Travel There and Back

29/05/2024

Had a fabulous client just return from Tanzania and Zanzibar. He was kind enough to share some photos and video clips with me from his safari time. I have selected just a few to share here

30/04/2024

Some welcome relief for travelers

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a new rule last week detailing when airlines owe travelers a refund and how they have to pay. But like all good things, it comes with a few caveats

26/04/2024

Something that is coming up more and more when traveling to Mexico - know what you can bring it or risk being fined. Not a new rule, but one being checked and enforced more - an IPad is considered a computer device and you are only allowed to bring in 1. So no laptop plus IPad. You will have to pay for the extra if they check your bags and find both. 2 cameras, not 3 etc. Here is a list of items allowed to be brought in

El gobierno de México proporciona a nivel internacional en distintos países a través de su Consulado General de México en Montreal, áreas de protección a mexicanos, documentación a mexicanos y extranjeros; servicios en las áreas de educación, salud y organización comunitaria dirigidos a la...

16/04/2024

I love learning new things to better serve my clients.

I’m currently attending the Adventure Travel Xpo

24/03/2024

Entered the picturesque countryside of Austria. We were in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Wachau Valley. Saw Durnstein in the morning. I fell in love with this fairy tale village. After lunch, we got to discover the beautiful Melk Abbey followed by a wine tasting with live music in Spitz

23/03/2024

Had a full day in Vienna. Started with a bike ride into Vienna. 9.5 miles. Reminded me that I need to get out on my bike more regularly as I felt it lol. Back for lunch and then off to Schonbrun Palace. Those who chose, we able to do one tour or two or none and just explore on their own. They had shuttle busses running between the ship and the city center. After dinner about 2/3 of the guests did an optional outing to a Mozart and Strauss Concert in town, including us.

22/03/2024

Poached pear. Yum

21/03/2024

Next stop was Bratislava, Slovakia. We were told that Bratislava has never been bombed. Did have some cannons shot at it by Napoleon once but the balls were small and there was minimal damage. The people were told that if they had any damage from the cannons, they wouldn't have to pay taxes for a year and a half, so people picked up cannons in the street and imbedded them in their walls to show damage. There are still 10 different cannons left in walls around the city. (We saw 2)

20/03/2024

Started our River Cruise journey in Budapest. Love this city. Cool architecture and vibe. Great wine. Enjoyed the Hungarian stew we had.

16/03/2024

Our appetizer of Hungarian cold cuts. At Szazeves, The 100 Years Old Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Budapest. # worldvia

13/03/2024

Q&A Tuesday
Q: Can I river cruise on any river?

A: Not all rivers have cruises on them because not all rivers are not big enough to support having cruises. However, you can find river cruises all over the world! This includes the US, Egypt, Asia, and Europe. One such river cruise in Europe is the Danube River which we will be doing with AmaWaterways next week! So make sure you are following along and sending us all your questions so that we can get you the first hand answers.

09/03/2024

Seattle Golf Show is underway. Come down and say hi.

05/03/2024

In Q&A Tuesday again!
This month we are diving into River Cruises
Q: What makes a River Cruise different?

A: Well besides the obvious that it take place on a river instead of the ocean, there is a lot that makes a river cruise unique and worth looking into. Because river cruises need to fit on rivers the ships are smaller and can be less overwhelming. There are few sailing days as you often go from port to port overnight and have more of the day in each new city. Most river cruise companies tend to be more all inclusive. That means you don't have to pay extra for your excursions and drink packages.
What else would you like to know about River Cruises?

01/03/2024

Portland Golf Show is underway. Come say hi.

28/02/2024

Welcome to Q&A Tuesday and our last Mexico question (for now).
Where are the best places for snorkeling in Mexico?
There are three main areas to look into when wanting to go snorkeling in Mexico. To start there is the "Mayan Riviera" along the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Mayan Riviera is where you will find some of the most famous (and busiest) snorkeling spots. However, this is not the only place to enjoy snorkeling in Mexico. The Gulf of California has also been called "the world's aquarium" and is a gorgeous place to look for sea life. There is also the Gulf of Mexico that has great snorkeling opportunities with lots of islets and reefs.
What part of the world should we learn about next? What are your burning questions?

20/02/2024

Its Q&A Tuesday!
How are Mexico's east and west coasts different as travel destinations?
While both coasts are amazing with wonderful beaches and lots of options of different types of towns/cities to visit, there are differences when deciding what type of experience you want to have. If you are looking for ruins and underwater caves then the East Coast is where you want to head. If cultural art galleries and museums or surfing and snorkeling are more your style then you want the West Coast. When it comes to food, you can't go wrong no matter where you go but the East Coast tends to have a larger Spanish and Caribbean influence while the West Coast leans more traditional.
You can't go wrong no matter what you choose!
What other questions do you have? It might just end up in a future Q&A Tuesday!

13/02/2024

Q&A Tuesday again!
In honor of Valentines Day tomorrow we have to ask: what are the best places in Mexico for a romantic getaway?
As always there is never a one size fits all answer for our travel question. If you are looking to go on adventures and explore with your partner than you should check out Tulum on the Caribbean coast. For the foodies out there the Yucatan Peninsula is highly recommended. Cabo San Lucas is for the couples looking for a more romantic luxury getaway.
Which type of getaway would you want for you and your valentine?

07/02/2024

Welcome to our first Q&A Tuesday!
As we are starting to head towards warmer months we are going to focus on questions about our warmer neighbor to the south, Mexico!
What is the climate like in Mexico?
There are two main seasons to be aware of when traveling to Mexico. The Dry Season and the Rainy Season. Rainy season typically is from May to September/October. Though this in not like our rainy season in the PNW. In Mexico rain fall is most often in the afternoon or evening and this is still a beautiful time to visit. As a general rule of thumb it tends to be hotter on the coasts than the interior of Mexico with Summer highs ranging from low 80's to high 90's. Winter is more mild by our standards in the 40's to 60's.
What questions do you have for us?? They might just make it into a future Q&A Tuesday!

29/01/2024

Hello all. We have been working with Media Movement to produce our new company video and are super excited to announce its debut. The link below is to our YouTube channel and you can also find it on the home page of our website. We would love to get your feedback and have you help us get the word out by sharing the video to your friends.

Thanks to Jordan Shipley and the rest of the crew at Media Movement for creating this amazing video for us.

Discover your dream travel with Michelle Wicks Cypher, your dedicated Travel Advisor at Travel There and Back! If you're seeking worry-free journeys and unfo...

16/01/2024

Good information to know. Main takeaways - if you are staying at a hotel on the island, you do not pay the entry fee (your lodging costs already including a hotel fee). It is currently 5 Euro and applies to certain times and dates - so good to know if and when you need to pay

Venice is rolling out a tourism tax to try to stop overcowding on peak weekends.

03/01/2024

We are headed to Southern France in November to great wine, great food and great friends. Join us as we sail the Rhone River with AmaWaterways on their Essence of Burgundy & Provence Wine River Cruise. Call Michelle at 425-361-5212 to learn how you can join us or schedule the river cruise that fits your schedule. Do you know somebody that would be interested in this opportunity? Please share the post.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year to all

28/12/2023

Today starts our new Travel Thursdays series. This weeks topics includes a look back, look forward and announcing our new web site. If you don't have it in your mailbox you can read it here: https://www.travelthereandback.com/post/welcome-to-travel-thursdays. If you would like it delivered to your email box each week you can sign up on the website.

Volume 101 What's New As 2023 comes to a close and we get ready to start a New Year it is time to look back and more importantly look forward to a new 2024. December 31st, 2023 marks the end of our ninth year in business. It is amazing that 2024 will be our 10th year helping clients weave their drea...

22/12/2023

This is where we stayed earlier this month. It is a beautiful property with gorgeous views. Loved walking along the beach and seeing the whales that like to be in that area.

Discover Armony Luxury Resort & Spa, our all-inclusive resort in Punta de Mita, part of the Marival Adults-Only Collection.

16/12/2023

We are looking to grow our reviews on Google. If you have ever trusted us with your travels, please provide a review on our google page. Thank you!

Post a review to our profile on Google

16/12/2023

I love learning new things

“The cuetlaxochitl flower is native to Mexico.

This is a sacred flower that was colonized and written off in history as a "discovery" of Joel Poinsett's in the 1800's.

Joel Poinsett was a slave owner who promoted white supremacy and slavery in his travels and in his political career. He has also been responsible for the displacement of many indigenous peoples along the way by forcibly removing them from their native lands.

The Cuetlaxochime originally had nothing to do with christianity or Christmas, they were a sacred plant used in ceremonies to celebrate the birth of Huitzilopochtli during our winter solstices. They were also used for medicinal and healing purposes to cure sicknesses, aid the flow of breast milk, as well as for dyeing fabrics.

Reverse the harm by calling our xochime by its original name, Cuetlaxochitl, and correcting those around you.

Pronunciation: Kwetla・so-cheetl

Repost from .made”

14/12/2023

Dinner tonight after a little salsa dance class .

09/12/2023

Sitting around waiting for lunch. Relaxing way to spend the day.