 |
Scott "Serge" Bernhard - tour director |
"...Please add Beth and I to your
list
of ‘exceptionally satisfied clients.’ Our trip to France in 2003
with S&E exceeded all of our expectations, and proved to be of
value well beyond the expense of the tour. More importantly, as
we have described our S&E experience to other travelers to Europe,
the response has been that your itinerary and client service bested any
of their tours.
We are certain that your itinerary led us to adventures and venues that we could not have found traveling on our own, and that we have seldom seen referenced in the common travel guidebooks since. Your commitment to immersing us in the language, cuisine, culture and history of France has left us longing for a return visit with S&E Tours.
As an occasional program instructor for Elderhostel and a volunteer naturalist for the US Forest Service, I can also appreciate how challenging client services on an extended tour can be. It was a pleasure watching how your team responded so effectively to the situations and emergencies that might have otherwise marred the travel experience for Beth and I, and the others in our group.
We think S&E Tours offered an exceptional tour and hope to travel with you again." 11/10/06 Tom and Beth Kartrude, who have already signed up for 2008.
We are certain that your itinerary led us to adventures and venues that we could not have found traveling on our own, and that we have seldom seen referenced in the common travel guidebooks since. Your commitment to immersing us in the language, cuisine, culture and history of France has left us longing for a return visit with S&E Tours.
As an occasional program instructor for Elderhostel and a volunteer naturalist for the US Forest Service, I can also appreciate how challenging client services on an extended tour can be. It was a pleasure watching how your team responded so effectively to the situations and emergencies that might have otherwise marred the travel experience for Beth and I, and the others in our group.
We think S&E Tours offered an exceptional tour and hope to travel with you again." 11/10/06 Tom and Beth Kartrude, who have already signed up for 2008.
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"Touring France with Scott
Bernhard and
Elroy Christenson
My wife and I first met Scott Bernhard on a Europe Through the Back Door tour called "A Slow Dance Through France", a more leisurely tour that promised to take the time to savor the many delights of rural France while also seeing the highlights of the regions visited. The tour was a positive delight and furnished us with many fond memories. Scott was the perfect host, mingling with everyone, jocular, a fine song leader and tutor in French songs, gestures and idioms. Since that time we have had the opportunity to tour with Scott and his colleague, Elroy Christenson, on three additional tours. As with the Slow Dance tour, Scott has planned sufficient time for tour members to fully enjoy the areas visited without rushing them, and Elroy has added a nice dimension with his out-going nature, his Art lessons and knowledge of Art History. Scott and Elroy have now guided us to almost every department in France and the quality and content of our tour experiences continue to be superior. The pleasure that we derive from tours led by S&E are entirely due to the extensive knowledge that they bring to the tour: their love of French culture, extensive knowledge and research of the countryside, Scott's fluency in the French language, and S&E's uncanny ability to bring us to one beautiful spot after another, even for minor events such as lunch stops, and to overnight stays in comfortable hotels in delightful villages never seen on most tour descriptions. We eagerly await his next public tour offering. "
11/15/06 John and Barbara Donaldson who have already signed up for the 2008 tour. jdonal6917@aol.com
My wife and I first met Scott Bernhard on a Europe Through the Back Door tour called "A Slow Dance Through France", a more leisurely tour that promised to take the time to savor the many delights of rural France while also seeing the highlights of the regions visited. The tour was a positive delight and furnished us with many fond memories. Scott was the perfect host, mingling with everyone, jocular, a fine song leader and tutor in French songs, gestures and idioms. Since that time we have had the opportunity to tour with Scott and his colleague, Elroy Christenson, on three additional tours. As with the Slow Dance tour, Scott has planned sufficient time for tour members to fully enjoy the areas visited without rushing them, and Elroy has added a nice dimension with his out-going nature, his Art lessons and knowledge of Art History. Scott and Elroy have now guided us to almost every department in France and the quality and content of our tour experiences continue to be superior. The pleasure that we derive from tours led by S&E are entirely due to the extensive knowledge that they bring to the tour: their love of French culture, extensive knowledge and research of the countryside, Scott's fluency in the French language, and S&E's uncanny ability to bring us to one beautiful spot after another, even for minor events such as lunch stops, and to overnight stays in comfortable hotels in delightful villages never seen on most tour descriptions. We eagerly await his next public tour offering. "
11/15/06 John and Barbara Donaldson who have already signed up for the 2008 tour. jdonal6917@aol.com
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Scott “Serge” Bernhard &
Elroy “Elroi” Christenson have proven to be amazing tour leaders during
the three trips (1999, 2001 & 2003) that I’ve taken with S & E
Tours. Not only did they plan outstanding itineraries, they made
room for exploration of any serendipitous discoveries of local
festivals or village markets on the way. They exhibited a great sense
of joie de vivre which was shared with the group through easy-going
humor and the sense of fun and excitement that permeated each day.
Scott loves to share his superb knowledge of French language, culture and history. Having lived in France for a time, Scott, who is a flawless French speaker, was able to give firsthand information about how the French speak, think and live. Scott creatively used the time on the bus for sharing information, both historical and cultural, about the region through which we were traveling. Nearly every afternoon would find him leading a group of tour members in a rousing and entertaining lesson in French conversation. His unique skill set is an incredible addition to the tours. With his talent for and knowledge of language, culture and music (both singing and playing the guitar), he’s a modern-day ‘renaissance man.’
Elroy, who is a marvelous artist and world traveler, shared his enthusiasm for and knowledge of art by instructing tour members in drawing or watercolor using beautiful scenery as his subjects. He patiently and professionally laid out lesson plans in perspective, composition, or color theory and then followed through with step-by-step instructions. Elroy brought history alive by giving us intimate and informative tours of art museums and other sites using his vast knowledge of architecture and art history. Elroy’s laid-back attitude welcomed any and all questions that we might have had, even if the subject was something other than art.
Scott and Elroy took the time to arrange special menus for our group restaurant meals, which offered many of the culinary specialties of each region. Mealtime was another opportunity to learn more French when we were encouraged to interact with the wait-staff. Our tour leaders promoted lively discussions about French wine & food, which would lead to learning even more about the culture and cuisine of the area. Occasionally, during the tour, we were given assignments to purchase the various components of a picnic at a colorful local market. It truly was a learning experience, since we were required to use our French to communicate with the vendors. These group picnics would then be shared at some pre-selected picturesque spot where we would relax, enjoy a great meal and have more fun than a person has a right to!
Thanks, Serge & Elroi for all the great trips!
Sincerely,
Nancee Rostad comments from 11/14/06
Scott loves to share his superb knowledge of French language, culture and history. Having lived in France for a time, Scott, who is a flawless French speaker, was able to give firsthand information about how the French speak, think and live. Scott creatively used the time on the bus for sharing information, both historical and cultural, about the region through which we were traveling. Nearly every afternoon would find him leading a group of tour members in a rousing and entertaining lesson in French conversation. His unique skill set is an incredible addition to the tours. With his talent for and knowledge of language, culture and music (both singing and playing the guitar), he’s a modern-day ‘renaissance man.’
Elroy, who is a marvelous artist and world traveler, shared his enthusiasm for and knowledge of art by instructing tour members in drawing or watercolor using beautiful scenery as his subjects. He patiently and professionally laid out lesson plans in perspective, composition, or color theory and then followed through with step-by-step instructions. Elroy brought history alive by giving us intimate and informative tours of art museums and other sites using his vast knowledge of architecture and art history. Elroy’s laid-back attitude welcomed any and all questions that we might have had, even if the subject was something other than art.
Scott and Elroy took the time to arrange special menus for our group restaurant meals, which offered many of the culinary specialties of each region. Mealtime was another opportunity to learn more French when we were encouraged to interact with the wait-staff. Our tour leaders promoted lively discussions about French wine & food, which would lead to learning even more about the culture and cuisine of the area. Occasionally, during the tour, we were given assignments to purchase the various components of a picnic at a colorful local market. It truly was a learning experience, since we were required to use our French to communicate with the vendors. These group picnics would then be shared at some pre-selected picturesque spot where we would relax, enjoy a great meal and have more fun than a person has a right to!
Thanks, Serge & Elroi for all the great trips!
Sincerely,
Nancee Rostad comments from 11/14/06
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