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Rude airline staff? Too bad for you.
I just watched one of those irresistible airport videos. An airline staffer used the F word to a passenger. The staffer had demanded to see her boarding pass, not at check in but randomly. The passenger refused, said she had to make her plane and continued on to check in. Then came the F word. What can you do if an airline staffer treats you discourteously or even gray area illegally?
Not much is the answer.…
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Fun Frolick Fanciful Faimlie
Faimlie is Family in Scotland. Be part of The Women’s Travel Group Faimlie. Join our trip to Scotland and Ireland. A list of stuff to surprise and shock you!
Scotland the land. There are 790 islands and 600 sq. miles of lakes.
The climate There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Summer time is still on when we travel.
The hair The highest percentage of red haired people is in Scotland up to 13% vs.…
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Never Pack List for Women
Over the years, our group has had items confiscated. Some are not allowed to be imported, some are illegal, and some were ‘taken’ by customs’ officials overseas. One confiscation was hilarious. It was a tampon removed and examined by a South American customs official.
Here are some items not to pack.
Anything expensive especially with designer labels.
Items with price tags; these are easier to fence. Remove the tag.
Pirated goods like fake designer bags, sunglasses, watches. …
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The I don’t need it shopper
The Women’s Travel Group does not specialize in shopping tours but we know a lot about it. In some countries in Europe you will inevitably buy some treasure, despite protests of “I have too much already.” Temptation is strongest in Italy: leather, shoes, purses, clothes, pottery, food items. Another area is Scotland and Ireland for woolens.
Here is how the experts judge leather quality:
Press with your finger, the leather will indent with a wrinkle then return to its original state.…
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Upgrade or Chanel?
Is the cost of upgraded airplane tickets worth it? Some thoughts from The Women’s Travel Group.
In the last few years, travelers have become obsessed with airline status and their seats. This frenzy is, in part, caused by airlines themselves. There is branding / selling status by airlines. Who doesn’t want to be ‘special’ ‘elite’ ‘first in line’, ‘envied’ and ‘fussed over’.
Lets start with the special bit. Anyone who can afford to fly is already special.…
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New in Women’s Travel What is Old: Fear
What is new in Women’s Group Travel in 2024
Immediately after the pandemic, travel was slow, then grew, then exploded. 2020-2023 travel was named “revenge travel”; with feeling safe splurges. 2023 was a banner year for travel. Prices stabilized. Tour groups were full to capacity and flights busy.
2024 flights are expected to reach 40 million world wide with 4.7 billion travelers. How will this effect you?
So far in 2024, US domestic fares are 6% lower.…
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First Solo Trip, Where to Go
What are the best places to go for a first solo trip? Travel tips from The Women’s Travel Group.
My first solo trip was to Geneva, Switzerland. I was 15 going to a French speaking school near the Chateau de Chillon on Lake Geneva. In those days, Americans, especially teens, were exotic. With the 3 other Americans I met at the Institut, we acted fearless and, truth be told, naughty. (There is a doctor somewhere in Italy who, as a teen, gave me a first grown up kiss).…
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Women and Toilet Terror
In grade school, we asked permission for the little girls’ room. In high school, we also asked then went to the bathroom to gossip or put on make up. In college, we did not ask permission, we sauntered out of class. Public toilet Terror is non uncommon in The Women’s Travel Group.
As senior women today, some of us dread public bathrooms.…
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Things for Double Taking When Packing
Travel packing tips from The Women’s Travel Group. Saline, bottles are tiny and can fall into an airplane seat. Dry eyes are exacerbated by the dryness in airplane cabins. Flying to Santa Fe with us May 1? You’ll need saline in high deserts also.
Chargers for phone and iPads. Hoteliers say chargers are often left in the wall, bathroom socket or behind a bureau or end table. …
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Room Share Scare
How I Re-learned to Share
A hotel room that is. My first experience sharing a hotel room with a stranger. On one of Women’s Travel Group’s first trips- in partnership with a university professor of Chinese, I agreed to share a room with a stranger. I had a room mate in college. I had ‘trained’ my husband. And now I was going to learn all over again how to cooperate with a room mate.
Like most of you reading this article, I was apprehensive, though she seemed quite pleasant. …