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Dip in Tourism is Brief after Terrorism
I just returned from Istanbul with The Women’s Travel Group 19 women, and then London for a wedding. In both places, the tenor of life is very different from that in the States. First of all, people are not scared of their shadows, as they are veterans of both world wars in their backyards. Europeans do not stop traveling with each headline.
European newspapers reported in Paris, of course. However, front pages still included domestic politics, arts features, climate, etc. TV news was the same: balanced and matter of fact- not hysterical and frenzied.…
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How To Bargain without Embarassment
Women are uncomfortable paying for something that does not have set price. Tips, discretionary donations and bargaining make us squirm. Yet 48% of all Americans tried bargaining in the last 3 years according to Consumer Reports.
A few guidelines on bargaining might help you:
Do not be intimidated by a fancy store or an aggressive salesperson. Know that in some countries bargaining is part of the normal process. Everyone wants to make a sale. In cities like Paris where we go Dec 21-28 2015, ask up front for discounts for tourists and or tax rebates.…
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Who hates Reading Lists?
The Women’s Travel Group usually supplies a list of recommended books plus movies filmed in the area we are visiting. This is not school, so why bother?
Some books like The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo open up the under belly of a Indian community that the tourist might not notice. Others celebrate a historic Indian Raj romance that brings history to life: Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
Some are fictionalized versions of real events: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghes, set in Ethiopia, and others are straight history: Charles King’s The Black Sea about Turkey.…
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Foreign Travel Deals in a NY Backyard
The other day, a travel group member and I went to the Indian neighborhood of Queens, a NY Borough. The area is called Jackson Heights. We took the rapid 7 Subway fastened our seat belts and exited in ‘Little India’. Along the streets of this neighborhood, we found: gorgeous silks, and silk/cotton clothing, 22 carat jewels and objects, and scarves galore. If you are not able to travel with us to far away places, try your own backyard for an ethnic experience.…
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Healthy Travel While Seasons Change
For those traveling this Autumn, here are a few tips to save you from colds, wet feet and or sleep deprivation.
Temperatures change rapidly this season: today it is 65 in New York and Sunday it will be 81- very hot for this time of year. Layering is the answer and sizing is another. Layering is not just about putting one garment on top of another. You also need to consider what sweaters for instance are too tight for undergarments. Same with coats which might pull with too many sweaters beneath the surface. …
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TSA Troubles with Women
Yes a 53 year old man in San Francisco Airport’s security area was a fake TSA staff member. He dressed like a TSA employee but had not emblem or official badge. However, he managed to take two female passengers into a private room for a search. He was caught because a female TSA officer remembered that only women can search women in private areas.
So what is the lesson to learn here? If unsure of someone’s official capacity, first look for writing on their uniform or badge.…
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When is a Place Scary or Just Exotic?
Just had a call from a new traveler who is interested in Morocco for Thanksgiving. Her question: is it scary? There is a broad line between scary and exotic and here are some of the guidelines for that frontier.
Scary is being alone is a crowded market where the language and writing are foreign. Exotic is wandering with our guide in a Moroccan souk knowing she is watching out for you.
Scary is finding you are in a political demonstration. Exotic is being in a country when eventful things are happening, like our group in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the anniversary of Evita’s death.…
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Boo Hoo for Frequent Travelers
We all thought that PreCheck was for us special people who did not need as much TSA security at airports. PreCheck people do not have to take off their shoes, remove laptops or light outer garments. Ha, it is of course it is not going to be free for much longer. Here is the bad news: PreCheck has been marketing us so we get used to preferential treatment.
Beginning soon, you will be asked to pay for PreCheck or go back to the end of the line.…
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What is a non Plastic Visa?
Since we had this question from some women going to India with us in October,:here is a primer on visas.
To enter foreign countries, (or for non citizens to enter the US), travelers need a visa. If you look at your passport, you will see pages called Visa Pages. For many countries, US Citizens only need to have their passports stamped when they arrive overseas-that stamp is a visa.For Morocco for Thanksgiving, US citizens get their visa stamp on arrival easily.…
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Phyllis Stoller: new Group Travel Associate Editor
The National Association of Baby Boomer Women has appointed Phyllis Stoller, of The Women’s Travel Group, its Group Travel Associate. Phyllis has a long history of organizing, often leading smart tours or women. Phyllis lived and worked overseas before returning to the US years ago. She made it her life’s mission to encourage women to travel, whether they were coming solo or not.
The full article is here and you will find out all kinds of biographical information you did not know about Phyllis Stoller.…
