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Ixtapan versus Ixtapa
Since we are getting many new requests for Ixtapan Spa Discount Week, Feb. 9-16… let’s spell the place right. Many Mexican words have ‘x’ in them, I think the Spanish substituted x for difficult indigenous words they could not pronounce.
Ixtapan de la Sal (Sal being salt) is a mountain village long known as a place with mineral waters and one where affluent Mexicans have weekend homes. Ixtapa is a beach resort with modern hotels and cruise ships. So if you are planning to come, be aware that we will be in gorgeous mountains in a colonial village, with cool evenings and mainly dry days.…
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Most important item women forget to pack for Holiday Travel
One pair of loose slacks! We all gain weight at Thanksgiving and yet forget to bring along one pair of looser slacks. There is nothing so uncomfortable as traveling in tight clothes especially those which are binding around the waist.
In addition blood clots can form if you cut off circulation. If you think you can unzip once you are seated, remember few domestic flights carry blankets anymore so you will need some Houdini moves.
So to be comfortable on the way home, pack that generous pair of trousers, along with non-elasticized socks and eat and cheat all the way home.…
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Avoiding the Single Supplement
Catherine Hamm of the Los Angeles Times published an article about The Women’s Travel Group’s unique room share guarantee. She asked me why women would share and how do we explain this guarantee when women call us.
Here goes: more women share today than ever, because of the rising cost of hotels and related cost of single supplements. Hotels will not waive this cost so the discussion of getting rid of supplements is a poof in no one’s ears.
We guarantee everyone who asks for a share, that she will get one.…
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Five Ways to Ruin a Holiday Trip
Read all the scare stories about crowds and overbooking.
(You can easily avoid nerves by getting to the airport early, snack in hand and patience in the brain).
Pack a 40lb carry on bag and expect airline staff to help you hoist it overhead.
(With fashionable leggings, down jackets and comfy walking shoes, who needs this much stuff anymore. Electronic books and mini-computers should be on your personal ‘I want’ gift list this year).
Do not check the weather the night before you leave.… -
USA Today: Ten Reasons to Take a River Cruise
And we are adding the 11th: Guaranteed Shares in Category E on Tulip Time AMA River Cruise: April 2014
These are in part from USA Today. And in part from our experiences.
Experience is leisurely River cruises are not about rushing here and there. You visit key sights but there is also time to relax. And since you dock near cities, you can leave the ship when you wish.
Ships are intimate The size of river ships is limited by the need for the vessels to go through locks and under low bridges.…
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10 Ways not to feel Sad on Christmas Day
——–Do not go where the crowds go or risk overbooking and overpricing. Try new destinations
——–Do not eat what you would at home! This risks feeling homesick and family deprived.
——–Do not shop for others; this is your time to pamper yourself, not others.
——–Do not spend Dec. 25 in a place where everything is closed.
——–Do not stay in your room, walk around town, hang out at a restaurant or the hotel public spaces.——–Research ahead of time for walking tours given on holidays ( they exist even in religious countries).…
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BusinessWomen Unite: Join our Leadership Trips
Women’s Leadership Business Breakaway
“Business Breaks are a Business Priority”
Buenos Aires & Iguaza Falls, Argentina
March 7-15, 2014
Join Andrea March of Women’s Leadership Exchange and Phyllis Stoller of The Women’s Travel Group on a business women’s tour of Buenos Aires. We also include Iguazu Falls, a New Seven Wonder of the World.
Notes: Dinners include facilitated networking and workshops. (Tax Deductible). Trip based on minimum of 22 going,including spouses and partners. Meals included & indicated : B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner.…
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Best Candy for Travel
M&M’s of course and we all know why…unless you are from the Moon.
Peppermints, on a long overnight trip, their freshness pops.
Reese’s small peanut butter squares: something about peanut butter feel healthful.
Tootsie Pop, even though you have to search for a tiny amount of chocolate, it feels like childhood. We all need a pick me up at some point during a long trip.NO GUMMY BEARS or anything that can cause a tooth problem!!!!!!!
Enjoy… and be nice to the kids tonight.…
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Fly Away from Holiday Blues: Solo Holiday Travel
Why stay home this year and hide from ever-present awful tinsel? Be your own Santa, fly away from holiday blues to a movie world: Morocco. Why Morocco?
***Small accessible country with one medieval scene following another. Ancient desert towns? Walled medinas? Roman outposts? Snow-capped mountains? Tribal henna’s hands?
***Friendly to Westerners: see Sunday’s feature in the NYTimes about a woman visiting Fez solo.
***Access to a UNESCO Heritage church Christmas Eve.
***Wonderful hotels with pampering in the Turkish bath or the jewelry store.… -
Glaring Mis-representation by NYTimes Travel Ad
Of course, I read every travel brochure which hits my mailbox. Today we received a tour wrapped into our New York Times.
Headlined: 9-Day Exclusive Tour * * * * *
The hotel page of the tour brochure sets the five stars in gold highlighted rectangle entitled PURE LUXURY * * * * * as five stars.
But read further, ladies!
The hotels are then listed as 3*, 3* and 4*. Admittedly the cost is dirt cheap but as they say in the movies: cheap is cheap.…
