USA / Quebec
Wonderful trip, very well organized
(Translated by Google) The USA & Canada circuit, for a discovery trip to the main cities of the East Coast is magnificent. One more night in Canada, respectively in Quebec, instead of two nights in Philadelphia would be more suited to our taste.
Overall, we are satisfied to very satisfied with the excursion, the hotels and the guides.
Road trip USA - Canada of 3 weeks really at the top!
(Translated by Google) Many thanks to Sophie, who accompanied us from the estimate until our return. The destinations were well chosen, the time programmed for each stage was judicious. When taking the rental vehicle, she was able to manage the problem directly with the rental agency and it was a Sunday...
Mixed, but could have been outstanding
(Translated by Google) 3 and a half stars.
Exceptional trip at the beginning, but disappointing at the end because of the quality of certain hotels.
Most:
- Emilie the organizer was attentive, very good advice and really available and quick to answer our questions. His anticipations allowed us to avoid many mistakes.
- The location of the hotels, always well located in the city center and close to a metro
- The very practical raodbook. We wouldn't have survived without it.
- Activities. They were all great, booked in advance, no problem. The children loved the visit to New York, Ericka the guide is really a pearl.
- The general standard of the hotels is very good. Special mention for "Auberge de La tour et Spa" and "Christmas Farm" in New Hampshire. Lord Elgin in Ottawa, Le Germain in Toronto, Château Laurier in Quebec were also top notch.
The lessers:
Unfortunately the end of our stay was marred by the quality of some really poor hotels that I will allow myself to mention so that you can improve things. These are all those highway hotels whose name ends with "Inn" and which pompously add "and Suite" at the end to make it look classy.
"Les suites Labelle" in Montreal, this must be the worst hotel in the universe. It is located in a gloomy street where junkies prick themselves in broad daylight. The place is so dangerous that the hotel locks its doors at 9 p.m. and the receptionist quickly flees, glancing worriedly behind him.
The hotel itself smells of death, the pestilence is omnipresent there and the breakfast looks musty. My wife and children vomited all night, so much so that we had to find a better hotel at our expense the next day. We probably left some of our health in that creepy place. And what was our surprise to find that dozens of hotels were available within a radius of 2 km at very affordable rates. So big disappointment and feeling of betrayal.
"Days Inn" at Niagara Falls. Unfriendly staff. Extremely small room and particularly uncomfortable for a family of 4". Antique air conditioning and not adjustable, we caught cold. The place where they store the sheets and towels is an old unsanitary shed.
Standing not at all acceptable.
"Comfort Inn" in Washington. Rude and aggressive staff. Tiny room for 4. Big spiders crawling everywhere. We all woke up with big patches all over our bodies (the sheets must have been full of dust mites). Air conditioning old and not really adjustable. Our state of health has deteriorated sharply.
In the end, this experience should have been exceptional, but some accommodations (I have mentioned the 3 worst ones) spoiled it for us.
We had stars in our eyes the first 2 weeks, but, the 3rd week, everyone was sulking, no one was talking to each other and we were just very eager to get back to Paris to treat ourselves from the very bad colds we caught in these hotels. uncomfortable and take a real shower.
Travel advice: if you are looking for a minimum of comfort, avoid all hotels whose name ends in Inn. Machin-Inn, Truc-Inn, Chose-Inn, it's borderline decent. If you are traveling alone, it might be possible, but if you are a family with young children, it is really not acceptable at all. It's not even a question of price since nearby there are much more suitable hotels at similar rates. For example the "Melrose Georgetown" in Washington which is a luxurious 5 star cost only 40 dollars more (for 4 people) than the sordid "Comfort Inn" where we were staying.
For me, the hotel industry is an integral part of the adventure and it is really necessary that the accommodations are impeccable for the experience to be successful.
I think Authentik USA should offer more accommodations and add a guide so travelers know roughly what to expect based on the accommodations they choose (reviews on the internet are unfortunately unreliable).
So I put 3 and a half stars and it's a shame, I would have liked to put 5 stars because the initiative is fantastic.
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Another great trip
(Translated by Google) For the 2nd time, we traveled this summer with Authentik USA. It was a very nice trip that took us from Boston to Canada, then back to the USA.
Very positive point for the choice of accommodation in Canada: small hostels, with very welcoming hosts with whom we were able to discuss daily life in their country, etc.
Only one regret: the hotel on the stage in Lancaster County (amish) was located in Gettysburg (far from the interest of this stage). A choice of establishment in Lancaster or Ronk (there are many hotels in this city) would have been wiser.
Note that the Comfort Inn in Washington only has double rooms with 120 cm beds. A point to take into account before booking, if like us you are traveling with 2 teenagers...
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A great discovery of the American East
(Translated by Google) We've been back for a day and we keep remembering again and again this trip that we developed with our advisor Andréa (thank you again for your advice)
What to say if not strongly encourage you to try the adventure of the journey that we experienced through the east coast of the United States, Quebec and Canada.
Three beautiful weeks on the road, discovering a universe so close and so different, where your curiosity will sometimes push you to think outside the box, in order to contemplate extraordinary landscapes, and to get to know very touching people (I think in particular of our guide in old Quebec Mr. Lemieux, of the Cicerone guides, who made us discover this city and its history from a very personal angle: it was a strong human experience and the emotion embraces me new thinking about it, I thank him again for this moment)
There is so much to describe or explain to you: the best thing is to live it, taking your time, becoming an observer and communicating, because this trip is not just about driving and photographing, it is first and foremost a wonderful human experience that will remain engraved in your memories.
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What happiness
(Translated by Google) Magnificent trip with a crush on Boston, Ottawa and Washington. Canadians are very welcoming and very friendly.
New York was for us, too noisy and too hectic but it's to be done anyway.
The services were up to our expectations and Charlotte was perfect, we can count on her at all times and it is very appreciable.
However, we have a small regret and a little advice for our friends at Authentik: Washington would require at least 3 days of visit (and even much more, but for a circuit 3 days would not be bad).
In any case, a big thank you for your help and the seriousness of your agency. I RECOMMEND ++++ and I already do it around me.
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First trip to America
(Translated by Google) The choice of hotels is very satisfactory in the economy category, but a pity that breakfast is not included in all reservations as well as car parking. This will avoid many explanations at the end of the stay in each hotel where our language is not their cup of tea, as well as bank card direct debit fees, debited then recredited, when this is not forgotten; .Personally, I liked it less. Guesthouse accommodation in Canada although the breakfast there is fantastic, as I appreciate the anonymity of hotel rooms.
Often we had rooms with 2 large beds or a single bed but XXL. Perhaps we were entitled to; an upgrade?
The choice of the agency for the rental of the car, AVIS, is very satisfactory and at the same time. recommend, despite a small problem at the start because we had booked; with a credit card our stay and AVIS asked us; that of the main driver, something that we had not expected, because it was not the one that had regulated the the stay.
In general, too much of a rush from hoteliers to debit your credit card when we had planned to pay cash for parking.
However, we are ready to leave with Authentik USA soon and at recommend it to; our family.
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Nice trip
(Translated by Google) Very nice route with big cities and beautiful landscapes.
unforgettable
(Translated by Google) This is a cold notice (long after the trip).
I will advise all my friends to try this type of trip, at the start, I had some apprehensions because of the English or the climate. It has nothing to do with it, my French college English was more than enough for me and the climate bewitched me! I did one of the longest road trips offered by the agency and I have no regrets. The relations I had with my perfect and cordial advisor, she completely adapted the trip to my expectations and if there was a scam with the car rental, she managed to limit the damage.
I was amazed and I will keep many beautiful memories of this trip. Gigentism, beauty, kindness, cleanliness, simplicity...
I didn't go through Charlevoix and I preferred Pittsburgh to Lancaster, I made a detour through Foxwoods, Alexandria and Baltimore, if I had to do it again, ... I would do the same :)
The only problem is that it's not given, but memories can't be bought.
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Thanks for your help
(Translated by Google) Very good help from Mrs. Mathiere. The only point to modify is that it is easier, when the trip is Quebec - Parc J. Cartier - Tadoussac, to go to Canyon St Anne on the day of the trip to Tadoussac than on the day at Parc J. Cartier.
(Translated by Google) Everything is very well organized; and in the event of a problem, you are available and efficient. The hotels are really well placed even those of the 1st category, which is very appreciable. The travel diary is very extensive and contains everything that is useful for the trip. The circuit is well done with the right stage times. It is possible to make some personal arrangements.
Little surprises when renting a car: - a supplement of $59 was given to us; asked because we were returning the car to the airport and not in the city center - the car was not available at the airport. 10 a.m. as planned but at 12 p.m.
The Washington hotel (Capitol Skyline) was average (reception and interior)
À Tadoussac, recommend the tip of Bon Désir and Pointe Noire because you can see a lot of whales from the shore! In addition, people are there. to inform tourists with scientific, ecological information, ... It's very interesting
À Toronto offer the meal at the top of CN Tower: a bit expensive (1st menu at $50) but çit is really worth the detour!!!!! Also suggest a short tour of Toronto Island (ferry $7 per person) It's very pleasant and swimming in the lake is sensational (it's very surprising such an expanse water that is not salty!)
We regretted not having had time to visit an Amish farm - on the highways there are "welcome centers" at the end of the day; the entry of the states where one can also find interesting information (eg, missing map of the state of Pennsylvania.)
Special thanks to; Denis, the trapper guide of the Safari photo à àgrave; the bear. We really like the trapper Denis who introduced us to bears: he is a really interesting character who is passionate about bears. by what he does! We feel that he always wants to learn, that he loves his region and a real admiration for bears. The stories and comments he shares with us are fascinating and picturesque! If we come back to Quebec, we will go back to see him.
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(Translated by Google) What we liked the most : The possibility to make a trip to the map. The reactivity of our interlocutors at Authentik Canada to modify the route or settle a last minute pb The constitution of the road book...
What could be improved? in the transports? Perhaps indicating that the GPS is essential to fully appreciate the routes and avoid stress when arriving in large agglomerations.
Thanks to the staff at BB bar Harbor - Shore Path Cottage. We had problems with the rental car (flat tire) and the people who take care of this BB helped us. to settle the pb by contacting various interlocutors by tel.
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