Vacation Partners

Join us on this magical trip to Japan to experience the enchanting allure of spring, where nature paints the landscape with vibrant colors. We chose this season for the unparalleled opportunity to explore some of the country’s most iconic destinations at their best: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. We will also visit the Japanese Alps with stays in Matsumoto and Kanazawa. Each city boasts unique attractions and seasonal charm that will captivate our senses and leave us with unforgettable memories. A true Meetup Experience!

What is included:

• 3 nights in Tokyo
• 1 night in Matsumoto
• 2 nights in Kanazawa
• 2 nights in Kyoto
• 3 nights in Osaka
• Arrival and Departure Airport Transfers
• Transportation throughout by Coach
• English Speaking guide throughout the itinerary
• Sightseeing tours with admissions fees per itinerary
• Breakfast Daily
• 2 lunches, 5 dinners

Experience:

• Visit to shrines, temples and castles with amazing Spring Blossoms
• The Bullet train-Shinkansen
• Sushi Making Class
• Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Maiko Dinner (apprentice geisha)
• Samurai Experience

What is not included:

• International Airfare
• Tips for the guide and driver
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• Items of personal nature

Japan during spring is a feast for the senses, offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and urban excitement. We will enjoy it all and this promises to be an unforgettable adventure with our fellow Meetup travelers!

Land Tour cost USD$5760 per person, double occupancy
(we match roommates for those wishing to share)
Solo occupancy additional USD$1050
***International Airfare not included***

Our Meetup is off to another hiking adventure! Mt Kilimanjaro, as the tallest mountain in Africa, is included in the 7 Summits of the world.
It is a bucket-list item for all hard-core hikers and mountain lovers.
We did this trek with Meetup in the summer of 2024 and it was a true experience of a lifetime (see photos below)

Let's get to some numbers. It is 5,895m/19,340ft

BUT . . . our starting elevation for the trek is 3795m/12541ft

As such elevation gain is 2100m/6799ft

To compare Everest Base Camp trek, is about 2754m/9035ft elevation change. And Mt Whitney is about 1828m/6000ft elevation change.

The key to being able to succeed in this endeavor lays in the route and the support system.

We are taking the Lemosho Route via the Northern Circuit. The Northern Circuit route is the longest and newest of the seven established Kilimanjaro routes. It's one of the best routes because it has the best acclimatization profile. This results in one of the highest summit success rates. Add to that stunning views, and comparatively relaxed pace. It is also much less crowded than the other Kilimanjaro routes.

As far as our support system: We will be accompanied by experienced guides, porters and cooks. They are certified, ensuring our safety and comfort. Porters will carry our gear.

We will have a high ratio of guides to hikers. Our guides will go our pace and support each and everyone of us, regardless of fitness level and pace. In other words...you go your own speed and we all get there safe.

More about our trek/trip.
As with all our international trips, we picked the best season/time of year to go for weather and wildlife. Lemosho and Northern Circuit is a scenically spectacular and varied route. At the lower elevations it has an abundance of wildlife such as elephant, buffalo, eland and lion which come over to forage during dry season.

Each of our trips is personally crafted to offer the best places and best use of time.

But I don't have the needed gear?!
You don't need much more than the standard trekker's equipment. We will provide you with a list of what is already included and what can be rented there.

Does this include food?
All meals on the trek potion are included and a cook travels with us!

What is lodging like?
We are sleeping in new and comfortable tents (carried during the day by porters)

I am new at this.
That's OK. We do plenty of prep Zooms before we depart. And in California we have a number of local outdoor day or weekend outings you can test out with us.

How dangerous is this? What if I get sick or hurt?
We will be walking on an established, well used trail the entire time. Our trip INCLUDES emergency insurance. We are also Certified Wilderness First Responders and our guides are members of (AMREF) Flying Doctor.
Plain and simple, safety is our primary goal.

How much does this cost?
Kilimanjaro Mountain Trek US$3950 per person, double occupancy. Land only (airfare not included). Solo supplement US$600

Trip Cost includes:
- 9 nights accommodation
- 3 meals everyday on the trek
- All Fees & Entrances and Taxes
- Camping equipment such as tents, tables, chairs.
- Lead Guide, Assistant Guides, Porters and Cook

We all have seen Lion King in one form or another . . . It's now time to go to the source.

Our meetup is off to Africa for The Great Migration Photo Safari! We did this amazing trip in the summer of 2024 and everybody had a blast! (see photos in the link below)

Encounter the exotic wildlife of the Serengeti! Marvel at the lions, zebras, elephants and so many majestic animals we have only seen in the zoo or in movies.

On Serengeti's vast, treeless plains tens of thousands of hoofed animals are constantly on the move in search of fresh grassland. This is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to experience the best game viewing in Africa!

Like every trip we do with Meetup, this one is personally crafted to offer the best places and best use of time.

The itinerary is:
July 5 Arrival Kilimanjaro Intl Airport and transfer to Arusha
July 6 Arusha to Tarangire National Park
July 7 Ngorongoro Crater full day game drive
July 8 Ngorongoro to Serengeti National Park (Central Seronera area)
July 9 Serengeti (Central)
July 10 Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)
July 11 Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)
July 12 Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) to Lake Natron
July 13 Lake Natron to Arusha
July 14 Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport

All of these locations don't mean much to you at the moment, but after the trip you will remember them forever as some of the best places you have ever visited!

How much does this cost?
African Migration Safari US$4998 per person, double occupancy.
Single supplement US$750. I.e. price for a solo accommodation US$5748
We offer roommate matching for those, wishing to share and save.

***Airfare is not included.***

Join us on this gourmet gastronomic holiday as we rendezvous with the cuisine & culture of France.

This is a foodie’s dream. Around every corner we will find open-air markets, artisanal chocolatiers, macaroon shops, boulangeries, cheesemongers, local butcher shops with the finest cured sausages and hams
. . . and YES - world-class wine shops where we can savor the flavors!

We will start in Paris, home of some of the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Pompidou, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and so much more. Of course, we get to visit some of them...BUT French cuisine is such a huge part of this country's culture and history! Learning about it and experiencing it, is the main goal of this tour.

In Paris, we will savor the culinary artistry of Michelin-starred chefs and indulge in the city's iconic pastries. We will journey to Normandy, where lush landscapes yield exquisite cheeses and apple-infused delights. We will follow the Loire River to discover the vineyards and châteaux of the Loire Valley, where fine wines and gourmet experiences await. Let the flavors of France enchant our palate as we explore these culinary treasures!

Cooking classes, gourmet food tastings, wine tours, and enough free time to explore to our heart’s desire with centrally-located first class accommodations.

The Itinerary in brief:

Day 1 Paris arrival and Welcome Dinner with Corsican Cuisine
Day 2 Paris sightseeing tour, Seine river cruise,French bread making class
Day 3 Paris Museum Day. Dinner along Canal Saint-Martin
Day 4 Paris-Auvers Sur Oise Auver. Pay homage to Van Gogh and the many famous painters who lived there. Paint our own masterpiece! On to Giverny for a visit to the Gardens of Monet. Overnight in Rouen.
Day 5 Rouen - Camembert - Caen. Cheese tasting
Day 6 Caen - Mont St Michel. Stop in Calvados. Apple brandy, anybody?
Day 7 Mont St Michel - Rennes - Nantes. Cooking Class
Day 8 Nantes - Tours with stops at 3 Chateaux Vineyards for wine and chocolate tastings
Day 9 Tours - Orleans. Stops at Château of Clos Lucé, Leonardo Da Vinci's home. Visit an underground cave for farming mushrooms. And yes, some mushroom tastings!
Day 10 Orleans - Paris On the way, a stop at an artisan chocolatier and more wineries
Day 11 Paris. Visit the famous Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (the flea market) for some amazing shopping. Farewell Dinner in the Montmartre Area

Join us for an unforgettable feast for the senses!