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Happy Holidays to All Our Friends
And here is what we wish for all women who travel: memories to broaden our hearts and minds, friends to share them, health to keep us on the road, families that support our wanderlust and a world full of safe and peaceful surprises for 2015 and beyond.
Happy Holidays and Thank You All Facebook Pals and Fellow Travelers for another wonderful year.
We are off to Cuba, France, Easter Island and South Africa shortly….join us and make a difference.…
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Free Luggage Repair
Just as you think you know it all, a neighbor lets you in on a secret. Many of us are users of Longchamps light and fashionable purses, backpacks and luggage. They come in many colors and shapes. Not a cheap purchase so be aware of that.
However they have one small problem. With continued use, the tips at the bottom corners can wear away. My neighbor shared with me that Longchamps will repair these tips at NO cost. Caveat: I have not tried to get mine repaired, but this neighbor has.…
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On Line Reviews: How to Tell if Fake?
The Women’s Travel Group takes on line review seriously. We encourage you to check all our hotels on sites like TripAdvisor.com However a tiny percentage are clearly faked.
Here are the ways to tell if an on line review is fake:
Review posted by someone who has no other reviews.
Fake reviews use more superlatives in descriptions.
The word ‘I’ is used more than ‘we’.
Fake hotel reviews do not describe the rooms or the spacial information about the hotel.Reviews about expensive hotels are longer than those about cheap hotels.…
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Losing your Luggage
Yes it finally happened to me and to two other women on our India trip when British Airways had a computer meltdown. The lost luggage stages go like this and with a happy ending:
+++++Adrenolin rush to get the lost luggage claim and papers filled out correctly while navigating 250 others in the same situation. Don’t forget to take a photo or your luggage tag and any paperwork with your phone.
+++++Exhaustion follow up: once out of the airport with nothing to your name but a carry on ( this was the one time I did not bring a change of clothes in carry on!!!).…
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The 'get rid of travel anxiety' pill
A professor of psychology in California studied stress levels of people who watched excessive news reports about the Boston Marathon bombers. She compared their anxieties against those of people who were at the Marathon. Those who overdosed on news were much more stressed than those who attended the Marathon. The article where this study appeared is about the nation’s hysterical reaction to 2 cases of ebola on our shores.
If you want to live a normal but adventure filled life, don’t watch the news on television.…
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TSA Troubles with Women
Yes a 53 year old man in San Francisco Airport’s security area was a fake TSA staff member. He dressed like a TSA employee but had not emblem or official badge. However, he managed to take two female passengers into a private room for a search. He was caught because a female TSA officer remembered that only women can search women in private areas.
So what is the lesson to learn here? If unsure of someone’s official capacity, first look for writing on their uniform or badge.…
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When is a Place Scary or Just Exotic?
Just had a call from a new traveler who is interested in Morocco for Thanksgiving. Her question: is it scary? There is a broad line between scary and exotic and here are some of the guidelines for that frontier.
Scary is being alone is a crowded market where the language and writing are foreign. Exotic is wandering with our guide in a Moroccan souk knowing she is watching out for you.
Scary is finding you are in a political demonstration. Exotic is being in a country when eventful things are happening, like our group in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the anniversary of Evita’s death.…
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Ixtapan Spa Trip: Adding Mexico City?
To be picked up for Ixtapan Spa, one flies to the modern airport of Mexico City (MEX). Some women in our group took a day to visit this amazing area. Last year for our discounted group trip to Ixtapan Spa, 15 women over-nighted at the Courtyard by Marriott connected to Terminal 1, found each other with the help of one guest, and shared taxis into town.We help you connect which is important if you are a solo traveler and wish to meet other single women traveling to share the trip with.…
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New TSA Rules Need Close Attention
The TSA has announced that they are now requiring all electronic devices be opened at security. Phones, tablets, computers, kindles….. This means some time delay and it requires that your devices have a live battery. Cameras are not mentioned in the list, but beware if they are battery operated.
If you are on a long trip, you will need to re-juice your devices before you go through security, as it is possible that security overseas will match our new regulations. And when you board your direct flights to the US from overseas say like Catania from our Sicily trip, TSA regulations will apply.…
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Phyllis Stoller: new Group Travel Associate Editor
The National Association of Baby Boomer Women has appointed Phyllis Stoller, of The Women’s Travel Group, its Group Travel Associate. Phyllis has a long history of organizing, often leading smart tours or women. Phyllis lived and worked overseas before returning to the US years ago. She made it her life’s mission to encourage women to travel, whether they were coming solo or not.
The full article is here and you will find out all kinds of biographical information you did not know about Phyllis Stoller.…
