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‘Just in Case’ Information for Women Travelers
Recently I experienced a flight cancellation. The cancellation was announced after a long delay and various updates. It was due to weather. So no yelling at the airline or getting unduly upset. Weather is not the airline’s responsibility. It changes minute to minute so delays can linger before a formal cancellation.
I returned home by taxi and flew out on the same flight next day. Here is what I learned.
- If a flight is delayed, stay around the gate in case it departs without much notice.
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Smile. You are on Image Recognition
Most of us hate our passport photos; most of us at The Women’s Travel Group do. We take them in a vending booth, Staples, Fedex office or some other commercial space where we muster up a smile in front of strangers. Now here is the news: paper identification like a passport or license is moving to image recognition. Some of you already use images to open your smart phone.
Image recognition might also be familiar if you use Clear.…
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What to Expect in Europe this Summer
First of all check out our Summer Specials and last minute Savings
If there is a special event, restaurant or museum exhibit you wish, book it now. Europeans are raring to travel; so far a 14% increase. A Vermeer exhibit in Amsterdam was sold out months in advance. A revival of Guys and Dolls in London same situation. I am not a believer of Skip the Line tickets; seems elitist. If the ticket relates to your dreams, then go ahead.
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Is a room share worth $975 for you?
There is a room share available on Northern Italy/ Switzerland trip in July1 Here is how to deal with a room share on a WTGroup trip. Hotels charge exorbitantly if one person is in a room. From their revenue point of view they sell ‘real estate’. One person (versus two persons) takes up the same square footage as two, uses the minibar and room service less, tips porters less and buys a one half breakfast. Thus the single supplement as high as 100%. …
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What Women Want in a Hotel Room
When I was a banker, HR chose 5 star hotels. 5 star business hotels are not always female friendly. If in commercial neighborhoods, streets are dark at night. A majority male population might mean loud guy-friendly bars. Today with The Women’s Travel Group, we chose differently.
A female hotel check list is different; star level can be less important. When I walk into a hotel room here is what I do:
First I want to know how to operate the a/c and lights.…
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How to use Uber and Such Overseas
Who (of a certain age) does not use car services? They can be cheaper than taxis, are scheduled, and generally women feel safer. Price is known up front. Tips as well. What happens if you are overseas and need a service? Here is personal experience to date from The Women’s Travel Group.
Uber operates in many countries. You use the same app as on a US mobile phone.For Uber and other services, follow these rules.…
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Purge Your Carry On Bags
Things I purged from my carry on to make it lighter. The Women’s Travel Group ideas for easier travel.
Sneakers: wear them to save interior space. Throw in a cheap pair of ‘ballet flats’. with decent soles My go-to ballet flats are allbirds.com.
Extra bra and underpants. In 3-5 minutes anyone can wash underwear. Save the space for socks and tuck them into edge spaces.
Little hotel amenity bottles labeled with volumes are a thing of the past.…
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Go or Not? Women’s Travel Worry
Before Covid, we, senior women felt immune to life’s surprises. But a surprise like a pandemic, changed us. Women now have travel worry. It is 2023, we are restarting our travel life, with new emotions, plus a few more years under our belts. Go or not? That is the question.
Where to go? Some places are new to tourism but how long will they stay open? We visited Iran as a group of women when it opened- see photo below.…
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Duty Free Deals or Slippery Shopping?
The facts from The Women’s Travel Group:
- You are already burdened by carrying stuff you should have checked.
- Duty Free items can be boring: liquor, tobacco, perfumes, accessories, food, electronics.
- Merchants do not pay duty/taxes so items might be cheaper inside an airport. But not necessarily!
What is a deal then? If there are branches of local stores, you might find deals unavailable at home. Examples: Boots cosmetics and medicine in UK airports. …
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ABC’s of Travel for Women Traveling
A is for Air conditioning vs Climate Control.
In Europe Climate Control rather than Air Conditioning is common.
With air conditioning you can usually set exactly how cold you want your room. (That is once you figure out the controls on the wall). With climate control, the hotel system sets the temperature. You can chose your level within a range of hot and cold.
When setting temperatures, take into consideration the altitude. Desert climates as in our Saudi Arabia trip or mountains as in Mexico August trip means much cooler evenings that you might expect. …