Testimonials

September 2016

We could not have asked for a better guide than Zenon.  He worked very hard to help us find the information that we were seeking, translated conversations with people we had met and helped me with my Polish when needed.  I am still working on two words that he taught me…I think I ALMOST have it right !  (I will know it by the time I return to Poland).  He was very respectful to everyone we met and I believe that was why they were so willing to help us.

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September 2016

Most aspects of our tour were coordinated by Anna at PolishOrigins. They did a great job pulling it all together. This was a totally custom tour designed to see cities and locations where Greg’s father Eugene was born and lived before 1939. Secondarily, we wanted to find out as much as we could about Eugene’s military service in WW2 and also to identify any living relatives.We also wanted to see the Kamedulski monastery and see if we could understand the connection between our surname and the monastery.

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September 2016

You have two great assets to your company in Pawel and Adrian. They went above and beyond which should have been expected of them. As you are aware of some of the situations that arose, they handled them with professionalism and compassion. I honestly cannot say enough good things about those two gentlemen.

I will say Lucjan was wonderful. He was a great interpreter and a big help in locating Jack’s family.  

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September 2016

Zbigniew did an excellent job in locating my ancestor’s village and gravestones of Ziemniak cousins in the parish cemetery.  Although we located the homes of several cousins, we were unable to find the house of my great- grandfather, perhaps because it does not exist today.  We were unable to talk to the parish priest because he was out of town, and due to the short time available, could not wait for him to return.  However, we left a message for him regarding records of older ancestors, and are presently waiting for a reply.  The pre-tour work done by Zbigniew proved invaluable, as he found that my great-grandfather had moved to another parish after my grandfather had left Poland.  As a result, we were able to obtain a copy of his death record by visiting the USC in Staszow.  A similar search for my great-grandmother’s death record between 1931 and 1916 proved negative, but followup work by Zbigniew found that she was alive in 1912, based on the marriage record of her daughter.  Thus, I have now bracketed the year of her death as being between 1913 and 1915.  This range is consistent with our oral family history which recollects that the Ziemniak farmhouse was destroyed during World War I.  As USC moves its records older than 100 years to an AP, additional followup work is needed.  Without the assistance from Zbigniew, none of the above would have been possible.

September 2016

Extensive research done with amazing results.

Hotels were all very good and in great locations.

We loved Zbigniew.  He is very knowledgeable and resourceful and has great tenacity.

We also appreciated Marek’s assistance in Warsaw.  He responded and adjusted well to our group’s interests.

We love you Zbigniew and miss you.  We had a great time. It was a trip of a lifetime for us.  We’ll meet in Minsk next!

See also post Marie on FB.

September 2016

Pawel was the best guide that I have experienced over the years of many tours. He was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and had a wonderful sense of humor. If I am ever able to return to Poland, I would definitely go with Polish Origins and request Pawel’s services.
I am most satisfied with the research done by Lujcan before the trip and the research we were able to do in the villages. His knowledge and abilities could not be exceeded. The best part of my visit was that he found for me, a cousin that I did not know I had. I plan to use his research and translation services as I go further in my quest for family information. He, too, is a most valuable person in your company. I would definitely request his services if I return to Poland!

This was the most fantastic trip I have ever taken. It truly was the Grand Adventure that I was calling it while I was preparing to go!!!

Read more on Marti’s blog

August 2016

Zbigniew was very attentive and accommodating to our needs. This guide’s passion for genealogy is very evident. He has a good command of English, wide ranging knowledge and interests, making him agreeable company and a good travelling companion. He undertook valuable research both prior and during our visit, which vividly brought to life the places where my ancestors lived and did business, especially in Lwow and Rawa Ruska. Despite the fact I was able to do extensive internet research, prior to our trip, Zbigniew was able to uncover much additional information. His extensive written report has provided a valuable resource. He also has a particular skill for prising information out of supposedly closed archives and eliciting first hand recollections from local people. Here his communicative skills in Ukrainian very much came into play. It was very comforting to have such an experienced guide to conduct our passage across the Polish/Ukraine border, which was most memorable. We were glad to have Zbigniew as our driver because we certainly could not have negotiated the particularly challenging driving conditions in the Ukraine. All-in-all he made a major contribution to what turned out to be an experience of a life time.

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August 2016

Mateusz was a wonderful guide, a delightful person to talk with and he had a wealth of interesting, historical information. We very much enjoyed our tour – the highlight of our 14-day trip.

Our goal was to see the towns that our ancestors came from and to learn about the area and history.  This was all accomplished.  Additionally, Mateusz added in the Górka Klasztorna – Monastery Complex just outside of one of the ancestral towns which was fantastic to see.

Mateusz was a very safe and skillful driver and the van was the right size for transporting our luggage to Warsaw the second day.

August 2016

We were lucky to have Zbigniew as our guide.  He was energetic, kind, and very understanding of our lack of language skills.  He was remarkable for his ability to approach total strangers, and get them to share information. He translated a letter for us, which was very helpful.  Also, for him to be a skilled genealogist was a bonus.  

We wished we had more time in Poland.  In the short time we had, we met distant relatives, spent some time in the Gniezno Archives, and visited several villages and churches.

Both hotels were very good.  We especially enjoyed Awo Hotel in Gniezno.

Zbigniew was a safe driver.  His van had a lot of room.

Experience exceeded our expectations.

July 2016

Zenon helped us find our Polish roots and connect with family members in Poland. We now correspond with family we did not even know we had, and it has been an incredible experience. Zenon’s assistance in finding our family, guiding us to the village of my husband’s grandfather, and providing English-Polish interpretation were all outstanding. He far exceeded all our expectations in every way in finding family and making connections in Poland. My husband and I offer the highest possible reference for Zenon. Thank you!

Kristina Pichalski