Travel Tips Blog and Statistics
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New TSA Rules Need Close Attention
The TSA has announced that they are now requiring all electronic devices be opened at security. Phones, tablets, computers, kindles….. This means some time delay and it requires that your devices have a live battery. Cameras are not mentioned in the list, but beware if they are battery operated.
If you are on a long trip, you will need to re-juice your devices before you go through security, as it is possible that security overseas will match our new regulations. And when you board your direct flights to the US from overseas say like Catania from our Sicily trip, TSA regulations will apply.…
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Top Five Hotel Complaints from Women
Cool Sicilian Gelato. Join us to Sicily for Christmas Markets, Archaeology, Farm Food and More.
Joe Sharkey wrote about Hotel Peeves the other day. He mentioned two top hotel complaints: bulky internet or expensive internet service and hard to reach power outlets. Well if you get to women’s complaints. We agree that paying egregiously for internet is annoying and definitely we are tired of moving furniture to recharge our phones.
Here is my list as a rep of The Women’s Travel Group of hotel horrors:
Dirty floors: many women either stretch or do yoga in the morning.…
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How Not to Make a Mistake on your Air Ticket
If you are planning on purchasing your own ticket for one of our trips, we are happy to help you. Here are a few details to keep in mind. Even though a destination may be written out as say Mexico City, it might be a nearby airport like Toluca. The key is the airport code which is not always obvious. Lets take the Mexico City example. Toluca is an exurb of Mexico City and some airlines which do not fly into the capital will say Mexico City as the city but use TLC correctly as the code.…
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Phyllis Stoller: new Group Travel Associate Editor
The National Association of Baby Boomer Women has appointed Phyllis Stoller, of The Women’s Travel Group, its Group Travel Associate. Phyllis has a long history of organizing, often leading smart tours or women. Phyllis lived and worked overseas before returning to the US years ago. She made it her life’s mission to encourage women to travel, whether they were coming solo or not.
The full article is here and you will find out all kinds of biographical information you did not know about Phyllis Stoller.…
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5 Ways to be a Great US Tourist
Smile no matter what happens.
Learn a few words in other languages.
Bring something that shows where you live or photos of your family.
Wear something that says you support peace.
Be proud of our country but not a chauvinist.
The hardest task is to smile when you are tired, frustrated and in a rush. Losing your temper or raising your voice is about the worst demeanor you can offer. Force a smile and pretend you are in a presidential debate!…
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Checklist: Can Travel with a Friend?
At Ixtapan Spa last week, were talking about a screening process for traveling with a friend. A woman stated: I never travel with anyone before I spend a day with them shopping. What a terrific idea.
Shopping will determine decisiveness and focus. Anyone who covets something but cannot make up their mind to either buy or move on, can be a time waster. And what are you paying for the most on a tour? Time!
Shopping will tell you something about independence.…
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5 Hotel Rip Off's Paid for by Women Guests
1—Hotel laundry is still more expensive for women’s than for men’s clothes.
2—Women feel uncomfortable at the hotel bar so we use the mini bar for refreshment.
3—Forced pre-paid breakfast buffets in some hotel chains, rarely have food that most women eat: like sugarless yogurt and cereals. And usually have waffles, fruit loops, donuts and other fattening foods business women are trying to avoid.4—Unattended fitness rooms in corners of the hotel are not comfortable for solo women to work out in.…
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New Insurance: Believe it or Not: Cheaper!
We offer travel insurance for all of The Women’s Travel Group trips. Did you know that 80% of cancellations are due to pre-existing conditions? And who doesn’t have one at this stage of the game? Pre x is anything you went to the doctor for in the 60 days prior to booking your trip. There are exceptions, of course, for stabilized conditions and we can send you more specific language. But the cost of insurance is well worth it, if you do have to cancel you visited the doc during the specified time.…
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Frequent Flier Tickets are an Addiction
Every now and then we get a call like this: I want to go on the xxx trip with The Women’s Travel Group. I am trying to get a frequent flier ticket for this trip and will let you know when I get it. Then time moves on and we get this follow up call: I was not able to get the ticket, how much is the flight now? Answer: The trip is now full, sorry.
Way back when the frequent flier program was started, it felt like we were being given a prize: free airplane tickets?…
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Sicily+ Christmas markets: Reasons to Book Before July 1Early Bird Ends
Reason one is $200 more trip cost after July 1. The group is more than 2/3 full already.
Reason two is 3,000 years of history washed down with wine and fantastic food.
Reason three is the newest trendy tourist discovery: Palermo, our first stop.
Reason four is the ‘sights and sounds experience’ of walking in the mists of time during an ancient religious festival to the Basilica at night in Palermo. Sicily has history for Catholics, Jews, Muslims at a crossroads location.…
