Jay is the 2nd generation in his family who has gone on a heritage tour)
"I loved meeting the common everyday people, seeing their homes and work places, the folk artists, etc everyone was so very nice to me." June Beck Sydney, Australia
"It was a fabulous trip, I learned so much truly a Heritage experience!" Kelly Formanek Austin, Texas
"Enjoyed every day of the tour, seeing and visiting my ancestral village and meeting my relatives was priceless to me." B. McCaslan Neb.
Each detailed 2003 tour itinerary has a number of people from previous tours you can contact as a reference.
Dear travel enthusiasts,
The year 2003 will be our TWELFTH ( 12th ) year of wonderful and safe small
group journeys to the heart
of Europe. These are not the 15 tours every month variety. We never take
huge groups, our average group size is only 17 people . All tours are
personally lead by Mark and my mother, Marcy. We are very involved in trying
to preserve our heritage here in the USA, and you will learn a lot from these
efforts.
We have visited Europe over 40 times and know it very well indeed. We specialize in non-touristy experiences, the countryside, and local events. Most times we are the only non-locals attending ! We focus on showing you places and people you could never find on your own. We visit many folk artists and craft's people, almost all of them exclusive just to us on a “Heritage Tour.” It’s your vacation we do all the planning and worrying relax and enjoy the many local people and places free of swarms of tourists! (which is getting harder to do every year !)
We will contact
your relatives to meet while you visit your ancestral village. By using research
by a professional genealogical service to assure accuracy. We have
a 95 % success rate, even with no contact for over 100 years. (which is included
in your tour price) We confirm your family information, we confirm that you
are indeed from a certain village (with MANY village using the same name this
is critical ! ) We search to find living relatives for you to meet ( either
before - during or after your tour ) most times they have moved away from
those small villages to bigger towns for work. We request that you want to
meet them, confirming your connection to them. We check to see who has the
key to the local church, as all churches now are locked. (too many break-ins,
stealing, etc) We stand behind you ready to provide you with professional
translators who are trained to delve out the most information for you. ( this
is so much better then some taxi driver or young student who just stand their
while you try and find out information ) and a car / van - driver, whatever
it takes to make your visit a dream come true !!!!
We have done this 100's of times in small villages all over the Czech and Slovak Republics. We have connected long lost family - some going back almost 150 years. It was a dream of mine to do this, and now I can help you too !!!! I founded the worlds largest Society of people searching for their Czech and Slovak roots and heritage in 1988. For this non-profit - all volunteer Society I was it's first President for 9 and one half years, I am currently a member of it's board of Directors, and on the committee what is writing a "how to do Czech and Slovak genealogy" book. I have now traced my own family genealogy back over 500 years on three different family lines, and no we were not Dukes - just common every day people, so if I can - you can too !!!! ( I have since found a large number of relatives living all over Europe ! - and so can you !!! )
These are unique tours, encouraging you to experience a deep appreciation of these wonderful countries. One of the biggest advantages for going on a “Heritage tour” is that we can get you into places and arrange things that you, or even local relatives can not. Do not miss your opportunity to see the hidden wonders of the spectacular heart of Europe in 2003 ! ( everyone expects prices to skyrocket when these countries join the EU in 2004 ! so go NOW before prices skyrocket )
What is included in our tour price.
1 ) Roundtrip airfare from the USA to Prague, checking your luggage all the way through to Prague.2 ) Superior small hotels, all rooms have private bathrooms. We stay 2 to 4 nights in one place, so you are not always re-packing.
3 ) Two large meals daily, a buffet breakfast and your evening meals, where we try all sorts of wonderful local specialties.
4 ) A big over-sized 48 passenger air-conditioned motorcoach with TV bathroom, and mini bar. We don't pack you in like sardines - spread out - we will have lots of room !
5 ) Admissions to places on our itinerary, plus lots of custom entertainment just for us !
6 ) Licensed very knowledgeable local guides. It’s always the information given to you that’s NOT found in the guidebooks that I find most fascinating. Each year we spend lots of time looking into where the best places are to show you. Plus the bakeries, antiques, crystal and garnet stores. We know where the local folk crafts and artists are.7) Lots of information on what to expect, advice, handouts, maps, etc.
8 ) Extra time in Europe either before or after the tour can also be arranged.
Charge your tour deposit to your Visa / Mastercard / Discover Card - by phone or mail.
Please call our toll free phone number and request the detailed tour itinerary you're interested in
1-888-427-8687
Feel free to call me personally with any questions you might have at : ( 651 ) 426 - 1222 or by email at : CStour@visi.com Most tours sold out last year, we turned a number of people away….. Do not delay your trip of a lifetime !!!
Sign up now and get a discount, make your deposit check payable and mail to:
“ Heritage Tours Inc ”
4219 Thornhill
St. Paul, MN 55127 - 7822