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How to Measure Weather Below the Equator
As many have asked, the weather is not the same in Buenos Aires or Capetown as in NY or Boston, which have reverse seasons, being North of the Equator. As much as BA or Capetown look equidistant from the Equator as NY or Boston, they are not.
Buenos Aires and Capetown have weather more like that in Los Angeles, even though they appear on the map to mirror NY or Boston. Rainy seasons are also different. Buenos Aires has rain spread out all year.…
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Why Your Credit Card Overseas Might be Rejected
Most of the articles are written about fees for foreign credit card transactions. Few mention that a PIN is required for many credit card expenditures in Europe. If you plan on spending using plastic, bring Amex which does not require a pin. Amex is not accepted everywhere as merchants say it is more expensive, that is a forewarning. If you have to pay cash and use the ATM, try to avoid Fridays as the dollar/foreign currency rate is highest before a weekend.…
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Traveling in 2013 vs 2006 When Our Club was Sold
We are all 7 years older, which means packing more ibuprofen and comfier shoes. We have more time to travel, but less patience. We are wiser, more money conscious and probably bargain hunt with more gusto. We are more reluctant to get up early for tours. But for travel at 7 years older, here are a few rules:
Don’t race on your first day; give yourself time to adjust, even if no jet lag as in our Argentina trip in August.…
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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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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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Snow Delay Travel Tips
Weather is responsible for 40% of all plane cancellations. Although airlines prepare ahead of a storm, they do not cancel flights until same day. An annoying practice for us. One trick is to look at flight tracker sites to see which flights are arriving and which arrivals are cancelled. Airlines will begin to cancel arrivals before departures which gives you a vague heads up.
Travel insurance will cover costs associated with weather messes.…
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All Women Travel
The traveler sees what she sees, the tourist sees what she has come to see.
On our trips we balance the beauty and exotica of our destinations, with the differences in our worlds. One of the unique characteristics of travel with all women, is the exchange of opinion and experiences. Women love to share thoughts and visions and many of us stay pals after the trip is over. A conversation can range from brainy themes to what ever happened to hair rollers.…
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The Women's Travel Group Selected as an Approved Travel Specialist
We are delighted that The Three Tomatoes group for women in NY has selected us for their members’ travel. For those of you who live in or visit NY, the group does fun local activities.
Check them out at www.thethreetomatoes.com. Their mantra is the insiders guide to NYC for women who aren’t kids.… -
Airline Rules Contested
The papers today suggest that the announcement: “You must stay in your cabin and class of service”, is not actually an airline rule! However if you breach instructions and ,heaven forbid, push back the curtain or use the business class toilets, yikes, staff might strong arm you. Suggestions here:
1. Get all names of staff involved. If they say they will contact the captain write down his/her name as well. Be discreet.
2. Record witnesses’ statements on your phone.
3. Send a certified letter to the airline asking for an apology- they will not compensate you so just go for the apology then tell the world.…