When medical emergencies happen
Fred even made a personal appearance when we needed some emergency medical assistance. We would never have been able to work through a Buenos Aires emergency room like we did, without him.
If it had not been for his assistance, we would have missed some of the very best parts of the trip.
— Joe & Mary Lou Mahoney
When airlines strike
When a national airline strike was underway, we were swiftly booked on an overnight bus trip. Without Fred's prompt action, we would have missed the impressive Iguazu falls.
— Kathy & Tony Haynes
When your luggage goes missing
I had lost my baggage in El Calafate airport, but before I figured how I should act, Fred did everything he could and ensured I got my bag back the very next day.
— Saranya Gnanasekaran & Family
When your child gets sick abroad
Fred was truly a lifesaver. Our son ended up getting pretty sick and Fred was available 24 hours a day to help us coordinate doctors, thermometers, hotel staff, drivers and translators.
He gave us huge peace of mind and truly helped us navigate what was a challenging situation.
— Jonathan & Lauren Shapiro and Family
When problems strike at 3 AM
We only had one incident of a domestic flight cancellation, but it was handled in the middle of the night. Our 3:00 am under door envelope contained new boarding passes and timelines.
I don't think Fred or John ever sleep. There is simply no way I could have rearranged this myself without several unintended consequences and stress.
— Della Borlund and Thomas Borlund III
When life throws a curveball
When life dealt us a cancer card, all details were rebooked with a level of empathy only provided to us by friends and family.
— Johanna & Dan McDonald
Before you even know there's a problem
At one point, one of our domestic flights was cancelled by the airline. Before we even knew about the cancellation, Fred had worked with the airline to check us into another flight that worked just as well.
By the time we knew there might be an issue, Fred had already resolved it.
— Roxanne Lippel and Karen Ziner
When mobility becomes a challenge
Just prior to leaving the US, Wanda experienced an injury to her leg necessitating the use of a cane and wheelchair.
Had Fred not been there, and had the tour guides he chose not been who they were, this trip could have been a total disaster. Instead, it was, without a doubt, the best trip ever.
— Russell Haig and Wanda Wood
When you lose your phone
The thing I will never forget besides the beauty of Argentina was the effort they went through to find my lost cell phone.
I thought I would never see that phone again or my pictures of the glaciers and waterfalls I had already taken.
— Carol Macdonald and Michael Swaidner
When getting home seems impossible
There was an unannounced airline strike on the day we were to fly home. We were stranded in Ushuaia because flights for the next 5 days were fully booked!
Fortunately, Fred and his local team helped us promptly return home, leaving through Chile.
— Barbara & Christopher Gootkind and Family
When flights get cancelled
When we had a last-minute flight cancellation, Fred and John quickly rebooked us and communicated every step so we never felt lost.
We saw others struggling to reach their agencies, while Fred and John were always just a call away.
— Charlene & Gary Mcneil
When you're rushed to the hospital
When I was rushed to the hospital in Buenos Aires for appendicitis, Fred went above and beyond.
He came to the hospital frequently during my stay, providing essential Spanish-English translation between the doctors, nurses, and us.
— Louise Laurence and Douglas Hamilton
When you leave your phone behind
When I forgot my phone in the car that took us to the airport, John went out of his way to track it down and bring it to me personally so that I would not miss my flight.
— Ana & Elena Dinca
When storms ground your flight
We had a flight delayed and cancelled due to a heavy storm in Buenos Aires.
Fred informed us at 4 AM, checking alternatives and booking us new flights to secure availability, even before our original flight was officially cancelled.
— Nelly Ng and Boon Hong Teo and Family
When medical issues arise
When I needed to see a dentist, Fred arranged a driver / translator and made an appointment immediately. He followed up several times to ensure that all was well.
— Ronald & Linda Martinez
When your flight cancels. Twice.
When our flight was cancelled and then cancelled again, they found us a flight on a different airline and rescheduled the tour we missed due to the delay.
— Christine & Phillip Kenny
When illness strikes mid-trip
My wife got a touch of food poisoning one day and they rearranged our amazing boat trip into the Iguazu falls to accommodate us.
— Edward & Michelle Geil
When you leave things behind
On 2 occasions, we forgot things at a hotel and a restaurant.
He contacted the places and even had 1 item brought back to the US with one of his clients.
— Rana and Salim Haddad & Family
When plans change last minute
Just a few weeks before our trip began, one of our flights in Argentina was cancelled.
Fred rearranged our entire itinerary within a couple of days or less. Imagine having to do that yourself!
— Lynn & Roger Iverson
If you value peace of mind and just want to show up and be amazed, we're the right company for you.
"The attention to detail and prompt communications resulted in the smoothest, most stress-free trip we have ever taken.
The whole experience was amazing."
"Exploration Journeys gave me the gift of peace of mind, exactly what you need on vacation. I so appreciated the attention to detail, as that can make or break a trip (especially with kids)."
"We were 22 people, ranging in ages from 8 to 80, traveling to 4 cities in twelve days. So seamless and easy, I wish I could have them with me for all my travels from now on!!!"
"Exploration Journeys provided a wonderful, stress free experience.
Not one single hiccup during the 23-day journey. Fred crafted an itinerary that dovetailed beautifully with our needs."
"Everything ran smoothly and freed us up to really enjoy the beautiful experiences instead of having to worry about the little details."
"Every detail was taken care of so all we had to do was relax and enjoy ourselves."
"The meticulous attention to detail and personal service was unsurpassed.
Our trip was one of the best vacations we have taken, and absolutely stress-free thanks to Fred and Exploration Journeys!"
"When I was rushed to the hospital in Buenos Aires for appendicitis, Fred went above and beyond. He came to the hospital frequently during my stay, providing essential Spanish-English translation between the doctors, nurses, and us."
"Fred of Exploration Journeys must have his phone superglued to his hand because whenever we had a request he almost immediately responded-regardless of the time and day."
"Most impressive, however, was the reaction of Fred when we could have been stranded at one of our sites because of an airline strike. He immediately responded with effective action in finding flights for continuing our journey. It is not an overstatement that he saved the latter part of our vacation!"
"When one of our bags did not arrive in Iguazu, Fred was able to trace it immediately and arranged delivery to our hotel within a few hours."
"Thank you Fred for your outstanding service and personal approach especially arranging a wheelchair for my husband when he fell down in Iguassu. We did not miss a single spot in Iguassu to enjoy!"
"Fred, as our host for the trip, did more than I ever expected, especially with having to deal with multiple airline cancellations that required him to work alternative arrangements and reschedule hotels and tours. He was always available and working to get us back on track."
"This was an unparalleled experience which we consider the best trip of our life, particularly for the superb selection of hotels, tour guides, activities and the extensive hand‑holding and support we had throughout our trip."
"The guides were experts and the personal service made this trip a dream. Everything went smoothly and our trip was worry-free."
"The local guides were not typical at all; with each one it was like spending a day with a local friend."
"Our guides were exceptional and, in fact, some of the best guides we have ever had in our international travels."
"The tour guides Fred hired for our tours were absolutely outstanding and their personal attention to our preferences was second to none."
"Each of the tour guides were not only exceptionally knowledgeable, they shared such insight about the culture and lifestyle."
"I have traveled extensively for business and pleasure but found Fred to be the best at travel planning and suggestions. His service was flawless and our family adored every one of our tour guides and drivers."
"Exploration Journeys made this a truly worry-free trip! They work to have the best guides you will ever find! They were highly knowledgeable, personable, and attentive, beyond what we have experienced with all our other travels."
"This was such an amazing trip that I would be delighted to be a reference and contact for future guests."
"I cannot say enough about the service I received from Exploration Journeys and am happy to provide a reference to anyone requiring one."
"The company certainly lived up to its motto 'first class and worry free'. I would be very glad to act as a reference for future travel guests."
"Anyone may contact me and I'll tell them what a wonderful time we had and what a great tour company you are."
"Please allow any of your prospective clients to contact us! Thanks again."
"We look forward to packing for another journey with you. And we will happily serve as a reference for others who may require additional information."
"I have been to over 40 countries and I have to say that this is the best private tour company I have ever used!"
"Fred and his team were beyond amazing! They anticipated our every possible need and helped us plan the trip of a lifetime."
"The single best vacation experience I have EVER had! It literally was worry free!! Fred answered all questions in the most timely manner!!"
"This trip was by far the best trip we have ever taken. The itinerary was made perfectly for us and our tour guides were the cream of the crop."
"Wow, just the best of the best. Incredible communications." ... "It was like having our personal travel folks in the room next to us."
"Extraordinary tour company. Exploration Journeys is entirely faultless. Fred is world-class in organising and customising itineraries to explore Argentina; no request is too small or big!"
"Over the years we have travelled to over 30 countries, and organization of this tour by EJ is certainly one of the best (if not the best) we have experienced."
"Exploration Journeys took the work and stress completely away from us pre-trip and during, enabling us to simply enjoy and share with our family and friends back home as we reflected each day."
"We had a terrific experience with Exploration Journeys. Their guides are the best, they booked great hotels for us, and everything worked perfectly."
"Exploration Journeys planned our itinerary with so much care that we didn’t think about work or stress for a single moment. Everything was handled seamlessly."
"A truly unique, first class and worry free experience! A friend who has traveled the world had told me that Argentina and her experience with Exploration Journeys had been her best travel experience ever, and she was absolutely right! "
"Their attention to detail was phenomenal. Really great with communication and helping us to build a vacation that we will never forget!"
"I recommend Exploration Journeys 200%. Extremely pleased with each and every service they provided."
"Absolutely spectacular trip to Argentina meticulously planned and delivered by the Exploration Journeys team and partners."
"I can't say enough great things about Fred and the team at Exploration Journeys! They created a fabulous itinerary for us and made our experience completely worry-free."
"Exploration Journeys (and Fred) is the best travel agent I've worked with! They were responsive during the planning stage, and remained so once we were on the trip."
"Excellent!! Service, flexibility and response were great! Would work with them again when we return. Best trip ever!"
"I have traveled a lot and have used the services of many different travel companies, but I have never received attention and care on this level. It truly was amazing."
"Everything was on time, efficient and seamless." ... "I have never been on a trip that was so well organized. This made it as stress free as possible and I was able to enjoy every minute. "
"I have to admit when I first read the reviews online I was skeptical...no one can be that good...but they really are! They exceeded our expectations..."
Martin graduated with honors from Princeton University. He's been working shoulder to shoulder with Fred for the past 8 years at Exploration Journeys. Formerly he was a consultant at McKinsey & Co, general manager at a pan-American pharmaceutical company, and fund manager at one of the largest private-equity firms in Argentina. He has lived in Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Spain, Venezuela and Mexico.
Celeste has worked in different branches throughout her life. Graduating from Lincoln International School in Buenos Aires, following a career in hotel management to running a family business, she developed a keen eye and tools for logistics and customer service. Her passion for travel and being in contact with different world cultures, enabled her results‑oriented mind to widen its perspective on this field and excel at achieving outstanding customer happiness.
Max has worked for the past 15 years in the travel industry, managing a portfolio of deluxe apartments to provide temporary rentals and assisting overseas clients looking to discover Argentina. His love for this industry stems from an inborn passion for service. He's a graduate of the International School in Buenos Aires (Lincoln School) and has attended Universidad del Salvador and Universidad de La Matanza. In addition, he's traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia; taking in all the local color and customs each culture has to offer.
Aida, a charismatic and warm leader, obtained her degree in Business Administration at Universidad de Buenos Aires, with honors. She has worked for 10 years at Coca-Cola in trade marketing and marketing management. An avid traveler, she has visited pretty much all of Western Europe, the United States, and a few places in the Middle East. Since becoming a mother, Aida has mastered the art of traveling with (three!) small children, becoming the Exploration Journeys expert on family travel.
Eva's passion is two-fold: children and traveling. She has dedicated more than a decade pursuing her career as a pre-K and Kindergarten instructor - holding an official instructor's degree. An experienced and well-connected traveler, Eva has been tapped by the Argentine National Census Bureau to serve as advisor and researcher in matters pertaining to incoming tourism to Argentina, for the past 6 years. Additionally, she has traveled extensively throughout Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala and Mexico. Her know-how, eclectic background, and grounded outlook of the local marketplace make her a valuable asset to our company.
Mario, our IT consultant and leader of IT development, is founder and CEO at Nextcomm, a company that provides information technology and communication services for large and medium-sized corporations. He has ample experience working for the travel industry.
Silvia initiated her travel experience with a 90-day trip around the world for her honeymoon. She manages all back-office and financial matters with deft accuracy so the rest of the team can focus on all the fun stuff!
This one-of-a-kind sidekick is the key to a worry-free, unforgettable trip experience.
Packed with personalized tips and useful suggestions to help you make the most of your trip experience.
What Guests Say
About It
"I've received the travel booklet and it's absolutely the best trip plan I have received in over 40 years of traveling. Wonderful job." - Mitch Samuelson and Joan Raskin
"Their travel booklet is a masterpiece. It tells everything you could possibly need to know. I like to research in detail and I could not think of anything left out of it." - Elizabeth & Louis Powell
"The travel booklet that was provided prior to our departure was golden throughout our trip - answering questions we didn't know we had, and keeping all details highly organized." - Janice & Paul Laevens
"The Travel Booklet became our Bible for the trip. That book had more information than we would ever need to enjoy our trip." - Frank & Susan Cimino
"Exploration Journeys provided us with a travel booklet which is something out of this world. We took it wherever we went. It provided us with all the information that we needed to be better prepared for the trip." - Natasha & Arun Garg and Family
A Sneak Peek Inside Your Travel Booklet
Unsure what to bring? Our Travel Booklet offers packing tips tailored to each destination and specific suggestions for your tours.
Everything you need: airline info, flight details, luggage allowances, and mileage programs to ensure a seamless and worry-free trip.
Make the most of your money—secure the best rates, when to use credit cards or cash, avoiding fees and much more.
Clear tipping guidelines for tour guides, drivers, restaurants, and more. Know the customary amounts to show your appreciation.
Discover the best local restaurants with our curated list, including menus, addresses, phone numbers, and payment options.
Your insider’s guide to Argentine grills: navigate the menu, try must-have starters, and order the perfect steak like a pro.
A quick guide to making "mate", Argentina’s traditional tea-like drink, deeply rooted in local culture and social connection.
Bring Argentina’s flavors home with our easy recipe for empanadas, the iconic and beloved savory pastry of Argentina.
Discover the best local tips, insider advice, and must-see highlights to make the most of your free time in every destination.
Keep your devices charged with all the essential details you need about voltage, plug types, and adapters used in Argentina.
Everything you need to know about your hotels: addresses, phone numbers, check-in/check-out times, breakfast hours, and more.
Your go-to guide for every day of your trip, featuring detailed activities, tour descriptions, pick-up times, and transfer schedules.
You'll receive your Travel Booklet in two convenient formats: a printed version via FedEx and a digital version via email. Many guests download it to their mobile devices or tablets, making it easy to access throughout their trip.