Estancia Alicura Testimonials

Dear Ward & Charlie,

Jane and I wanted to drop you folks a note of thanks now that we’ve returned from Estancia Alicura.

Where to begin? It’s a fashionable corporate catchphrase that says “People are our most important asset” and I’m inclined to believe it at Estancia Alicura. Danny and his staff have taken hospitality and elevated it to an art form. The chefs are formidable…yes, formidable; I actually began to fear mealtime because they consistently set such a magnificent table! I carry too much ballast as it is, and they aren’t helping any!

Hunting with Pedro was an absolute joy; that young man will do well in his profession as he has all the skills and is now simply amassing experience. Luciano was a wonderful fly-casting instructor, getting Jane up to speed and catching fish in short order. Thanks a lot for that; like we needed another hobby!

The country is spectacular and everyone made us feel at home from the first moment. This is a trip I’d recommend without hesitation to anyone, as you offer such a wide spectrum of activities. The “Quatro Pescadores” were there fishing while Jane and I were hunting, and I expect that if you can appease such divergent interests and have us all giggling like schoolgirls then you must be doing something very right!

Looking forward to booking with you again,

Mark & Jane Price

Our recent hunting vacation at Estancia Alicura
Embree C. “Chuck” Bedsole
Managing Director – Hospitality & Leisure Group
Alvarez & Marsal Real Estate Advisory Services, LLC.
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Testimonial
English Version

Testimonial
Spanish Version

Hi Danny,

Thank you so so much for everything this last week. I really believed that the 2nd week of our trip was going to be the best part, but now i am convinced that nothing could out-do the ranch. Everyone was so wonderful to us. I have never seen my dad so happy, tired, and relaxed at the same time. Thank you!

Phyllis and I totally planned on a few days of reading, but were so pleased to have such an accommodating and helpful host. We can't thank you enough for all the planning, schedule-changes, and accommodations. Everything from the food to the horseback riding was perfect.

We are off to BA tomorrow, but I couldn't leave Patagonia without telling you thank you for such a wonderful time. If it is at all possible, I will definitely return.

Besos,

Carol Fabrizio

The friends we made here on the ranch will remain in our hearts forever. There are no adequate words, even for a woman, to describe the majesty of the area and the glory of the sites on the ranch and the area beyond. We enjoyed every minute of every day. It was fun, fun and more fun. Everybody has such a wonderful sense of humor. That's how Danny makes up for his size.
Pedro stole my heart, and I have adopted him as my second son.
Nadia is a sweet, charming, and wonderful lady.
Then, there are the "three musketeers" Paco, Fernando and Luciano. What a great and patient crew.
Jorge and his team provided us with 5-star meals.
The red stag are magnificent but for us only to look at. The wild boar are so cute is right?
Forgot to mention Paul who took us bird watching. He is a charming young man.
So I could go on for pages, but Danny is rushing me as I've yet to pack and we are to depart for the airport soon.

Adios,
Janet, Ken, and Shannon Follansbee
Frisco, Texas

Dear Charles & Daniel,
Thank you very much for the excellent service that you provided to our clients and congratulations for the following report that we received from them!!!
Best,
Florencia

Florencia Landeira
MAITEN
Av. Córdoba 657 3p
Buenos Aires (1054)
Argentina
Tel: (5411) 4314-3390
Fax: (5411) 4314-3290
Oper8@mai10.com.ar

You must read this glowing report from my clients. I am so extremely grateful to you guys.
Thank you so VERY much!
Happy New Year!!!

It WAS heaven…a dream trip for our families!!! Thank you. We have the
most wonderful memories to cherish the rest of our lives. The travel
went off without a hitch. And the ranch was GREAT!!! The friendly,
accommodating staff MADE the trip. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t
do for us. They were young and fun and energetic, which was especially great for our boys.
You found a treasure when you discovered Alicura. The food was fabulous. The chef dazzled us daily!!! Time for the New Year’s diet…I’m trying to think of what I didn’t like, but I promise I can’t think of one thing.
I wish we were still there. Honestly, we could have spent a couple more
days there…You really did us right.
Mr. Pope and Mr. Winship.

Ward,

I just wanted to let you know how much my group appreciated our stay at Alicura. All of us felt like we were in another world. The setting was so beautiful and peaceful. The snow capped mountains, the beautiful rivers, the wild animals, all were a treat. I can't say enough about the professionalism of all your people. My hat goes off especially to Danny. He did everything he could to make our stay first class all of the time. Your guides were the best I have ever seen. The food, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and sightseeing were first class. Your place is magnificent. Thank you so much for your personal hospitality, and thank you for giving us all a trip of a lifetime. I hope things are going well for you in Dallas. Please stay in touch, Janet and I would love to see you in Dallas.
Take care,
Jerry Stone

Letter send to: Argentina Tourism Bureau Advisor Mr. Jaime Rios
From: Mel Krieger, Worldwide fly-fishing instructor & writer

Mel Krieger, Worldwide fly-fishing instructor & writer

Dear Jaime,
Once again, I’ve had a wonderful stay in my adopted country. On this and previous trips, I’ve had the pleasure to visit many of the fishing lodges in Patagonia and I must tell you that most are outstanding in terms of professionalism and service, models for most of the rest of the world. You and the Argentine Tourist Office should be very proud.
Two lodges that come to mind were absolutely outstanding. “Alicura” managed by a fellow named Fernando, and “Challhuaquen”” managed by Gustavo. The accommodations, food and service couldn’t have been better, and of even more importance - everyone including the maids, cooks, guides, etc. and of course the manager appeared happy and smiling - genuinely happy to have whatever guests were there. I hated to leave both places. The Fernandos and Gustavos and the owners absolutely could be models for any lodges on this small planet.
Sincerely, Mel Krieger

Hello, Charlie,
Rita and myself wanted to let you and Mr. Lay know how much we enjoyed our recent trip to Estancia Alicura. I can't begin to put into words how wonderful the experience was for us at Estancia Alicura. Please pass this along to Mr. Lay to let him know how much we appreciated the hospitality of the staff at the ranch. They treated us like royalty, they were very professional and made us feel like we were at home. Danny, Andres, Paco, Lewti, Boris, Jorge, Pedro, Angel and everyone else are employees that are to be commended, they went above and beyond the definition of service.

Thanks again for being our family for one week, this was truly an experience we will never forget.
Everything was perfect
Steve and Rita Harbison
Benton, Tennessee USA

P.S. Thanks, Charlie, for helping my daughter Allyson with the birthday cake. This was a birthday (55) that I shall never forget. Oh, yeah, did I mention I took a real nice stag? Thanks, Paco.

FERNANDO,

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A GREAT WEEK OF FISHING! I HAD A BLAST AND WILL TREASURE THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! YOUR ORGANIZATION IS FIRST CLASS AND WE COULD NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING ELSE. YOUR STAFF IS EXPERT, EFFICIENT, PROFESSIONAL, KIND, THOUGHTFUL, PATIENT, WELL-ORGANIZED AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A BETTER TRIP! THE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AWESOME-BOTH AT THE ESTANCIA AND ON THE RIVERSIDE CAMPING! THE MEALS ARE EXCELLENT-UNFORTUNATELY I GAINED A FEW POUNDS THAT WILL HAVE TO COME OFF. I HAVE SHOWN THE PICTURES TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND THEY ARE VERY IMPRESSED. WE AS A GROUP ARE GOING TO ORGANIZE THEM AND PUT THEM ON ONE DISK. WE ARE BACK TO WORK TODAY AND SO ARE YOU --WANT TO TRADE?

THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE! PLEASE GIVE MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
BUTCH

Fernando,

The "Quatro Pescadores" all had a wonderful time. You and your staff were as nice, hard working and helpful as any place we've ever fished. The overnight float was great.

“Quatro Pescadores”

The food we had, while camping out in the middle of Patagonia was unbelievable as well as at the ranch, of course. The fishing was outstanding with all four of us catching many healthy, strong rainbows and browns. Jim's big rainbow has grown to 30" and 5 kilos.

I'm putting on a PowerPoint presentation for my fly-fishing club in Oklahoma City. It will be fun sharing the fun we had at Estancia Alicura.

Please pass on our compliments to your wonderful staff. We are planning on coming back April of 2008 if you'll have us. Maybe we'll be able to find and catch a few more big browns.

Let's stay in touch. We all wish you and your staff well.
Fred W. Stanley

Mr. Snider,

I wanted to let you how much my friends and I enjoyed our stay at Alicura. Argentina was a wonderful place to visit, the ranch was spectacular but none of it would have meant nearly as much if it had not been for the wonderful staff at Alicura.

Each and every member of the staff were genuinely friendly, experienced and cared for us as if we were old friends.

I look forward to another visit at Alicura in the future.

John Buchanan

Hello,

We just returned from Argentina and I wanted to send a thank you note to you and Mr. Lay. The place is incredible! He has definitely found and nurtured a piece of heaven on earth.

We cannot say enough about the people working at the ranch. They are absolutely the best! They are some of the most professional and courteous people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Please let Mr. Lay know that we had a great time and appreciate the opportunity to visit his ranch.

Thanks,
Jeff L. Gorski

Dear Mr. Lay,

Thanks so much for such an INCREDIBLE stay at Estancia Alicura.
Ezra, Mom, Dad & I had such an amazing time with your family! It was truly life
changing to see the beauty of far away Patagonia. I had never even dreamt of getting to go there someday. So, wow!
You and Kay were such attentive hosts - you thought of everything & our needs were met and our expectations were blown away! MMmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... all of those delicious meals were unforgettable. Fun conversation - beautiful nights, a peaceful river float, an exciting horse-ride through the fields, fly-fishing at dusk, walks around the property (without fear of mountain lions due to the electric fence!), and so much more! It was all so magical & blessed... thanks :)
Oh, Ez and I have a case of Red Man Gold Blend which we would like to FedEx to Fernando. Where should we send it? We also would like to send something through the normal post. Would that go to a different address?
Sincerely,
Christy Holton Hubbard

Thanks Charles,

And honestly, there is nothing they could have done better. What an amazing place! I enjoyed every moment of it, as did my dad, Steve Porto.

I work for a tour operator here in New York; we do occasional hunting/fishing trips, and I will definitely mention Alicura to them. It was just spectacular.

Thanks for info.
Best regards,
Nicole Porto

Dear Ward,

Thank you so much for making our trip to Argentina so special. From the moment we met Ana in Buenos Aires till now as I watch the sun rise at Estancia Alicura the trip has been flawless. Paddy took great care of us at Llao Llao. We stayed in the cabana. What a view. It snowed hard on Saturday (el suerte de Tejas) so we skied at Catedral in 8-12 inches of powder. We had a great drive down with Andres and a tour of the Ranch on Monday The Boar were covered with snow and sleet. Yesterday We went with Andres looking for Cull Deer. While we didn't see any (Boris has purified the herds) John did shoot a boar that was poised to attack the Mitsubishi Montero. Andres was very patient with us. Since we are confirmed indoors men it must have been hard for him. He helped me kill what I needed; an estancia alicura cap with a red brim in the store. This one is going to be worn rather than be part of the gimme hat museum Your skill at choosing the right people is awesome. Lute is a delightful person and a great cook. Boris really is a part of this land. Once again thank you, I know that you went out of your way to open the ranch to us in off season. I am so blessed to have you as a friend and patient. There really is no off season at estancia alicura. We had a great experience.

Buz and family

From Lourdes Flores Perez (the First Lady of El Salvador)
"We came to Argentina tired, overwhelmed with problems in our country. We are leaving Alicura rested, happy, full of its beauty and blessed with the privilege of having met you. We hope we can come back to this magical place.

"Come to El Salvador and give us the opportunity of returning a tiny bit of the hospitality you gave us so abundantly."

(pictured from the left):
El Salvador President Francisco & First Lady Lourdes Flores Perez and Walker, Kay and Ward Lay.

Dear Kay and Ward,
We thoroughly enjoyed our adventure to South America. Despite young children and no nanny, the flights went well. It was nice to be in approximately the same time zone and to travel at night.
Your ranch is spectacular. Not only is it as beautiful as Texas, it has the Andes mountains as a dramatic background. The degree of snowmelt puts enough ground water in the region to attract wildlife. I’m surprised at the number of red stag that has blossomed with the removal of the sheep.
We had fairly good trout fishing for the end of the season. I caught the largest trout in my life. It was an extra bonus catching a "wild" trout. They fight much more vigorously than the stock trout in most of the U.S. streams, we found.
The outstanding feature of the ranch for us is the hospitality of the staff. Luti was our anchor and kept things running smoothly. Marcello is an excellent cook and Carlos, Boris, Fernando and Andres all served us well.
Thank Harper and Walker for sharing the largest toy collection we’ve ever seen! That was truly a life saver and we appreciate your sharing with us.
Finally, we enjoyed our short say at Bariloche and would like to spend more time there in the future.
In essence, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip and look forward to returning some day.
Sincerely,
Shannon, Craig, Katy and Lucy Callewart

Dear Ward:
Just a belated note to thank you and your staff for a nice hunt on Estancia Alicura last month. The service was suburb, the scenery great, and I had a nice relaxing hunt. After several rather intensive months of work, it was an ideal vacation for me. I was very interested in your game management set up, and it looks like you will have an ever-improving gene pool of stag.
Sincerely yours,
Jack Wenders
John T. Wenders
Professor of Economics, University of Idaho
Senior Fellow, The Commonwealth Foundation

Dear Ward,
My wife Lynn saw in the paper about your role in the effort to boost tourism to Argentina. We played a little phone tag after Lynn and I returned from there on our wedding trip in February of 2000, and I really should have followed up with a letter detailing what a wonderful time we had from one end of Argentina to the other thanks to the tender care of Juan Carlos Rua's company, Nature Style, SA. We are in your debt. It was the most wonderful trip. We have both, since our return, become big advocates of Argentine tourism, as we constantly lament the fact that it is just not on people's radar screen when they think of vacation travel. Lynn consults for a biotech firm in New England and recently returned from what appears to be the first of many business trips to Buenos Aires (they didn't put her up at the Alvear Palace but she'll work on that and is thrilled none the less!). We would love to get together with you and give you run down on our trip. From San Telmo to Iguazu, and the Llao llao to the Finca Los Alamos we had a superlative experience that we will treasure for a lifetime. I'm shocked at how easily I can still just gush about it! More to the point, Lynn would love to know what she can do to help you in your efforts to promote travel to Argentina. She is involved in many groups, usually on the fund development side of things, and is a great advocate of things she thinks are important or feels strongly about. That people need to visit Argentina ahead of many other destinations is something she could sink her teeth into.
Allan McBee

Ward,
When we concluded to visit the Lays’ ranch in Argentina, we looked forward to the trip as another adventure, not unlike the many trips we take each year. It turned out to be the most spectacular, most exotic, most unique and most enlightening travel experience we have ever enjoyed. The Lay hospitality was no surprise but the uniqueness of Argentina and the expanse and activities at the Lay ranch, was a memory that we all cherish and have highly recommended to our friends.
Harold and Anette Simmons
Norman and Kelly Green
George and Carol Poston

Ward,
I want you to know that we had a magnificent time and I was impressed with the quality of the staff and the overall experience we had. I only hope I can have a good year (business-wise), so we can go again, soon.
Stewart Elliott

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Testimonials What are clients saying about their trip to Alicura?

Testimonials
What are clients saying about their trip to Alicura?