Testimonials

 

Testimonials from our Customers

Don't just take our word for it. Read what our customers have to say...



It was a pleasure working with you all. The flight went perfectly - I have had domestic trips that did not go as seamlessly as this one.

Thank You,
Brent Burchwell


One word about your team. "Superstars". Everything went perfect. Please pass my thanks to Pamela, the driver Duncan, and the house staff Gloria! Very happy with today's events.

Energetically,
Bruce Bright


Many, many thanks for the superb handling work you provided us on the Cancun - Costa Rica - Key West trip. We won't do Cancun again owing to the endless paperwork and charges - just for a fuel stop. Costa Rica was terrific and the Cuba crossing went as smoothly as it did when I flew for AA. You remain a treasured resource for the next adventure.

Best to you,
Barr


Your team was amazing with all of the changes and maintenance issues. It is nice to work with a team that you can count on.

All the best,
Paul


Thanks for your great service. My international flying friends recommended you and now I see why.

Sincerely,
Larry Glaser


We had a ball and are ready to go on your next trip.

Mike & Patty Sisemore


What an exciting trip!! The people we met, the beautiful views, the resorts we visited, can only be experienced to fully appreciate! Thanks to the effort of Caribbean Sky Tours, we could relax and enjoy the Bahamas!!

Bridget and Jim Sexton


Caribbean Sky Tours has discovered how to deliver a magical blend of a touring vacation wrapped inside a real flying adventure. We participated in the Caribbean Sky Tours Bahamas out-island trip. Rick and Pia worked out every detail of the customs and regulatory requirements, the venues and accommodations to make the trip truly enjoyable and rewarding while all of us flyers dealt with the challenges and adventure of the flights. It's a perfect combination for a week of great fun, meeting interesting new friends and engaging flying. We can't wait for our next opportunity to do another Caribbean Sky Tours flying adventure.

Thanks Rick and Pia.
Rick and Meryl Brown



…The reasonable cost coupled with the benefits of forming new friendships with fellow pilots and their families and friends was truly a wonderful experience. We wish the trip could have lasted longer! 'Sue and I have been on other "guided" flying tours, so this was not our first rodeo, but it was truly the best!'

Guy and Sue Knolle
Austin, Texas


The excellent service and information provided by your team made our travel easy and relaxing. Congratulations to you for assembling a great group of people and setting a welcoming tone that is appreciated by me, and I am sure by all of your clients.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you on my next trip to the Caribbean.

Many thanks and all the best,
Darrell and Amy Crate



Hola Rick and Pia,

Thank you very much for the excellent trip you provided for the both of us. It was an experience that we will cherish for the remainder of our lives. Your professionalism and patience was truly remarkable. We both wish you well and look forward to travelling with you in the future. We also hope that the mix master is back in action patrolling the skies. Gracias,

Katrin and Steve Cooper
Richmond Hill, Ontario



Our recent trip with Carribbean Sky Tours, operated by Rick Gardner and Pia Hilbert, was an adventure to remember. We were looking forward to another incredible trip with them after traveling to Mexico a couple of years ago. On our most recent journey to the Bahamas, eleven planes and 22 travelers had a fabulous time. Our stays at Marsh Harbour (Abaco Beach Resort) and Cat Island (Fernandez Bay Village) were relaxing and fun. The day trips out to other islands allowed us to fly low and see other beautiful waters, islands and beaches. The group, many of whom had never met before, meshed immediately and would eagerly travel together again. We shared delicious meals, hanging out at the beach or the bar and getting to know each other in friendly, relaxed environments. It was over too quickly. Thank you to Rick and Pia for their exceptional organizational skills. We look forward to another trip with them.

Welles and Maryanne Murphey
NC



Rick and Pia,

Thank you for all your efforts in making Kay’s and my trip (vacation) to the Bahamas so much FUN and a memory for the rest of our lives. The trip was so amazing that it is almost impossible to put into words. So many beautiful sights, great people, laughter until it hurt, great resorts, and 20 new BEST friends are just the beginning of our experience. You guys are excellent tour guides and LOTS of fun. Rick made the paperwork and details easy. You eased our over-whelmed feelings of flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Kay and I would recommend Caribbean Sky Tours without reservation. Give my email address to anyone who would like a recommendation.

Al and Kay Howard MD



Good evening Pia and Rick,

We are so grateful for the wonderful, enriching tour you have organized. It would have been a shame to miss a beat ... once we stepped in line. Certain incidents we had not foreseen were not about to tamper our enthusiasm. Thanks for being so supportive. You are indeed a 5 Star topnotch team!!!. The rest of the trip was wonderful. We must say that Mexican airports treated us very well. From Oaxaca, we stopped in Zihuatanejo to refuel. We were down, refueled, had flight plan closed, flight plan opened for Puerto Vallarta and airborne within 45 minutes. Efficient, courteous service indeed! Service upon landing In Puerto Vallarta was quick and courteous as well. Neither Clément nor myself had to go through security. Closed flight plan and that was it. After our stay in Lo de Marcos, we left Puerto Vallarta, on to Los Mochis and then to Hermosillo. Cleared customs in Calexico. Were able to land in Yuma by 6:00 p.m.; took in the air show the following day. Exciting experience! Our last day, Monday March 18th, North Platte, Nebraska – Dickenson, North Dakota – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada! We have yet to rediscover tail winds!!! Landed just before another snow storm and strong winds set in. Arrived home yesterday. Our one month holiday had stretched into 6 weeks, 3 days. Un merci sincère pour votre sens d’organisation, votre amitié et votre appui!

Vos amis canadiens,
Clément et Sylvia Dion
Saskatoon, Sasketchewan


The two of you are a PERFECT combination of knowledge, hospitality, saavy, organization and FUN!  We would recommend Caribbean Sky Tours with the highest praise.  Please share our email address with anyone who would like to get a reference.

Your organization and trip administration is very, very extraordinary.  For the future:  YES!  We want to go again!  I heard several in our group talk about Costa Rica.  I liked the idea of returning to Veracruz. I liked the atmosphere in Veracruz. Some of us will repeat and others will be added in.  It might be a shame to go to the same places, but Campeche was an extraordinary city with such an unusual atmosphere of community.....

We just can't make up our minds what we liked best.  Every time someone asks us about the trip, we end up telling a different story.  There is too much to say to compress it into a conversation.

Joyce and Wendell Rust
Bourbon, Indiana



Hello Pia & Rick,

Thank you for your recommendation. We had an extensive guided tour of the hacienda.  You pretty much have to see it to believe it.  It’s a photographer’s paradise; I probably took over 100 pictures.  The buildings and grounds are amazing, and every single room is a wonder unto itself.  This was a place we could never have found without you. It couldn’t have been nicer! 

Villa Mexicana in Zihuatanejo turned out to be a pleasant little spot for our “alternator layover.”  We had a fantastic dinner the last night just a short walk down the beach.  And Ixtapa was wonderful, as always.

We enjoyed both Morelia and San Miguel de Allende very much, but they were, of course, totally different experiences.  Morelia is magnificent with splendid architecture. The hotel in Morelia was extraordinary, and the location, opposite the cathedral, was ideal.  Our room was very grand and beautiful.  In fact, everything was perfect.  We tried several of the restaurants you recommended. The food was very good at all three, and the service was excellent.  The hotel in San Miguel, was different from the one in Morelia. They almost couldn’t be more different, but we enjoyed them both for different reasons. We also had a memorable dinner on a terrace with the lighted cathedral off in the distance at a restaurant in the Institute of Art. We took a trolley tour that was guided in Spanish and English. 

Thank you for planning another great winter trip for us.  There is no way we could have seen and done so much without your help.

Gladys and Bill
New London, NH



Rick and Pia,

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for the wonderful tour you provided for the Flying Farmers.  Everyone expressed their highest approval of all aspects of the tour.  Thanks Rick for your unending assistance with the paperwork and translation.  Pia, thanks for the great choice of tours and hotels  I don't see how you could have done better.  You were both delightful to travel with.  We had a great time and a lot of fun. 

Thanks,

Burl Scherler
Sheridan Lake, CO



Dear Rick and Pia,

WOW!!!  You talk about personal service; our trip from Key West to Panama was not only safe but fun with Rick riding as co-pilot. The ease with which we transitioned the multiple countries we visited is indescribable because of Rick’s extensive preparation and knowledge of each countries rules and regulations.  His wife Pia even brought us lunch at our stopover in Cancun (thanks Pia!).  Because of Rick’s people skills and fluent Spanish, we were treated like Rock Stars at each airport.  Before our trip, Kim and I were very concerned about the paperwork, etc. our dog Midas was going to need to travel with us, but once again Rick did his homework and traveling with Midas was a breeze.

Being a low time VFR pilot, it was a tremendous comfort knowing that Rick is a CFII/MEI pilot and could handle just about any situation that could come up.  All our flying legs went without a hitch (thanks Rick). 

Rick and Pia took care of every single detail you could think of on a trip of this magnitude (13 hours!!).  Fortunately, this isn’t our last experience with Caribbean Sky Tours, as we have already hired Rick and Pia for our trip back to the states.  But this time, we will use their extensive knowledge of Mexico and spend a few weeks instead of a few hours in that beautiful country.

Since our trip, Rick has stayed in touch with us and we feel he has become a personal friend of ours and not just a business acquaintance.

Anyone wishing for a personal recommendation, please do not hesitate to email us at NFL20@hotmail.com

Thanks again, looking forward to our trip back!!!

Dave and Kim Texeira
Mackinac Island, MI



Rick and Pia-
Bob and I have been singing your praises to all our pilot friends. We have taken other escorted tours and none have come even close to matching the organization, attention to detail, customer service, locations that are off the usual tourist path and the just plain fun that you offer on your trips.

While on the trip we had none of the usual worries when traveling in Mexico: Traversing the Customs gauntlet at each of our stops was smooth and effortless with your assistance; gas was always available (this was not true on an earlier trip we took with one of your competitors); and when unexpected engine problems arose, you knew who to call.

Thank you again for all your efforts in making our trip such a memorable one. We are anxiously awaiting your trip schedule for next year. You haven’t seen the last of us....and I mean that in a good way!

Bob and Leslie Howell
Reno, Nevada



Dear Pia and Rick,

I want to again thank you for the arrangements you made for my son (both Private pilots, instrument rated) and I on our recent vacation around the Yucatan Peninsula. Our vacation was ten days long taking us from key west to Cancun, to Xcalak, to Xpuhil, to Palenque, to Campeche, to Holbox and back to Cancun and Key West. We went diving along the incredible Mexican and Belizian Coastal Reef. We toured the less traveled Mayan sites across the Yucatan Peninsula, including the incredible adventure up the Usumacinta River along Guatemala to the Yaxchilan ruins. Swimming with the whale sharks on beautiful Holbox Island was as memorable as landing on their 2100 foot dirt runway.

All in all it was an adventure to be remembered which without your thorough preparation and pre-planning would have been impossible.
As time allows, a trip to the Mexican Yucatan is one I will do again and it will again start with a stop at your web site. Again, thank you for everything.

Sincerely yours,
Jack Jawitz
Bradenton, FL



Dear Rick & Pia,

Thank you so much for a truly excellent adventure.  When I signed up for the trip I didn't really know what to expect, and was simply looking for experience flying in Mexico.

The trip you put together exceeded all of my expectations and was wonderful.  You are an excellent team and your skill sets compliment each other in a very unique way.  Rick's knowledge of flying in Mexico made me feel extremely comfortable flying in a foreign country - Comfortable enough that my solo legs were easy and fun!  Pia's skill and knowledge of the locations and culture made the trip educational and entertaining, and her choices of hotels and dining locations was exceptional.

While the trip was excellent and the memories will last a long time, I hope the friendships will last even longer.  I enjoyed getting to know the both of you, and hope that we will keep in touch.

Thanks again,

Robert Johnson
Dallas, TX



Rick & Pia,

Thank you so much for your great assistance in making our trip to Mexico such a great experience.  We had a wonderful time and everything went perfectly smooth.  Palenque was great. We were within 5 minutes of our scheduled time and the van was waiting.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and experienced.  His English was good.  He thinks the Mayans actually had connections somehow with the Egyptians and Southeast Asians because of the similarities in their styles.  I'm still a bit skeptical but I see his point.

Our stay in Cozumel was great. We rode around on mopeds and took a lot of pictures.  The flight back went well. Customs at Key West was routine. We were on time and had the 178 form filled out.  We made if back to Nashville late and encountered a little weather during the last 20 minutes.

Thanks again for your excellent help.

Tim Siktberg
Nashville, TN 



Let me start out by saying many thanks to Rick Gardner at Carribean Sky Tours. Rick and his wife Pia run a terrific business that you can order a la carte or let them handle everything. Rick and Pia go out of their way to arrange things, get you great discounts and overall make things great....

Steve Elefant
Oakland, CA



Christmas Holiday in Mexico

Thanks to Rick & Pia of Caribbean Sky Tours my fiancée and I had a fantastic Christmas holiday flying the Yucatan in our Piper Saratoga.
We visited Cancun, Chichen-Itza and Campeche by air.  Even rented a Mini-Cooper and took a drive down to Playa de Carmen for the day.
The Mexican people were very pleasant, polite and helpful, which was great since we no habla espanol.  Food and service was great everywhere we went.

Caribbean Sky Tours  assisted us with everything, including flight planning, clearing customs, ground transportation, accommodations and tour guides.  We had an extremely enjoyable trip. I highly recommend Caribbean Sky Tours services.  Their rates are reasonable and the working relationship they have with the local FBOs and airport officials make for smooth sailing thru the red tape.  I wouldn't make the trip without their help.  They made it easy.

Guy Thomas
Jacksonville, Florida



Just returned from my first flight between the US and Mexico. Thanks in large part to Caribbean Sky Tour's "Pilot's Guide to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula" and some telephonic "hand holding" by Rick Gardner, the trip went off without a hitch!

I bought a copy of the Pilot's Guide about three months before we made the trip and simply followed instructions. It took some time to get all the required documents, but we started early and got it done. Mexican insurance, FCC licenses (aircraft and pilot), and US CBP Decal were all purchased online without difficulty and arrived fairly quickly.

We had NO PROBLEMS with Mexican or US authorities. We used "Premium FBO Service" in Cancun which included helping us with bags, filling out our Mexican customs forms (we just had to sign them!), and walking me through the various Mexican offices to complete our arrival report, close our flight plan, and apply for the Entry Permit for our airplane. On departure, the same FBO representative walked us through flight plan filing, printed out our weather and NOTAMS using Jepp's FlightStar briefing service, and helped us clear customs: might be the best $55 I ever spent (the FBO discounts the normal 1,110 peso fee for Rick Gardner's customers).

The return to the US was also a piece of cake. The Customs Inspector knew we were coming and re-entry took us about 15 minutes.

All in all a GREAT experience! Thanks, again, Rick!!!

Pat Kerr
Baton Rouge, Louisiana



Pia, without all the assistance that I got from you, I do not know how I would have gotten all the wonderful things done that I did- the Whale Shark dive was very successful and worked absolutely like clockwork- the operator was really great, I would recommend them and look forward to sometime getting to see them again- your recommendation to have lunch on Holbox was right on and of course the air taxi was great no hitches- a truly great time and easy to do from Akumal.

I will refer my flying buddies your way of course.

Warmest Regards to both you and your Husband Rick- Thanks again!

Michael Karp
Alameda, CA



My company provides a variety of aviation services to clients and I recently received a call to ferry a newly purchased aircraft from the Atlanta, Georgia area to Guatemala City. The timetable was short and I had only 2 days to prepare for the trip. Although I frequently fly to the Caribbean and outlying areas I had not flown in the Guatemala area. I had heard about this new company, Caribbean Sky Tours, I was in a bit of a quandary because of the timeframe and decided to call and ask for assistance in planning and executing the flight.
I received a prompt reply in e-mail and via the phone and after Rick Gardner of the company asked a few targeted questions, he proceeded to commence the required planning activity. He kept me informed every step of the way with time saver and safety tips for everything I encountered. He provided contact names and phone numbers on every leg of the trip, where to purchase fuel, filing flight plan legs including compulsory reporting point information, and much more.

On the stop at Key West, the local radar and FSS facilities were out of service due to power failures. I called Mr. Gardner and from his office in Mexico, he became my weather briefer and with a routing that circumvented a wide area of weather over the Gulf of Mexico.  Upon arrival in Mexico, and checking in with the DGAC, an unexpected document issue surfaced that without Mr. Gardner’s close relationship with officials, could have caused significant delays.

I endorse Caribbean Sky Tours as a company that understands the needs of clients and will go the extra step(s) to make sure that the experience has been MORE than what was expected.

Cliff Izer
Atlanta, GA




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