Michael J. Hyman

Welcome to the World of Travel.  I am Michael J. Hyman, a travel addict.  My parents exposed me to travel when I was just six months old.  That was when they packed our family (my sister, mom and dad and I) and we drove (our brand new Chevrolet Bel Air convertible) all the way to Mexico City in 1955.  In 1962 we took the SS United States across the pond and toured the continent for three months. My father, an elementary principal took a sabbatical in 1966 when I was a 5th grader and we went off on another "ocean liner", the Christopher Columbus,  for a seven month return to Europe (my parents tutored me as my mother was a "reading specialist" and thus, I was able to continue into 6th grade upon our return which was on the original Queen Elizabeth).  Upon our arrival in Southampton we made our way to Wolfsburg, Germany and picked up a 1966 VW "bug" and spent the next 7 months driving to over 26 countries including Turkey (both Europe and Asia) and in to Africa (Morocco) with a six week rest in the fishing village of Torremolinos, Spain.  By the time I attended UCLA I had been to Europe three times, Africa, Asia and Mexico (over 25 times).  I had NO choice, I was addicted to travel!!!!!!

After graduation from UCLA in June of 1977 (with degrees in History and Political Science), I became a flight attendant for Trans International Airlines (later renamed to Trans America Airlines), the world's largest "charter airlines" and a carrier that went EVERYWHERE.  During this period I flew all over the world to many remote and exotic destinations and even worked out of NW Africa taking the "pilgrims" to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the "Haj".  During a series of careers including being Regional Manager of a chemical company and elementary school teacher I continue my travels.  I also worked with ITMI (Incentive Travel Masters International) escorting various corporate groups around the world.  In 2012 I partnered with Ed Stahl of Travel Advisors of Los Gatos offering my services to plan and organize trips for groups and individuals wishing to travel around the world.  I have travelled to all 50 States, all seven continents, and visited Europe over 200 times.  I have even been to the geographical North Pole on two occasions. ( a feat fewer than 60,000 people in all of history have achieved)  I have done over eighty cruise on more than 16 different cruise lines, including Antarctica five times, the Panama Canal six times (both directions using both the "new" and "old" locks) and transited the Suez Canal in both directions.