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...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 Special Edition is on AARP Travel
Today’s Mistake- Being frazzled in the airport
Travel Advice: Room service is overrated.
FAQ: Karen asks: Is there an age requirement for AARP?
Answer: What is AARP's Membership Age? While AARP is dedicated to people over 50, there is no minimum age to join. People of all ages can get an AARP membership for as low as $12 per year with auto-renewal. Anyone can become an AARP member and gain access to hundreds of discounts, programs and resources.
My brother joined when he was 40. You can join at any age. They have a promo now if you purchase 5 years of membership. That sounds like a good offer if you plan on being a traveler soon.
Today’s Special Edition is on AARP Travel
I’ve been an AARP member, which stands for American Association of Retired Persons.
I’m on their mailing lists and get a lot of travel information from them. Some years I join and others I don’t.
They make travel a worry-free experience with partners who are tested.
I recently got a magazine from one of their vendors, Grand European Travel, or GET tours. This vendor has tours in every continent with discounts if you book early for summer travel. I like to look at these brochures and dream about travel, and the places that I will go. Good photography is their high standard. They also claim to be eco-friendly. Each of these tours is with a trained guide.
AARP doesn't protect Social Security and Medicare. It prevents any serious discussion of meaningfully reforming these programs, which are in great danger of becoming insolvent. AARP, with its nearly 38 million members, is one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington. AARP members can receive discounts at Walgreens, RiteAid, Kohl's, Goodwill, UPS, and TJ Maxx..The AARP is a massive organization that boasts around 38 million members in the United States. Because of its stature, AARP has the ability to partner with big companies and give their members all of their discounts, benefits, resources, advice, and other things.
You can get discounts for restaurants like McCormick & Schmick’s, Claim Jumper, Outback Steakhouse, Denny’s, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and many more. You can also get discounts on entertainment options like Regal movie tickets, Ticketmaster, and Ancestry.
There are financial benefits that come with investing in an AARP membership that can be effective in helping you deal with your money and retirement. Some of the benefits you can receive from having an AARP membership include money management links and worksheet and Social Security benefits calculator. This calculator helps individuals to determine when they can expect to start receiving Social Security benefits.The AARP also provides identity theft protection services, which is very important.
Today’s Mistake-Being frazzled in the airport
I was hot, tired and hungry in an airport recently. I wanted to purchase a water bottle. It was $5 bucks. I can’t drink water in Mexico unless it’s been treated or I will get sick. I was thinking about that as I packed up my wallet to leave. But I almost left the water behind on the counter. That’s careless behavior. The cashier called after me, “you forgot your water.” Of course I thanked her. That was kind.
Today’s Travel Advice- Room service is overrated.
Instead of ordering room service, many hotels let you order food from around town. Hyatt has a pilot program for snack delivery with GoPuff app to deliver prepackaged and hot mails to rooms in certain of their properties. So far it’s going well, they say. See the show notes for the link. Thousands of items delivered fast for as little as $3 fee. Think about ice cream, cookies or yogurt delivery.
Today I want to bring meaning to your travel. Send me your travel tip. You can send it to my website, Facebook page, group, or Instagram. You can send to my Twitter, blog, and maybe you’ll see your tips in Dr Travelbest’s Travel Independent Spectrum.
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