Tom H. Baltimore, Maryland

We stayed in 4 star accommodations on a trip that could have easily stuck us in less inviting places. Even with the scarcity of toilet paper and hot water at times I was happy. To me the games were what the trip was ALL about. It was a monster act of coordination to get all this lined up ! Top notch. It was almost embarrassing that we were eating like we were after seeing the other team was going back to a dinner of beans and tortillas. I wish we could have stayel longer. I considered our overall trip organization everything it needed to be. It was a marvel that this could happen in this day and age considering the relationship our country has with Cuba. People who don’t think it can or don’t think they would have as much fun as it promises, need to do this and find out for themselves. I would like to take another BAT in 2010.
Doug S. San Diego, Ca

I appreciate the trip that you have put together. It gives us a chance to view a different country while playing baseball. I love the group of guys on the trip and made many amazing friendships both Cuban and American. Thanks a lot!!
Aaron F. Solana Beach, Ca.

Being my second trip I had an advantage and knew what to expect.
The excitement of flying into Cienfuegos was cool as the first! I think it is not hard to go thru their system and you did a good job of explaining. Yes I would take another trip. I think there are small things like having us pay for water up front and have the bus driver purchase it in their down time so we do not have to waste time getting on and off the bus every day we play. Also being on time – I know it’s a third world country and that is how they are so either everyone be on time or don’t harp on it!
Dan C. San Diego, Ca

It may have been my own fault, but I wish I had brought more to give away. Maybe you just have to go one time and actually see how everything works. Overall though I felt very prepared. I thought the Team Tour Bus and Guide did a great job. I liked both hotels very much – they exceeded my expectations. My best time was definitely the baseball and hanging out with the team. I also loved anything we did with kids – I wish we had done more of that. I felt that the overall trip organization was very impressive. I always felt comfortable.
I would certainly go on another BAT trip with Mike, though I think who goes on the trip makes some difference. We were fortunate enough to be on the trip with a lot of fun guys I’m grateful for that because it made for a very enjoyable week. But I have zero complaints about how the trip was setup and organized. The whole trip went very smoothly and that’s because of all the up front work that was done.
Pete H. Denver, Co

If invited again I will go on a dime It was a great experience. Although I don’t play ball very well, I felt 100% part of Team USA complete with official uniform. The kids and people are great, friendly, always smiling, honest, hard workers. Over all it was all excellent. The pre-trip Preparation was very good, sometimes too much but that is why the overall trip was excellent.
Hector R. Medford, Or

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of every game. The meals were very good in my opinion. Some may complain about the blandness of it, but it’s good, solid fuel that keeps you going. Mike and our guide Jorge were very responsive to my needs and questions. I appreciated that and felt like I received much individual attention. As an improvement I would like to suggest making the bus PA system more audible and a bit louder. I would also be in favor of having more conversation between the players from both sides, I would be in favor of it, because the acquaintances and friendships formed that way seem to be appreciated by all. By the way, this was my Fourth trip!
Tom H. Baltimore, Md.

Overall the trip was well organized. Mike communicated frequently and well before our departure and made it clear to expect the unexpected. Consider this: Because the specifics of the daily schedule are (understandably) likely to change please consider using the hotel’s copier and hand out an updated handwritten schedule either the night before or first thing in the morning. Frankly, I wanted to play as much as I could and it is helpful to know your game plan for the week re amount of playing time. I really enjoyed the whole experience and our group which I thought was terrific.
Roger R. Atlanta, Ga

This was my fifth trip yet it was still such a learning experience. The baseball was outstanding, By the last couple games, I felt our team really gelled. As my initial 2006 trip was, this was another great experience, I am definitely down for a 6th in 2012!
John S. San Diego, Ca

The pre-trip preparation was excellent. Mike kept me well informed on necessary documents and important dates. Our arrival and exit went very smoothly. I felt that the hotels in general had good service and were accommodating. I really enjoyed the night life and had an awesome time. I wish i could have made the horse back ride. I felt overall organization was good. You could tell Mike put a ton of work and organization into this trip so everyone could have a good time. When he looked stressed, it reminded me of myself at the shop.
I would love to take another trip with BAT soon.
Kerry S. Alpine, Ca

This was my first trip and i felt the pre trip and ongoing organization was great. There were plenty of informative emails and my questions were answered quickly. I felt the hotel accommodations were good considering we were technically in a “third world”. I really had a blast at the games and the competition was very good. The horseback ride was fun, gave me that “in country” feeling. I will be looking forward to the next BAT trip to a new destination in 2010
Chris C. San Diego, Ca

For me everything went without a hitch. Because of all the pre trip emails and such, I know how much money to bring, what clothes were needed, etc. I thought the hotel in Pinar was a classic. The level of competition and sportsmanship exceeded my expectations. The food was ok, but not the highlight of the trip. I would have liked to play at least one more game but everything worked out well. I have nothing but exciting memories of the trip I have to say.
Rob C. Silver Springs, MD.

Mike organized the trip of a lifetime which was unique, adventurous, fun and quite enlightening. It was a memorable an special week for me. I don’t think any future trip anywhere could surpass this experience. I do wish though we would have had more time to get to know our ball playing counterparts. It seemed as soon as the games ended we were shuttled off to lunch or points elsewhere. I’ll be back!
Dave F., Houston, Tx.

The pre trip preparation was fantastic and made the process of getting in and out seamless. I liked the stadiums and the fact major league quality teams play there. Some good history. Being with the team in the evenings were some of the best times of the week. Overall, it was the best trip/tour I have ever taken. Will be on another one in 2008.
Matt H. San Diego, Ca

My wife Alice made this trip with me and it worked out very well. She had some issues with toilet seats and paper but didn’t seem to bother me. All trip instructions were laid out perfectly and to the point. The games were very evenly matched even though we picked up an “ofer” that week. The food was plentiful but somewhat bland. Alice and I enjoyed the night life with the team; the guys were a ton of fun. We will both be telling our friends about our great week together. Every aspect was outstanding.
Joe P. Baltimore, Md.

I truly enjoyed it all. The hotels, transportation, guide, food and of course the ball games. I found the people very warm and gracious. Of course I would enjoy taking another Team USA trip (just have to get my finances in order!). Thanks for a fantastic experience Mike.
Wayne H. El Cajon, Ca

I enjoyed the cultural outings like the cigar and rum bar in Cienfuegos, the Boat trip around the harbor in Cienfuegos. Obviously playing baseball was a highlight. The games were fun and the main reason I came on the trip (other than sightseeing). The Cienfuegos games were the best only because it was in the stadium. It would have been fun to have at least one more stadium game in or around Havana. The other fields were actually a fun experience because they were nestled in a neighborhood or mill. Only complaint on first bus was the windows were really dirty so couldn’t take as many pictures – otherwise was fine and comfortable for the long hauls. In Havana, where we stayed most of the time, the hotel was really unacceptable in many ways. I was never scared or afraid at anytime in Cuba, except when I was in the elevators there. Getting stuck for 15 minutes didn’t help.

Cuba is a beautiful country with very nice people. It is unfortunate that some of the architectural and cultural beauty is a result of people being oppressed and cutoff from the rest of the world. I guess that’s communism for you! I am definitely happy that I got the opportunity to see Cuba though…something I will never forget.
Avi G. Santa Barbara, Ca.

Excellent. The ongoing communication and reminders as to trip details, logistics, paperwork/documentation requirements was quite valuable. I appreciated the sequence and distribution of the info via e.mails, so as not to overwhelm us with too much info all at once. Good balance on info relating to cultural and sports exchange info and interactions with local citizens and players, as well as general trip guidelines. Can’t say enough about Jorge and Alberto. They were always informative as to details and history lessons; they handled side questions well and you could tell they cared about our safety and security. Habana Riviera, was, in my opinion, unacceptable. No other way to put it, and I have to be blunt here. At first, the hotel makes a good impression; on the water, great view, spacious lobby. But once you get inside your room the “honeymoon’s over.”. Baseball Games – top notch. Although we were outmatched in terms of raw talent, the Cubans were great sports and honest competitors. In my opinion, playing time for our team was ideal and more than reasonable. I really liked the system of one game play the field, get at least one at-bat, next game be a regular in the batting order with intermittent play in the field; very refreshing and a great way to even out the playing time. Excellent team management by Mike.
Alan M. Denver, Co

Thank you once again Mike for including me in this marvelous trip. Not only fulfilling everything I could have imagined, but extending out to things I never would have thought of. I am not sure how we could have had more friendly, enjoyable and competent folks to assist and inform us on the trip.  KUDOS!! Havana- The accommodations were exquisite.

Vinales-My hosts were incredibly courteous, polite, and helpful (even though I got locked out the final night)…the comfortability of the room was perfect for me…wouldn’t have minded a couple more days there as well.

I enjoyed all of the baseball venues, expecting lesser quality than say, Phoenix, Florida, or some of the fields we normally play on. I also enjoyed the interaction after games. Not sure if there was ANYTHING I didn’t enjoy.

Resilient, Passionate, Patriotic (in a Country not Government sense), Generous, overall beautiful people. This was something I have wanted to do for decades, and have passed on several occasions to do so, but for some reason I had a good feeling about this one and boy was I right to participate on this particular trip.  Good guys, great planning and execution (off the field), and hopefully some friends for life.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Bill D. Detroit, Mi

The bus was excellent. Very comfortable and much cleaner than I’d expected. I appreciated the fact that Jorge “taught” us some history about Cuba. I tried my best to listen, but being in the back of the bus the whole time made that a little tough. Baseball Games – A great pleasure. I thought playing time was evenly/fairly distributed, and the competition was great. Both the stadium in Cienfuegos and the field in Havana were unbelievable. Such awesome places to play. Such an amazing experience, playing against those absolute studs of baseball players, young and old. Those guys can absolutely put the bat on the ball. In summary, it’s such a great reminder to me to see that it’s not the equipment, your uniform, or your ego that makes you a great ball player. It’s simply playing and becoming great at the game that you love. The Cuban culture is unlike any I’ve ever experienced. It’s hard to put into words for people here that ask me about the trip. All I can say is, I have a newfound appreciation for what I have, and the opportunities I’ve been given. Thanks so much for everything, I’m so glad I got to go on this trip. Completing this eval form was actually great, as it brought everything back.
Robert O. San Diego, Ca

Very good, but it seemed it was more important to pay attention to the final emails due to changes that occurred with flight times and other circumstances beyond your control. I am use to many different hotel levels due to my extensive travel in Asia recently. The Havana hotel was in dire need of repair. As far as the games go, the umpires were very good and the Cuban players were good sports for the most part. As I said with a little more pitching and the best players on our team in the field and batting, we could of won 3 out of 5 (but that is really not what the trip is about). The fields were all good. It was an appropriate amount of baseball. That being said, thanks for making the Cuba trip possible. I doubt I ever would of gone to Cuba if this trip was not available. It was a very good experience!
Steve H. Santa Barbara, Ca.

Our driver and guide were very professional; the bus was very clean and comfortable the entire time. We had a variety of activities to keep us occupied and involved with the locals. Overall the trip was very well organized which resulted in no stress at all. The leaders were professional and seemed concerned about us at all times. The experience of a lifetime should and will be repeated by me!
Bob M. San Diego, Ca

“I appreciate the trip that you have put together. It gives us a chance to view a different country while playing baseball. I love the group of guys on the trip and made many amazing friendships both Cuban and American. Thanks a lot!!”
Arnold Franken, Philadelphia, Pa.

“We stayed in 4 star accommodations on a trip that could have easily stuck us in less inviting places. Even with the scarcity of toilet paper and hot water at times I was happy. To me the games were what the trip was ALL about. It was a monster act of coordination to get all this lined up ! Top notch. Top notch. It was almost embarrassing that we were eating like we were after getting our butts kicked and the other team was going back to a dinner table of beans, minus the tortillas. I wish we could have stayel longer. I liked Mike’s idea of 14 days with a game every other day. I considered our overall trip organization everything it needed to be. It was a marvel that this could happen in this day and age. People who don’t think it can or don’t think they would have as much fun as it promises need to do this and find out for themselves. I would like to take another BAT trip and plan to keep my ears open in case another one happens.”
Paul Peers, Encinitas, Ca

“The pre-trip preparation was very good. You were very prompt and responsive to whatever questions I had. It is important to reassure people that it is OK to ask questions that may appear stupid to some, and you accomplished that. All was well explained in advance. As far as my favorite part of the trip goes, it’s a toss up between the ball games and talking an listening to the local people. I thought the overall tour organization was excellent (it looks like you’ve done this before Mike :>)”
Cheryl Meiers, Silver Springs, Maryland

“Probably unlikely we would take another baseball trip unless we could add in more of the cultural aspects – Sally. David might feel differently. This is no reflection on the quality of the trip or the exceptional organization that is obvious in every detail. It only reflects our interests. On the other hand, we would not have made such direct contact with locals under other formats. That was a treasure. We would certainly recommend BAT trips to others with an interest in baseball.”
Sally Evert, Houston, Tx.

“The kindness the people showed towards us and going out of their way to make sure we enjoyed ourselves was very surprising to me. This shows me that even if governments don‘t coexist in good form that the people can have their own positive relationships with each other. “
Franklin Bonderala, Miami, Fl.

“Regarding the team tour Bus/Transportation and guide:
All of these were great. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable of his country. He keep us informed of the details for every game and all events. Plus adding a touch of fun. Both our driver and our guide were very professional. Our rooms were clean and comfortable. The buffet was good at both hotels. The towel creativity in our room each night was lovely. My husband and I would certainly take another “BAT” trip to a new country.”
Kim McMellon, Dallas, Tx

“I can’t pick out 1 single portion of this trip that was the best. It was one of my most enjoyable trips ever – beginning to end. How many people can say they even had a good time falling over while playing a ball game. The opposition was great fun – I loved the interaction between teams. Fields were good. Loads of fun for me. I liked the fact that things were open to discussion and options as opposed to rigid a schedule. For traveling with a group – all the places we visited – things were smooth. No hang-ups with admissions/coordinations.
Billy Dillon, Atlanta, Ga

“The pre-trip preparation, because of communication about what is needed, expected, and required, was exceptional. There were no hidden surprises. In addition, information about the Country, the people, the currency and what to expect was very informative and useful. Simple and complete, no complaints. Many emails to prepare us for the trip. Always responsive to our many questions. Playing against the good ballplayers of Cuba was a highlight of the trip for me. I would certainly recommend anyone who is interested in a baseball trip to contact BAT. Mike – you do a great job of making people feel welcome and as the host, being friendly and nice but not to excess.”
David Koyle, San Jose, Ca.

“The trip organization was solid. This is the most important aspect of a foreign tour to me. If you pay good money and put yourself in someone else’s hands, you want to make sure all “homework” has been done and all you have to do is sit back and go with the flow. Mike and BAT certainly accomplished this for me. I’ve traveled all over the world and would be hard pressed to think of another country with such friendly people.”
Ron Botenssa, Columbus, Oh.

“The whole trip was very well done. I play ball every Sunday at home on high school fields and playing a game in that stadium was a gas. This was my first ever trip outside the US so I was a bit worried at first but all the pre trip emails and follow up organization allowed me to be very comfortable. The whole experience was very cool.”
Nelson Reisseny, Boston, Ma.

I was thoroughly impressed with how well the trip was organized and how we were able to easily modify certain portions based on what others wanted and/or extenuating circumstances.  What was your Overview of China and it’s People: Again, I was blown away by the experience. You always hear of how many people are in China, but you don’t truly understand it until you experience it. The people were very nice, and polite for the most part, and VERY hard working. It is easy to see that even though it is a communist state, China has a true capitalist economy, and the growth (both realized and potential) is breathtaking. I have many views on this after our trip, and have had some great conversations about it with family and friends since returning.
Would you take Another “BAT” trip and Final Comments:

If they’ll have me, absolutely. I can’t reiterate enough how much fun I had on the China trip. Traveling with people you share the love of baseball (and world travel) with is a fascinating thing. I usually don’t do trips like this where everything is pre-scheduled, but for a trip like this it was great. I enjoyed every minute and hope to do another trip in the future… with improved baseball performance I hope.

In Hong Kong_
The facility in Hong Kong was great. It was awesome to watch those kids practice but I’m glad we beat them. I felt really bad that we didn’t play better against the adult team. I think Team USA was so tired that we didn’t give them a very good game like we should have. It would have been nice to split the games up, if possible. I hate double headers.

Activities/Sightseeing in Beijing_
Great, finally got to see the Great Wall, what an awesome sight. It would have been nice to spend more time at the Forbidden City since we blew through it

Overall Trip Organization_
Overall, I thought the organization was good. I’m sure it can’t be easy to accommodate everyone in a strange place where we know nothing. I understand that we need to be flexible with things and there didn’t appear to be much waiting around. At times, it did appear that some plans were being made on the fly, which was a little surprising to see. In the end, it all worked out and we ended up having a good time.

Would you take Another “BAT” trip and Final Comments:

I would be interested in taking another trip with BAT. Of course, it depends upon the destination but I would certainly keep my options open. I really enjoyed the trip overall and liked visiting China.

Mike it was an honor to hear your take on Cuba’s history as it relates to the US, and also to share your passion for the great game of baseball (and how it should be played).  I felt like we bonded and it was a quality connection of which I very much appreciate.  I’ve been on a few tours before and you really took ownership into making the experience the very best it could be, and in so doing created many many opportunities for the group to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Caleb D. Salinas, Ca.

You may have over stated the process, but it went as smooth as silk. Most likely because of your details. I would suggest to anyone going to Cuba to go with a group like yours.  Seeing and meeting the Cuban people. I came away with a totally different perspective of the people and country. It took awhile to wrap my head around the reality of Cuba. One of the best trips/adventures I have experienced. Bantering with my new ‘best friends’ in the shops – another hoot. It was so much more that what I expected. You and your crew/team were excellent. Each one added to the other. Didn’t really know what to expect but had preconceived ideas gathered over the years. Most turned to to be completely wrong. I was sure the tour leader from the state would be giving the party line…..I was wrong. I believe Israel told it as it is and really loves his country as he should. I came away with an almost completely different view of Cuba, very much to the positive side of things. Thank you and your crew for a great trip and learning experience.    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all……
Wes S. Denver, Co