Dave Spaven

Dave Spaven
Travel Agent

Victoria
1932B Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, V8R 1C9

Phone: 2502208011

Email: dspaven@maritimetravel.ca

Back To Victoria

An Interview With Dave Spaven

How many years have you been selling travel?
Since July 31, 1973.

What are your hobbies?
GOLF, READING, TRAVEL, OLD MOVIES, NORDIC POLE WALKING

What type of resort activities do you favor? ie water sports, lounging by the pool, etc?
Lounging by the pool, easy hikes, walks on the beach, horse back riding, golf

What are your favorite destinations?
Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Iceland, South Africa, Europe, Hawaii, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam & Cambodia, India, Morocco..it would have been simpler to say where I didn't like to go but that would be unfair due the circumstances we arrived in.

What languages do you speak?
English, Canadian & American avec un pue francais

PLACES I’VE BEEN

South America
Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile

South Pacific
Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Tahiti, Australia, Cook Islands

Sun (Mexico, Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii)
Florida, All Inclusives, Bahamas, Hawaii, Barbados, Jamaica, Bermuda, Martinique, British Virgin Islands, Mexico, Club Med, Puerto Rico, Costa del Sol, Sandals, Couples, St. Kitt's, Cuba, St. Maarten, Antigua, Disney, Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, West Indies, Aruba

Europe
Sweden, Contiki, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia, Belgium, Spain, Coach Tours

Asia
India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong

Great Britain
Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Coach Tours, England, Ireland

Canada
British Columbia, Central, Eastern, Western, Ski, Alberta, Atlantic Canada

Middle East
Israel, Jordan, Turkey

Central America
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama

Africa
Safari, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco

Cruise
Norwegian Cruise Lines, Bahamas Cruise, Panama Canal Cruise, Bermuda Cruise, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Carnival Cruise, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises , RCCL, Cunard Cruise Line, River Cruising, Eastern Caribbean, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, European River Cruising, Southern Caribbean, Exotic Cruise, Uniworld River Cruises, Alaska Cruise, Holland America, Western Caribbean, Viking River Cruise, Mediterranean, Windstar Cruise Line, Avalon Waterways

United States
Boston, California, Florida, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Ski, Alaska, Texas, Arizona

Weddings & Honeymoons

Cruise Specialist

St. Thomas

Disney

Australia

Group Specialty

Business Travel

Iceland

New Zealand

Russia

Adventure Specialist

US Virgin Islands

Travel History

India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi) - 2018

Travelled Dec. 2018, with G-Adventures, Standard Tour Essential India.

14 days.

India is not for the faint of heart. There are sights & sounds that you experience that will make you question why you went.

I had an absolutely fabulous time. Yes, even with the noise, the pollution, the masses of people (Delhi 23 Million and counting). The Iconic Taj Mahal was no disappointment a true Gem. I also visited the Bahai Lotus Temple outside of Delhi (a 45 minute tuk tuk ride in each direction - my driver waited for just over and hour to see the site - all that time and travel cost me $24.00CAD) Beautiful Jaipur and Varanasi with the cremation pyres (Ghats) along the Holy Ganges (average of 200 a day).

The food was wonderful, plentiful and inexpensive which is the reason G-Adventures only included 2 meals with the tour. The hotels varied

and in the chill of December evenings had no heat. The days were mild averaging around 20-20 degrees Celsius. We stayed in a wide variety of hotels and accomodations, from a standard hotel to Safari Tents and one hotel referred to as our Exotic Marigold experience (owned by the same family for 3 generations).

It had been a bucket list of mine since the 1980's and the whole experience didn't disappoint. I am happy to recommend India, with some caustions and provisos.

Morocco - Come to the Casbah!! - 2018

A wonderful destination. This was an Travel Agent's training trip called a familiarization trip. Me and 11 other travel consultants travelled with our guide from "On the Go Tours"

An 11 day journey around Morocco from the seaside of Casablanca to a 90 minute camel ride out into the Sahara to see the sun set and overnighting in a Bedouin tent , up early to see the sunrise and a 90 minute camel ride back to our vehicle. Back to Casablanca via Fes over the Atlas mountains.

It was mid October and an excellent time for traveling. Standard hotels were very comfortable and varied. Varied from regular hotels to riads*

*A richly authentic Moroccan experience; stay in a riad like a local would do.

Another bucket list destination off my list. I have no problem in recommending a journey to Morocco!

Russia - St. Petersburg - Moscow - 2018

March of 2018.... with Canadian Gateway Tours

We flew from Toronto to St. Petersburg via Warsaw on LOT Polish Airlines on their new 787 Dream Liner and returned from Moscow via Warsaw back to Toronto on the same route and aircraft. Very comfortable in economy, service was pleasant and the meals enjoyable.

We arrived in St. Petersburg in the snow. We were transferred to the Four Seasons St. Petersburg, just a few blocks from the Hermitage Museum. After dropping our bags at the hotel we went for a stroll in the gently falling snow and ended up in front of the Hermitage having a snowball fight. All the tourist attractions were open for viewing over the 3 days we were there and fairly busy with a large volume of Asian tourists. After 3 nights we travelled to Moscow on the high speed train, travelling up to 200km per hour, with snow streaming past the windows giving us the impression we were in a Dr. Zhivago movie. Upon arrival in Moscow we were transferred to the Marriott Hotel near Red Square (we were initially supposed to check-in at the Four Seasons but due to Mr. Putin having some special visitors we were deprived of our first two nights at the Four Seasons. Our last night was at the Four Seasons near Red Square. The Marriott was a very nice hotel but the Four Seasons well the name says it all. Truly a 5 Star trip. I have no hesitation in recommending these parts of Russia.

Galleries

Testimonials

We are writing to express our thanks for your excellent services on our upcoming trip to Mexico and to comment on some previous trips you have arranged for us. I always travel more confidently having used your services as a travel agent. While it is possible to arrange trips by Internet, it is very reassuring to know that all of my bookings and my itinerary are being arranged by a professional. There are so many variables that a traveller has to consider and it's too easy for something to go wrong. To have the important details handled by a professional, such as yourself, makes for a much more relaxing travel experience. Everything you arranged on our previous trips to Asia have always gone smoothly from the flights, the hotels and to being picked up at the airport and returned. Considerably reduced stress thanks to your arrangements. Thanks so much for looking after us on our trips! Shu and Steve

Dave! Thanks for the continued great service!