-
Travel Tips for Women
5 Unexpected Dangers in Travel for Women
Here we are in absolutely no danger in Easter Island, Chile. Looking over almost 31 years of organizing travel for women at The Women’s Travel Group, we answer questions, and like to give travel advice for women. Dangers encountered have not been political (minus one riot in Cartagena). Nor have dangers been terrorism. Nor have dangers been natural (minus a rockfall here and there). The most frequent dangers have been quite ordinary and easy to avoid.…
-
Jet Lag ruins Art
How to Visit a Few Museums in Europe and Come Home Smart
American women travelers are bound to visit the most famous museums, despite jet lag and brain fog. We are unused to minimum air conditioning in historic buildings and hungry at the wrong times. But we are determined to tick off the top ten museums and the biggies: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Da Vinci, Vermeer etc. Here is your guide to visiting museums. Travel Tips from The Women’s Travel Group.…
-
Real ID or Stay Home
Travel Tips from The Women’s Travel Group. Years ago, my Mother and I flew to Albany. From Florida to Albany, there was no checkin issue. From Albany to Florida, she was asked for her driver’s license. My mother was the generation who never drove a car. She informed checkin staff that she had a police card identification. The police id card was something older non driving Floridians secured. Checkin refused her. She was crying. We were shocked.
I related the following to the supervisor: You allowed my elderly mother to fly Miami to Albany.…
-
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.
Shopping in Ethiopia https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com/tours/ 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. …
-
What I Always Carry on
Yes, I arrived in Delhi on a plane which had no luggage. The computer at Heathrow malfunctioned; no one on the BA plane to India had luggage. Here is what I learned below. PS once I bought basics,had some sleep, it was not a big deal.
Santa Fe Ladies October 2023 https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com Always carry on:
Medicine. toss in a few optionals as ‘just in case’: bandaids, ibuprofen type pills, Immodium type liquid, eye saline. Don’t do what my son did and put all pills in one container then call his mother from Pakistan for information.…
-
Cheapskates’ Wifi on Vacation
How to be cheap/smart/bargain hunter/whatever from The Women’s Travel Group. Paying for wifi overseas on top of paying a crazily expensive phone bill at home is a nasty burden. Before we start, any public wifi is insecure unless you purchase a VPN line. VPN lines are cheap but might not work on sites like Paypal or your financial sites: Bank, Stocks. Those sites usually need to identify your phone, computer or ipad.
Most hotels offer what they call free wifi; it is not really free as it is included in your room costs, or in junk fees added to that rate.…
-
What are Junk Fees?
So what is this talk about junk fees? The Women’s Travel Group never adds them. Simplifying the definition: hotels are listed by price on line. The cheapest appear first. (Sponsored ads above them). We, normal people, are likely to click on the cheapest link if for the same hotel.
Once you click ‘yes ‘you want that property, you then choose your room type. All good so far. But to book that room you will see a list of extra fees in a shockingly expensive invoice.…
-
Go or Not? Women’s Travel Worry
Before Covid, we, senior women felt immune to life’s surprises. But a surprise like a pandemic, changed us. Women now have travel worry. It is 2023, we are restarting our travel life, with new emotions, plus a few more years under our belts. Go or not? That is the question.
Main square Mexico City Source: Mexico Tourism Where to go? Some places are new to tourism but how long will they stay open? We visited Iran as a group of women when it opened- see photo below.…
-
5 Items I should not have packed
The Women’s Travel Group just returned from a trip to The Caucasus. 5 Things I should not have packed are below. They all added weight, bulk and became annoying to move around each day.
On return from the trip, I examined the non clothing items left in my suitcase. There were items I should not have packed.
Too many snacks: granola bar type. Unless you are on the moon, you can buy snacks anywhere in the world. Under International snack food, As an example: Amazon shows a selection of snacks from around the world.…
-
Personal Parisian Surprises for 2022
http://Photo from en.parisinfo.com 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. …