Bellingham Travel & Cruise

04/22/2025

See the world?
Happy Earth Day. See the world through your own eyes.

Can anyone guess where this "planetary" sighting was captured?

04/20/2025

Ready to go down the rabbit hole of great destinations?
Name the vacation "carrot" you are working toward, and we'll chase down some eye candy spots and costs here on our page.
Happy Easter Everyone!

04/18/2025

Where's Waldo (aka our group leader, John Michener, who really gets around the globe)?
Yes, "amazing rooftop bar" is most always a right answer with John, but can you give me more?

04/16/2025

A local treasure has been uncovered: a passport processing office operated by Western Washington University in Bellingham! I recently navigated the process with the help of my lovely assistant, Marice, as she applied for her first passport. The experience was seamless, with online or by phone appointment scheduling, clear pre-application instructions, and helpful staff on site to ensure accurate paperwork and even taking passport photos. Kudos to WWU! And wishing Marice a lifetime of future travels adventures. https://testingcenter.wwu.edu/

04/14/2025

Mondays are hard enough without worrying about what to fix for dinner. Dine out, perhaps? Oui highly recommend Air France Business Class!

04/04/2025

Thank you, Collette, our great 2024 Sunny Portugal group and our many individual Collette travellers, as well. It takes a village to plant a forest!

Did you travel with Collette in 2024? If the answer is yes, then somewhere in the world, there’s a tree with your name on it.

We kicked off our new partnership with Ecologi, a reforestation and global climate action corporation, by planting almost 50,000 trees — that’s 1 for every trip booked in 2024! And we’ve committed to planting one for every trip booked in 2025 as well.

Just another reason to take that trip — not that you needed one. 😉

Hit the link to explore our “virtual forest” and see where we’re making an impact!

https://bit.ly/3F5RLj7

03/31/2025

EIFFEL hard for it! ❤❤❤

Eiffel Tower Day is celebrated on March 31 to commemorate the inaugural anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. Unveiled to the world on this day 1889, this iconic monument has withstood the test of time and remains one of the most remarkable wonders of the world. Standing at 1,063 feet, the Eiffel Tower overlooks the city of Paris and symbolizes the triumph of modern engineering and western civilization.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/444544868487378/

03/26/2025

We have had some asks.
I have retired/retiring friends who have bought or built homes in both the South of France and Portugal.
Which country would you choose?
"Oui" aren't saying!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BjSbo6Asj/

Considering moving abroad permanently? See link below for how you can get that magical second passport. ⬇️

03/23/2025

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows...
and an umbrella seller if you are in NYC.
A friend and I were walking the sunny city once and a classic east coast torrential downpour surprised us; in the blink of an eye the streets were as awash with umbrella seller's carts as they were with rain.
We still wonder: wherever do they come from so instantly? Do they lie in wait in every doorway, under every manhole? Wouldn't have missed it.
Have you ever had rain make your vacation better?

03/19/2025

Yay! One less thing to worry about packing for your 2025 European travel (for now)!
And, yes, of course, as your trusted travel advisors, we will be on "standby" with this future requirement and will keep you well informed.

The European Union pushed back the deadline for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System fee, which will be required to visit Europe, to late 2026. 🗓️

The EU previously announced it would start charging travelers a small fee to visit Europe's Schengen Area countries in May 2025 after numerous false starts.

Although sometimes referred to as a "visa," this is actually just an online application and preauthorization. It will be much easier and much less expensive to obtain than a traditional travel visa. 🛂

When it finally launches, the program will require travelers from countries outside the Schengen Area to fill out an application before arrival and pay a fee of 7 euros (about $8) to enter any EU or Schengen Area country.

Only visitors between 18 and 70 years old will need to pay the application fee, but travelers of all ages will need ETIAS authorization to enter.

American citizens (as well as those from the U.K. and the 62 other non-EU countries not currently required to apply for visas) will need ETIAS authorization to enter the EU for visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This includes transit passengers.

Once approved, your ETIAS will be valid for up to three years, and you can use it on multiple trips. After three years, you will be required to apply for a new ETIAS.

Head to this link to see all the details: https://thepointsguy.com/news/europe-travel-visa-etias-what-to-know/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=tpg-o-social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com%2Fthe-points-guy%2Flibrary%2Fmedia%2F513287810

📸: Getty Images

03/18/2025

"Hamsters," we felt your pain:
We are offering your Birks a winter break next year!
Costa Rica is calling February 20-28, 2026. Roundtrip transportation to and from SeaTac, airfare, room, excursions and most meals included. (Shoes not included.)
Beat feet for the phone to secure a place with this group.

03/17/2025

Bellingham Travel "Journeys with John" Ireland Group 2023
Photo courtesy of group member and talented cameraman, Alan Birdsall.
Call us when you are ready to "herd" over and see for yourself.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

03/09/2025

Tourist captures rare footage tail end of busy night at Stonehenge moving the clocks forward.

03/08/2025

Happy International Women's Day! D- E--Aye, AYE Captain.
Celebrity Cruises deserves recognition for appointing Captain Katie to lead one of your newest and most beautiful ships, "The Edge", and making history with an all-female bridge crew!