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How to Go to Battle with Airplane Problems
I just saw a video of a crowd going nuts at LaGuardia when their American Airlines flight was delayed/cancelled. It is not clear what happened. So what do you do?
Don’t get crazy. Get smart.
1- Start taking notes with names/times. Take photographs of the departure screen (with a date/time set on your phone/camera). Example: the screen says delayed but the representative says cancelled. You will need to show in facts to complain.
2- Talk smart. Yelling is not the way.…
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Is Your Airline Safe?
Several weeks ago, I took connecting flights. On the first intra-Europe, the door to the pilot’s cockpit was open. At the second check in, I was grilled about why I was traveling,who I worked for,how long, what was the job description and more. So which airline was safer?
Stats are that they both were!
Here are a few items to investigate:
Charters? NO Most insurance companies will not cover you on either a charter or private plane.
Code Shares: YES Code sharing airlines with US carriers are vetted by the FAA and the US carrier can be liable for its partners’ standards and safety.…
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Why Solos feel less Solo with River Cruises
If you are traveling solo, and want to experiment with a cruise. We recommend a river cruise.
Based on reality not fancy brochures, here are reasons:
River cruises dock in towns not sea ports thus enabling independent walking/shopping/snacking. Ports are often in swarmy neighborhoods and getting into town will require round trip taxis. Compare downtown Budapest on a river cruise vs. the port of Marseilles on a Mediterranean cruise?
River cruises offer walking/biking tours directly off the ship. This means immediate interaction with other passengers.…
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Safe, Sane and Smart Travel
Here are a few of us in India we are booking this trip now.My wonderful friend died of breast cancer years ago. I still miss her and her travel lust. Why mention this? Because more of my friends have died of breast cancer than of terrorism. The stats are something like 50 to cancer/ 0 to terrorism.
Why do we freak at the current Belgian headlines? Unexpected events have a greater impact on us than do everyday losses. Next time you are worried, think of how many friends you have lost to illness, drug addiction and suicide.…
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Lessons for Exotic Travel
Our
The Women’s Travel Group tour of 17 just returned from Ethiopia,an exotic trip we organize. We traveled from well developed Addis Ababa to remote Arba Minch. Here are some of the instructions which made our trip so successful.
Check altitude of the destination, so you are prepared/and or take it easy the first days. Addis is 8,000 ft.
Do not depend on weather history. Global changes are affecting travel. Normally cool Ethiopia was hotter due to El Nino this year.…
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Last Minute Travel Worries for Women
Last minute is when the worries swell and ruin your sleep. But women have different and surprising concerns. The Women’s Travel Group is sharing these with you so you do not feel you are crazy!
The clothes conundrum: did I bring enough? The right kind? Should I buy hiking shoes: answer not really. Even how many times do you wear each pair of socks? Wear what is comfortable and light, what you can wash in a sink ( use shampoo), or what does not show dirt like dark colors.…
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Overseas Phone Savings for Dummies
Here we are in India where phone service was excellent and Facetime easy to connect. We arrange trips to India every year!
December 2016 India trip click here
After you return home and see a huge bill from your carrier, you will decide to learn the telephone mess once and for all. We are not telephone experts but here are some easy tips to save money. You can find many more on line.
If your hotel has free wifi (usually in public areas), you can forego paying for email.…
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Virus Headlines and Selling News
OK so we get annoyed also. We notice the only times women get travel news headlines is when bad stuff happens, like the Zika Virus or rape in India. The New York Times Travel Section on Sunday wrote an unusually wonderful story about 4 women traveling in Namibia.
Why did this catch our eye? Because a day before we posted our Namibia trip on line! If you review trends for travel, you will see our choices ahead of the pack:
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Worst Mistakes When Delayed by Weather
Delays due to weather/strikes happen. This list is what you should NOT do:
Panic, it will not help you to make sharp decisions.
Call your travel agent unless she/he booked the actual flight.
Pull out your credit card immediately.
Stand in a long frenzied line with screaming people.
Pack in luggage your phone charger; always keep it in carry on.
Here is what you SHOULD do:
Scan trip documents for the 24/7 emergency numbers of your trip. Always keep the 24/7 numbers for your flights/cruise/tour on hand.…
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Female Neurosis– Insomnia in Travel
More than men, women have sleep problems when we travel. Jet lag and being away from home–possibly for the first time alone –can complicate the issue.
If you can, fly so you arrive early evening. Do not exercise heavily before bed; but a nice walk will help. On some trips like our Colors of India, there are choices of flight arrivals.
Start moving into the new time zone before you leave. Get up early or stay up late whichever applies. Some jet lag like that for our China trip is easier going there than coming home.…
