Reviews of Absolute Travel Services LLC (Travel Agency)

Yoram Yagil

We used Absolute Travel Services for our trip to Guatemala in Nov 2017. After more than a month of endless mail exchanges and meticulous planning of our trip, we ventured into Guatemala. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Ana, the local representative of Absolute Travel Services in Guatemala, and by our driver-guide Victor. From that point on, everything went 100% according to plan, to our full satisfaction. Absolute Tours stood by their commitments in full, and everything we asked for was delivered in full and according to plan. Absolute Travel Services turned out to be a highly reliable tour operator that we can recommend in full and without any hesitation to any traveler coming from overseas and wishing to get to know Guatemala. We maintained communications with Ana also during the tour, which made us feel very comfortable that someone was always there for backup should anything happen along the way. Ad Victor turned out to be a highly educated very pleasant and friendly guide and an excellent and cautious driver. So we had a wonderful tour of Guatemala, thanks to Absolute Travel Services and their cautious advice and help in planning our trip. Definitely thumbs up!!!

Dinora Gonzalez

We would like to thank Connie Janggen of Magic Switzerland/ Absolute Travel Services, LLC of Kansas City for making travel arrangements for me and my husband not only to Zermatt and Interlaken Switzerland, but she also arranged our hotels and rail passage from London to Paris; from Paris to Switzerland; and then from Switzerland to Frankfurt - our final destination. She set up a very detailed itinerary, offered suggestions of things to do and a very detailed (and much appreciated) instructions on how to find our hotels, train timeline and thorough instructions on how to get in and out of the train stations. She responded very quickly to all my questions; and in general, was a joy to work with. What a wonderful trip she arranged for us! I just wished we had spent more time in Switzerland - a lovely, lovely country. Our two favorite hotels were in that country. We will have to go back to Zermatt and stay at the Aristella Swissflair. The owner and staff were a joy. Our least favorite hotel was the Malte Astotel in Paris - we were charged for 2 breakfasts even though my husband only had coffee for the two nights we were there. The room was quite small and did not have a closet or drawers for clothes. Nonetheless, the staff was very nice; and the room was clean and comfortable other than that. The Bloomsbury was also nice, but a little bit "stuffy" for our taste. The Hotel Spinne was also very very nice and had a nice restaurant and scenery was breathtaking. The rail services were easy to use, especially in Switzerland. It was a magnificent journey for us. Everything went smoothly including all our train rides. I highly recommend Connie and Absolute Travel Services.

Ernie P

Pepe helped create a customized road cycling and hiking vacation in the Swiss Alps. It was a challenge that proved to be a very successful trip. It involved rental of a premium racing bicycle, arranging good hotels along the way to accommodate a cyclist, and transport of luggage from one alpine village to another. It was a wonderful trip with the classic road bicycle routes with climbs to scenic passes in the alps. (most notably the Old Tremola road to Gotthard Pass). On alternate days enjoying the scenic hikes around the different ski villages that I stayed at. It was an outdoor enthusiast's holiday. And I believe that Absolute Travel Services came through for me. I was very happy with this trip.

Sally Anderson

We just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in Switzerland, a most magical trip with planning by Connie Janggen. We started planning a year ago and found Magic Switzerland (part of Absolute Travel Services) on the internet. After researching the company, we started working with Connie. We took one of their standard tours and changed it to make it our dream trip. Connie was very easy to work with and had great suggestions as she grew up in Switzerland. We planned the itinerary and Connie booked all the hotels and got the Swiss Travel Pass for us. The final itinerary she sent was amazing. Every day was so very clear - from walking directions to our hotel from the train station (many times it was just across the street!) to "things to do and see". Her choices for hotels was AMAZING! We had spectacular views from each room which had us giddy when we first entered! We chose First Class on the Travel Pass and were glad we did. The second class train cars were standing room only on some trips with no room for luggage. First Class was always half empty and quiet. To us it was worth the extra cost. The Swiss transit system is incredible. It is coordinated so well and the trains are so clean and nice We had one glitch in a hotel reservation where they said our breakfast was not included. We emailed Connie and within and hour, it was cleared up. She is always prompt and answering emails and watched out for our interests. I would absolutely recommend Connie and Absolute Travel Services for your travel needs! Tim and Sally Anderson

Ben Kelly

We have just come from on second trip to Switzerland. We were fortunate to be able to visit several locations and cities throughout this beautiful country. We visited Lucerne, Zermatt, Murren, Grindlewald, St Moritz and Zürich. We took advantage of the great rail system to travel between cities. This is, in my opinion, the only way to travel on vacation. It is totally stress free. Connie arranged both of our trips for us and she is fantastic. Any one can go on line and book hotel rooms and events. Connie is able to recommend local hotels and places that are more value for the dollar than just booking rooms. Her attention to detail in the itineraries she pits together is like having your very on private tour guide traveling with you. If you have any doubts about using Connie for your travel plans please take my word. You will not be sorry you contacted her. Thank you again Conni for the awesome trip to Switzerland.

Naomi McCormick

My husband and I recently returned from a three week journey in Switzerland with another active, mature couple. All four of us are independent travelers and railroad buffs. Pepe Strub worked with us to create a delightful, vacation (focusing on nature and culture) travelling by rail and boat. You don't need a car in Switzerland and you certainly don't need to be on a tour bus. If you are a relatively good walker, the public transportation system will get you anywhere you need to go and then some. All but one hotel was perfect, and Pepe quickly let us know that the problematic vacation property would no longer be recommended by Absolute Travel Services/ Magic Switzerland after my detailed review. He also responded positively to my suggestions for possible places to stay that had not yet been tried by previous tourists. This level of flexibility is unusual among travel consultants. Through Absolute Travel Services/ Magic Switzerland, our hotel costs were much more reasonable than if we had booked properties on our own through TripAdvisor and other web resources. The rail, boat, bus, and cable-car connections (in the case of communities that didn’t have automobiles) were seamless. We always had several choices, depending on what we wanted to do. We wouldn't hesitate to work with Pepe Strub and Absolute Travel Services/ Magic Switzerland in future travels and will recommend this travel company highly to our friends and family. Switzerland is a beautiful country with an enviable history of protecting the environment. Make sure you take your time to enjoy this exquisite nation in which you can experience three seasons on one mountain. Spring is a lovely time to travel. The alpine flowers are intoxicating, and I have fallen in love with the picturesque Swiss cows and sheep we saw during our many walks. I draw and paint as a hobby. My favorite experience was drawing Swiss school children on the same boat trip. The children couldn't be more pleased that I was drawing their pictures. They had infectious enthusiasm for both ice cream treats and the scenery (possibly the ice cream took first place). Throughout Switzerland, there are beautiful, well-preserved buildings, with colorfully decorated windows and facades. My next painting project might be to depict those inviting buildings and windows. If you enjoy good food, you will delight in slow food, Swiss style. The produce and meat were exquisite and menus explained the geographic origins of our food (so unlike the much of the United States). My favorite meal and stay was at the Romantik Hotel Julen in Zermott. We loved the idea that the bedding was made from the flock owned by the Hotel owners. The rooms were beautiful (an American's fantasy about Swiss interiors). The hotel's traditional restaurant (Restaurant Schaferstube) was my favorite dining destination in Switzerland. We went there twice. The proprietors intermingle with the guests and we enjoyed talking with them. They inspired us to visit some of the sheep in their flock in a walk. We did. They are much more attractive than the sheep I see at the Iowa State Fair. We loved eating lamb, especially the lamb fondue. I enjoyed their collection of antique sheep bells and the story about the bells. I felt a little guilty eating such cute sheep. I will have to memorialize them in one of my oil paintings. Is Switzerland more expensive than other European destinations? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely Yes. We are grateful to Pepe Strub and Absolute Travel Services/ Magic Switzerland for outstanding services. I can honestly say that Pepe Strub was the most helpful travel professional with whom I have worked, ever. He helped us plan a fabulous vacation and took the time to communicate with us by telephone and email about our travel interests and needs every step of the way.

Wendy Choo

I use Absolute Travel to Switzerland. I really want to thank Connie for her great suggestion and recommendations on the places according to my wish plan. Especially the hotels, the location is great but not in too busy area. Host is extremely helpful, breakfast was great and easy to find like Zurich Sorex. Connie also suggests me to use the 8 days Swiss pass which covers all transportation. It's so easy to use and so convenient. I was surprised that I could cover all the places I want to go if you time your schedule right. It's hassle free and so much economical plus a lot of free access to museum. I had a great trip thanks to Connie!!

Maridane Hiser

We would like to thank Connie Janggen of Magic Switzerland/ Absolute Travel Services, LLC of Kansas City for arranging our one week trip to Switzerland. She set up a very detailed itinerary, suggestions of things to do and a very detailed personalized instructions on how to find our hotels, train timeline and thorough instructions on how to get in and out of the train stations. I assure you that there’s no way you’ll get lost. Connie responded quickly to all my questions and requests. She was a gem to deal with. The hotels were great, per my request, all in proximity to the train stations, restaurants, shops and other attractions. All had delicious breakfast. The views of the mountains from our balconies at Hotel Derby in Grindelwald and of Lake Geneva at the Grand Hotel Majestic in Montreux were stunning. Everything went on smoothly including all our train rides. I highly recommend her.

Susan Clerico

My husband had a 5 day business trip scheduled in Locarno, Switzerland in March 2018. We decided I would join him and go a week early to enjoy some travel and skiing in the famous Swiss Alps. I was lucky enough to find Connie Janggen at Absolute Travel Services/Magic Switzerland who put together the perfect itinerary for us. Everything about the trip was ideal. The hotel accommodations were top quality and the detailed train schedule information was amazing. Everything was seamless and flawless. We enjoyed the trip immensely particularly since we didn’t have to figure anything out! We just followed Connie’s explicit directions. The recommended excursions and restaurants at each of the towns we visited was very helpful especially for me during the 5 days my husband was attending his business conference in Locarno. Connie’s attention to every detail of our itinerary was above and beyond. It made for a really hassle free vacation and travel. Many thanks to Connie!

Susan Grittman

Our trip to Switzerland (and one night in Austria) was fabulous! We were so grateful for all the details Pepe Strub arranged for us to make our personalized trip go smoothly as we ventured to several locations and took several scenic trains. Also, we appreciated the detailed itinerary and suggestions of things to do in each location. The hotels were wonderful. The trip was just the right balance of rest, touring, and activity. The beauty we saw everywhere has filled our souls.

Phil Scott

Connie Janggen of Magic Switzerland/Absolute Travel Services planned a trip for four of us to primarily Switzerland, but also Germany and Italy this summer and did a superb job! We had a great time in spite of the hotter than normal weather, and the hotels, Swiss rail passes, and other logistics that Connie arranged for us worked out extremely well. Would definitely recommend Connie to plan a trip to Switzerland.

Ralph Johnson

We searched for a travel company to plan a trip to Switzerland. We found Magic Switzerland which is part of Absolute Travel Service. We read positive reviews and notice so many positive comments regarding travel agent Connie. Magic Switzerland offered a set tour called "The Best of Switzerland". This tour had many elements of what we wanted to do, but having spend a few days in Switzerland many years ago, we wish to modify this offering. Connie was there to help! And what great help. She easily understood our wishes. We have ended up with all trains and hotel booked. We received a 25 page document of our itenery develop for each of the 15 days of our trip. Each area we will visit has exacting details of the area and our hotel. Each area contains recommendations for activities and restaurants. This amount of comprehensive information was not anticipated. "Thank You" Connie for what will likely be a rewarding trip to Switzerland. Without any reservations, we recommend Magic Switzerland, Absolute Travel Services, and Connie!!!

Kurt Buseck

My son and I had a marvelous 10 day excursion throughout Switzerland in early June, 2017. Connie Janggen prepared all of the details and itinerary for us. It was a perfect blend of outdoor activities (hiking; biking; trekking in the alpine high mountains) with touring various cities and their Old Town sections. Each hotel was absolutely top quality. Every train connection was effortless and efficient. Everything about this trip exceeded our expectations. I thank Connie for making a gloriously Fun outing for us, and for helping us create memories that will last a lifetime for me and my son. Kurt Buseck

Velma Winslette

We returned last evening from a fairytale trip! We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and my 60th birthday on a trip to Switzerland and Austria. Connie Janggen was an amazing agent to work with. We gave her points of interest and she guided us with rail passes, hotel reservations, invaluable detailed train connections and much more....a flawless trip from beginning to end. We will treasure our memories of this trip forever!

Emily Harris

Our tour to Tikal in Guatemala, "Voices of the Past", was extremely well organized, everything went like clockwork. And when the hotel we had chosen was full because of a tour group, the agent upgraded us to a really nice hotel at no cost for us. We will definitely work with them again!

Catarina Santos

We've booked a multiple transfer with Ana Cetina from EnjoyGuatemala, in the holy week, that allowed us to go from Antigua to Flores, and then to San Ignácio. When we arrived at the Aurora airport to go to Flores we've noticed that our flights with TAG were canceled. We were very upset and afraid to loose all our bookings we had for the next days, because all the flights for that week were already overbooking. Then we contact Ana and she arranged us a private flight in a 6 seat plane! She manage herself to take us to other airport and introduced us to the pilote that was a very gentle man. Allthough we were very frightening because the size of the plane, we had a very pleasent 50min flight, we could see all above, takeoff and landing were soft and we had one of our best experiences in Guatemala. Thank you very much Ana for your commitment and concern, that allowed us to enjoy the rest of our journey!

Kathleen Wiedeman

Gina was a travel agent extraordinaire! She helped us with arrangements for hotel, zip lining at a reputable place, restaurants, jungle tour, beach referrals, taxi and driver referrals all with a smile and in a very organized manner. Gina provided 5 star service and always available with a prompt response. We appreciated her guidance in giving us all types of great tips in navigating a great vacation. Gina knew we wanted some feel for the culture of the area and her recommendations did not disappoint. We loved this vacation! Thanks Gina.

Claire Woolf

My husband and I has Absolute Travel Services book our honeymoon to Costa Rica. We worked with Gina, who knows the country inside out, including little details that can save a lot of time and confusion later. She first got to know what we were interested in and had great communication with us throughout the process. She knew many accommodation options and types of activities that were available in each place and helped us choose what we wanted. She took care of flights, transport, and accommodation. On the trip, everything she was involved in ran absolutely flawlessly- we've never had such a smooth vacation experience. All of the transport was perfect and on-time, and the accommodations she recommended were excellent, and the pacing of the trip (3-4 days in each place) was just our style. I would highly recommend her for any Costa Rica trip.