Cathy Udovch

MCC

There and Back Again Travel

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Travel Expertise

Favorite experiences

Snorkeling and having lunch at the Great Barrier Reef
Holding a Koala, once on Hamilton Island and once at the Australia Zoo just north of Brisbane
Cradling a Wallaby, which looks like a miniature Kangaroo
Experiencing the Military Tattoo at the Edinburgh Castle was spine-tingling
While in Lipice, Slovenia, I was able to feed Lippizaner Mares and their multi-colored Foals (they turn white after a year or two)
While visiting the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, we got to see, but not touch, a Bald Eagle just an arms length away.

Most recent trips

I went to Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia in December to have a Winter Experience. We visited Grouse Mountain, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, and later, the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, both had amazing light displays at night.
Took a 10 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera specifically to experience a total solar eclipse off the coast of Mazatlan. The cruise was fun, I even got to feed a Pelican. But the fact that the ship was full of Eclipse chasers was electrifying and so educational and fun.
I took a cruise from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand, but started with a New Year’s Eve celebration in Sydney before boarding the ship. Sydney really knows how to throw a party, and while sailing up the eastern coast of New Zealand, our captain did an excellent job avoiding a cyclone.
On a recent trip to Fiji to visit the Outrigger hotels there, we did sunset cruises around one of the islands, visited Cloud 9, which is a floating bar just a short boat ride from Port Denarau, and there was a jet boat experience on the Signatoka River with a village visit that included a full buffet luncheon and then signing and dancing. The Fijians really are beautiful people with amazing singing voices. And Rugby is their number one passion.

Specialties

Certifications

ECC (Elite Cruise Counselor)
Signature Travel Expert Select (for New Zealand and Special Needs)
VTA (Verified Travel Advisor with ASTA)

I have so many great memories from traveling with family and friends over the years. I love helping people find and experience what will make them happy while creating amazing memories with their friends and family to last a lifetime.

Cathy Udovch

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Cathy's Story

I started traveling when I was 2 years old and my dad had just become an airline pilot. We would visit out-of-town family, go to Hawaii, or go skiing, and the travel bug bit me at that young age. My youngest sister was born with Down Syndrome, so I spent years working in Group Homes for adults just like her and eventually got a Master’s Degree in Special Education, but migrated back to working in Travel about 20 years ago. This is why one of my niche skills is helping people with special needs travel when and where they wish to go.

One of my quirks when traveling is that I love to tour hotels, both for ideas on where I might want to stay on a future trip, but also so I can say I’ve seen this or that hotel when people ask about destinations I’ve been to. I also like to go to Hockey games in other cities, states, and countries, having seen games in the NHL, AHL, IHL, and the ECHL so far. I hope to catch a game in Europe in the not-so-distant future. I do tend to do way more walking when I’m traveling than I do at home, even if it’s just walking around a town, not visiting any of the sights, but to get a feel for where a good meal might come from, or what a bookstore with the local language books might offer. I’m definitely a Curious Traveler. But if I’m awake early, before people are out and about, I love taking a Zen Video, which is a panoramic view of a ship, coastal view or garden area where no one else is, no noise, just nature. These are may favorite types of videos from my trips.