Day 1: It was late spring when my husband Ron and I arrived in Passau, Germany, to board the SE Manon, our home for the next 8 days. We were thrilled to be able to finally reschedule our trip, which had been canceled due to the pandemic. We are avid cyclists, but this was our first bike tour AND our first trip on a ship! By the end of our first evening, we had met a couple from British Columbia, another from Australia, and two “blokes” from New Zealand. And the eight of us became friends, just like that. It was a great start! Day 2 We woke in Engelhartszell, Austria to a lovely sight - all the ..read more

The summer after my husband Mateo graduated from college, the two of us spent two and a half months bicycling through Europe, with only the supplies we could carry with us on our bikes and a budget of €20 a day. Granted, this was in 2016, so our €20 went a bit further than it would now, but it was still a pretty bare-bones trip - and we had an absolutely amazing time. I still talk about it to anyone who will listen. We’ve always tended to be pretty economically-minded travelers. Although I love a good pampering every once in a while, we usually go for pretty budget-friendly trips. But this yea ..read more

This boat and bike ride down the Loire Valley, two hours south of Paris by train, combined everything that makes me happy as a casual-tourist rider. It was a delightful sport experience – mostly easy and flat but with some hills to boast about afterward. It was through beautiful nature. I especially liked the runs through the shady tunnels created by parallel trees through woods and along canals. We covered the distances, mostly between 40 and 50 kilometers (25 and 30 miles) a day, at a party pace with an average of three rolling hours a day. The Loire River at Briare, our starting point, phot ..read more

Do good things come in threes? All I know is that Tripsite Adventures certainly do. The 8-day tulip trip out of Amsterdam on April 16, 2022, on the Sarah ranked right up there with the other wonderful trips I've been able to take with Tripsite. Photo by Cheryl Schroeder. When I typed in bike barge after a friend recommended that mode of transport as a good and economical way to get around Europe, I stumbled upon Tripsite by chance. Thinking that this was a ploy to get him biking, my husband was the biggest skeptic. Very soon after we boarded the Thedor Korner though our entire group which also ..read more

When will the Tulips bloom? This is a great question and one we are asked many times! What is the best answer? The truth is, we don’t know. That’s right; we don’t know exactly when the tulips will bloom in the spring. We wish we could emphatically state that on April 14, at about 2 pm, the Tulips will reach their glorious peak. But we cannot. It is all about the weather, something we cannot predict, or control. And remember, it is not just about the tulip. Crocuses raise their lovely heads first, with the daffodils following closely behind. The hyacinths then burst forth, and finally, the much ..read more

The White Water Hotel in Machico was just a block from the ocean.Our group of 7 ranges in age from 62-70. Seasoned, but prepared for an active vacation. If you are in the same boat, you will enjoy this wonderful trip as there were always options if an alternative was needed. First, we chose the option of staying in different towns instead of the same location in Funchal. This allowed us time to explore three small towns at night and experience different hotels, food and climates. Our favorite hotel was Sunset Bay in warm Ponta do Sol, all rooms have a sea view. Swimming in the sea was refreshi ..read more

One of the things I love most about what I do is being able to experience and explore, first hand, the destinations we offer. But, between being a mom of three young children and the dreary storm of the pandemic, it had been a while since I traveled. The year 2022 was like sunshine after a storm. The world was emerging, eager to get back to the things we missed and I was eager to travel. When asked where I wanted to go, my answer was, “anywhere!” So, when the opportunity presented itself for me to go to Norway in September, I was ecstatic! And not only was I going, but I was traveling with my ..read more

I'd heard so much about the Camino over the years. Some have biked it; some have walked it; and some dream about it. Many people I know have done the Camino at least once and are heading for rounds two and three. Never having been on a Camino before, let alone a multi-day walking tour, I wondered what makes a good Camino. Being able to finish the route without having a mild stroke would be first prize, I mused! Losing some weight and getting fit would come in a close second. But, what I found on my first Camino walking tour, far superseded my modest idea of what the Camino promised. It may be ..read more

Having recently returned from Spain on a birding tour in the region of Extremadura (stay tuned for a new tour in this beautiful region), I am so grateful that travel is back! I did not realize how much I missed it until I was once again wandering Europe's ancient cobblestone streets and alleyways, surrounded by centuries-old architecture and noble ruins, the air electric with the history of the ancients. While the world was hunkered down, watching and waiting, here at Tripsite, though shut-in, we were not shut down. It gave us the opportunity to explore new tours and new destinations! At first ..read more

Mexico: Best Beachfront Villas A beach holiday is more than just a tonic for the body. It does wonders for your mental health too. Nothing uplifts the mood faster than a stroll on the beach with a cool ocean breeze blowing away the cobwebs. But even more tantalizing is a beach holiday at a colorful, vibrant destination with a pulsing Latin flavor. Mexican beaches not only boast crystal clear water and soft fine sand, but the resorts offer delectable cuisine and great shopping. As home to the ancient Aztec and Maya civilizations this beautiful country also offers exciting treasures just waiting ..read more