Travel Tips Blog and Statistics
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Must Words for Thanksgiving in Italy
We still have space on our Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast Thanksgiving extravaganza Be prepared with some Italian words:
Turkey Tacchino…. and here is why it tastes better in Italy:
Chestnuts Castagna Chestnuts have a long history in Italy. Homer and Pliny both mentioned them. Chestnuts have bee a staple for both aristocrats and peasants all over Italy where they are still roasted in a ceramic container over the fire.
Pumpkin Zucca Pumpkin is cooked so beautifully in Italy, filling ravioli, risotto, pasta with pumpkin and bacon, gnocchi and even in bread.…
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Five Musts on a First Singles' Tour
Do at least a little reading so you actually know where you are going. Even if just a wikipedia whisk through. Save some of the information in your Kindle or other device. Sources: wikipedia, Frommers/Fodors/Lonely Planet on line. Did you know you can borrow e guidebooks from the library then save chapters in your phone etc.
Have $50-100 in single US Dollar bills to use before you have local currency. Going to the bank at the destination airport is dangerous. You will be exhausted, you might leave something behind, you need to keep one eye on luggage and one on your money.…
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Are You Scared of Your 1st Solo Trip?
…Today we received a beautiful email from one of the women who went with our group on the AMA cruise to SE Europe in July/August. She was thrilled to find instant friends on board with our group and they apparently connected up with more women for dinners and more. This was Bev’s first trip alone, well alone in our group. She wrote to us that she even made tentative plans to join some of the new friends on another trip in November.
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Is Naples Scary or Scrumptious
Safety and Mafia are Naples brand to many. But act smart as you would anywhere and enjoy these surprises on our Thanksgiving trip: Rome-Naples-Amalfi Coast.
Naples is the Holy Grail of pizza. Did you know the Margarita Pizza was designed as the first pizza presented to the Queen of Italy in 1889. Red, white and green are the national colors.
Naples’ pizza restaurants have a certificate of authenticity approved by an official committee.
Many carved nativity scenes come from Naples which has been called Christmas all year around.…
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Why Exotic Trips are Easier than Europe
Why exotic travel can be easier than European jaunts?
Many trips to Europe involve a lot of city walking, stairs and marble museum floors. You are tempted to even when tired to wander the neighborhood of our centrally located hotels for some shopping, snacks or photo ops. Oh, those aching feet. In addition, some of us use the fitness area after a day of sightseeing and airplane rides, without thinking to stretch beforehand. Then finally, to save money, we will carry wine back to our room for in-room parties with the group.…
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What Phyllis Learned on Vacation
Just returned from my personal vacation, and here is what I learned:
The world is still traveling. And tourist sites are full of happy, unworried travelers. Airports are as busy, flights fairly full. Families smiling and excited about their vacations.
You will notice that immigration is slower and more thorough on both ends. There is the obvious, customs employees are also on family vacations. There is the newsworthy, they are being careful and methodical. There is the season, summer is peak which is why our group trips are mainly off season.…
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9 Hour Jetlag is Easier than 6
Flying to India is easier on your body than flying to Europe. Why is this? How do we plan for the perfect India trip?
Once you arrive in Delhi on our annual Colors of India Trip, from a North American flight, you are individually met and escorted to our luxurious hotel. After dinner with our group, you are ready to enjoy the ample cool and elegant hotel room. Jetlag will lull you to sleep. Next day you will wake up at 6AM, have time for your emails, organizing clothes or using a glorious spa in our hotel.…
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Holiday Weekend Tips Just for Women
Holiday Tips uniquely for women, from The Women’s Travel Group. We all know the usual: be at the airport early, drive carefully and don’t drink/eat too much. Here are about a few others that effect women more than men:
Toss a small roll of toilet paper in your carry on. Bathrooms are bound to be full at airports and highway stops. Supplies will be gone.
Take some purell type gel to wipe hands after you leave a crowded public bathroom.…
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Falling Down 15 Stairs
Yesterday we read about the awful attack in Istanbul. Shocking videos made even my stalwart travel spine shiver. My heart went out to those injured and families of those killed. Then I remembered how, in a moment of stupidity, I fell down 15 steep stairs, collapsing at the bottom with a flying iPad. Wondering if I was crippled for life. Why connect the two?
Reading about terrorism and being personally affected by it are very different animals. The statistics of being part of a terrorist event are miniscule, yet television metaphorically covers us with blood.…
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US Passport Problems
The elephant who came to our bus in Jaipur India to say hi. Next India trip: Dec 2016
Can a US Passport Holder be turned away by a country that normally allows us entry? We all assume that our US/ Canadian passports grant us entry to practically all nations. (When The Women’s Travel Group trips require a visa ahead of time for instance India,Iran, Brazil) , we advise you carefully).
Here are some situations where you might spend your vacation in the airport.…
