2025 Eurail Travel Planning Guide and sinus relief
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? Eurail Travel planning Hi there, I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest. I’m in San Diego now, sharing my best travel ideas and working on another book for you to enjoy: 5 Steps to Solo Travel, Part C. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world. Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Kristen. Kristen loves to travel. She recently received a Fullbright Scholarship and took a trip with her husband and sons to a foreign country, Portugal, for several months. She’s full of great travel ideas and will be helpful as I continue to...
info_outline
Best of D. C. Smithsonian Museums
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
This is a Best of..... Have any questions? Please ask. The photo was taken by me on the grounds of one of the many museums of the Smithsonian.
info_outline
Train Travel: SLO to San Diego and Gluten Free Travel
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Episode title: SLO to San Diego by Train, GF Diets, and a Confidence Challenge Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, a world traveler who has traveled solo for over 50 years. I'm coming to you after a recent trip to Asia. I visited Taiwan and South Korea for 10 days. I’m here to share my best travel ideas and work on solo travel. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world solo again. The aim is world peace through cultural exchange. I’m about to travel the world for 90 days. Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener who recently retired as a...
info_outline
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan FAQ Should I use public transportation abroad? Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan Lesson Learned: Don’t schedule everything Day 1 Travel Tip: Trust your gut instincts, if unsure, pivot fast. FAQ Response: Should I use public transportation abroad? Yes, you should try it at the least, but not in rush hour with all of your luggage. One way to test it out is to try it early in the morning, before rush-hour workers arrive, but while it’s still light outside. Most of the time, you only need a card to swipe, and you...
info_outline
Seoul, South Korea and travel insurance comparisons
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Seoul, Korea episode Listener Story Spotlight A friend and a listener named Lois recently went to Hawaii. She told me she spent much time getting travel insurance for herself and her partner. She had to pay more than she expected as her partner was having a birthday between the day she bought the service and the day of the trip. But she said it was well worth it for her peace of mind. The FAQ for today is: Where to find the best travel insurance for a long trip abroad. 1. Start with a neutral comparison engine; you can see this in the show notes. Why use it first? Where to click ...
info_outline
Travel Planning: Ecuador
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Ecuador: planning Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Pat who loves to take 40-minute walks. She does one every day. We have traveled together to Spain and have been ski buddies for over 10 years. She's a superb figure skater and loves cats. Maybe you even know my friend. Her last name is Brown, inspiring me to go to the Galapagos Islands this year. Thanks, Pat, for that encouragement. The FAQ for today is: How do you choose your outfits for weather conditions that constantly change? The answer is more straightforward than you think: It's basic...
info_outline
Travel Planning: Colombia
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Travel Planning: Part 1 Colombia In this episode: Where an I heading series: Part 1 Today’s Mistake- avoiding potholes and buying new tires Travel Advice: Safety and security tip FAQ: How do you use SERVAS? I use Servas International to help me plan my trips. You sign up on the website, and a representative will contact you and interview you. They will make sure you are a real person and check references. Then, you get a Letter of Engagement, and you can contact hosts and day hosts. Today’s destination: Planning my trip to Colombia Friends to meet in...
info_outline
Boulder, CO
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Boulder, Colorado FAQ: Isn’t it awkward to eat alone? Step 1 question Destination episode: Boulder, CO. Lesson Learned: Got on the wrong train line. Travel Tip: Screenshot your map before leaving Wifi FAQ Response to Isn’t it awkward to eat alone? Yes, it is the first few times. No doubt. But it gets easier with every time you do it. Soon, you’ll just walk in a restaurant and not even think about it. I can relate to the woman who has never done it, because I remember my first time. I was scared. I told the hostess: “I’ve never eaten solo in a...
info_outline
Blue Zone Travel
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Special Episode Blue Zone Travel The five "Blue Zones" in the world, which are regions identified as having a high concentration of people living to a very old age, are: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California, USA. Notably, four of these Blue Zones are located near oceans, making them easily accessible by sea travel. Ocean proximity: Blue Zones like Costa Rica and California are situated not too far from coastlines, making them ideal destinations for those interested in combining a...
info_outline
5 Steps to Solo Travel for the Woman on the Go: What are the 5 Steps?
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Are you traveling? Tell me why or why not. Need a confidence boost? Here are the 5 Steps to Solo travel, summarized and a link to the book on Amazon. Step 1: Local Solo Travel. Close to home local travel. Step 2: Domestic solo trips, familiar with the territory. Maybe cross country. Step 3: National travel with more complexity, such as Alaska or Hawaii Step 4: International travel in familiar cultures Step 5: Fully independent, adventurous international solo travel. I’ve been creating this podcast weekly since 2018. I’m on my way to helping more than 100,000 women travel...
info_outlineToday’s Destination is: La Jolla, California
Today’s Mistake- I needed another suitcase for the trip home
Travel Advice: Noise Canceling Headphones are best
FAQ: When do I need a covid test for travel?
Answer: There’s a lot of confusion now about getting the right covid test for travel. Some countries require a proof of vaccination and others require testing. Some require both.
CDC gives the following information:
Travel guidance and risk assessment.
This tells you what countries are the most risky for your current travel. Level 4 is high risk. There is also a level where it’s unknown about the risk level, so it’s recommended to read this before travel.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html
List of what types of tests there are and which countries require which kind of test. This is up to date, so that’s the most reliable information. Check with your airlines, your state department and the CDC for best information on travel.
Today’s destination: La Jolla, California
My first visit to La Jolla, California was in 1977 and I had a chance to visit the beautiful beaches and ride a minibike in the hills.
It’s a northern suburb of San Diego.
One of my favorite things to do in downtown La Jolla is to watch the people. Shopping along the main streets brings all kinds of travelers, and watching them is a treat.
I would recommend take a walk along the water and see the Seals
Walk the Cove
https://lajolla.com/guides/la-jolla-cove/
If you are a good swimmer, then jump in the water and Swim to the buoy. You may even find a seal or sea lion nearby.
Stay in the La Jolla Cove Hotel
Walk through the pink La Valencia
If you are driving through and want to see some great scenery, follow the golden road up the hill from Pacific Beach to Mt. Soledad to downtown La Jolla and La Jolla Shores. Keep looking for the yellow lines on the street and you will be fine. They will be your guide.
The Scripps Pier along the ocean is beautiful for iconic photography.
Institution of Oceanography at Scripps is for science and exploration.
Visit the Aquarium and UCSD
Today’s Mistake- I needed another suitcase for the trip home
I had too much stuff. I needed an extra suitcase for the trip home, so I went to the nearby Goodwill store and bought one and saved myself. I was only going to use it one time, so I didn’t really care about the looks. I put a plastic bag in before I packed my clothes, and inspected carefully for any evidence of mold, insects or dirt. Nothing. It was a save!
Today’s Travel Advice- Noise Canceling Headphones are best
Good earbuds make a difference. Take care of your ears and your hearing and invest in better ear protection if you can. Cheap headphones and sounds that are foreign to humans are not always going to help your ears down the road. Many of us will be finding hearing challenges in the future, so protect your hearing now while you can.
Connect with Dr Travelbest
Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page