Testimonials
"For most people, the annual holiday involves deepening their tan or enhancing their golf swing. For some, though, it means smartening up their investment portfolio... Tropical Pathways Investment Tours takes visitors to see properties in Panama, the Caribbean island of Roatan the Dominican Republic, and Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The tours - attract private individuals aiming to invest in second homes and retirement properties, or even wanting to develop resort businesses…these tours are growing in popularity..."
Financial Times
"Tropical Pathways is a tour company geared to helping wanabe expats find their place in the sun. It's an intelligent way of seeing a country along with professionals who knows the territory. It's a perfect way to avoid taking the wrong path to the wrong spot and wasting time. A tour from someone who knows the ground prepares the tour-taker to explore further on their own with an invaluable base of knowledge."
EscapeArtist
Tour operators tout their ability to vet developers, agents, lawyers and the like, on behalf of newcomers clueless to the ways things work in foreign lands. “I’ve had people who said they learned more in one week from Tropical Pathways than it would take them a month to learn on their own” says Lyle Burke, who founded Tropical Pathways Tours six years ago. Panama is supplanting Costa Rica as the Central American country where retired North Americans are seeking their place in the sun…
USA TODAY
"Holly and I have hosted several tour groups in the past years, but I think Tropical Pathway's has the most focused and informed groups we have ever worked with. We believe this is the result of the information you had already supplied your group prior to and during your trips. We look forward to seeing your groups in the future."
Frank and Holly Canale,
developers of Sundancer Cabanas and Turtle Crossing on Roatan
I just wanted to say a sincere thanks to you, Helma, and your entire staff for an incredible vacation, tour, education, and experience. Your Dominican Republic trip was without a doubt the best… I can't say enough good about the Dominican Republic - an unbelievable investment opportunity, beautiful land and beaches, friendly people, and wonderful new foods….
T. Thomas Michigan
Attn. Tropical Pathways
I want to thank you for a most informative and entertaining trip to Panama. Your knowledge of Panamanian real estate opportunities was exceptional and this helped me to embrace Panama and recommend this country as a good place to do business….
P. Dabbs (Toronto, ONT Canada )
I wanted to tell you how I enjoyed the Panama tour. Tropical Pathways did a wonderful job of planning and executing the logistics for the tour group as well as catering to each individuals special requests etc. The tour was nice mix of information, tourism and recreation. In one week I made contacts in Panama that I could have never made had I traveled there as an individual and stayed for months. Thanks again for a great experience…
B. Truxal MD
Dear Mr. Burke, I had to write after the wonderful time I had on your tour of the Dominican Republic. You and your team’s hard work, putting the tour together really paid dividends. All of the properties that we stayed at were clean and comfortable. The transfers in country took place flawlessly. The logistics you guys put in place made the tour that.
Sincerely,
Donald Shapiro
I’d like to thank you for a truly unique and great experience during the Dominican Republic Tour. I appreciated the fact that Tropical Pathways provided us the opportunity to personally talk to expatriates and local business people who answered, neutrally and professionally, all of the questions and concerns I had.
With thanks,
A. Voparil
Dec. 21, 2005
Attn. Mark Kanty
Panama Tour Director, Tropical Pathways
Dear Mark,
I want to thank you for a most informative and entertaining trip to Panama. Your knowledge of Panamanian real estate opportunities was exceptional and this helped me to embrace Panama and recommend this country as a good place to do business. I could not believe the growth of Panama City and the variety of available investments. The rural and mountain regions also provided a great variety of additional investment opportunities. Your logistics management enabled us to see so much of the country in a relatively short time. This allowed me to focus on the details of each property and each investment as they arose. The trip was a great success and I thank you once again for your support and guidance.
Best Regards, Paul Dabbs (Toronto, ONT Canada )
January 23, 2006 6:53 AM
RE: Tropical Pathways-Panama
Hi lyle,
Just returned from my Panama tour, and while fresh in my mind, wanted to express my satisfaction with the tour. I was met at the airport by a very engaging young man, he gave a brief narrative of the sites we past enroute to the hotel, and was a very good driver (not too fast). Michele met me at the hotel and was very efficient with check-in then a personal tour of the mall next door. Next day Mark and Michele gave us an overview of the week at a 9:00 a.m. meeting. The meeting was both prompt and succinct, then off we went. Great tour of the country. I did not feel nervous or "lost" at any time. Please express my thanks to both when you speak to them.... thanks for all the help, truly
Paul James (Ontario, CAN & Ft. Myers FLA.)
"Tropical Pathways is a tour company geared to helping wantobe expats find their place in the sun. It's an intelligent way of seeing a country along with a professional who knows the territory. We have talked with individuals who have taken Lyle's tours and they speak very highly of the experience. Some have already made the move to a new country based on what they learned from Lyle and his tour. It's a perfect way to avoid taking the wrong path to the wrong spot and wasting time. A tour from someone who knows the ground prepares the tour-taker to explore further on their own with an invaluable base of knowledge."
EscapeArtist
Lyle,
I just wanted to say a sincere thanks to you, Helma, and your entire staff for an incredible vacation, tour, education, and experience. Your Dominican Republic trip was without a doubt the BEST vacation I have ever been on. I have never seen and learned so much, in a single week. How the two of you managed to offer so much in seven days, while at the same time making me, and I'm sure everyone else on the trip, feel so comfortable, relaxed, and well taken care of, is truly amazing. I can't say enough good about the Dominican Republic - an unbelievable investment opportunity, beautiful land and beaches, friendly people, and wonderful new foods.
Best Regards,
T. Thomas
Michigan
"My wife and I didn't know what to expect when we signed up for the Tropical Pathways tour of Panama. What ensued was a seven-day tour of one of the most beautiful and diverse countries that I've ever even read about. First, we saw Panama City, which reminded us of any metropolitan hub in the States. We toured the historical sites there, and got to view the wondrous Panama Canal. Then we were off to Boquete, a quiet mountainous coffee town that lends a whole new meaning to the word "getaway" and "relaxing". If you started out being stressed, you certainly wouldn't leave that way! We toured sites to build a retirement or getaway home on, and a coffee factory was really quite educational. The mornings were crisp and cool, and the afternoons were warm and inviting. Then we were off to see Bocus del Toro, the Carribean twist to our tour. What a lovely tropical island Isla Solarte is! We were able to tour more possible building sites, and each site had a more lovely view than the last one. And what great seafood! We went back to Panama City, and stayed at the Country Inn and Suites, and were able to sit out on the balcony and watch the boats going to and from the Panama Canal. After touring a nice mix of both new and renovated real estate in Panama City, we hopped the plane back to the States-- through Panama tour was over--perhaps for us, it was only the beginning..."
Barry & Becky L.
Tropical Pathways
October 2003 DR-Tour
Lyle,
I just wanted to say thank you once again for providing me with a truly meaningful tour experience.
Your investment tour was the best investment I have made thus far toward finding my place in the sun.
I was quite impressed by the organization of the tour, as it was very enjoyable and informative --exceeding my expectations. In fact, with the information that I have obtained during the tour, I have already acted upon several investments, and am currently negotiating to obtain a property that I could have only dreamed of owning before.
Even though this was an investment tour, I think your tour was a better value than any vacation package could offer. Seeing sites of interest, and learning of the history of the Dominican Republic, all added to the overall experience. The accommodations that you provided were first class from beginning to end.
I’m looking forward to taking another tour with your group in the very near future.
Sincerely,
KJ - California
I wanted to tell you how I enjoyed the Panama tour. Tropical Pathways did a wonderful job of planning and executing the logistics for the tour group as well as catering to each individuals special requests etc. The tour was nice mix of information, tourism and recreation. In one week I made contacts in Panama that I could have never made had I traveled there as an individual and stayed for months. This tour enables you to meet and talk with people from all over the world who live and work in Panama. Thanks again for a great experience.
Blair Truxal MD
Dear Mr. Burke,
I had to write after the wonderful time I had on your tour of the Dominican Republic. You and your team’s hard work, putting the tour together really paid dividends. All of the properties that we stayed at were clean and comfortable. The transfers in country took place flawlessly. The logistics you guys put in place made the tour that much more enjoyable.
The professionals that you set up for our contact during the tour were all very knowledgeable. Their varying expertise in their respective areas was very enlightening. I personally would not have any problem doing business with any of the individuals we met along our journey.
All the areas of the country we visited were beautiful. Each area had it’s own character and charm. One was just as gorgeous as the other. Any amenity one is looking for can easily be found in all the regions. Just the vast array of products and services available to ex-pats is very impressive. Without a doubt there is something for everyone on this island in paradise.
Sincerely,
Donald Shapiro
Tropical Pathways in the News:
"For most people, the annual holiday involves deepening their tan or enhancing their golf swing. For some, though, it means smartening up their investment portfolio...
Tropical Pathways Investment Tours takes visitors to see properties in Panama, the Caribbean island of Roatan and the Dominican Republic. The tours - which attract private individuals aiming to invest in second homes and retirement properties, or even wanting to develop resort businesses - take in everything from mountain chalets to colonial mansions or city apartments.
Lyle Burke, president of Tropical Pathways, points out that his company's role is one of a facilitator. "We're not selling anything," he says. "It's a neutral way to get an insider's look at an area to make an educated decision on investing there."
Roughly 50 per cent of each group's time is spent on business and, as well as meeting lawyers, developers, business people and expatriates, tour members enjoy diversions such as trips to museums, horseback riding excursions and swimming, diving or fishing.
Despite the geopolitical uncertainty and poor economic climate of the past couple of years, these tours are growing in popularity..."
Financial Times, May 03, 2003
Lyle, I’d like to thank you and your wonderful tour coordinator, Helma Godell, for a truly unique and great experience during the Dominican Republic Tour in July.
The tour was very well-planned and informative. Although we visited a great variety of different sites with beautiful properties every day, there was still time for recreational purposes.
I also appreciated the fact that Tropical Pathways provided us the opportunity to personally talk to expatriates and local business people who answered , neutrally and professionally, all of the questions and concerns I had.
The beaches, the mountains, the palm tree forests, the ever so friendly locals – what an island! I thank you again for a great tour. I believe that this tour has helped me to move closer to actualizing one of my dreams.
With thanks,
Annegret Voparil
"Holly and I have hosted several tour groups in the past years, but I think Tropical Pathway's has the most focused and informed groups we have ever worked with. We believe this is the result of the information you had already supplied your group prior to and during your trips. We look forward to seeing your groups in the future."
Frank and Holly Canale, developers of Sundancer Cabanas and Turtle Crossing on Roatan.
"Lyle, what a memorable trip! You must have handpicked our tour group, because everyone got along so well. Shannon, (our tour coordinator) was wonderful. We are very interested in Panama, and will visit again, so we can
see more areas before we decide what we want to do. Lyle, thank you for a fantastic trip. You make a great tour guide and we feel we've made a friend for life."
Margie & Hal Matthews
More testimonials upon request.