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Cheapskates’ Wifi on Vacation
How to be cheap/smart/bargain hunter/whatever from The Women’s Travel Group. Paying for wifi overseas on top of paying a crazily expensive phone bill at home is a nasty burden. Before we start, any public wifi is insecure unless you purchase a VPN line. VPN lines are cheap but might not work on sites like Paypal or your financial sites: Bank, Stocks. Those sites usually need to identify your phone, computer or ipad.
Most hotels offer what they call free wifi; it is not really free as it is included in your room costs, or in junk fees added to that rate.…
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Two of us in airline seat 6J?
I was happily seated in Business Class 6J on a Paris to New York flight. (PS it is boringly old aged but I get on the plane, as soon as the cabin is called). The purser greeted everyone cordially, offering a glass of bubbly with juice for the flying sober. A shock: another lady approached with her boarding pass showing 6J.
An official from Air France, the airline partner in Paris, boarded and asked to see my boarding pass. My iPhone had a screen shot showing 6J.…
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What are Junk Fees?
So what is this talk about junk fees? The Women’s Travel Group never adds them. Simplifying the definition: hotels are listed by price on line. The cheapest appear first. (Sponsored ads above them). We, normal people, are likely to click on the cheapest link if for the same hotel.
Once you click ‘yes ‘you want that property, you then choose your room type. All good so far. But to book that room you will see a list of extra fees in a shockingly expensive invoice.…
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Are women obsessed with travel clothes?
And should women be so wardrobe obsessed? Will I fit in? Will I be respected? Going to fashionable Paris, will I be a dork? This blog post changed directions after a visit to Chase Bank last week. Apologies up front for being personal.
Rates are good so I dropped by Chase with my husband. He came along only because I wanted a CD in joint names. I usually work with one banker. He invited a financial adviser to join us.…
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Are you a Ninny Traveler?
Are you a Ninny Lady if you go on group tours?
The other day a woman called The Women’s Travel Group about our November trip to Paris. After asking about the trip, she announced she had lived in Paris, knew it well and did not need a group tour. Why she called? Who knows. But bottom line, there are reasons for her to join the trip.
The Women’s Travel Group in India A group tour has benefits for either older women or younger professionals overwhelmed by demanding jobs.…
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6 chores pre Paris hotel check in
The 6 things to do when you arrive in Paris. And before hotel check in. Our early November 2023 Paris trip has limited space left. $100 off until Aug. 15, 2023.
Study a map and figure out where you are. Paris has obvious landmarks: Eiffel Tower, the river etc. The Tower changes lights often.
Official site: Eiffel Tower Use the ATM for Euros and to know asap your ATM card works. There are 45+ ATM’s in the airport also.
Ask of a cafe has free wifi.…
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Packing list for older women.
Today I started packing for Europe: specifically England, Italy and Switzerland. Although packing is no big deal for me, many women asked for my ‘system’. There are no fancy gadgets, no newly acquired clothes. There is no $1,000 cashmere scarf, which travel magazine writers tout as an airplane coverup.
Here goes THE SYSTEM.
Start at the bottom of your body, literally.
- Shoes: 2 pairs only, sneakers with which your feet are old friends AND one pair of light weight flats. Mine are black Allbirds.
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New Destinations for Women?
Women choose destinations based on 2 factors: intrinsic interest and the strong effect of marketing. Movies like Eat Pray Love or a TV Series like Emily in Paris tempt us. Gorgeous Caribbean blue water ads warm our hearts. Special events, ie King Charles III coronation, gets us packing.
https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com/tours/ Photos all from Uzbekistan Tourism Once we chose our trip, we are again faced with marketing. Paris: Eiffel Tower? Seine river boats? England: Tower Bridge? Crown Jewels?
What about new destinations and what to see in those countries. …
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Airport Walk Through for Women
The Women’s Travel Group was recently asked: Can you ‘walk’ me through the airport? I have not traveled overseas in a long time. Re-entry to travel is daunting. So here is The Women’s Travel Group’s step by step airport walk through.
When you arrive at the airport, have handy your passport and booking information. The latter might be a print out of your flights? An electric pass in your phone? Or just a record locator you jotted down.
Walk to your airline.…
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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.
Source: DOT https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com 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.
