-
Heavy packables to throw out
Travel clothes today are easy, leggings have replaced trousers/ washables have replaced cotton. So why is your suitcase so heavy? Travel doctors tell us that back issues are the number one health problem for traveling women. Moving your heavy case in the hotel room is one reason. So here are some weighty things to leave home.
Shoes: toss heavy shoes and replace with light walking shoes. Merrell is one brand that produces solid but light walkers. Also: Easy Spirit, some Rockports, Keen.…
-
Is it Odd to Travel Solo for Christmas?
Do we all fit the image of ‘happy family with turkey and gifts under the tree”? Or are you with no family, and friends who invite you because you make a great cake? You are not an oddball; we hear this all the time.
No matter what your religion, going away for Christmas removes you from the intensity, memories, and obligations of the season. Leaving home and family, if you have any, means more than ‘taking a trip’. It is a form of refreshing independence. …
-
Super Cheap Gifts to Grab on our Paris Holiday Tour Dec 21-28
So you are going to Paris with us for Christmas Season, and you are going solo. For those of you on the sidelines: Dec 21 depart or leave earlier as some women are doing, and return Dec 28. If you leave earlier, we book you into our centrally located hotel and put you in touch with the other early birds. Come alone, shares are guaranteed. Limited Space Left.
How about treating yourself with some cheap and cheerful gifts
Here are five goodies to bring home, no matter how slim your budget.…
-
Who hates Reading Lists?
The Women’s Travel Group usually supplies a list of recommended books plus movies filmed in the area we are visiting. This is not school, so why bother?
Some books like The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo open up the under belly of a Indian community that the tourist might not notice. Others celebrate a historic Indian Raj romance that brings history to life: Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
Some are fictionalized versions of real events: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghes, set in Ethiopia, and others are straight history: Charles King’s The Black Sea about Turkey.…
-
Uber Services Frenemies? Or Friends?
Today I read in travel news that Virgin America in Dallas Love Airport is giving free rides by Uber for passengers. Besides being frequent flyers, most of us are also frequent taxi to the airport people. Who do you use?
Taxis can be hard to find during bad weather, holidays, even Fridays after work. In some cities regular taxis now at least have a smart phone app like Uber offers. Radio cabs which you can book on line usually charge a few more dollars than taxis but they are reservable.…
-
Mexico City Will Shock You!
Join us to Mexico City Feb 4-7 2016 and not just for Aztec temples and bargains. Mexico City is a city of startling museums, striking skyscrapers, outdoor gourmet cafes, deluxe shopping malls, built near 14century Aztec ruins. Highly innovative ways to combine old and new exist: like the 19c mansion below serving as base for a soaring office building.
Here are a few of the unbelievable buildings you will see along with the Frida Kahlo area, and the major Aztec museums and areas:
We have some space left on Mexico City Feb 4-7 with women either going on to Ixtapan Spa or returning home after the tour.…
-
Worst Airport Behavior
This past week I was in Atlanta. Totally surprised at how terrific a city Atlanta has become by the way. Amazing food (JCT was one restaurant we loved), even more amazing the skyline with new artsy districts. At the airport returning home, here is what happened:
There were few empty seats, no room to plug in a phone. 3 seats held backpacks and plastic bags of bakery items, but were otherwise unoccupied for 30+ minutes. One seat was next to the power outlet.…
-
Airlines Ready to Bash Us Again
In the last years airline fuel dropped 24% and fuel surcharges have not dropped 1%. So what is going on here?
Airlines are profiting from keeping surcharges which were as high as $600 round trip NY-London. Airlines now call these ‘international fees’ but they are the same old fuel surcharges. Airlines are still nickel and dime-ing us on checked baggage, food, lounge access; they are practically weighing us.
I have flown American on Business Class to Mexico City from NY many times.…
-
Airlines and Reduced Carry-On Rules
Global airlines are moving towards reducing the size of allowed carry- on. That means your 22 inch bag will no longer be in the overhead rack. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recommends a smaller bag of 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches. Not all airlines will concur with the new standard, but here are 5 things you should never pack:
Money, jewelry (even good junk jewelry), electronics, medicine and your printed trip information. Especially if you are traveling solo.…
-
Who we are: The Women's Travel Group
Some of our Facebook friends have not been ‘properly’ introduced to The Women’s Travel Group. Well here goes: Phyllis Stoller founded the Women’s Travel Club in 1992 because she had 5 weeks vacation and her husband had 2. She had been a corporate banker with the time and $ to use the vacation but could not find friends to share it.The original Club took off amazingly fast, first with local women who felt the same way but had no way to meet each other.…
