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I would like to express my unconditional support of my new friend, Paul Mason. I first met Paul in Newtonmore while on a 6-week journey to the British Isles and Ireland. After our arrival in Edinburgh Scotland, I rented a car and drove two arduous hours to the Highlands. At the airport completing a long journey across the pond, we paid for Super CDW (to cover unexpected expenses related to the car rental) and ultimately paid an exorbitant price for the car, insurance and gas.
We first ran into Paul and struck up a wonderful conversation over dinner at a Scot pub. We learned that he was quite an expert not only as a driver in the military but later as a full-time lorry driver. We also found he was very knowledgeable in family ancestry research. We stayed in touch with Paul over our next month in Scotland and Ireland having travelled with a large tour group and on our own for two weeks on each island.
Once Paul discovered that we were paying exorbitant rates for travelling and not experiencing the full benefits of what the U.K. has to offer due to the stresses involved in extensive travel it was proposed that he become our chauffeur, tour guide, researcher, travel agent and “man Friday” at a rate very comparable to what we were spending already.
My wife and I found that to be one of the best decisions we have ever made over many decades of travel both in the U.S and abroad. By hiring Paul to help us we were able to relax and not worry about the many details of visiting the wonders of Wales over the next two weeks. He consistently picked us up and dropped us off whenever we requested and consistently was “Johnny on the spot” when he was needed. Being able to drop us off at the popular sites and not worrying about parking, filling up the car and all the miscellaneous things that make travel exhausting was also a blessing.
Paul also made sure that all our needs were met. From providing water and snacks in his well-kept car to making sure the temperature was comfortable to ensuring that we dined at the best yet affordable places, his help was invaluable. He was also able to help us navigate the difficulties inherent in getting into and out of hotels and rescheduling to better hotels at less cost in areas closer to venues than we had been able to find online.
Over the course of our journey with Paul we always felt safe and secure. I was able to focus on the experience and not worry about traffic tickets, accidents, unexpected delays and just relax and enjoy myself. Paul was also very easy to talk to and did not insert himself into our private conversations and allowed up to be together in a comfortable and unobtrusive manner.
I cannot express how thankful I am for Paul having been willing to spend time with us making our journey that will leave lasting fond memories. I look forward to having other trips with Paul and cannot wait to return again to see the heart of Great Britain with Paul once again.
After spending a harrowing journey driving on the left side of the road two weeks in Scotland and two in Ireland, we connected with a guide, Paul Mason, an Englishman, and finished two weeks in Wales without the stress of driving and navigating the one-lane curvy roads of some of the best British scenery and attractions.
For what we calculated as close to the same cost we would have paid to rent a car as we had done our first four weeks, Paul took over and chauffeured us in his comfortable car. He followed the general itinerary we had already established, but he was able to fill in our blank spots with castles, coastal wonders, and attractions that we would never known about.
A driver of lorries (we call them 18-weeler trucks) for 15 years, Paul knew the whole of Wales. We regretted that we had not met him earlier to have had an even better experience in Scotland and Ireland. We plan that for a future trip and then there is England itself.
Before driving a lorry, Paul was a British soldier. We found him to be personable, knowledgeable, and professional. He carried our luggage, dropped us right a the door of each venue and was waiting there when we came out. Taking care of parking and gas, being at the ready when we finished tours saved remarkable time and allowed us to see even more attractions than if we continued the trip on our own.
If we had met him before we made our initial plans and accommodations, we could have saved so much more time and money. When we were able to change our reservations and stay where it made more sense once he was tutoring us, he found us lovely hotels that cost much less than what we had found on line in advance. He knew of the best local pubs and other eateries all along the way and could recommend great menu items that we were unfamiliar with.
We can highly recommend Paul as a driver, knowledgeable guide and entertaining travel companion. He regularly repeated that he was not a trained professional guide per se, but how does one train for such? By going to places in person. In his military and lorry careers, he clearly scoured the whole of Britain and other European countries, and with his great memory, he was continually pointing out landmarks, history and culture that enhanced our last two week journey far more than our first four, AND we could relax and both look out the window as we traveled rather than clutch a steering wheel and keep eyes glued to the narrow, windy roads and GPS navigation in a rent car.
Traveling with Paul is far cheaper, more personal and private than big bus tours as well! He can work with you in advance of your trip of a lifetime. He specializes in family history and can help you trace your British roots. I had already done a massive search of our genealogy for many years before this long-planned trip. but even so, Paul surprised me by researching our roots very exactly as my research tracked. He can then take you to death, burial, and castle dwellings of your ancestors. That's the icing on the cake for those who plan to trace their roots.
Though we enjoyed his companionable company immensely and count ourselves life-long friends, he remained professional and declined accompanying us at our tour venues. He felt we should enjoy those together to keep the sense of privacy that had been our goal for this trip. We look forward to our next foray with Paul Mason and hope to host him and his wife in Texas one day. The price and peace of mind combine to make travel with him al win-win all around.
