Travel Tips Blog and Statistics
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When Not to Take a River Cruise
I just returned from the most fabulous Christmas Markets Danube cruise on AMAWaterways. The trip was perfect. In some places, we suggest a land trip as the major sites are not on the river.
The Women’s Travel Group has chosen to visit Vietnam and Cambodia, not on a cruise. The places of greatest interest are on land. We are staying in fine luxury hotels, going to famous restaurants, and have included both the glorious and gritty history of the area. Our shopping times are saved for the fine stores recommended by friends, not for tourist traps.…
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Holiday Gifts for Women Travelers
Here are our choices for Holiday Gifts for Women who Adore Traveling.
A lesson in using your phone as a camera. A smart phone has many applications which are free or close to free. But for electronic idiots like me, they can be hard to understand. Many camera stores, libraries and Apple stores give lessons. I learned how to take quick unnoticed photos without clicking the aperture! Women travelers are less likely to be electronically savvy.
Better suitcase: the best suitcases for us women are those that swivel so you can drag or ‘walk’ your case.…
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Ixtapan versus Ixtapa
Since we are getting many new requests for Ixtapan Spa Discount Week, Feb. 9-16… let’s spell the place right. Many Mexican words have ‘x’ in them, I think the Spanish substituted x for difficult indigenous words they could not pronounce.
Ixtapan de la Sal (Sal being salt) is a mountain village long known as a place with mineral waters and one where affluent Mexicans have weekend homes. Ixtapa is a beach resort with modern hotels and cruise ships. So if you are planning to come, be aware that we will be in gorgeous mountains in a colonial village, with cool evenings and mainly dry days.…
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Exploding Cosmetics: Warning for Women Travelers
Recently I was on a plane and decided to reapply lip gloss before we landed. The pressure of the plane made the gloss explode and worst the metallic sheen of the gloss penetrated my clothes and leather bag. This can happen with any cosmetic, so how will you know ahead of time?
1- Tubes are culprits: so squeeze out all the air before you get on the plane, close quickly.
2- You may also tap containers of all kinds, it to get the air to the top before you open them.… -
Most important item women forget to pack for Holiday Travel
One pair of loose slacks! We all gain weight at Thanksgiving and yet forget to bring along one pair of looser slacks. There is nothing so uncomfortable as traveling in tight clothes especially those which are binding around the waist.
In addition blood clots can form if you cut off circulation. If you think you can unzip once you are seated, remember few domestic flights carry blankets anymore so you will need some Houdini moves.
So to be comfortable on the way home, pack that generous pair of trousers, along with non-elasticized socks and eat and cheat all the way home.…
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Avoiding the Single Supplement
Catherine Hamm of the Los Angeles Times published an article about The Women’s Travel Group’s unique room share guarantee. She asked me why women would share and how do we explain this guarantee when women call us.
Here goes: more women share today than ever, because of the rising cost of hotels and related cost of single supplements. Hotels will not waive this cost so the discussion of getting rid of supplements is a poof in no one’s ears.
We guarantee everyone who asks for a share, that she will get one.…
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Carrying gifts on Airplanes
Like many of you, I will be bringing gifts for my family next week and on that super- crowded Thanksgiving flight. Yes, even we professional travelers end up on the most overbooked flights! Here is my conundrum: how do I pack the gifts so they do not disappear at the TSA scanner? Ideas welcomed from all of you.
So far, I will triple wrap the small things in other containers.
I have alas larger ‘objects’ for the guys in the family.…
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Five Ways to Ruin a Holiday Trip
Read all the scare stories about crowds and overbooking.
(You can easily avoid nerves by getting to the airport early, snack in hand and patience in the brain).
Pack a 40lb carry on bag and expect airline staff to help you hoist it overhead.
(With fashionable leggings, down jackets and comfy walking shoes, who needs this much stuff anymore. Electronic books and mini-computers should be on your personal ‘I want’ gift list this year).
Do not check the weather the night before you leave.… -
USA Today: Ten Reasons to Take a River Cruise
And we are adding the 11th: Guaranteed Shares in Category E on Tulip Time AMA River Cruise: April 2014
These are in part from USA Today. And in part from our experiences.
Experience is leisurely River cruises are not about rushing here and there. You visit key sights but there is also time to relax. And since you dock near cities, you can leave the ship when you wish.
Ships are intimate The size of river ships is limited by the need for the vessels to go through locks and under low bridges.…
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10 Ways not to feel Sad on Christmas Day
——–Do not go where the crowds go or risk overbooking and overpricing. Try new destinations
——–Do not eat what you would at home! This risks feeling homesick and family deprived.
——–Do not shop for others; this is your time to pamper yourself, not others.
——–Do not spend Dec. 25 in a place where everything is closed.
——–Do not stay in your room, walk around town, hang out at a restaurant or the hotel public spaces.——–Research ahead of time for walking tours given on holidays ( they exist even in religious countries).…
