France Pilgrimage Reviews & Testimonials

“The hotel staff was very accommodating. Everything went well in Lourdes. We did all we wanted to do there. We had a great time in Paris and Lisieux. Daniel was a great Tour Manager. He spoiled the women who wanted to go shopping. The flight back was without any problem. Everyone came back safe and sound. Now, they are asking when I will organize the next pilgrimage. Several expressed a desire to go to the Holy Land.”

“On behalf of myself, and the 35 pilgrims from Our Lady on the River and St. Frances Cabrini parishes, I would like to thank you very much for another excellent pilgrimage organized by yourselves and your partners at Unitours. Without exception, everyone was very pleased with all of our accommodations, and the itinerary. I would not consider working with any other travel agents or agency...you've spoiled me! You have my highest recommendation. My many thanks for another wonderful pilgrimage.”

“It is with a profound sense of joy that I am writing to you to express my gratitude to Unitours for such a grace filled pilgrimage. In terms of coordination, as always, everything went smoothly. Both Pedro and Jo were excellent tour guides for the pilgrims. Not only they were well versed in the sites visited but also, they are true witnesses of the faith and that made a great deal of spiritual impact on the pilgrims. Again, my heartfelt gratitude for another great experience. We look forward for future great spiritual adventures!”

“Having walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago in 2019 and not being able to go to Mass due to renovations then, made Mass at the Cathedral a spiritual impact on me this trip. The history, beauty, and magnitude of the church was beyond my imagination!”

“I must say it went great! The pilgrims were very pleased. I received the ultimate compliment from our superior guide, Maria ("Jo") saying that she'd never been on a pilgrimage that was so truly "pilgrimage-like" as this one, with the kind of Masses and meditations offered. The time of year for this pilgrimage was perfect. Mass at the Miraculous Medal Shrine was perfect. It meant a lot to the pilgrims. We were able to have Mass that first night in the crypt of the main basilica. Perfect! The torchlight possession that night at Lourdes was perfect for those who wished to join. Amazing choice of hotels! They were much enjoyed by all.”

“I wanted to reach out and let you know that our recent pilgrimage to Portugal, France and Spain was wonderful! I kept waiting for something to not go as planned and I can honestly say that the trip went flawlessly and was memorable beyond words. Pedro Pais, our guide, executed our tours in each city with much enthusiasm and knowledge. His personal relationships with the city guides proved to be beneficial with their clear English and fervent expertise. I can’t count all the little extras he helped make happen for us. He truly is the best in his field. Many thanks for all your hard work in helping to put this epic trip together!“

“The nighttime candlelight processions were amazing. Our guide, Jose, was wonderful. The processions were so moving, hearing the Rosary in so many different languages.”

I am very grateful for the well-organized tours I have had the pleasure of experiencing with your company. Your professionalism, attention to detail, and care for your travelers make each journey enjoyable and meaningful. Wishing you a blessed and successful year filled with continued growth and many wonderful journeys ahead.

With sincere thanks,

“The selection of sites visited and the amount of time we spent at each site was excellent. We never felt rushed. We had plenty of time to pray and experience the atmosphere of the sites. Fr Niall was just outstanding as our spiritual guide. Jose was such a good tour guide.”

“This is my second Pilgrimage with Unitours and readily recommend Unitours to my priest friends and parishioners.”

“Daniel, was an excellent tour manager. He had our concerns covered over the entire trip, from arrival to departure boarding. I am very happy with the pilgrimage and would like to use your company again.”

“Pedro did so MANY extra things to enhance our trip. He had so much info and many relevant stories which he shared with great enthusiasm. ”

“Thanks for all the help in making this trip arrangements. This trip was just so fantastic, awe inspiring and overwhelming. The accommodations, the food was also very good. Our tour guide, Jose was just terrific. I appreciate the work Unitours put in to make this successful.”

“I returned home with a thirst for knowledge about the Saints and Cathedrals we visited. I bought as many books as I could.”

“A spectacular pilgrimage to Marian shrines in Spain, France and Portugal. Beautiful, comfortable hotels. Beautiful tour with knowledgeable guides. Couldn’t have been better!”

“The trip to Portugal (Fatima) & France (Lourdes) - Unity of the processions of the people in both places were highly spiritual, uplifting, renewed and invigorating.”

"Thank you for your kind email and for facilitating our recent pilgrimage. We truly appreciate the services provided by Unitours and are grateful for your team's efforts in making the trip a meaningful experience for all our pilgrims. Thank you once again for your dedication to serving the needs of our religious communities. We look forward to working with you in the future."

“Our guide (Daniel) was the best tour guide ever. Very knowledgeable, polite, kind and helpful. My first time on a pilgrimage and after this experience I would do it again.”

"Just and overwhelming since of calm and beauty throughout the whole trip. Actually, standing in the holy places where Mary appeared was just an experience that will never be forgotten."

“Looking forward to our next trip on Unitours!”

“Daniel was amazing. Super friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating.”

“It's been a positive and spiritually enriching experience I had with this pilgrimage. I would highly recommend Unitours to my fellow priests. Perhaps just some personal comments and observation regarding some of the places we visited. I would like to mention Lourdes and Fatima, I loved the idea that we were given the time to explore those places on our own.”

“Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse Lisieux had a spiritual essence for me and along with being in the same room with the body of St. Bernadette. Sandra, our guide had a great depth of knowledge about every place we visited on the pilgrimage. She was patient, friendly and kept us on schedule, not an easy task! Enrique, our driver, was so very skilled with the big bus, amazing! All in all, a great trip, great pilgrims, leaders, and guides, and great value.”

“Although I've been to both Fatima and Lourdes before on a (regular tour), the experiences I had this time were truly intense - they deepened my faith, particularly going to the Shrine in Fatima, actually seeing the 3 children's homes and the spots where our Lady appeared to them, as well as the angel. Visiting St. Bernadette's homes and her family story were so very touching and inspiring. I'm able to read more about the details of her life from the little book that I bought from the bookstore. All the other places: St Teresa of Avila, St Ignatius of Loyola, and St. Thereses of Lisieux were all worth visiting. I truly enjoyed and profited much from this year's pilgrimage.”

“The Lourdes and Fatima Processions, witnessing, everyone praying together in different languages, gave me hope in Christ and his Blessed Mother. Our travel group and priest were wonderful.”

“The entire day at the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene and the journey up the mountain to the cave where she lived the remainder of her life. She was the inspiration for my desire to go on this pilgrimage.”

“One is changed forever after Fatima and Lourdes!”

“Sandra our tour guide was wonderful. I would take another trip if I knew she would be the guide. Knowledgeable, accommodating and friendly are just a few adjectives to describe her. We had a great time.”

“Monte Saint Michael was amazing as was the Basilica of Sacred Heart in Paris.”

“Mt Saint Michel was a spectacular place! What a beautiful dedication to St. Michael. Feel very blessed to have seen it, and all the places we visited.”

“I happily recommend Unitours to priests I know, but only those who seem to me likely to be well qualified and well-disposed to the flexibility and good humor required on a pilgrimage. I think Unitours pilgrims deserve the very best priests serving on pilgrimage because those pilgrims participate with great spiritual and social expectations. Fellowship is crucial among the group members. Thank you for everything!!”

“Everyone, including Paola, our tour coordinator, and Rodrigo, our driver, were excellent. The praying of rosaries in different languages and the torchlight procession after rosaries. Makes you feel connected with everyone.”

“The International Candlelight Procession was a highlight. It was nice to see so many different ethnicities coming together for a common purpose without worrying about cultural differences.”

“I loved Mount Ste. Michel, Chartres and it was spiritual to visit Omaha Beach.”

“At Fatima, the evening procession was quit moving as well as the celebration of Mass at the apparition sight. Jo, our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge and provided so much interesting info. She also has very pleasing personality. The driver was also excellent.”

“My pilgrimage was life changing.”

“Pedro was the most amazing guide for our whole experience, his knowledge and willingness to share with us was beyond excellent. The local guides were also amazing. An overall Blessed journey!!

“The Tour manager, Maria Jo, and Clayton, the bus driver, are the best. They made me feel like I’ve known them forever.”

“Visiting the grotto at Lourdes had such an impact. Also really enjoyed our private masses in small chapels celebrated by our priest.”

The Torch Lighting ceremony, as a universal world sang Ave Marie impacted us greatly.

“The choir at the mass in Fatima made the experience even more special. My questions before the trip were answered clearly and in a friendly manner.”

“Maria was by far the most excellent of tour guides we have ever had in any of our travels over our years. Maria is a faith-filled and genuine, personable, knowledgeable, kind, caring, calm, efficient, and exemplary. We were in excellent hands during the entire pilgrimage. Words cannot accurately convey our appreciation.”

“Mass at the shrines was such a spirit filled moment. The knowledge of our guide, Maria. Excellent guide and wonderful lady !”

“Our tour guide Maria was remarkable and really made the trip all that it was. So blessed to see three Marian sites in one trip.”

“Full of activity. Fatima and Lourdes. Highlight was our time together. The food was great!”

“Jose was wonderful, he made the trip perfect!!”

“The food was great! And I really appreciate the effort that Jose put in to make sure I received vegetarian meals. It was a great experience and I would love to go on another Pilgrimage that is run by Unitours.”

“Tour manager, Jose, was awesome, a true professional.”

“Jose was incredibly calm and had everyday completely under control! I would request him again in a heartbeat when we travel in his area again. We are already thinking about our next pilgrimage!”

“Thank you for all you did for us and be assured that we are family and will continue to worth together!"

“The Lourdes Torchlight Marian Procession was so special. Since I was a little girl, I would hear that from my Aunt, who was a nun. Finally, I had chance to be there .”

"Thank you so much for everything you did to make our Pilgrimage of Hope to France an impactful experience! Many treasured memories! New friendships! Carlos, our Tour Manager, and Philippe, our bus driver, guided us along the way. We are grateful for their professionalism and expertise! Fr. Mark gave us a Blessing of Thanksgiving at our Mass on Sunday. We will relive many moments of grace as we recall the many Saints in France whose paths we crossed."

"The Pilgrimage was really amazing and profoundly spiritual. We kept you in prayer as well. Our Tour Guide, Carlos, was very attentive to the needs of my people and was easy to work with. His knowledge of history and the places we visited was remarkable. Fillipe, our driver, was incredibly accommodating. Taking bags to our rooms on his own and a tremendously good driver and pleasant personality. Carlos and Fillipe worked well together and I thought it helped to keep us on track and on time. As a combination I don't think you could ask for any better. We also gave extra money to both for a job well done. The trip was an A+. Thank you for making it a joyful and spiritual experience."

"The greatest spiritual impact were the relics of the saints. Being in the presence of the relics left me with a peaceful feeling of release and renewal. The entire pilgrimage was fabulous. Carlos, the tour leader, was thoughtful, kind, flexible, spontaneous and happy. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the sacred and secular history of France. He and Phillipe, the bus driver, worked together like a well-oiled team. I felt as though I was in good hands throughout the entire trip. This was a life-changing experience, and I am ever so grateful for Carlos, Phillipe, Unitours, Father Mark and Joanne for making this happen. Seeds of joy have been planted in my heart."

"What impacted me the most was the visit to St. Therese's childhood home and the Basilica dedicated to St. Therese. A very peaceful place. The nun that spoke to us was fantastic, so gentle, kind, spiritual, and genuine. She was inspiring. The tour guide and bus driver were exceptional."

"St. Bernadette and St. John Vianney’s uncorrupted bodies were impressive. Chartres Cathedral was outstanding. Our tour manager and bus driver were super excellent!"

"All the sites were most interesting and added to spiritual experience. Lourdes was extra special as I have heard about since I was a little girl and a goal to experience. It has the healing waters that you can physically touch as well as the nightly procession and rosary that is amazing. It was also special to experience Bernadette's life in Nevers where she could escape the publicity and minister to those in need. All in all, the whole experience with the other members of our group, Fr. Tom, Pedro, who knew so much history that was educational and pertinent to the areas we visited. Of course, not to forget Louis, our driver, who kept us safe on the road."

"Seeing the resurrection of Notre Dame of Paris stood out as truly inspiring."

"Just a quick note to let you know that we all arrived safely home after an incredible pilgrimage. All went well. We had fantastic weather throughout the trip. Pedro was incredible, as always, as our tour guide. We had a brand-new bus, which was very comfortable. I so appreciate all your help to me personally and to our participants as they contacted you for information. Thank you too for the Economy Plus seat on the flight to and from London. So helpful with my long legs! I really appreciate it. Our hotel in Paris was perfectly located and very lovely. Also, our hotel in Lourdes was the absolute best, just outside the entrance, so charming and wonderful food. The hotel in Lyon was probably everyone’s favorite. It was very comfortable and it was by far the best food. It was also a very welcome two-night stay. I look forward to working together again."

Peace+

"Our Tour Manager, Pedro, was a genial host and guide. Fr. Tom is a gracious host and wonderful spiritual leader. His preaching is exceptional! Our driver, Luis, is a pleasant and helpful presence. His driving skills are exceptional. Pat, thank you for all your help with questions and details of the trip"

"Being able to travel to Lourdes and to Nevers on the same pilgrimage helped to know more about St Bernadette where she received Marian apparitions in 1858, and Nevers, where she lived as a nun and is buried. Time in Lourdes was meaningful. Amazing leader in Fr. Tom, knowledgeable and organized main tour guide (Pedro) and skillful bus driver (Luis)! Overall, we had a busy yet wonderful experience."

"Lourdes was especially moving for me. It was heart wrenching to see all of the pilgrims who were there in the hope of a cure. I was impressed with all of the volunteers. There are so many wonderful people in the world, but we generally hear about the bad ones. Our guide, Pedro, was very knowledgeable, had a sense of humor and was easy to understand and to work with. Louis, our driver, was more than amazing. He took that bus where I would be concerned to drive a car! Always felt totally comfortable with him at the wheel."

"Our tour guide in Lyon, Stephanie, was outstanding."

"I would rate Unitours at the top of my list. You always go above and beyond!"