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Five dangerous things women leave in wallets
Traveling with a full wallet is pretty dumb.
Over and over we see women at The Women’s Travel Group open their wallet bursting with papers and pictures. Here are 5 dangerous items solo women travelers should remove from their wallets:
1- Medicare or other with a SS number on it and that includes your and your husband’s medical cards. If necessary photocopy it and cut off the last four digits.
2- Credit cards for stores that do not even exist were solo women are traveling.… -
Women are still scared of hotel showers!
I still hesitate when pulling that hotel shower curtain across my face. Despite the fact that Psycho was filmed over 40 years ago,the knifing in the shower scene still terrifies me.
More than men, women need extra assurance to feel comfortable in a hotel room alone. Women more than men have difficulty sleeping away from home which is a factor. Here are a few small ways to settle into your room. Our company arranges shares for anyone who wants to avoid the single supplement.…
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shopping tips overseas for women
…Shopping Tips from The Women’s Travel Group
Pack heavy tape; boxes and bags are easy to find, but not tape. Same with bubble wrap if you plan to buy ceramics.
Check on Ebay or other, for US prices of foreign goods, then gauge from there for your prices.
Bargain with Dollars and Euros; the latter are more acceptable in many parts of Europe and elsewhere.
Do not change money on Fridays; banks add margins to their rates to protect against weekend fluctuations.
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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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Why Your Credit Card Overseas Might be Rejected
Most of the articles are written about fees for foreign credit card transactions. Few mention that a PIN is required for many credit card expenditures in Europe. If you plan on spending using plastic, bring Amex which does not require a pin. Amex is not accepted everywhere as merchants say it is more expensive, that is a forewarning. If you have to pay cash and use the ATM, try to avoid Fridays as the dollar/foreign currency rate is highest before a weekend.…
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Warning on International Cruises as Carnival Goes to Asia
The news that Carnival Cruise is going to leave from Singapore brings up another pitfall with choosing a cruise. Will you feel isolated when other guests are speaking Chinese? Ask us here.
Last year I took a river cruise on which 85% of the passengers were German ( it was marketed as ‘an international departure’). This mix meant announcements in 2 languages, only 10-15% of the passengers spoke English and we were segregated at all meals. We found out we paid much more than the Germans.…
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My Love Affair with Zip Lock Bags for Travel
Zip Lock Bags are my ‘Louis Vuitton’ for Travel
– for spill-ables
-receipts
-keys and plugs
-electronic gadget cords
-wet washcloths if you bring you own to non washcloth areas like Europe
-socks and underwear
-cosmetics
-snacks for hotel munching
-hair baubles
-medicine
-and for everything larger I use Eagle Creek bags. And always carry a hefty bag for super wet clothes or ground cover or even a hideous but useful raincoat.… -
Alitalia Fined $125,000 for Deceiving 2 US Passengers
Alitalia was fined for not compensating 2 US bound passengers for cancelled flights. Alitalia paid for cancellations within Europe but denied the two who were flying to the US.
The rules governing an airline are found on the Department of Transportation and other US Government websites; but the individual practices can be different and are only found on the Contract of Carriage of the airline itself. This will be hidden in their website somewhere….
Example: some discount airlines will not put you on a substitute airline if your flight is cancelled; you might get back your one way fare, but you will be hugely out of pocket on buying another one way fare on a non discounter. …
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How to Choose a Room Mate for a Tour
Some rules for assuring your friend is also a good roomie for a tour:
1. Both of you need to be honest about your personal habits.
2. Agree on a budget for extras like wine.
3. Agree not to talk all the time, down time saves a friendship
4. Each compromise on something they do not want to do.
5. Bring same number and size of suitcases to divide room space well.
6. If you are not of the same fitness, discuss how you will handle that up front.… -
Your 50th Birthday Gift: the right trip
Here
are suggestions for the right trip for a 50 birthday:- I had mine on a plane flying towards Hong Kong. Talk to us here.Here are suggestions for the right trip for a 50 birthday:
For your sense of confidence, take a trip that has a little sizzle: a boat on the Ganges? an elephant ride in Northern Thailand? a walk through a Dowery Market in Pushkar? a visit to a poignant museum about apartheid?
For introspection: travel solo but in a group.…
