Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
In this episode, the FAQ is: How can I take a walking tour when I arrive in a city? . Today’s Destination is: Chattanooga, Tennessee Today’s Misstep- Getting stopped by TSA security Travel Advice: Plan for the unexpected FAQ: How can I get the walking tour when I get to a city? Response: A guided walking tour of a city is a treat for a solo traveler, especially for a woman who is interested in its history. The more popular ones are through platforms like Viator, TripAdvisor, Airbnb, and FreeWalkingtoursbylocals.com, but there are many ways to score a tour...
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Estes Park, Colorado
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
In this episode, FAQ is: What are etias visas, and when are they required? Today’s Destination is: Estes Park, Colorado Today’s Mistake- I am not a foodie, but I love learning about new foods. I need to be braver. Travel Advice: check your loyalty points and miles frequently for errors FAQ: What are etias documents and when are they required? Let’s make it simple: it’s not a visa. It’s a visa waiver. Starting in 2025, the ETIAS will be required for Americans traveling to Europe. US citizens can travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a visa. From 2025 on,...
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Akureyri and Northern Iceland
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Today’s Destination is: Akureyri and Northern Iceland Today’s Misstep- My hostel was self-service, and someone was in my bed. Travel Advice: Be on time if you are on a tour. FAQ: How do I navigate the city bus system when I don’t speak the language? Response: I traveled around the world for 90 days, and most of the time, I did not speak the language of that country. I had some challenges riding the bus in some cities; for example, Reykjavik, Iceland, was a minor disaster. You can use travel apps like Rome to Rio for bus or train travel guidance. You'll be able to get to the...
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Louisville, and the Kentucky Derby
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
FAQ: How do I make small talk when you are on the road with a stranger? Destination: Louisville, Ky Today’s Mistake-Getting lost in Louisville Travel Advice: Pack half your suitcase with giveaways and gifts. FAQ: How do I make small talk with a stranger when you are on the road? Start small with a question or comment about the weather, date, location, or event you are both at or have just attended. Do they seem to have something in common with you? You can gently ask how they are doing today. Today’s destination: Louisville, KY Derby is on the...
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"Solo Journeys in India: Navigating the Transport Tapestry via tuk-tuks, trains and planes….”
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
"Solo Journeys in India: Navigating the Transport Tapestry via tuk-tuks, trains and planes….” Welcome to Dr. Mary Travelbest’s 5 Steps to Solo Travel Guide for women like you who need extra support traveling the world (slowly), one woman at a time. Please rate this podcast and the Amazon book series, especially Part B on Destinations! I’ve been traveling solo since 1972 and writing about it since 1993. Now you can experience the Top Selling Book Series: 5 Steps to Solo Travel, a Woman’s Guide to Travel and Destinations in Her Prime, found on Amazon. I recently...
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"Table for One: Dining Tips and Tricks for Solo Female Travelers"
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
"Savoring Solitude: Women's Guide to Eating Out Alone While Traveling" "Table for One: Dining Tips and Tricks for Solo Female Travelers" You have three meals a day, and you are solo. What do you do to enjoy these meals by yourself? You can have some great times if you follow these tips, or maybe you can add more tips for other travelers. Eating out alone can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for solo travelers, including women aged 60 and above. Here are some tips to make dining alone more comfortable and enjoyable: Choose the Right Restaurant: Choose restaurants...
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San Francisco Airport "Wings and Wanderlust"
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
In this episode: FAQ: What questions should you ask someone you know who traveled somewhere you like? Destination: San Francisco Airport "Wings and Wanderlust: Solo Female Traveler's Guide to SFO" Today’s Mistake- I left my phone on the airline counter at the SFO airport. Travel Advice: Relax in the Airport Yoga Room, if in SFO anyway…. FAQ: What questions should you ask someone you know who traveled somewhere you like? Answers 1 or 2 1. Ask the right questions if you want to get good responses to your questions about others' travels. Instead of “How was...
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Osaka Japan
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
In this episode: FAQ: What do you do when a significant change in weather interrupts your travel? Destination: Osaka, Japan Today’s Mistake- My global entry card has my name wrong. Travel Advice: Use AI when planning your next trip FAQ: A Facebook group member asked us, “What do you do when a significant change in weather interrupts your travel?” Answer: Unexpected weather changes are not uncommon, but they can still pose a challenge when traveling, especially when solo. If I were faced with a sudden shift from sunny and warm to rainy and cold weather while on a trip, I...
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National Park Service and Foundation
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Today’s Mistake- I was a stunt woman at Universal Studios and ended up in the hospital. Travel Advice: Always pack a bathing suit. Today’s destination: National Park Foundation and Service I support the National Park Service in the USA by purchasing a yearly wall calendar. The images are beautiful. I also have a Senior Pass, which you can get for your lifetime, starting at age 62. Buy it at any park or online. Don’t lose it. It’s worth a lot for your traveling. Membership has its perks! That includes free admission. Have you been to Yosemite? Yellowstone? Are...
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Best of Cairns Australia
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
info_outlineThis book just ranked in the top 4 of solo travel. Thank you. Please leave a review on Amazon for others to know how you liked this book and podcast! I would be so grateful to you! In this episode: FAQ is: Amy asked: How can I create my trip? Today’s Destination is Guangzhou, China
Today’s Mistake- Losing my sense of direction
Travel Advice: Keep your lip balm handy.
FAQ : Amy asked: How can I create my trip?
Answer: How to create YOUR own trip is what you want to be.
Start with writing out what you want to do. Put it on paper and you will see it, imagine it and then start beginning.
Get a map and start looking for the destinations and things that get you excited.
Talk to some friends who have been there and get some ideas on when the best time to travel would be for you. Then make plans, flights, sleeping arrangements, and transportation options.
Today’s episode destination is: Guangzhou, China
This is located in southern China, not too far from Hong Kong.
I spent a week in this city of 15 million people, which used to be called Canton, like the language of southern China, Cantonese. It is a bustling and busy industrial city for the most part. It was so modern, even more so than cities I know well. Most of my time was spent at the university, teaching. I was a guest lecturer at Sun Yat Sen University. It’s Ranked 159 worldwide among universities.
23,000 graduate studentsTotal enrollment: 85,100 (2011)
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/sun-yat-sen-university
Sun Yat-sen University, also known as Zhongshan University, is a public research university located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. It was founded in 1924 by and named after Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary and the founder of the Republic of China. Wikipedia
Guangzhou has a maritime heritage stretching back over 2,000 years and its vast port is China's main transport and trading hub. It was also one of the starting points of the old Silk Road, a trading route that stretched across Asia.
Want to know more about Guangzhou? Here’s a few attractions I found by searching the city information. It’s on the Pearl River and has architecture such as Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House, known as the “double pebble”; a carved box-shaped Guangdong Museum; and the iconic Canton TV Tower skyscraper, resembling a thin hourglass. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a temple complex from 1894, also houses the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum.
How did I get around the city by myself? Bus, train and subway. And I did a lot of walking. The subways were easy to follow and brought me around the city quickly.. I explored the city, got a hotel room and afterwards, I took a high speed train to Shanghai, which is an even larger city in the north of China. Seeing China by train is such an experience and you may love it too. I was able to really get to know the changes that were taking place in the countryside as well as in the larger cities with this kind of travel.
Mistakes-Losing my sense of direction
One of the things that I am terrible at is my sense of spatial direction. I wish it was different, but reality is true. I need to retrace my steps, my directions and I get lost a lot. One of the best things is my mobile app for directions.
Get the cure for a bad sense of direction. Don’t be like me.
Travel Advice- Keep your lip balm handy.
Many of us get dry lips and the best remedy is a stick that gives comfort, such as chapstick, Carmex, or other relief from chapped lips. Always apply balm before topping with gloss. The color from the gloss will adhere better to the balm’s waxy texture.
gloss can dry out and that dries out lips. Apply balm before gloss. Get some hydration and color is better.
I want to bring meaning to your travels. 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 5 Steps to Solo Travel.
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