Adventure Travel Institute

Hello Travel Friends:

ATI-EARLY PROMO DISCOUNTS 16/17/ V4-5/6/16

“Early Promo Discounts” For New Trips:

Well. It’s that time of year. May has always been a time when ATI Travel Veterans decide to come back for more- to register for another ATI adventure. This is a complex schedule of upcoming ATI adventures. Most are “new trips,” while others have been promoted before and will take place soon. “New” doesnʼt mean that weʼve never done the trip before. It means that this is the first time that “this yearʼs version” of a program has appeared on the schedule, and is offered to you at deep “Early Promo Discounts.”

ATI Is On The Move 🙂

Yes. There are a lot of programs on this list! In fact, this is the most trips that weʼve ever offered in any 15 month period. And, although itʼs possible that I may eventually cancel one, right now Iʼm pretty confident that they will all go! They may not all fill. But most of them will, and I plan to carry out every trip on this schedule while sticking to my guiding principle of “Small is Beautiful.” That means we run a small efficient company and operate “small group travel.” We donʼt try to do it all. And we donʼt try to take everyone. So each year thereʼs a limit to the number of trips that we do. Another philosophy in recent years has been: “Out with the old.” “In with the new.”

Why Did You Get This Promo?:

This promotion only goes out via email to ATI Travel Veterans and to Active ATI Spanish Students. But “these discount offers” are not going out via email to the thousands on our list. Nevertheless, weʼll put it on the website for the month of May. So anyone can see it there, and if they want, they can apply.

Iʼm certainly willing to consider your friends and family- people that you would like to invite to joint us because they would be good people to travel with. ***But remember, you (and your friends and family) must apply for participation in an ATI program, and then you must be accepted by ATI as a participant.

Early Promo Discounts**: $200

I like to kick off my first promotion of new trips by offering these deep “Early Promo Discounts” to ATI Travel Veterans. That helps me to “build my travel groups” from the pool of ATI veterans. The early inquiries and registration activity give me a good idea of which trips are “jumping,” and which ones need a little extra attention. So if you register for the first offering of a new trip by the stated deadline, youʼll get the “Early Promo Discount” of $200.

Promo Discounts**: $100

When I offer this discount, itʼs not “early anymore” because the program in question has been offered at least once before. The “group building process” is ongoing and the group growing. But Iʼm still interested in motivating you to register, so Iʼm offering you a modest “Promo Discount.” But act now! After the “promo deadline date,” this discount will go away too. So if you register by the stated deadline, youʼll get the “Promo Discount” of $100.

ATI Travel Veteran Discount: $100

When I can offer this discount (because sometimes I canʼt), it’s purpose is to both reward you for having traveled with me before, and to motivate you to do so again. But donʼt take this discount for granted. If you donʼt register in a timely manner, and if you show up to do a trip at the last minute, I might lose my sense of humor.

**May 31st Registration Discount Deadline**

**Both of the “Early Promo Discount” and the “Promo Discount” are subject to the May 31st registration deadline. After that, the discount offer for the next promotion will be considerably less generous, or may not exist at all. That depends on how many spaces I have left on a particular trip, etc.**

Register By May 31st: “Carpe Diem”

These dates are firm. If you want to take advantage of the “full discount opportunity,” and to claim a space, then you have to make up your mind and get in the game. Don’t miss your chance to travel with me to exotic places and to get my best discounts in the process!

My life here at the ATI Global Headquarters flows though periods of planning, promotion, registration, orientation, and then finally the execution of my exciting adventures. So I try to get you to register at certain times- during ATI “promotional events.” At other times, I’m busy with other phases of the operation. So if you don’t register during the “registration discount period,” don’t expect to get a discount. I’m not saying that “all the discounts” will go away. Iʼm saying that they will certainly be less, and depending of availability, they may go away completely. So now is your chance to control your destiny. “Seize the day!” “Carpe diem!”

We Donʼt Do Every Trip Every Year:

The program list is constantly changing. So if you see an adventure that you really want to do, I enthusiastically encourage you to take the leap! We donʼt do every trip every year. In addition, every adventure has a “life span.” And for some ATI journeys, one day it will be the last day.

Carnaval In Veracruz: Veracruz Explorer #1 & #2

After experiencing the lively spectacle of Carnaval for 12 years in a row, we skipped Carnaval In Veracruz for 3 years. I had other things in mind- and we did them! Donʼt miss this yearʼs explorations of Veracruz and Carnaval.

Chiapas México- Mayan Tropical Lowlands:

**“Carnaval In Veracruz #2” Program **“Mayan Odyssey” Program

We did some version of our “Ruta Maya” and “Mayan Odyssey” programs for 12 years straight. But in the last 4 years, weʼve been to Palenque and the Usumacinta River area only every other year. Weʼll see what happens! Donʼt miss what one of my “10 time” ATI Veteran Travelers called, “a adventure that is truly over the top.” After this one, Iʼm not sure when weʼll be back.

Perú: “Adventuring In The Cordillera Blanca”:

Each time we journey to the spectacular Cordillera Blanca in Perú, I wonder if it will be the last time. Itʼs not easy to build a group for rugged mountain adventure. So please donʼt wait! The clock is ticking on these amazing opportunities to explore one of the worldʼs great mountain ranges.

The List Of Upcoming ATI Programs:

Trips are listed in chronological order All prices are double occupancy All prices are in US Dollars

Hereʼs the list of upcoming ATI adventure programs. Discount eligibility is stated for each individual program.

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PERU 2016

Adventuring In Machu Picchu & Cuzco:

“Solstice Sunrise Machu Picchu & Inti Rymi In Cuzco”

11 days Wednesday evening, June 15 to Saturday morning, June 25

$1995

Early Promo Discount: No

Promo Discount: No

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Adventuring In The Cordillera Blanca:

The Journey To Shangri La

13 days

Friday evening, July 1 to Wednesday morning July 13

$2595

Early Promo Discount: No

Promo Discount: No

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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The Santa Cruz Trek

16 days

Friday evening, July 1 to Saturday morning, July 16

$3195*

*This is “The Journey to Shangri La” plus the “Santa Cruz Trek” extension.

Early Promo Discount: No Promo Discount: No

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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MEXICO 2016

*Programs During The “Day Of The Dead” Period 2016*

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Mexico City Explorer (Extension Program)

2 1/2 days Friday evening, Oct. 21 to Sunday afternoon, Oct. 23 2016

$450

Low Priced Extension Program. No discounts of any kind.

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Colonial Gems Of Old Mexico:

“An ATI Epic Journey”

5 1/2 days Sunday evening, Oct. 23 to Friday late afternoon, Oct. 28 2016

$1395

Early Promo Discount: No Promo Discount- $100: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Day Of The Dead In Pátzcuaro:

“Our Classic Adventure” #23

10 days Friday evening, Oct. 27 to Sunday morning, Nov. 6 2016

$1995***

Early Promo Discount: No

Promo Discount- $100: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Intensive Spanish Study In Pátzcuaro:

7 Days Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6 to Saturday morning, Nov. 13 2016 Ask about the “very low prices.” **This is not an “official ATI program.”

For the Record: No discounts of any kind.

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MEXICO/GUATEMALA 2017

Programs In The Mexican States Of Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas As Well As In The Guatemalan Lowlands And Guatemalan Highlands.

OVERLAPPING TRIPS:

This series of ATI adventures beginning with the “Veracruz Explorer #1” and ending with the “Guatemalan Highlands” is designed with some overlapping dates, so that, the end of one trip overlaps with the beginning of the next. That means that, near the end of a program, new participants arrive who are doing the next trip. They participate in the final activity of the first trip which is about to end, because that activity is the first of event of the next trip. We’ve done this for years, and it works very well because it enables us to keep the costs down- making your trip more affordable. It also helps to ensure that a particular trip that may have a small number of participants, will take place anyway, instead of being cancelled. 🙂

THE “OVERLAP DISCOUNT”:

So if you sign up for two trips that “overlap” each other by several days, then there is a “discount”- a huge reduction in the total price of the two trips called the “Overlap Discount.” You don’t pay twice for the same dates. You add the price of both trips together, then subtract the “Overlap Discount” one time from the total of both programs to determine “your program price.”

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Mexico City Explorer (Extension Program)

3 days Wednesday evening, Feb. 15 to Saturday morning, Feb. 18** 2017

$495

**This program ends in Mexico City on Saturday morning. Low Priced Extension Program. No discounts of any kind.

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Veracruz Explorer #1: “An ATI Epic Journey”

“Tajín, Jalapa, Coffee Road & Carnaval In Veracruz”

9 Days Saturday evening, Feb. 18 to Sunday morning, Feb. 26 2017

$1795

To link up with your ATI group at the beginning of Veracruz Explorer #1, you must fly to Mexico City. Then you can either fly at your own expense one way from Mexico City (MEX) to Poza Rica (PAZ), Veracruz on Aeroméxico, or bus at your own expense (with ATI Escort) from Mexico City to the Poza Rica / Papantla area. Easy 🙂

At the end of this program, you fly out of the Port City of Veracruz (VER).

Overlap Discount: Veracruz #1 to Veracruz #2: Subtract $425

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Veracruz Explorer #2: “An ATI Epic Journey”

“Carnaval In Veracruz, Lake Catemaco & Palenque”

10 Days

Thursday evening, Feb. 23

to

Saturday morning, March 4 2017

$1995

Overlap Discount: Veracruz #2 to Mayan Odyssey: Subtract $425

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Mayan Odyssey: “An ATI Epic Journey”

13 Days

“Palenque, Yaxchilán, Bonampak, Tikal & Antigua”

$2595*****

Wednesday evening, March 1

to

Monday morning, March 13 2017

(*****Depart after Tikal and not visit Antigua- 9 day trip: $1895)

Overlap Discount: Mayan Odyssey to Guatemalan Highlands: Subtract $600

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Tikal Explorer (Extension Program)

5 days

Sunday evening, March 5

to

Thursday evening, March 9 2017

$795

This is an ATI Extension Program for clients participating in the “Guatemalan Highlands” programs. Airline ticket between Guatemala City & Flores not included.

Low Priced Extension Program. No discounts of any kind.

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Adventuring In the Guatemalan Highlands: “An ATI Epic Journey”

“Antigua, Chichicastenango & Lake Atitlán”

12 Days

Thursday evening, March 9 to Monday morning, March 20 2017

$2295

5 nights in Antigua / 5 nights in Lake Atitlán / 1 night in Guatemala City

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Intensive Spanish Study In Antigua:

7 Days

Sunday afternoon, March 19 to Saturday morning, March 25 2017

Ask about the “very low prices.” **This is not an “official ATI program.”

For the Record: No discounts of any kind.

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Tikal Explorer (Extension Program)

5 days Sunday evening, April 2 to Thursday evening, April 6 2017

$795

This is an ATI Extension Program for clients participating in the “Easter In Antigua” programs. Airline ticket between Guatemala City & Flores not included.

Low Priced Extension Program. No discounts of any kind.

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Adventuring In the Guatemalan Highlands: “Easter In Antigua, Guatemala”

“Lake Atitlán, Chichicastenango & Easter In Antigua”

12 Days Thursday evening, April 6 to Monday morning, April 17 2017

$2695

First night in Guatemala City / 5 nights in Lake Atitlán / 5 nights in Antigua

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

“Easter In Antigua Only”

6 days Wednesday night, April 12

to

Monday morning, April 17 2017

$1895

5 nights in Antigua

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Intensive Spanish Study In Antigua:

7 Days Sunday afternoon, April ?**

to Saturday morning, April ?** 2017

Ask about the “very low prices.” **This is not an “official ATI program.”

You can study Spanish in Antigua either the week before our Easter In Antigua programs, or the week after. We recommend that you the week after Easter- when you already know your way around Antigua.

For the Record: No discounts of any kind.

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PERU 2017

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Adventuring In Machu Picchu & Cuzco:

“Solstice Sunrise Machu Picchu & Inti Rymi In Cuzco”

12 days Friday evening, June 16

to Tuesday morning, June 27

$2595

FYI: Winter Solstice 2017- Southern Hemisphere: June 21 – Wednesday

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

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Adventuring In The Cordillera Blanca:

The Journey To Shangri La

14 days Tuesday night, June 27

to Monday morning, July 10

$2995

Early Promo Discount- $200: Yes

ATI Vet Traveler Discount- $100: Yes

The Santa Cruz Trek

17 days Tuesday night, June 27 to Thursday morning, July 13

$3795*

*This is “The Journey to Shangri La” plus the “Santa Cruz Trek” extension.

Early Promo Discount-$200: Yes ATI Vet Traveler Discount-$100: Yes

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Price & Discount Mumbo Jumbo-

Some Of The Fine Print

Some Of The Fine Print

Anyone who does their homework at all, knows that my programs are very affordable. I’m not getting rich by experiencing “windfall profits” at the “full price,” so there’s not a lot of fat to trim when it comes to offering discounts.

Discounts Represent An Opportunity:

Keep in mind that offering discounts isn’t a “done deal.” I offer them when it makes sense for me to “kick off” a promo on new trip offerings, or at times when I need to stimulate registration for a trip that has previously been offered. Even if I do initially offer such discounts, at some point in the long march toward the beginning of a trip, the offer of discounts will eventually go away- especially as I broaden my promotional efforts to include people who havenʼt traveled with us before.

Not All Trips Are Eligible For Discounts:

Due to price issues such as high costs and narrow profit margins, etc., on some trips, I’m not able to offer a discount. As a result, on such trips I can’t even always offer an ATI Travel Veteran discount.

Some trips that don’t qualify for discounts are “extension programs”- a secondary “add-on” to compliment a “main event” trip. One such trip is the “Mexico City Explorer”- an adventure that so many of you have done before. Another is the “Tikal Explorer.” On these “add-on” trips, I don’t expect to get all of the people from the “main event” group. They are typically priced to “motivate you” to participate. But they often have only a few participants, and also often have a small “profit margin.” But that doesn’t mean that they don’t make sense for me in the big picture of offering you exotic travel opportunities. When you see these “extension programs,” keep in mind that they are already a particularly good deal- even without a discount.

The Problem Is I’m Busy:

Between teaching a few Spanish classes, planning and executing several upcoming trips, and working on my website update, I’m pretty darn busy. So I offer you a discounted opportunity to signup for my programs during specific promotional events. Thatʼs when Iʼm oriented to helping you to signup. At other times, Iʼm focused on other stuff, so registering you is more difficult. More difficult means no discount.

The “New” ATI Website- Coming Soon To A Computer Near You.

In addition, and I’m not going to take my eye off that ball until my website is updated. Then I can do a real ATI promo to the entire list. That’s when I’ll efficiently get the word out to several thousand people.

I’m working on it. And I’m making real progress. The day that I finally get the “new website” up will be a “game changing event” for me. “Katy bar the door.” 🙂 In the meantime, little by little we will update the existing site.

Website Warning: The ATI Website May Not Be Current Yet!

The old “out of date” ATI Website is still up. In the next few days, Iʼll have this new trip list up on the website. But if you go to our site before we can do that, don’t let old dates and other out of date details confuse you.

Just Ask For More Info!:

In addition to this general list of trips with dates and costs, I will be gradually putting up more and more details about each trip. But even though the info might not be there on the website, I am very familiar with the “nitty gritty” of what weʼre doing with each program, and I probably have some detailed info that I can send to you.

I’ve thought the matter through, and, although possible, it’s pretty rare for me to cancel a trip. So if it’s on the list of trips, it’s almost certain that it’s going to happen. It’s probably just a matter of how many fellow travelers will be there with us to enjoy those particular exotic destinations. If it’s on the list, it’s because I want to do it, and because someone is out there “beating on the door” of that trip.

Small Group Adventure Travel:

Remember: I offer small group experiences. So, except under very rare circumstances, you’ll be traveling with only 10 to 15 fellow participants. However, at times there are other helpers. They are there to improve the quality of your adventure. But they donʼt count as clients.

Typically, more than half of the participants on an ATI adventure are people who have traveled with me before- and many have traveled with me several times. That makes for a uniquely friendly and cohesive group and experience. For instance, on my upcoming exotic journey to the Cordillera Blanca in Perú (a program that will eventually fill) at the moment every single participant has traveled with me before! They do keep coming back, don’t they?

How Do You Get More Information?:

This is when you call or email for more info about the trips. If you’re just looking for more details, an email is fine. I’m not trying to put anybody on the spot or under pressure. But the amount of information that I can provide to you in writing right now does vary greatly from trip to trip. That’s because some of the exotic adventures on the list of upcoming adventures already have a “tight” detailed description. For others trips, however, even though I know exactly what we’re doing, I haven’t had time yet to put it down in detail as one of my famous “Program Information Sheets.” Having traveled with me before, you have probably read one or more of those “detailed descriptions.” Ask me for info, and I’ll do the best I can.

I Don’t Play “20 Emails”: After A Couple, Itʼll Be Time To Talk!

However, I don’t play the new version of the old game “20 Questions.” That’s what I call “20 Emails.” Sorry, but I just don’t have time to go back and forth with you “one question at a time.” If you really want to know more about a particular trip, and if I’ve already sent you the info that I have, then it’s time for us to talk. I’m not trying to put anyone in the old “sign-up pressure cooker.” Yes. I do like to talk to you, because for me, a lot of this is about the people. But there also comes a time when we need to be efficient. In one telephone conversation, we can answer those 20 questions, as well as the ones that you haven’t even thought of yet, and in doing so, productively take the process forward.

How Do You Begin The Registration Process?:

Most of the people receiving this email have been through the ATI registration process at least once before. But a few of you (probably friends of ATI Travel Veterans), haven’t. Here’s a reminder.

Let Us Know That “Your In”:

Once you’ve decided that you’d like to participate in an ATI adventure travel program, you need to let us know! That may take place as a part of a conversation where you say, “O.K. Let’s go! However, some people make up their minds right away, even before talking with us, while others may decide later- after a conversation. In either case, shoot us an email (or call) to get our attention and to begin the process.

Application & Acceptance:

Remember: You need to apply for participation in an ATI program, and you need to be accepted.

First, we need to see if we still have a space for you. Then, if we haven’t already done so, we need to talk about the adventure to be certain that you understand the conditions of travel for a particular program. That’s when we’ll determine if a program “is right for you,” and if “you are right for it.”

Remember, our trips arenʼt for everyone. And some ATI programs are very different than others. We must formally accept you, or not, into the program. We want you to come, but we need to determine “that you can come.” During this conversation weʼll discuss the conditions to be encountered on the program in question. This conversation will probably take place before you actually apply. As best we can, we must agree that you have a good understanding of the demands of the upcoming adventure, that you are physically and emotionally capable of participating in the journey, and that you will enjoy yourself while traveling with other clients on a small group adventure in our remote and relatively backward travel areas.

If you’ve already successfully traveled with us before, it’s not likely that your participation would be denied, but it is possible. It all has to make sense.

ATI reserves the right to deny participation in any of its programs to any applicant based on ATIʼs judgement concerning the health, safety, and well-being of its clients, program availability, and other logistical concerns, or for any other reason which does not violate California State Law, U.S. Federal Law, or the laws of the sovereign nations that we visit.

ATI Application Packet:

To apply, you need the “most up to date” version of the ATI Application Packet. That packet includes three key documents:

How To Apply For An ATI Program

ATI Application Form

ATI Tour Participant Agreement Including Release Of Liability

Upon request, we’ll provide you with the ATI Application Packet. It will probably come to you as “pdf” attachments to an email. You need to download each of these documents and print them. Once printed, you need to correctly fill them out by hand, and then return them to ATI via U.S. Mail or some other private carrier. If you can’t print, we’ll send you an ATI Application Packet in the mail.

Until future notification, don’t print these documents from the out-of-date ATI website. The “pdf” documents that appear there are no longer the most up-to date versions.

The Amount Of Your Initial Deposit Payment:

The amount that your Initial Deposit Payment- the payment that accompanies your ATI Application Packet- is determined by the process that is described in the ATI Tour Participant Agreement. But the general idea is that, after subtracting your discounts from the published program price, you will have “your program cost.”****** The amount of “your program cost” is then divided into equal payments. The number of those payments is determined by how many days before the first day of your desired ATI program you apply. The general idea is:

If you apply:

271 days or more before programʼs first day:4 payments of about 25% each So your initial deposit payment is 25%

181-270 days before programʼs first day: 3 payments of about 33.33% each

91-180 days before programʼs first day: 2 payments of about 50% each

90 days or less before programʼs first day:1 payment of about 100%

For more information about your “Initial Deposit Payment,” and about payment plans and subsequent payments, please refer to the ATI Tour Participant Agreement.

******This is our best guess concerning “your program cost,” and that figure may change a little as we go forward toward your ATI program. Some things that could possibly change the amount that you will pay might be for the cost of a single room, or for some “additional cost” associated with early arrival, etc.

Unlikely Stuff:

Obviously, if for some unlikely reason you are denied participation (not accepted as a participant) in the desired ATI program(s), the entire amount of your initial deposit will be returned to you without penalty. Although it is very unlikely that ATI would deposit your check prior to being formally accepted or being denied, it is possible, and cashing your check does not constitute acceptance. If ATI were to cash your check, and then deny your participation, in such an unlikely event, after verification of your payment, ATI would return your initial deposit amount to you in the form of a cashierʼs check.

FYI: We do not accept credit cards.

The main reason for this is that we want our trips to be affordable. By accepting credit cards, the credit card company would charge our small firm a high transaction percentage. That would raise the cost of your trip by at least a hundred dollars (and probably more). We would have to pass that cost directly on to you. Here at ATI, we have an old saying that goes something like, “A hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.” Keep your money and send us a check.

By The Way: We Keep It Simple.

Since we don’t accept credit cards, or in any other way store your personal financial information on a potentially vulnerable server, with us, you don’t have to worry about the security of your personal information vis-á-vis identity theft, etc.

Airline Tickets?: Donʼt Even Think About It!

There are lots of things for us to discuss before you can buy your airline tickets. Do not purchase your airline tickets until you have received “official ATI permission” to do so in writing via email.

Questions?

If you would like to talk about an upcoming ATI adventure, or if you have any questions at all, please call ASAP. Weʼd love to hear from you. Thanks.

Henry “Enrique” Wilds

ATI Global Cellphone: +1 530 318 1506

ATI Global Headquarters: +1 530 993 4010

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(530) 318-1506 PO BOX 881 Loyalton, CA 96118 email: adventuretravelinstitute@hotmail.com