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Travel Safety Warnings and What to do about Cancelling
Q: Are Travel Advisories and State Department Warnings Covered?
This information is from TravelInsured our travel insurance company. The question on their newsletter was: does travel insurance cover you if an area is under a State Dept warning or caution. Do note: we do not go to areas under State Dept warnings. Only once did we cancel a trip for 25 going to Egypt; they were all refunded promptly and well before we were paid.Answer from TravelInsured: No, these types of events are not covered under any travel insurance policy unless you purchase the Optional Cancel For Any Reason.…
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Preparing for Italy Departure Minus 1 Day
Tomorrow some of our group leaves for Tuscany and our Villa/Cooking trip (the others are meeting a day later). Here is how I organize the day before a big trip:
Eat sensibly adding more salad and yogurt than normal (to balance out junk airplane chow and food impulses at the airport.)
Double check packing list against what was used today and what is actually packed.
Update/refresh all passwords and refile in my secret cave.
Check weather again for both New York tomorrow and for Pisa.… -
Travel Safety Clothing: A Big Fraud
The word, ‘safety’, gets the most attention in travel media. The word, ‘clothing’, gets the most attention in travel media from women readers. So it is all too frequent that article themes are ‘new travel clothing for women’! Today a google alert about women and travel, had another promo about a travel shirt for women. DON’T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THINGS LIKE THIS.
The best safety tool you have is your common sense and your ability to go on a trip as rested as possible.…
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Tuscany Cooking Trip: A Week Away Preparations
Yes a week away, one can get ready for a trip like our Tuscan Cooking Journey.
Here is my 7 day alert:
Cut down on hard to digest food especially sugary things, so I sleep better and feel fresher for an overnight flight.
Stretch an extra 10 minutes each morning or at least before the end of the day. That helps when you have to sit forever on planes, airport chairs, taxis etc.
Unsubscribe from all new spam to lower the amount of data to paid for overseas.… -
Travel Medicine: Too Much? Not Enough?
We are getting questions about what shots and precautions for our upcoming India trip, Oct. 25-Nov 4 and for other trips to more exotic places. These questions bring up several themes:
The obvious one for us as tour operators is we are NOT medical advisers and are not equipped professionally to give out medical advice. We can tell you what one of us does for our personal health, but this is not a guideline for yours.
The second comment is that what you will need depends on what season you are visiting a country.…
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What to Wear When You Complain at a Hotel
When you need to complain about your hotel situation, how you look can be as important as how you talk. Assuming you are traveling with minimal clothes, here is how to dress for this encounter. (We already printed a blog on How To Complain). Here is how to dress:
Pick out the most conservative shirt and or / jacket you have. Swirl around a scarf to make you look less formal but ‘dressed’. If you only have a tee shirt, then cover it nicely with the scarf.…
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How To Navigate A Travel Show
If you are planning on coming to The New York Times Travel Show, here is how to get the most out of it and not come home with a broken back.
Wear comfy shoes; the floor of the Javits Ctr is concrete.
Bring a small stapler and simply staple a business card to the info you wish instead of carrying home heavy brochures.
Prepare a business card of your own to drop into info bowls if you wish to be on a mailing list.… -
Sicily: Christmas Markets, Street Processions and Farm Food
A Unique Christmas Markets Trip to Sicily December 4-12 2014
With Christmas Markets, Holiday Street Processions, Archaeological Sites, Wineries Shopping, Farmhouse Food
$2599 land only (until July 1 2014, then $2799) Single: $525 Shares guaranteed for early bookings.December 4 -12 2014
Some of us will overnight in Rome on Dec. 4, staying at the Rome Airport Hilton. (The Rome Airport Hilton has a free shuttle into town and is connected to the airport, making it an easy place to rendezvous.)…
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Tips for TravelRoom Sharing
The Women’s Travel Group arranges shares for anyone who wishes. There are several tips which will help you along the way:
1-Be neat and keep your possessions and tissues on your side of the room. In the bathroom especially be neat.
2-Arrange bathroom times if possible.
3-Avoid putting on the tv and turn off audio on your devices.
4-Both of you should keep track of expenses put on the room. Even better put no expenses on the room.This will make check out easier.… -
Tips to Recover from a Spa Vacation
Clean out the fridge except for your must have delights.
Try on clothes and feel good about how they fit.
Exercise even if you are still unpacking.
Take a long walk and do errands ambulatorially. If that is a word.
Buy cut up fruit and veggies today!If you need to choose between organizing photos and something active. Do the active bit.
Join us to Canyon Ranch for a deal price May 1-4/5 or wait till next year and Ixtapan Spa Feb.…