BRINKMAN TRAVEL AT DUKE
Dear Friends in Travel
We
can appreciate that you do not wish to read this lengthy epistle, may I
therefore recommend that you scroll through the headlines and stop at the
points of interest.
Be
sure to complete the reply form at the bottom of the text and have a
chance to win a Travel Gift Certificate for yourself or for your Loved
One.
Intro and Words of Thanks
Ingrid Raakman and Ineke Brinkman wish our clients for whom we had the pleasure of booking a vacation this summer a beautiful journey. We hope that your vacation will have you returning home safely, re-energized and nurtured with long lasting happy memories.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to all our clients for whom we had the privilege to make travel arrangements since our opening in 1993 in the Pendale Plaza. In 1999 we moved from the Pendale to Lyman Street and then operated for two years from my home, only to learn that our business was not going to slow down, but to the contrary, we are as busy as ever.
New Home
The response to business demand made Brinkman Travel decide to purchase 8 Duke Street; a stately sixty year old home, which we renovated to sleek modern equipped offices, while keeping its original charm. 8 Duke, across from the rose gardens of Montebello Park, is becoming a landmark; a place where we wish to stay as long as you wish us to serve you. We have created free parking for our clients and welcome your visit.
By returning to offices in the heart of St. Catharines, we are filling the gap of St. Catharines need for a locally owned and operated experienced travel agency that is involved in the community and has an understanding of the tapestry of our population. Ingrid and I take great pride in taking care of every detail of your journey; we are in touch upon your return to assure all went well and to ask where you may wish to go next?
If you have a chosen a stay-cation this year; we hope you enjoy the beautiful flowers in our Garden City; hear the birds chirping and open your home to family and friends; we hope you will take some leisure time to recharge as fall and winter are soon upon us again!
If you are considering a last minute arrangement be it near or far, never hesitate to contact us by visiting 8 Duke; by emailing us (see email address below) or by calling 905.988.9100.
Brinkman Travel listens and will always make it happen for you. Cannot do is not in our vocabulary. We love challenges and enjoy sharing our combined forty years of travel experience with you, assuring you a carefree and enjoyable vacation.
Deposits already on the books predict 2010 to be a banner year. Canadians will only listen to negative media reports for so long and then we get restless; we want to be on the move again. It is in our blood to discover, to learn and to expand our horizons.
This can be on an educational, spiritual or pampering of body & mind level. Volunteering abroad is another segment of travel that is on the rise, as global awareness makes us realize in what a privileged country we live and it gives us the desire to share our gifts with others who are less fortunate.
Adventure Travel
Adventure Travel takes us around the world. After climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Everest Base Camp and more recently Trekking the Inca Trail in Peru, I am longing to hear who wishes to join me on a Camel ride in India or shall we perhaps take on Mt. Elbrus?
And of course we are doing Kili again for those who haven’t been but must summit the Roof of Africa before the snow melts! The dates of our eighth annual Killimanjaro climb are February 13–25. I was so enthralled with Peru – an undiscovered jewel in the Andes - such that we have already booked space for May 1 – 12. This adventure is open for trekkers and non-trekkers as I discovered a paradise nestled at the foot of Machu Picchu. The Inkaterra resort welcomes you.
Ask Ingrid
Contact our senior, certified travel consultant Ingrid Raakman for a coach tour – ask Ingrid about the fantastic Insight and Trafalgar Tours Winter Breaks we offer at superb prices for first class touring without dealing with the crowds. Ingrid also books flights worldwide, train trips within Canada and abroad – are you familiar with the world famous Rocky Mountaineer and did you hear about Via-Rail’s coast to coast specials? We do it all and it is unlikely that we have not been there! So count on Brinkman Travel’s experience and service.
Travel with Ineke
I am the lucky one to join my favourite travelers on many of our specialty tours, cruises and pilgrimages. My greatest pleasure is experiencing hands on how much you enjoy these group travels where you explore new destinations, make friends and grow together.
This privilege will take me many times to Europe next year.
For starters, we repeat by high demand the Tulip Time Cruise aboard the first class MS Amacello from April 26 – May 3. And afterwards I would like to take you “home” to our family farm and on a tour of the Eastern part of the Netherlands. Highlight of the one week land tour is the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. When you come, you will live history; you will learn first hand how grateful the Dutch are to the Canadians who liberated the country from their enemies during the II World War. Hear the stories from the courageous veterans and keep their spirits live on. This is the best time of the year to be in the Netherlands, so do it while you are able to!
Oberammergau – Passion Play (choose from 3 uniquely different tours)
Am sure you have heard about the famous Passion Play held only once every ten years. People travel from all over the world to this picturesque town in Bavaria/Southern Germany, called Oberammergau, nestled between mountains and meadows. The towns’ people reenact the life, resurrection and death of Jesus Christ on an open air stage. It is a most compelling and moving event that lies fresh in the memory of the many people who joined Monsignor Pizzacalla and myself in 2000. Brinkman Travel purchased one hundred tickets well over a year ago to assure excellent seating and accommodation in the town of Oberammergau in the year 2010! Just imagine that after having attended the Play, you stay in town, walk to your hotel, meet and eat with the actors and spend two days without having to get on a bus to be housed elsewhere. Grab this unique opportunity and travel with the Most Reverend Bishop Fred Colli or with Fr. Stuart MacDonald. Both Shepherds add a tremendous value to your tour. Brinkman Travel has sold more than half of the tickets and urge those who do not want to wait till the next Passion Play - which will be held in 2020 (how young will you then be???) - to contact Ineke now. You have a choice of three different tours in respectively May/June; July/August and September.
Cruises
Our Caribbean Cruise escape in winter is always a success. This time we have chosen the MS Noordam sailing from February 13–23. We visit the beautiful Dutch islands Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao in addition to Grand Turk, Samana and the favourite Half Moon Cay island. For best choice of cabin and group price, reserve your stateroom now. You may also wish to talk to your friends at the Clubs you belong to, as many people enjoy playing bridge, klaverjassen, bingo and dancing aboard ship. To me, this is a time of being pampered on a first class ship, soaking up the sun and enjoy great camaraderie amongst people of the same feathers. A time when we exhale: Ah, life is good!
In my thirty years in business I had not realized how underrated a Canada and New England Cruise was until my sister and brother in law from the Netherlands announced a three week visit this June. Instead of cooking, cleaning and chauffeuring them around, we choose a cruise aboard the MS Maasdam. Niagara Airbus picked us up from the house; we flew from Buffalo to Boston; had a drink at the famous Cheers bar, boarded the ship – our home for seven nights where we slept, ate, drank, enjoyed onboard entertainment and the beauty of the shorelines of the St. Lawrence Sea and met many nice people. En route we made five stops. At Bar Harbour, we walked over the sandbar to a nature island; explored Sydney by foot, admired its beautiful harbour, listened to Nova Scotia’s celtic and music history and fiddled with its friendly folks; visited in Halifax the newly restored award winning Immigration Museum at Pier 21, Canada’s last remaining Ocean Immigration shed, alive with amazing stories of immigrants who came to the land of honey and golden wheat fields. In Charlottetown we booked an island tour and visited the Ann of Green Gables home while being entertained by the funniest P.E.I. bus driver Peter who sweetened us with berry tastings from P.E.I.'s finest Preserve Company – which was once a creamery or a butter factory since 1913; then it was off to Quebec City from where we made a side trip to St. Ann de Beaupre; the cruise ended in Montreal where we docked near the historic city – we went up to Mt. Royal before boarding the train home! This trip was a grand success. Let me know who may wish to do this with family and or friends?
I was delighted to hear that our
fine spiritual leader Father Frank
Wagner, CSC, now residing in Toronto, announced that he will be the Chaplain
on board the
MS Rotterdam from August 2–14, 2010 departing from
the same named city Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Fr. Wagner will say
daily Mass and invites the many pilgrims he has taken on the last seven
Brinkman Travel worldwide pilgrimage tours and their friends to join him.
What a splendid way to explore the Channel Islands, Ireland, Wales and
Scotland; no packing, nor unpacking, just having a good time enjoying
great fellowship. Call me now for the best available stateroom at our
excellent group prices!
This chapter would not be complete without talking about the in popularity growing worldwide riverboat cruises. Think about sailing the Ganges, the Amazon, the Yangtze, the Nile river and so forth.
In addition to the fore mentioned Tulip Time Cruise where we ply the Dutch and Belgian Waterways in April/May, we highlight the Rhine River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel from August 2–9, 2010 and the Blue Danube Riverboat Cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest from September 20–27, 2010. These three selected riverboat cruises are for those who enjoy the added benefits and bonuses of joining Ineke Brinkman on a group cruise. Should these dates not be suitable for you, then let’s talk and let’s hear how we can accommodate you best on a first class Amadeus Waterways Cruise, where the wine flows freely during dinner time. The ships have a capacity of only 70 guest cabins and cruise management tells me that many cabins for 2010 have already been spoken for, so please book now to secure your spot.
Long Stay in the Algarve
New for 2010 is a Long Stay in the Algarve/Portugal. Our friend and experienced tour escort Betty Van Der Ree approached Brinkman Travel asking to fill a need for our Snowbirds. Many of you go to Myrtle Beach, Florida, Arizona or Texas when Canada’s winter is having its hay days. Why not consider taking an only six hour flight to Faro and stay in a hotel-style apartment near the beach?
We have a super deal of only $1699 + $ 335 taxes and fees (based on double occupancy) to Travel with Betty from February 3 – March 4. Book your seat before the group is full!
Welcoming New Clients
Our business is cementing relationships. Unfortunately there will be a time that illness or death prevents you from travelling. As a travel agent who has been blessed with customers who have dealt with us for decades, this situation has become reality for us too. Sadly several of our fine customers are no longer able to spread their wings. In order for Brinkman Travel to continue to grow, we rely on your referrals.
Out of appreciation for your referrals we have a gift for you for each time a new client comes to our agency; books a trip and mentions that he/she has been referred by you!
Reply and Have an Opportunity to Win
Now we have pumped you with lots of ideas we ask that you complete the form below – that you tell us where you wish to travel to and (e) mail or deliver this to Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke Streeet, St. Catharines. We will do a $100 Travel Gift Certificate draw for each one hundred entrees we receive.
Name(s): ____________________________________________________________
Is/are interested in travelling to _____________________________ and would like to be called by ______________ (Ingrid or Ineke) at my/our telephone number ________________________ on __________________ around __________ hours to arrange for an appointment to receive more detailsAm waiting to hear from you!
Respectfully yours,
Ineke Brinkman, CTM, ECC
Owner, Brinkman Travel Inc
Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke
Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 5W3
Phone: 905.988.9100 Email: mail
[at symbol] brinkmantravel.com
Website: brinkmantravel.com
TICO Reg. 4396230
(Note: Email address is altered to fool spammers. Insert the @ symbol when sending us an email.)
© 2010 Brinkman Travel Inc.
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