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Choose a Travel Guide in 2 Minutes
—-Check the publication date; the information inside will be a year older than that date.
—-See who wrote the book: some guides written by locals deliberately omit great places (we did when I worked on guides abroad, as who wants a bunch of tourists in their special restaurants.)
—-Check if the book has information on women travelers: Lonely Planet has a section on issues for women
—-What is the budget level of the restaurants and hotels?… -
Why I Still Use Tripadvisor & Like It
If you have any brains, you can tell when someone is a fake reviewer on TripAdvisor. Similar to email spam, fake reviews have misspellings and inaccuracies. Like the person talks about a family vacation but their profile is a solo travler. Duh
In any case, you can contact reviewers via the site. I have found that the few bad reviews I have read about one hotel I follow, have reviewers who never answer your outreach to them. It is almost as if negative reviewers are happy to blast a hotel or service then hide when you need more information.…
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Room Sharing Rule on a Trip
Make it short but sweet: here is the rule:
Everyone gets a day to whine. No one gets two.Join us to Argentina and take a share from one of us to save on $$$…
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Shorter Trips for Women
Some of you requested a shorter trip to Argentina.
Here it is! (click on the name for details)Argentina Aug 8-16 from $2460
Argentina 8-20 from $3369Room shares guaranteed
$100 gift for former WTClub members
Phyllis chose this trip until August 20 for her vacationFox News says our India Trip is a ‘Trip of a Lifetime’
India: Pushkar Camel Mart & Bride Experience (Click for prices) Nov. 7-21 From $5095+air
Best weather so festivals abound.
We avoid long drives and fly.… -
Tour Operator Bankruptcy
What an awful thing to happen to people: they are booked and paid up and the tour company goes bankrupt. If paid by credit card, and not stranded overseas, most people get their $$ back.
I have just booked a trip with my husband’s college and the college requires payment by personal check. So how do I protect my money?
Some travel insurance policies do protect against bankruptcy. But here is what consumers do not know: they do not cover all tour companies and airlines.…
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How to Measure Weather Below the Equator
As many have asked, the weather is not the same in Buenos Aires or Capetown as in NY or Boston, which have reverse seasons, being North of the Equator. As much as BA or Capetown look equidistant from the Equator as NY or Boston, they are not.
Buenos Aires and Capetown have weather more like that in Los Angeles, even though they appear on the map to mirror NY or Boston. Rainy seasons are also different. Buenos Aires has rain spread out all year.…
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How to Save $1500 on Our Argentina Journey
Here are the best things that can happen with a room share:
-new friend
-shared the savings on the single supplement
-great gossip about everyone elseHere are the worst things that can happen with a room share:
-one of you loses the key
-both of you like to keep the hotel amenities
-both of you forgot the safe combinationSeriously, everyone saves money, and traveling with our group of women means from breakfast through dinner, we are together. A room share does not mean you are tied by the hip.…
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What Travel Insurers Do Not Tell You About Terrorism
They do not necessarily fly you home if there is a terrorist act in your destination, if your itinerary can skip the one area. Read the small print please!
They do not tell you what to do if the act is before you leave and the US State Dept has not issued a warning yet. Learn the difference between a warning and an advisory and the other vague language used by officials.
So how do you decide if you should go ahead with your trip?…
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The Angst of Tipping for Women
Tipping is always angst for women. We have trouble putting a monetary amount on a service and worry about under or over doing it. Before you travel, check what is included or not included in your tour package. Usually guides and drivers gratuities are extra. Usually porterage is included.
So how do you handle it when the luggage porter stands outside your hotel door , heavy bags in hand waiting for the second tip?
I give in, dig deeply and tip again usually a dollar if in a non European area!…
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Come Visit Us At The New York Times Travel Show
At the SITA World Tours Booth. Just back with 22 women from Ixtapan Spa, lots of interest in our new trips and in reunions with fellow travelers from our Club days. Here is me with a mouth full of guacamole at our farewell party and a necklace from a China trip with Women’s Travel Club, our first incarnation.
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