Sandy Lydon - Travel

Japan 2005, Yawata Festival, Tateyama. Our adventures always offer opportunities and insights into new cultures. Our Japan 2005 group witnessed this exuberant festival in Tateyama, and were the only foreigners present.

We Explore The Secrets of Other Cultures Too!

Sandy Lydon will continue leading a variety of international and regional tours. From local day hikes, regional week-end trips to trips beyond the United States, Sandy will continue to bring his sense of wonder and excitement to those who accompany him. There's no such thing as a "regular" experience when he's in charge. Every trip is a true adventure.

Why Travel with a Group? Isn’t Individual Travel More Meaningful and Rewarding?
First off, a Lydon group is not just any bunch of folks thrown together. We spend months preparing both ourselves and as a group. Lydon groups are not those “ugly American” gatherings of folks that spend most of their time being obnoxious and self-centered.

I have been taking groups around California overseas since 1974 and sharing the wonders of Asia, Hawaii and parts of Europe with hundreds of people. We understand group preparation and dynamics better than most. We believe that the benefits of group travel far outweigh the disadvantages:

1) Details such as where you’re going to stay, how you’re going to get there, how much will it cost – all taken care of. You can relax as the hard work has been handled. And, because we’re local folks, you can trust us.

2) Transparency – we attempt to include as much of the real costs of a trip in the price. That’s why we include tips, porterages, and taxes in the price – to eliminate as many surprises as we can.

3) Connections and contacts – We have connections and contacts wherever we go. We have people just itching to show you their cultures and history. They will do that because they know that you CARE about their treasures and aren’t just a run-of-the-mill bored group of uninformed tourists. If you take the time to prepare and become the untourist, people will meet you half-way. And I will TELL them that you’re special. Because you are. If you were to go by yourself, you’d just be another nosy American, lost in the crowd.

4) Because we know and are comfortable with each other BEFORE we get on the airplane, we can both have FUN and LEARN something at the same time.

5) Flexibility. We build itineraries so that there’s free time all along the way. You can pursue the things that you want to see after getting an orientation with the group.

6) You’ll see more and learn more with a group. My wife Annie and I could just as easily travel alone. We choose to travel with a group because having the group along will bring out the best that locals have to offer. The two of us MIGHT get the attention of locals and make them go the extra mile to explain and show us stuff. But, if there are a couple dozen of us, they WILL go the extra mile. In that sense we use the group to flush out the good stuff. And we are grateful.