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Cash? Or Card?
Money when traveling overseas. Should you carry cash? Award winning tour company, The Women’s Travel Group says yes. A qualifier, carry only unmarked and un torn US bills. ( No coins. It is impossible to exchange coins overseas.) This cash is for incidentals, ie airport shops might accept a dollar for bottled water. Or you want to give a small tip to a porter? Or donate to a charity box? For most travels, $50 is the emergency cash you might need. …
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Never Pack List for Women
Over the years, our group has had items confiscated. Some are not allowed to be imported, some are illegal, and some were ‘taken’ by customs’ officials overseas. One confiscation was hilarious. It was a tampon removed and examined by a South American customs official.
Here are some items not to pack.
Anything expensive especially with designer labels.
Items with price tags; these are easier to fence. Remove the tag.
Pirated goods like fake designer bags, sunglasses, watches. …
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The I don’t need it shopper
The Women’s Travel Group does not specialize in shopping tours but we know a lot about it. In some countries in Europe you will inevitably buy some treasure, despite protests of “I have too much already.” Temptation is strongest in Italy: leather, shoes, purses, clothes, pottery, food items. Another area is Scotland and Ireland for woolens.
Here is how the experts judge leather quality:
Press with your finger, the leather will indent with a wrinkle then return to its original state.…
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Danger in Street Markets
Is the fun of buying fakes in street markets gone? The Women’s Travel Group says Yes. Customs might confiscate your Hermes-ish bag. Two days ago it was announced US Customs seized $2.98 billion of fake goods, entering this country, way up from$1.5 billion in 2019.
There were 31,030 handbags and wallets, 28,910 pieces of clothing, 14,098 watches and jewelry, thousands of shoes, electronics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. There were dangerous toys, even sketchy candy. …
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Personal Parisian Surprises for 2022
My 10 personal Parisian Surprises for 2022. I am just back from Europe, finalizing our May Paris and London trips. They will both be fantastic. Paris because I know it so well and London because it was my home for years. Here are a few fun tips for when you join us to Paris May 6. The next post will be about London whre
Museums are oases: free wifi, clean bathrooms, lounge areas, shops and often budget eating. …
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Stuff from Women’s Travel Group Trips: video.
Video creation is new to most of us. In this post, Phyllis Stoller shares some treasures she brought back from The Women’s Travel Group trips. We are used to our phone cameras; but not to our video production. While at home and isolated, why not learn the art of video making. I am going to walk around my living room as a trial and talk about a few of the souvenirs brought home.
Each one has a memory I wish I had filmed.…
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Best Global Shopping
India is the irresistible bargain basement: a $1 pen with rhinestones? $4 embroidered umbrella? 50c hand made paper? Cotton clothes for as little as $3? Herbal soaps and creams? Gems and pearls?
Morocco is a close second with fringed tribal rugs, silver, ceramics, leather and metal lamps. Bargaining is critical but if you love it buy it. If you purchase a carpet, get the vendor to pack it so you can put it on the plane. if leather goods, smell them for proper tanning. …
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The Best Places to Lose Your Luggage
The Best Places to Lose Your Luggage from The Women’s Travel Group.
Clothes? Definitely India where cotton is king and where most women’s clothes are full and blousy. Fabindia will make you wish your stuff will never arrive. https://www.fabindia.com/ The stores are nationwide in India and staff usually speaks English. The only help you might need is choosing from the colors and wools, silks and of course: jewelry. In fact, almost everything you see in Indian markets and shops will tempt you and will be affordable.…
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Don’t be a Cruiser: Unusual Bucket List for Smart Women
Don’t be a cruiser. Four new destinations for women to visit before the crowds in a large cruise ship, from The Women’s Travel Group.
BESIDES THESE 4 TOURS, THERE ARE MANY MORE ON OUR WEBSITE
Colonial Mexico not Beach Mexico, another get-away-from-cruise-crowds. Specifically stay in Oaxaca, the most indigenous colorful craft town in the highlands of Mexico. Oaxaca, once you know how to pronounce it, is the culinary and craft center of Mexico.…
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5 Common Dangerous Travel Mistakes Made by Women
The Women’s Travel Group shares 5 common dangerous travel mistakes.
Five dangerous all too common travel mistakes and how to avoid them. These can ruin any trip so read on and learn from the veterans.
Bringing only one ATM card. An ATM machine can fail. After all it is a piece of machinery. And an ATM can be out of cash, not uncommon in rural areas or in less developed countries. Our group was in Senegal when one woman had her ATM card eaten by the machine.…