or call/text us at 530-519-9861

When did summer turn into fall?? I am often surprised with how quickly August comes and goes, and now here I am dreaming about new places to discover. This new e-magazine has a beautiful collection of destinations and vessels for discovering new destinations. Whether you love cruising, cultural sites or relaxing on the beach, we know you'll find something to be inspired by in this fall's travel guide! Click on the image below and browse today!

And when you’re ready to plan your next adventure, send us an e-mail or give us a call/text.  

Or call/text us at 530-519-9861

While we cannot believe that summer is almost over, we can still share fantastic travel ideas for the seasons ahead. Our partners have put together this lovely e-magazine that we know will cultivate a desire to see some of these unexpected destinations. Just sit back, click on the image below and let us take you into some wonderful escapes.
And when you’re ready to plan your next adventure, send us an e-mail or give us a call/text. 

Or call/text us at 530-519-9861

Today, we're diving into the enchanting city of Amsterdam, but we're not here to talk about tulips (although they are undeniably beautiful!). Instead, we'll be shining a spotlight on some lesser-known landmarks and activities that make Amsterdam a destination full of surprises and delights. Let's venture off the beaten path and discover what else this vibrant city has to offer.

VONDELPARK
Escape the bustling city streets and find solace in the lush green oasis of Vondelpark. This sprawling urban park is perfect for a leisurely stroll, a picnic, or even a bike ride. Unwind amidst beautiful gardens, serene ponds, and charming bridges, while catching a glimpse of locals engaging in various activities like outdoor theater performances or rollerblading.

NDSM WHARF
For the art enthusiasts, a visit to the NDSM Wharf is an absolute must. Located on the waterfront, this former shipyard has transformed into a creative hub packed with artists' studios, exhibition spaces, and street art. Explore the industrial backdrop, snap some Instagram-worthy photos, and immerse yourself in the vibrant artistic spirit that is deeply rooted in the city.

The Heiva season is just around the corner on Tahiti and Bora Bora! Raphaela, our friend at the Tahiti Travel Services, has written a beautiful explanation of the Heiva and a warm welcome to Tahiti and her islands. We hope you will enjoy!
​
Dancing in Polynesia is part of their daily lives from the moment they learn to walk! In all Polynesian schools, they learn this traditional art from an early age, to the sounds of the To'ere (a Polynesian percussion instrument).

Tamure (“tāmūrē” in its written form in Tahitian) is the name of the modern declension of Tahitian dance, referred to locally as Ori tahiti. A bit of history background: shortly after the Second World War, a veteran of the Pacific Battalion, Louis Martin, who liked to dance at Papeete's famous discotheque, Quinn's, wrote a very popular song based on traditional rhythms and using the word "Tamure" as a refrain.  He thus earned the nickname of "Tamure Martin" and passed on the name of the Tahitian dance that the "Popa'a" would use to describe the "Ori Tahiti".

The Tahitian dance known as "Ori Tahiti" is one of the best-known dances in French Polynesia.
It's a traditional Tahitian dance, listed in France's inventory of intangible cultural heritage in 2017. Dance accompanies all the important moments in their lives, whether it's a birth, a wedding, a birthday, or any other event.
 Dancing is the Perfect Expression of their Happiness!

As you consider your travel plans for 2023 and beyond, we want to spend some time sharing new information on the visa requirements coming to European travel, specifically the Schengen Area.

​If that term is new to you, don't worry, we've attached a photo to the right from the European Travel Information & Authorization System. The Schengen Area is comprised of 27 European countries that have signed an agreement​ to abolish internal border control so that working European families could travel seamlessly between the agreed upon countries. As you can see, there are some countries that are a part of the European Union that are NOT included in this area, as well as non-European Union countries that ARE included. The most recently added country to this Schengen Agreement was Croatia, which was added on January 1, 2023. 
​
As many countries and areas of the world have been reevaluating their own border control and safety measures, the Schengen Area decided in November of 2016 that they would begin instituting a visa program for citizens of some 59 countries, set to launch around November of 2023. 

It's that time of year! Amidst all of the visiting family members and holiday travels, the other great and majestic visitors are returning to Hawai‘i’s Islands! Today, we're talking about the migration of the North Pacific humpback whale. Each year from December to May, scientists estimate that two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale population return to Hawai‘i to breed, calve and nurse their young. Humpback whales, or koholā in the Hawaiian language, can be seen from every island and there are a variety of ways to experience these awe-inspiring animals from both sea and shore. Our friends at the Hawai'i Tourist Board have shared some of their favorite spots on the islands to see these beautiful visitors. And if you are ready to book your own excursions, feel free to look through this list of possibilities through our partners at Project Expedition.

Over on the island of Hawai‘i, there is an unforgettable storytelling experience aboard the Kalama Kai, Mauna Lani’s 42-foot power boat. This experience is available exclusively to Mauna Lani guests until springtime, when you can survey the horizon for signs of a fluke or breach while learning long-lived legends passed from one generation to another. Another option is in the Waikoloa area out of the Honokohau Harbor. If boats aren’t your thing, you can still catch a glimpse of the humpbacks from the shore at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site. In addition to whales, dolphins and black-tipped reef sharks are common sightings.

Now that we're in full holiday mode, you may already be thinking of all the different treats you will be baking (or buying!) and the holiday feast you will be preparing or enjoying with your loved ones come Christmas! There are so many great traditions within our own country, but today we wanted to share a few global food traditions, with one from our own, to help us gain a larger perspective of the ways different countries celebrate this holiday season around the world.

Among some of the more elaborate and savory foods that France has to offer, Christmastime comes with a feast that includes oysters and foie gras--fattened goose or duck liver. Their main meat is usually capon, turkey, or pheasant and they top off the meal with a delicious dessert feast that includes their version of our Yule Log, the Bûche de Noël. This spongecake is often covered in chocolate buttercream and tiny meringue "mushrooms." What a delicious way to end a meal!

It's that time of year again!! Christmastime and the holidays seem to sneak up every year and we know that amidst busy schedules and shopping sprees, some of us would love nothing more than to soak up a new city with our loved ones, experiencing the charm of a beloved destination. What could be better than combining the beauty and wonder of Christmastime and traveling with loved ones!? We want to share with you five different European Christmas Markets and a beautiful way to see multiple destinations in one trip!

First mentioned in the year 1628, the Nuremberg Christmas Market is considered one of the oldest markets to visit. The market takes place in the main city square with over 180 stalls filled with beautiful toys, trinkets and traditional Christmastime decor. What makes this market even more beautiful is that it is called the "little town of wood and cloth" as nothing is made cheaply or of plastic here! If you would like to experience the fullness of the opening of the Nuremberg Christmas Market, we suggest visiting the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent as a local girl always performs the Christkind, a beautiful prologue that begins the festivity at this charming and historical market.

Recently, I have been fortunate enough to go on two group vacations which brought up the age-old question of who pays for what and how do we keep track of the expenses.  Fortunately, someone else has thought of this too and developed an app for phones, iOS and Android.  If you haven’t tried one of these apps before, I recommend you give one a try for your next trip.

Splid and Splitwise are apps both designed to split up group expenses and track who paid and for what.  Both have their advantages and are easy to set up for a group and use.  Knowing who you are traveling with and how you want to split your expenses is an important decision to make before deciding which of the two apps we tried.  Both can split expenses equally and by share, only one can do it by dollar amount.
​
My first experience using an app was tracking a 3-week trip in Italy with three travelers.  Each of us downloaded the app, joined the group, and set up our account in the Splid app.  Here is a image of the app with the group defines and a running total of  balances.

We decided to share all our expenses equally.  Meaning if we all ate a meal, or a taxi we shared it by the number of people eating or riding, and only one person paid.  We added each expense to the app and indicated who paid and for how many and the app kept track each expense.  We may have even been a little competitive about paying for it to see who could get ahead.  See the image to the left after we’ve entered a few expenses. 

Splid, makes it easy to see each expense, who paid and what your share of the expense was.  It works offline, when you have no cellphone/Wi-Fi service and when you connect it updates the group account.  Each person in the defined group can add and review expenses as you go.  Lastly, at the end of your trip it even suggests who everyone can pay to settle.