Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes with Barcelona

It was a life changing experience. We also had an excellant Tour guide.

The pilgrimage sites were all that was expected. Tour manager, while not personally Catholic, knew enough to explain things well. Hotels were okay in most places. Would have liked better accommodations in Barcelona and more time seeing La Sagrada Familia Basilica, less time bussing around Barcelona. Not sure why two days were spent in Burgos. Montserrat was a great addition for our group. Getting insurance coverage for travel and accommodation issues was very challenging but I did get the insurance expectation after several months and communications. Overall, very good. Recommend this pilgrimage and Collette.

I had the time of my life.. Collette is the best traveling agency

Maria(Jo), she was an excellent tour manager. Very knowledgeable and passionate about what she does. Jo, welcomed all of us with kindness, compassion and joy. Very helpful when we needed her assistance. I would highly recommend Jo to do any tour.

Lourdes, France the Candlelight ceromony.

Had an AMAZING time. Truly spiritual

visiting the grotto at Lourdes

Because it rained 7 out of 9 days.

Guide and Tours were excellent.

We were informed there would be leisurely walk with many scheduled stops. That did not happen. We were rushed from one sight to another and were told we can go back and take pictures. That did not happen either.

..very educational, Joseph our driver keep us safe. He is professional, attentive to us seniors😊🙏all our guides are well knowledge.

Collette did a great job on tour prep. the tour director did a great job the places of course were fantastic; travel was first rate. Good group too. I recommend this trip and Collette, I'm sure we will use them again.

Great tour director and driver. Excellent bus experience. Would do again.

Can not believe everything we saw in such a timely manner.

The outbound flight was not up to snuff.. some people in our group did not make the connection at CDG.

Beautiful spiritual experience with a wonderful tour manager Idalia!!!

Everything from start to finish was wonderful.! I loved our Tour Director Carlina c. She felt like part of the family to us. She went out of her way to make sure everyone was comfortable and had a delightful experience. Her personality, knowledge and enthusiasm is perfect for this job position. She is so beautiful inside and out. I would love to go on another Collette tour with her as my guide, a Portugal tour.. The hotels were very clean, beautiful, comfortable and located in perfect areas in proximities to the sights we came to enjoy. We had Mass every day in beautiful special chapels. The tours allowed us to enjoy and experience sights that would be difficult to do on our own. . The meals very good and always included wine. It was a dream trip. The only glitch or issue was at the Charles Dr Gaul airport. Our flights were scheduled so that we only had 75 mins from the time we arrived at Charles De Gaul then to get our plane to Lisbon. Air France left without 19 of us and too 12 of us. 6am to 7:15 was NOT enough time because the Charles De Gaul airport staff was not prompt in getting us through security or immigration to allow us all to make our flight. I guess we just needed to a little later flight when we reached Charles de Gaul. They did make arrangements for smother flight at 9::30 and gave to us a meal voucher but that only accommodated 13 of us. The final 6 pilgrims waited to leave at 1:30 and just made it to Lisbon in time for dinner. Overall everything else was absolutely wonderful and PERFECT!!!!! Carlina C made the trip so special. She will forever have a very special place in my heart.

There are some areas that could be improved. After a long bus ride to Barcelona we were taken on the walking tour of the area. It was a little much for some. Ideally we should have been allowed to relax and then go to dinner. For those who wanted to walk around by themselves they have the option until dinner. The tour director was absolutely the best. Don't lose her. Kind, caring, knowledgeable. Some of the hotels could have been a bit better but overall ok. Food was acceptable. The dinner out in the restaurant was a treat. I am a travel agent so if you would like to talk to me further about the trip I would be glad to share.

This was a very good tour. The tour manager, Idalia was excellent, as were all the local guides. The hotels were a mixed bag, some very good others did not provide good service when asked. All were in great locations with quick access to the shrines. Bus rides were long, but unavoidable; they did allow us a view of the country sides and Pyrenees mountains. Note: when traveling with senior citizens ascertain if they are able to climb into and out of safely the deep smoking tubs in some hotel bathrooms. Walk in showers are a better option if available.

Would have appreciated a more honest rating as to the difficulty of the walking, stairs and very steep hills. Maybe a 3+ not a 2!

The time in Burgos was a great unexpected surprise. I would make sure this is always included.

I did not have my suitcase or wheelchair the entire trip. I also had little help from Collette in trying to retrieve them. Also no one ever tried to get me a wheelchair, since my was never delivered. Most memorable experience was having mass at Lourdes and feeling the healing water.

Air France international flights were lousy can't adjust air flow too warm and could not change seat assigned

We arrived in Fatima on September 3rd. On Monday we toured the village where the 3 children lived. Sadly that evening I became ill and ended up in a hospital in Leiria, Portugal until September 11 th. I have only praise for the people of Collette that guided me thru this difficult time. They answered my questions with knowledge and compassion. With their expertise I arrived home safely on September 12th. I only had about 2 days on the tour, but Pedro was excellent and our accommodations during that time were excellent also.

Lourdes is an amazing place.

Very well planned out Great people to travel with

First tour that I was ever on and I just thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything was great

The itinerary was just what we wanted. Our tour guide, Rita, was excellent. The bus driver was top rate.

It was the experience of a lifetime

Tour manager was excellent. Enjoyed the places visited. Wonderful spiritual experience and scenery. Happy to pray and eat and travel with a great group of people.

It was a dream come true to experience Fatima and Lourdes. The other two locations were very nice as well. But the highlights were seeing where Our Blessed Mother appeared to the children. We went to the homes of the children in Fatima and Lourdes and saw just how simply they lived. We saw all of the relevant sites of the apparitions. Beautiful. Burgos and Barcelona were the other sites we visited. Both cities were very interesting and beautiful in their own way. We touched on the Catholic Churches and monasteries and saw beautiful art and stories of holy Catholic saints. The landscapes and buildings were unforgettable. It was my first time in Portugal and Spain and I felt the people were very welcoming and down to earth. There were 42 people in our tour group and we often had to wait for one or more to show up at meeting spots. But it was only a minor inconvenience. The food was good for the price. There were a couple of times we found our own restaurants away from the group to experience a more elevated meal. I had to buy a new piece of luggage to bring back all of the souvenirs I bought because I really wanted to share something from Fatima and Lourdes with people from home.

When we arrived at Lourdes we had to share our trip with 5,000 soldiers from all over the world. This is apparently an annual event and the tour should have never been scheduled at the same time. It was very congested, the soldiers were partying until 2 or 3 in the morning making a lot of noise and causing people to lose sleep. The second day only the military personnel were allowed to take part in the night procession, all of the other people were restricted to areas behind barriers. For some people in our tour that did not take part in the 1st night procession this was a big disappointment. It was hard to visit the Grotto and the Baths. It was just not the experience that I had hoped for.

Fatima, Lourdes and Sagrada Familia were my dream destinations. They're all rich in history. The tour guides were knowledgeable and very accomodating. The bus driver was an excellent driver, cautious and efficient driver. Would visit again these places in the near future.

Accommodations were very nice, extremely comfortable and the food was delicious! Our tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly.

The overall trip experience was great!

The weeping wall was very beautiful!

To actually be in places that many miracles happened!

excellent tour guide, food is okay, hotel is average coz no air conditioning , places are awesome clean im very satisfied. thank you for everything

The tour itself was great. Tour manager, Jose and driver, Carlos were great. Accommodations were good with the exception of Lourdes, where the rooms were very small and the hotel food was so so. The optional walking tour around Barcelona and dinner was not worth tthe $75 dollars but optional tour to Monserat was well worth it. The issues arose during the planning stage, see forth coming letter.

Saw and experienced a lot in a short period of time.

I LOVED VISITING FATIMA & LOURDES. BARCELONA VISIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELLED/AVOIDED DUE TO PROTESTS GOING ON AT THE TIME OF OUR ARRIVAL. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REROUTED TO MADRID FOR A SHORT VISIT OF THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY

The local guides were wonderful as were Carmen and Antonio. I would recommend Collette to my friends if all personnel are as knowledgeable as Carmen and if all drivers drive as well as Antonio.

Everything was very impressive,

It was all spectacular, Fatima, Lourdes, Montserrat, Barcelona Hotel was amazing. Burgos was so unforgettable. Just reorganize your tours without Lufthansa, they spoiled what could have been a Dream vacation.

See above

Lady of Lourdes and the hotel accomondatios were excellent.

Even the rain in Spain could not dampen our spirits or the unforgettable memories this tour created.

The tour manager was very efficient but fun at the same time

Each location had its own memorable moments. Was only able to get over 700 pic's.

Too much road travel and not enough time in Barcelona

Destinations were great. Accommodations were average and nicely located, but we spent too much time on the bus and in transit. We would have loved to spend more time at some of the destinations. One of the reasons we selected this itinerary was for the visit to the Holy Family Basilica in Barcelona, but we only got to spend an hour onsite.

Places we went. I liked the fact they gave us a bus tour of Lisbon with point of interest. thanks I was very upset that Colette separated me from my husband in our seats in the airplane from New York (JFK) to Lisbon. we both got middle seats and ONE ROW apart...I cannot even be able to talk to him. This was acceptable and Colette should have been on top of this. I went to many international tours but the is the first time the Tour company separated me that much. Everybody was seated next to their friend or spouse except us. i liked the locations of hotels, the provided food was great. The goodbye dinner in restaurant in Paris was not good at all. Even though they say it's Michelin. Please always fly us to the furthest destination and bring us home from the closest airport, because by the end of the trip we are tired and heavier with souvenirs and want to be home. It would have been good to fly back from Fatima. Don't take any Pilgrimage group to Lourdes on a Sunday. Crowded with children from schools. The drivers did great taking us from here to there. Tour manager did her best but the last 2 days I felt she was anxious and ready for the next tour. The tour guide was informed about history but not so much about church and saints stuff...Please I wish if she would smile. Please give her a break of 2 days between tours to rest., it is not fair for her. I felt bad for her since she was going to start another tour the same day we flew back to USA. As for the local tour in Paris, very plaisant and friendly but when it came to the church information in Paris ...she did not know much and I had to get my answers from a nun there, When arrived in Lisieux, the tour manager pointed us to surrounding restaurants, yet they were closed and had to waste time to look for a farther restaurant instead spending time in the convent. I wish if she mentions specific restaurant instead us walking and wasting time looking for one. we were very happy we had internet on the bus ....thanks ..the buses was great. Please please, give us the paper to fill out for room preference before we travel. I am old and have knee problems and in Fatima I was given the furthest room from the elevator and also I had to walk few steps up. I don't care what floor as long it was close to elevator. We were given the sheet to fill out after the first hotel. Please give form to fill before we travel. As an overall experience I was pleased with Colette. they are doing their best to make our trip easy and successful. thanks Coletter and please consider my suggestions for other travelers.

I was very upset that Colette separated me from my husband in our seats in the airplane from New York (JFK) to Lisbon. we both got middle seats and ONE ROW apart...I cannot even be able to talk to him. This was acceptable and Colette should have been on top of this. I went to many international tours but the is the first time the Tour company separated me that much. Everybody was seated next to their friend or spouse except us. i liked the locations of hotels, the provided food was great. The goodbye dinner in restaurant in Paris was not good at all. Even though they say it's Michelin. Please always fly us to the furthest destination and bring us home from the closest airport, because by the end of the trip we are tired and heavier with souvenirs and want to be home. It would have been good to fly back from Fatima. Don't take any Pilgrimage group to Lourdes on a Sunday. Crowded with children from schools. The drivers did great taking us from here to there. Tour manager did her best but the last 2 days I felt she was anxious and ready for the next tour. The tour guide was informed about history but not so much about church and saints stuff...Please I wish if she would smile. Please give her a break of 2 days between tours to rest., it is not fair for her. I felt bad for her since she was going to start another tour the same day we flew back to USA. As for the local tour in Paris, very plaisant and friendly but when it came to the church information in Paris ...she did not know much and I had to get my answers from a nun there, When arrived in Lisieux, the tour manager pointed us to surrounding restaurants, yet they were closed and had to waste time to look for a farther restaurant instead spending time in the convent. I wish if she mentions specific restaurant instead us walking and wasting time looking for one. we were very happy we had internet on the bus ....thanks ..the buses was great. Please please, give us the paper to fill out for room preference before we travel. I am old and have knee problems and in Fatima I was given the furthest room from the elevator and also I had to walk few steps up. I don't care what floor as long it was close to elevator. We were given the sheet to fill out after the first hotel. Please give form to fill before we travel. As an overall experience I was pleased with Colette. they are doing their best to make our trip easy and successful. thanks Coletter and please consider my suggestions for other travelers.

Visiting Lourdes was the highlight for my wife and me.

As stated above, I can think of no changes that would have made the tour better. It was just right.

Just being in Fatima and Lourdes where Blessed Mother appeared. Felt Peace

Very good trip since it’s my first pilgrimage

Every experience was very memorable. The visit to Fatima, and to Lourdes were very spiritual, Burgos, Carcassonne, Montserrat and the Black Madonna, very informative and impressive, I felt in love with Barcelona, I could live there!!!

The entire tour was excellent. Most memorable was the candlelight processions in Fatima and Lourdes.

I enjoyed every details. Great professional staff well planned schedule.

All the towns and sightseeing tours were excellent. Loved Fatima and Lourdes. Mass everyday was an excellent choice

All of the stops on our journey were exquisite. They took my breath away with their beauty. Our tour manager arranged to have Mass said in a church on the spur of the moment. The Sisters were most happy and gracious to receive us into their house of God, and pray/sing with us.

Fatima was very moving. Burgos was a gem.

Really needed 1 extra day per site to properly appreciated the areas. Hotels could be closer to actual pilgrimage sites. Great tour guide and driver. Would use them again.

See the Pope up close, was the best experience ever.

From start to finish Collette provides a seamless travel experience. From great destinations to transportation, everything is taken care of.

Well worth the price especially with Pedro as our GUIDE!

We wanted to see Fatima & Lourdes. Most other tours have just one only.

Trip went exactly as printed in the information. Trip included Lourdes, Borgos, Fatima, Barcelona, and Montserrat. Whatever you do make sure you go to Montserrat.

I’ve always dreamed of going to Fátima and Lourdes and the pilgrimage to Fátima & Lourdes with Barcelona was a dream come true..thanks Collette

The guide and driver in Europe were amazing. Very organized, polite and helpful.

Pedro Pais (Tour Manager) and Jose (motorcoach driver) were phenomenal. The local guides were amazing. The food was scrumptious. The sites were beyond my wildest imagination. The lodging accommodations were top-notch. I cried happy tears every day! I have to absolutely schedule another tour with Collette.

So much history. So much to see. Caitano made sure we saw as much as possible. Pointing out interesting fact while we were traveling from one place to another. He also played the music of the region to give us a sense of the culture. Tips also about the areas we were traveling through. He felt like an old friend.

Perfecto todo , muy bonita experiencia visitar esos lugares con gente muy bien preparada que nos apoyó en todo

candle procession in Fatima

This was my first time traveling with a group and having a structured tour. It was more than I expected. The guide was very knowledgeable, and the sites we visited were awesome. I had two very memorable events, the candle light walk at night in Fatima and Mass at the Grotto in Lourdes. Very emotional moments for me.

We could have included Trevi Fountain in Rome itinerary.

Thank you for everything, really appreciate it. Grat guide!

Good trip, enjoyed the locations. Thank you!

Great trip, thank you so much!

Barcelona at night was a joke. It was a ride from hotel to restaurant. The bus was filthy, I could not see out the window and gave up. We zipped by some cathedral couldn't see it and when customers asked for a better view they were denied.

Excellent guide & tour events

Collette deserves the 5 stars :>)

Beyond words. Great. Final farewell dinner.

Enjoyable tour guide specialy in going to Mt. Monserrat

All places visited excellent and meet my expectations.

Hotel in Lourdes was not good.

I've given the full acount above. I much appreciated, as did all the members of our group, Pedro Pais' arranging for us to celebrate Mass every day of our pilgrimage. We were in beautiful chapels and were always received with warmth and hospitality.

The travel itinerary was very aggressive, and I felt like we were very rushed. I would like to have had more time at Fatima and Lourdes. The tour manager was not very clear on his instructions.

My favorite memorable experience was taking a dip at Lourdes waters and staying at a monastery-hotel.

This trip was well organized and spiritual in addition to being so much fun!! Our tour guide was wonderful!

Everything well organized, good hotels, meals and excellent tour directors

Experiencing mass at La Sagrada Familia was the top of my list.

Loved it. I have suggested this tour to many friends. Would love to take another tour led by Pedro.

Saw everything that I wanted to see, wish there was more time in each city to just walk around.

Extremely capable and well-organized tour guide (Pedro Pais); safe and excellent bus driver; good hotels and dining.

The faith of the people on the pilgrimage.

I have to mention just ONE experience? The experience of being at these shrines created from the faith of the pilgrims over the ages is just to incredible for my mere words.

Lourdes was most memorable but I didn't see or do everything there because there was not enough time and to hurry through in a day and a half was too exhausting'

Daily was a very nice addition on the trip. The food, sites, and people of Portugal was great. Fatima shrine and supporting historical sites were interesting. Burgos Spain had many historical sites and guides that did very well in explaining the history and architecture of the city. Hotel dinner and breakfast were awesome. The Hotel stay had some ventilation/temperature issues. To hot for us and other guests with to cold for others. Lourdes shrine was deeply moving. The supporting people, food and sites were very nice. Missed the new immersion pools by two days of opening. But minor detraction. Barcelona was ok. Not many options for finding interesting sites or food options near the hotel we stayed at. Made the most of it and used it as time to get in order for the next day departure home.

The nightly procession hotel and meals are excellent. I love ❤️ Burgos the extra time we explore the city

The tour itself was awesome and Gaetano was very knowledgeable and engaging. I feel he had more than his share of guests and he had his hands full. He seemed to take it all in stride and kept us on track to see all we could. Was everything perfect, no, but I feel he did his best to see we were on time for each days destination. The sour note was our last day when most of us were delayed an additional 2 days to go home. Gaetano did not stay to see we all had flights or even accommodations until we were ready to leave. We were only told he had to prepare for his next tour. Was this the truth? And if so, why not send another representative in person to help us? Very bad way to end trip.

The tour guide was outstanding

The trip was well run and the food and service was good

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My wife had always wanted to go to Fatima and this tour was perfect. With knowledgeable guides and perfect hotels we were able to visit the shrines and have mass everyday in locations I could not have imagined. Plenty of information at each stay with enough free time to explore and participate in special events.

Very memorable tour and would do it again with Collette.

I was not disappointed with any part of the tour. It was more than I expected.

Monserrat, Lourdes and Burgos were the most memorable for me.

the tour inclusions were perfect and very interesting The candlelight vigil at both Fatima and Lourdes was one of the most moving and memorable experiences of my life

The bath at Lourdes was inspirational.

Everything I'd hoped for and more. Especially La Sagrada Familia Mass in the crypt.