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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.… -
South Africa : Drama, Drums, Delights: WTG Tour March 2021
Our next newsletter carries the itinerary. No other tour has both the highlights, private game preserve, drumming experience, gritty history, and NO tourist shopping days. Plus time in neighboring Botswana, and at Victoria Falls.
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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.… -
Music Application for Traveling
Staying in a hotel room can be isolating; try Songza. This is a free application for a smart phone. Songza has all kinds of free music and it categorizes it by genre and by what you are doing. So for instance, classical music for reading brought up YoYo Mah playing a lovely cello piece. Music makes a room away from home feel warmer and friendlier.
Join us on a trip this Summer to Argentina or elsewhere. Contact:…
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Digestion on Airplanes?
Though we do not mention it, most of us get indigestion on long flights. On our trips, we serve balanced and delicious food but on the plane, it is every woman for herself.
Counter indigestion with:
–eat before the flight not on it.
–drink lots of water, even ask the attendants to fill up a water bottle so you have it at hand. Too bad for the people who have to move when you need the facilities.
–bring goodies with you: dried fruit, nuts, even quickie oatmeal or cereal ( they always have milk on board).… -
How To Complain
We inspect all our hotels but if you go on a trip and are unhappy, here is how we suggest you complain:
1. Get an authority figure from the hotel, not the desk clerk, and if need be wait there until someone shows.
2. Get their card and make sure they are in fact a manager.
3. Ask them to sit down away from the desk, which makes you an equal and makes this a business meeting.
4. Describe your issue, enhance with photos you took or timing you noted ( like a pillow from housekeeping took from 8:30 PM until 9:11 PM, the detail is convincing.… -
Our group is different from Other Women's Tours
The Women’s Travel Group believes that a smart investment in travel should not include: tourist shopping, too much free time, or itineraries which are short to make them look cheaper.
Tour Time Wasting Shopping: why would you waste time going to a diamond store or a carpet emporium when you are paying $hundreds to see a new country? Diamonds can be bought on the internet, and carpets in every department store. Now a fun street market might be valuable for the ambiance and photo ops.…
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Don't Lose FF Mileage: Another Tip
On many trips, our tickets are written in the destination and are given to you when we arrive. On our last trip to Ethiopia, we had 4 domestic flights on the excellent Ethiopian Airlines. We found that without the part of the ticket kept by gate staff, we were unable to get ff credit on the Star Alliance Group. On our Argentina Trip August 2013 we will again have domestic flights……
Here is our tip: photograph the full paper boarding pass before you board and before the ticket is torn by gate staff.…
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Electronic Travel Tips for Technical Dummies
…Travel Tips for the Electronic Age from The Women‘s Travel Group
Smart phones, tablets and Kindles accompany us on travel these days. Even the least technical of women carry at least one of these items. www.thewomenstravelgroup.com shares new tips with you.
1. If you use a lot of electronic items, bring a power strip. This will enable you to safely plug in extra items. This must be packed, not carried on.
2. Keep your Kindle or Tablet wrapped when traveling in dusty areas.
