Traveler Ann Miller appreciated an itinerary that was equal parts culture and outdoor adventures.

Our trip to the Faroe Islands was an amazing experience. Thanks to Mads for thoughtful planning and our Faroe guides. Mads and his team listened to our opinions and specific “wants” and was able to incorporate them into an itinerary that made sense for us: equal parts outdoor hiking/boating adventures, photography, some culture and ideas for food. In the end, we even got to see the Yarn Rock—totally worth it!

The local Faroes guides were just terrific; friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic about their way of life. Mikjjal was excellent while sharing his insights into local culture, art and history. And he got our sense of humor! A big win. He pivoted nicely when we changed our plans and went the extra mile to offer photography location/suggestions as well as some other off-the-beaten-path ideas for a totally immersive and cultural experience. Did you know that the Faroes have the only roundabout in a tunnel!?

Overall, from Travel Partner #1: “As a confirmed and dyed-in-the-wool city girl and not particularly nature-friendly, I loved every minute of the Faroes experience, from the fascinating landscape to the hiking. OK, even the sheep and puffins! It’s my first time with the WP group and I was impressed; would do another trip, no question.” From Travel Partner #2: More of the adventurer, this trip offered it all. This was my second trip with the WP group and will not be my last.

Travelers Stephen Thomas and Sandra and Brian Quinn display their crampons, prepped for a glacier walk.

August 12-16, 2025
Thanks to Mads and his team, my husband, son and I enjoyed an amazing five days in Iceland before embarking on a National Geographic/Lindblad expedition ship in Reykjavik. Although we had made several stops along the coast of Iceland in 2019 as part of an expedition trip, we had not experienced even a modicum of what Iceland has to offer. I read the reviews from previous clients, studied his Insider’s Guide, and examined itineraries from our friends’ trips. It was a bit overwhelming to determine where to go and what to do, but talking with Mads was very helpful in creating a feasible itinerary that met our interests. Communication with Mads and Tina went smoothly, and we were excited to depart, complete with a thorough itinerary and guidance on clothing and tipping in Iceland.

Our arrival, pick up at the airport, and transfer for our brief stay at Hotel Keflavik went smoothly. We found they had upgraded us to a suite, which was lovely even for our brief one-night stay. Our true adventure began when our guide and driver, Matej, picked us up the next morning. We set off for a morning at the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon. Under a cloudless blue sky, we relaxed in the lagoon, enjoyed the sauna and cold plunge pool, had facials, and feasted on an outstanding fresh and inventive lunch (while still in our robes!) It was a lovely start for our trip, and for others arriving after a long travel day, we would recommend it.

As we drove along the Reykjanes Peninsula, Matej answered our many questions about the terrain and life in Iceland. We stopped at the Krýsuvík Geothermal Area, a fascinating area of mud pots, hot springs and steaming vents, as well as colorful mineral deposits. This area is the result of the Mid-Atlantic Rift as this part of Iceland is on the North American tectonic plate, while the eastern part of the country is on the Eurasian plate. As these plates pull apart, magma is brought close to the surface of the earth, creating these geothermal areas.

The final stop of the day was our Lava Tunnel tour, requiring helmets with miner’s lamps on them, so that we could descend into the earth. Created by a volcanic eruption 5,200 years ago, the main tunnel is an impressive 3,000 ft long, 98 feet wide with headroom up to 33’ high, making it one of the most expansive lava tunnels in Iceland. The colors, textures, and shapes of the lava formations was an extraordinary sight, and we were thrilled to experience this. We would definitely recommend the tunnel experience. At the end of a full day, we arrived at Hotel Ranga, perched on a quiet river with its own swans. Our rooms were very comfortable, and dinner was an outstanding selection of Icelandic and other dishes. Breakfast proved to offer multiple dishes and choices, including cod liver oil, drunk by many in Iceland daily.

We began the next day with a refreshing stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where we were able to go behind the falls for a misty look out at the world, followed by another magnificent waterfall, Skogafoss, where we walked along the river bank. From there, we drove to the Dyrholaey Lighthouse, where we were mesmerized by the beauty of the peninsula, the black sand beaches, and the very active puffin colony on the side of the cliff. From there, we moved to the Reynisfjara black sand beach with its dramatic sands and basalt columns at Halsanefshellir Cave. The variety of geological formations and types of rocks made us wish we had taken a course in geology.

From there, the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks emerged from the ocean. All of that was before our lunch and setting off on a super jeep ride for our glacier walk and ice cave tour. The jeep ride took us through a dramatic, other-worldly landscape of black sand plains to Kötlujökull Glacier, an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull, an ice cap that covers the Katla Volcano. After a safety talk, putting on our helmet, and adding crampons to our boots, we started up the glacier. Surrounding us were some mountains with green moss and many black and white mountains…part of the glacier covered with black sand and rocks. Offered the chance to use an ice pick to dig for fresh ice to taste, I swung the pick and ultimately was rewarded with a chunk of crystal-clear ice to taste. The cave had a rushing glacial stream flowing through it, and we had to cross a narrow bridge to enter the cave. It had its own beauty with differing textures and colors of ice.

The next morning, we started off for an all-day drive to Landmannalaugar, which is in a nature preserve in the Highlands, accessible only in the summer. Matej ensured that we stopped at the local grocery store and bakery near the hotel to take our lunch and yummy snacks for the day. He expertly drove us along gravel roads and through streams and rivers. One of our first stops was Sigoldugljufur Canyon, which he described as Iceland’s “Valley of Tears” due to its many waterfalls. The waterfalls and moss-covered cliffs were stunningly beautiful. Another stop along the way was Blahylur Lake. Formed from an eruption in 871, it is a maar, a type of volcanic crater that forms when groundwater contacts hot lava, and fills with water to create a shallow crater lake. What makes the lake so captivating is that its deep blue is a dramatic contrast to the surrounding hills of green, brown and gray. We arrived in Landmannalaugar, where despite the chill and damp air, backpackers and campers were everywhere. The surrounding mountains were varied in colors. We headed up the hill to the Laugahraun lava field, deposited in 1477. The varying lava formations and the many Obsidian rocks were endlessly fascinating. While it was a long drive, we felt it was well worth our time, and the fact that the Highlands are accessible in summer also reminded us of what life is Iceland can be like in the winter.

After a lovely stay at Hotel Ranga, we spent our last day with Matej, visiting a geothermal bakery, where we dug the rye bread in its metal container out of the boiling thermal waters where it had been for 24 hours. Fortified with delicious bread and smoked salmon, we headed to the Gullfoss waterfall, another spectacular waterfall in a beautiful setting. From there, we visited Geysir, where we were able to view the geyser’s impressive eruptions multiple times. A true highlight of our trip was our lunch at the Friðheimar tomato farm, where we ate multiple delicious tomato-based dishes while seated among tomato plants that towered over us. Everything on the menu was made with tomatoes, including the ice cream. As true tomato lovers, we were in heaven! Our final stop of the day was Thingvellir National Park (Þingvellir), a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Iceland’s first parliament was established in 930AD. Most thrilling for us was to walk in the Mid-Atlantic ridge between visible edges of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

Throughout our days with Matej, we found him to be interesting and easy to talk to, knowledgeable about everything from the geology to different sites, and sensitive to our interests. Our days were full, and while we spent a lot of time in the car, the changing landscape mesmerized the three of us and our conversations were rich. As we approached Reykjavik, he oriented us to the area around our hotel. We said a grateful goodbye to him at the hotel, and without question, we would happily work with him again. Having Matej as our driver/guide with us the whole time made every day stress-free and enabled us to truly savor our time in Iceland. I truly think we would not change anything and are already thinking about when and where to return.

Traveler Debra Hyman and her family counted glacier snowmobiling among their “incredible experiences.”

Iceland: August 24-31

My family and I just returned from an unforgettable trip to Iceland, and it exceeded every expectation. Mads’ guidance and recommendations were invaluable, and he helped us create a bucket list itinerary that was the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation for myself, my husband, our 17-year-old daughter, and our 14-year-old son.

We began at the Sky Lagoon and ended at the Blue Lagoon, with incredible experiences in between: snowmobiling on a glacier, exploring and climbing through the Katla Ice Cave, ATVing on a black sand beach, and hiking to Þríhnúkagígur to explore the inside of the volcano. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and engaging.

Over the course of the week, we stayed at three amazing hotels: The EDITION in Reykjavík, Torfhús Retreat (where we had our own private geothermal bath!), and Hotel Búðir on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. While we spent a lot of time in the car traveling to each destination, Mads provided thoughtful stop recommendations (waterfalls, national parks, etc.) that broke up the drives and let us experience the beautiful country.

It was truly a trip we will never forget.

My husband Daren Tobert, myself, Sue Tobert, and our neighbors from Wisconsin recently spent 6 days exploring Denmark thanks to a fantastic itinerary organized by Mads in Copenhagen. This is the second time we have worked with Mads. The first trip he helped us with was to Iceland. This more recent trip (8/7/25-8/13/25) included Copenhagen and the southern island of Funen. We enjoyed stylish accommodations, private tours with several guides, a boat trip on the canals, tour of Rosenborg castle, a visit to the PP Mobler furniture factory and showroom, along with a stay at the island hideaway of Falsled Kro. The food experiences were also incredible and included a 13-course degustation at Kong Hans Kælder.

Our highlight came on our last evening in Copenhagen when we dined with a lovely Danish couple in their home. This “Dine with Danes” special event allowed us to experience a home-cooked Danish meal, excellent conversation, and to grow new friendships!

Mads’ team made travel easy for us and we experienced a wonderful week in Denmark prior to embarking on a cruise around Scotland.

Our almost two-week-long trip to Iceland was absolutely amazing. We traveled around and off the ring road. Our planner, Mads, was perfect and listened to all of our wants and needs on this trip. He even made sure we went clockwise on the ring road, knowing the traffic is primarily going the other way. Probably one of my most favorite activities that he booked for us was the food tour when we arrived. We thought it was just about eating Icelandic things, but it was actually a historical, architectural and cultural tour as well. We LOVED Eric, our guide, who was a 30-generation Icelander, and the food we had checked off all the tourist boxes we were looking for.

We did the whale watching tour in Husavik, which was lovely, but doing it over, we would likely pick the RIB boat tour instead. They were faster and would get to the whales before our big boat could. Another great trip was the iceberg lagoon. We got to see several seals, icebergs up close, and the glacier from a distance. The weather was amazing that day, and so it made for great photos and perfect views. Our planner, Mads, was very clear on which hotels were more “basic” than others, so we were prepared before arriving. He made sure there was a great balance of sightseeing and breaks throughout our travels (we drove over 2000 miles).

We loved it, and would highly recommend Iceland to anyone looking for outdoor adventures and nature.

Travelers Suzanne and John Johnston rode ATVs to an eerie beachfront plane wreck.

Iceland: Fast, fiery, and full of wow!

In between trips to Faroe Islands and Newfoundland, my husband John and I enjoyed six full days in Iceland arranged by Mads with a little help from his colleague Tina on the ground in Reykjavik.

After a transfer to our hotel in Reykjavik and a chance to catch our breath, we were treated to a walking food and city tour. Add in tasty local bites along the way, and we left full of knowledge—and just full enough. And some great places to seek out later on our own.

Our itinerary wove together history, geothermal wonders, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes, making for full and enriching days of exploration. We celebrated the opportunity to have freedom in road-tripping with moments of quiet reflection.

Despite a fairly tight itinerary, we felt comfortable with the options presented and free to pick and choose; so much to see and so little time. In hindsight we would have skipped over the tomato soup experience and the geothermal bakery, leaving more time for other activities. Regardless, all travel choices are a personal experience!

We journeyed to Snæfellsnes Peninsula and drove the Golden Circle route. It was really difficult to move on from one scenic view to the next. Around every twist and turn, opportunities for incredible photos presented. We captured images of lava fields, erupting geysers, and thunderous waterfalls.

We chose to venture a bit further into the South Coast…. We like to call it adrenaline, lava, and a touch of sci-fi drama. The ATV ride across black sand beaches, splashing through rivers and cruising past the eerie, movie-set-worthy DC-3 plane wreck was one of our favourite activities in that area.

Just when our pulse settled, we descended into the Lava Tunnel, where Iceland showed off its inner glow. The neon-lit rocks almost made me believe I could do the Moon Walk.

Our stays at the Hótel Búðir and Hotel Ranga both offered front-row seats to some of the country’s most cinematic landscapes. Both accommodations offered locally inspired cuisine prepared to perfection. Overall? Stunning!

A must to return!

Traveler Sonja Haggert was captivated by Hamlet’s castle, seeming to rise from the fog.

Brian and I visited Copenhagen before, but never like this. What this city offers in history and beauty can only be topped by its fantastic museums and commitment to environmental conservation.

Our tour with William Draeger, at the suggestion of Mads, was a wonderful opportunity to see some of what the average tourist would overlook. And then there were the hot dogs, but I digress.

Our first day was serious walking and tasting. I mentioned those hot dogs—so many varieties and so little time. But we also tasted real Danish Pastry, which William had bought before the tour, so we wouldn’t have to wait in line. Our stop at the Farmer’s Market, Torvehallerne, included cheese, some wonderful chocolate, and fish meatballs. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried fish meatballs! We also toured Rosenborg Castle and heard many delightful historical anecdotes from William during our nine-mile walk.

The next day can only be described as out of this world. Our driver, Tina, along with William, took us along the beautiful coastline to Elsinore and the Castle that Shakespeare used for Hamlet. The castle sits on a cliff surrounded by a moat. It was foggy, and the castle seemed to rise out of the fog. The Baltic Sea and the North Sea surround the property. For a picnic lunch on the grounds, William had brought along a feast of bread he baked, curried herring, crackers made from a beer byproduct, and his wife’s rhubarb muffins. What a thoughtful treat since those were all things we love.

On our way home, we stopped at the Louisiana Museum, a modern art museum that is as dramatic outside as inside. We could have spent most of the day there.

If I said the previous day was out of this world, our last day was about to overshadow that. We began at the Contemporary Copenhagen Museum, where we were greeted by our personal guide before the museum officially opened. The museum is located in an area called Reffen, which was formerly a shipbuilding facility. Due to the high ceilings, the museum can accommodate large pieces, and it doesn’t disappoint. Reffen also has a food court area with numerous stalls of food from all over the world. We could have tried everything, but the African Peanut Stew stood out.

William had a few surprises that day. First, Copenhill, a recycling facility that stands out as a beautiful skyscraper in the skyline. It is composed of numerous receptacles that collect rainwater, which is used to douse the burning waste so the steam can be used to drive turbines and create electricity. You can take an elevator to the top, and the view of the city is magnificent!

His final surprise was Christiania, a “town” in the midst of the city dedicated to peace, love, and the hippie way of life.

Our guide shared some of his background with us. He has an electrical engineering degree, owned his own business, and recently received a degree in history. He was a font of knowledge and an absolute delight to be with.

Mads and his team were excellent in helping our group plan a weekend retreat in Iceland. We are a group of nine business school alums who meet annually for a trip with family members. Mads helped organize hotels, transportation, meals, and some fun activities. Very knowledgeable and very helpful! Thank you!

We went to Iceland and Mads and his colleague did a great job with the locations and activities and restaurant suggestions. We appreciated how he was able to step in during the trip when we had to pivot at various times because of driving times or weather. Some of our best experiences were actually while we were en route somewhere else and being on the lookout for local spots, but the two glacier experiences that Mads organized were particularly memorable, stunning and exciting. The restaurants were all delicious!

Travelers Daren and Sue Tobert on the Sólheimajökull glacial tongue after a three-hour hike.

After a two week vacation in Europe we did a six day stopover in Iceland on our way home. We worked with Mads in Denmark. Mads arranged a fantastic tour of Reykjavik, and the west and south areas of the island for us. We had a ton of fun exploring the waterfalls, beaches, caves and glaciers. The accommodations at the Black Pearl, Hotel Budir and Hotel Ranga were top notch. We had so many wonderfully surprising experiences as we immersed ourselves in the history, culture and landscape of the island we couldn’t help but fall in love with Iceland. It is on our list to return to soon.

Some highlights included a self-guided driving tour around Snaefellsnes Peninsula, exploring the rift valley at Thingvellir National Park, and sampling a variety of foods with our knowledgeable guide, Nori. Who knew Rye Bread ice cream was a real thing? Our WOW came while hiking on the glacial tongue at Sólheimajökull in the south. The three-hour hike included peeking over the edges of crevasses and glacial moulins where meltwater pours in making deep shafts. We remain humbled and in awe of the power of nature in Iceland!

Traveler Gail Fennell and her family cruised in a monster truck along the black beach.

Iceland March 4-9, 2025
I highly recommend my travel consultant Mads. He helped me plan a 5-day trip to Iceland for my family (my husband, myself, my 3 grown sons with their significant others, and my 5-month-old granddaughter). There was not one aspect of the trip that I would have changed. We climbed glaciers on foot and in a monster truck, went dog sledding (even the baby), soaked in the hot springs, drove down the black beach and relaxed in a fabulous villa in the country where we saw a spectular show of the Northern Lights. Every one of his recommendations worked with our family situation and one day was more exciting than the next. We will definitely be using Wendy Perrin’s WOW List again!

An ATV tour went to the Solheimasandur, the restricted area of a plane crash on the Icelandic beach. Photo: Traveler Jeff Witkop

Mads did a fantastic job planning our trip and was even able to adjust when we heard word of one of the ice caves collapsing and of the volcanic eruption surrounding the Blue Lagoon. In the first instance he quickly came up with an alternative tour and, in the second, he built out a fallback plan if the Blue Lagoon hadn’t reopened by the time we arrived. Also, he did his best to accommodate our request to book hotels with fitness facilities. He was successful in two of our three hotels.

His choice of Glumur as our guide/driver was perfect. Glumur knows the country and capitalized on our time in the van, sharing local and Icelandic history along the way. He too was able to adjust on the fly as 60 mph winds cancelled our glacier walk. He found a local museum and waterfall and kept us out of the cold. We would absolutely use Wendy’s experts in the future.

Mads planned a great trip on our recent visit to Iceland. Our first stop was the Blue Lagoon. It was very refreshing after our overnight flight. We were disappointed because it rained much of the time we were there, but that was not the fault of our trip planner. He did a great job on the itinerary. Our driver guide was Valdemar and he did a wonderful job. He was very friendly and informative.

The landscape was amazing. We had a guided tour of a lava cave and saw many waterfalls and rainbows. The tomato farm was a special experience. A farm to fork restaurant based inside a hydroponic greenhouse. We ate the best tomato soup and crusty bread. The highlight of our trip was Thingvellir National Park where you walk between the continental plates. My husband studied geology so this was a real treat for him. We went in September which is the rainiest month so we missed some other sites because of the weather. We should have added some extra days to rest and for a slower pace. Maybe we will be able to return at some point in the future.

A private canal boating excursion was one of many Denmark highlights. Photo: Traveler Howard Wolff

Mads Tange Christensen designed a perfect itinerary that delighted two travelers in their 70s and two in their 30s, giving us unforgettable memories from a busy week in Denmark: biking, a private boat ride on the canal, dining with Danes, as well as visits to the Viking Ship Museum, Danish Design Museum, Roskilde Cathedral, HC Museum, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and more.

Since we arrived at 7am after an overnight flight, we were thankful that Mads arranged for early check-in at our hotel, allowing us to take a quick nap before embarking on our 2-1/2 hour bike tour. Our guide Lotte was fascinating and personable; and Dan, our driver throughout the trip, was delightful and very helpful.

Our evening at the beautiful home of the Danish couple Lene and Carsten (sp?) was not only delicious but also engaging—a great conversation and human connection. We’ll remember it fondly.

As an architect, I found our design-themed day to be particularly impactful, and my family members loved it, too. Getting a private tour of a working wood furniture factory, PP Mobler, including a visit to their forest, was very special. A conversation with a young designer at his studio was meaningful, insightful, and enlightening; and our final stop of the day at the Danish Design Museum heightened our awareness and appreciation for Danish ingenuity. After that day, we noticed every chair we sat in!

On a particularly jam-packed day, we decided to skip a visit to the Egeskov Castle and drove straight to the island of Funen after visiting Roskilde, the former capital of Denmark. The Hans Christian Andersen Museum was surprisingly clever and interactive. The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art was unique and special.

We really enjoyed our harbor-facing room at 71 Nyhavn in Copenhagen. The hotel was perfectly situated, and the breakfast options were fabulous. Our overnight stay at Falsled Kro was beautiful and indulgent; our breakfast was one of the best we’ve ever had. The rooms were simply elegant and spacious. Arrangements for a late check-out allowed us to enjoy an e-bike ride from the property in the morning, and we loved every minute. Tivoli, with its theme-park vibe, was of more interest to our kids than it was to us, but we had a great time. All in all, a great experience that we are grateful to have had. Thank you.

Watching an artisan work at the PP Møbler furniture factory. Photo: Traveler Cari Bender

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Copenhagen to visit our daughter who is studying abroad there. Mads Tange Christensen helped us plan a lovely vacation (March 23-27) where we got to explore all over the area. We loved visiting the gorgeous Louisiana modern art museum on a beautiful day in the most spectacular setting, with Elsinore (of Hamlet fame) on the way. We learned about Danish food on a food tour and loved seeing the city from a private boat excursion along the canal.

Our favorite day was the Danish design day! We love Danish design, and Mads arranged for us to have a private tour of a furniture manufacturer and meet some current local artists in their own studio. It was a special and memorable day. My son and I probably took 1,000 photographs and we all loved learning about the history of prominent furniture design. We had a terrific hotel right in Nyhavn, the famous canal with the colored buildings that was centrally located and super charming. The other incredibly memorable adventure was Dine with Danes, where we had a truly special evening at the home of a local couple. They prepared a Danish Easter dinner for us — they must have cooked for two days! We simply adored them and we had a wonderful evening together. It was very special. Mads planned a terrific trip for us, and we will remember it forever!

Excellent trip to Iceland, Faroe Islands and Copenhagen, Mads was always available no matter the time or day, even for last-minute changes or requests.

Extremely knowledgeable of the areas to visit and awesome suggestion for a couple of spa days in a wellness resort in northern Copenhagen before touring the city.

Don’t miss Ræst Restaurant in the Faroes if you go there, and for sure don’t go without talking to Mads!!

Rainbow over Copenhagen. Photo: Traveler Lynn Herrick

Just back from Denmark! We rarely travel to Europe in the summer because of the heat and crowds, but we needed to be in Berlin in mid-July this year and wanted to add a week to another destination prior to reaching Berlin. Denmark was the PERFECT choice. Not too hot (even chilly some days!), reasonable crowds, not too expensive, and very enjoyable. Mads arranged our trip for us and he made it very easy. We did not mind driving in Denmark, so he arranged for a private car and put together an itinerary that gave us a flavor of the country. Our college-age kids traveled with us and there was enough to keep everyone engaged. We loved, loved, loved Copenhagen. Our hotel was in the middle of all the action and the city is extremely walkable and public transportation easy to navigate. Our first morning in town was our WOW Moment, and it was perfect. We sailed (electric boat) around the city with a private tour guide and lots of fun snacks. It was a great introduction to the city and the guide gave us lots of ideas for the rest of our trip. We traveled to several cities after Copenhagen, visited castles, stayed at an inn that has been hosting guests since 1744, learned all about Hans Christian Andersen, visited museums, enjoyed a ferry ride, and stayed in a charming Danish seaside town with a great spa. We finished the trip with one more fun night in Copenhagen and stayed up late, as the sun seems to last forever. The only part of our trip that was frustrating was the voucher system that really did not work well, but hopefully, with the feedback we provided, Mads and his team will update that system! Highly recommend Mads and Denmark for a special summer trip.

Due to problems with a previous agent, we had our first conversation with Mads two months before our Icelandic adventure was set to begin. It was in the few first minutes that Mads noted that he is turning customers away, as Iceland is sold out. Obviously freaking out, he quickly added, for Wendy and Brook VIPs, I have rooms/cars/guides. Across multiple calls, in a week, he hit our budget and planned our trip. It was amazing. What our first agent couldn’t do over six months, Mads did in six days…

This trip was to celebrate my birthday. Mads arranged for dinner at the best restaurant in Reykjavík (a pull I couldn’t make on my own), surprised me with not only birthday gifts but a full hotel property upgrade AND his insistence of an adventure activity (snowmobiling) gave my wife her favorite part of the trip. My favorite part? The WOW Moment at the Blue Lagoon, thank you Wendy & Brook, never had a floating massage before…drifted to relaxation.

Mads showed that he genuinely cared about me and my wife. Every person he arranged for us to encounter mimicked his tone, his care and his expertise. There was no promise unkept, communication was seamless and he was always present without being overbearing. Great trip.

Just back from Copenhagen. Mads was very helpful in planning my short trip. The hotel in Nyhavn was perfectly located with a view of the water. The restaurant suggestions were on point. The private walking tour with Sophie was very educational and enjoyable. National Museum was a great place to learn the history. Renting bikes is definitely the way to get around, as well as walking.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL Obviously, you can’t control the weather but had we known Sept is the rainiest month in Iceland, we would have gone another time. We had rain and or snow every day and cold rain. Our dates were Sept 20-25th 2021. We needed down jackets, warm scarfs, hats, gloves and heavy sweaters every day. The trip planner included two stops that we suggested that we highly recommend: the Harpan music hall and the tomato farm, which we loved. Make sure you go to a concert at the music hall. When our helicopter tour was canceled over the active volcano, Mads, our tour operator, suggested the new spa, the Sky Lagoon, which we loved, to relax and rejuvenate. The glacier hike, zodiac tour, snowmobiling and waterfalls are a must. The Blue Lagoon was fabulous. Please note there is a lot of driving on this trip. After our two hour glacier ice pick hiking tour, which ending at 6 pm, we had a two hour drive to our hotel.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  We really appreciated Mads’ help with our trip to Iceland. We booked at the last minute after another trip had to be cancelled, so he did a great job getting us hotels and experiences that we wanted and altering the trip to our desires even given the short time. Everything there is pretty much COVID friendly so that was all great. If we had more time we may have looked into different hotels but it was fine given our limits. Also he was helpful changing things around when we decided we didn’t want to do an activity since they didn’t have the time we wanted.

We had a very robust back and forth with our travel specialist in the planning of our trip. This paid off as our trip went off without a hitch and we did not need to contact our travel specialist while we were in Iceland. The selection of our guide Gummi was the icing on the cake as he made our four days with him very special and memorable based on his knowledge of all aspects of Iceland. The only issue we had in retrospect is that our travel specialist should have recommended to us that we stay at The Retreat Hotel at the Blue Lagoon rather than Reykjavik the night before we were leaving Iceland, as we have heard through other travelers that the upscale Retreat was very special.

Response from Wendy:

There’s a lesson here for Iceland-bound travelers: The reason Mads did not recommend The Retreat to Carol is that she had requested 4-star hotels and had specified a trip budget. The Retreat is a 5-star property that would have cost her 1,500 euros for the one night and would have blown her budget.  The lesson?  Iceland is expensive.  If you want to be offered special and unique experiences, clarify that your budget is flexible.

Having never traveled to Copenhagen before it was a little daunting as to how to plan a trip to visit three different castles outside the city. We didn’t want to rent a car for the day and enter Mads who arranged for a car and driver who acted as our amazing guide to take us on a day trip outside the city. I can’t say enough great things about our guide. He grew up in the area and was extremely knowledgeable. He guided us to visit the first two castles and allow extra time for the last one which was the highlight of the day. We couldn’t have done this without Mads. Thank you for making our last day in Copenhagen so, so special.

Mads and Tina planned a wonderful trip for my family of 3 (myself, my husband and teenage daughter) to Iceland and Denmark. I spoke to Mads in May about the trip which we wanted to take in mid-August. I wasn’t sure if this was enough time but it all came together very quickly. I told him the level of activity we were looking for and he quickly came back with a suggested itinerary for our 4 days in Iceland and one day of activities in Copenhagen. All details such as airport pickups and transfers were handled seamlessly, with to-go breakfasts prepared for us for our two days with early morning flights. The hotels were lovely (especially the Hotel D’Angleterre in Copenhagen!) and most importantly the tour companies and tour guides were outstanding. They really made the trip for us and I don’t believe I would have found them without Mads’ guidance. We had amazing days full of adventure in Iceland and loved our time with our super competent, warm and knowledgeable guide. In Copenhagen, we had a versatile and personable guide who even serenaded us with her beautiful voice during our private cruise along the canal.

We booked a 4-hour tour of contemporary architecture in and around Copenhagen with Tina Thorman, thanks to an introduction by Wendy Perrin. Our guide Sofie was SUPERB. She was knowledgeable, delightful and we had a wonderful experience. The tour included all of my “must sees” and more. The pace was good and the itinerary was flexible. Sophie deserves TOP, TOP, TOP rating!

The trip they planned was very enjoyable, and we saw a lot of the key things in Iceland.

Pros:
Had a couple of “off the beaten track” WOW-type moments — most notably a trip down a tiny elevator into a very deep volcano crater and a snowmobile excursion on a glacier at the top of the Golden Circle. Both really excellent, both very memorable. Our hotels were very good and pretty well chosen, and Mads provided some good guidance on restaurants, etc. The overall packaging was good and all of the logistics went perfectly.

Cons (Not really cons, just things that weren’t excellent):
We told Mads that a big purpose of the trip was to focus on the geology of Iceland — it was a trip with just me and my son, who was starting to study geology at his college, and we picked Iceland for geological interest. I would say the trip kinda followed that goal, but not fully. We had asked for a guide with real geology knowledge, and our guide was good overall (not great, but good) and knew some geology but not at more than a typically good guide’s depth.

We also had one day at the end of the trip with an activity that was pretty mediocre — a river rafting trip that was a very long schlep for a pretty short time on the river with no real rapids. I think Mads was trying to find something “different” — which I guess it was — but it just wasn’t a very good day.

Overall, I’d say the trip was a solid B+. Many memorable parts, very glad we went…at the same time, not truly excellent. Still, I would recommend Mads to a friend.