Travel Tours
The Argosy
The Argosy has been organizing specialized trips for the discerning traveler since 1984. Originally there were two organizations; The Argonauts run by Gus Ober and The Argosy started by Antony Underwood. It was later decided to merge the two operations and pool a vast amount of contacts and resources. The Argosy has a small team of people working within the company: Fran Salisbury with Claudia Holquin and Debbie Clark in Palm Beach and Antony and Mary Underwood going between England and the United States.
The concept of the Argosy trips is that traveling is a moving house party. This idea allows participants to see and appreciate some of the finest palaces, castles and houses, observing the architecture, art collections and decorative arts. In doing so, it has been important to have a cohesive group of kindred spirits who share common interests. When visiting private houses participants of an Argosy trip are entertained privately at receptions, luncheons or dinners. An Argosy excursion is not only an art appreciation trip, but also a lifestyle experience. One goes as a guest not as a tourist!
Typically, Argosy travelers give charitable donations to the country of travel. In choosing lecturers and guides, the Argosy generally relies on owners of the houses; they have the greatest knowledge not only of properties, but also of art collections, furniture and objects d'art. These individuals have grown up with such collections in their great houses and cultural information has been passed on to them from preceding generations. The Argosy tries to visit museums at the quietest times or when they are closed to the general public. In these instances the directors, curators or in-house lecturers serve as our guides.
In summary, it has always been the raison d'etre of the Argosy to visit a country in the very best possible style. The Argosy guest will see and experience a way of life that is not available to a tourist.
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Some Organizations Benefiting From the Argosy |
| ORGANIZATION |
PATRON |
| The Art Institute of Chicago |
Mrs. James Pritchard |
| The Houston Ballet |
Mrs. Alvin Owsley, Jr. |
| American Museum in Bath |
The Countess of Airlie |
| The Irish Georgian Society |
The Countess of Mansfield |
| Cancer Foundation Italy |
The Duchess Salviatti |
The Swedish American Foundation for
the Performing Arts |
H.R.H. Princess Christina of Sweden
Mrs. Tord Magnuson |
| Save Venice Foundation |
Mrs. James Guthrie |
| Kusav Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey |
Mrs. K. Simavi |
| The Australian National Museum |
Lady Potter |
| Together for Peace Foundation, Rome, Italy |
Mrs. Maria Pia Fanfani |
| U.S. Friends of The English National Opera |
The Earl of Harewood |
| Help The Hospice Foundation, U.K |
The Duchess of Norfolk |
| The Jai Swai Singh Foundation |
H.H. The Rajmata of Jaipur |
| The Westminster Abbey Foundation |
H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh |
| The American Friends of Versailles |
Viscomte de Roha |