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...
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In this episode: FAQ is: What is the best phone to get for a traveler? I’m not sure which will suit me for the price and the needs?
Today’s Destination is: Normandy, France
Today’s Mistake- Bringing too many heavy books
Travel Advice: Don’t eat the airport food if possible
FAQ: What is the best phone to get for a traveler? I’m not sure which will suit me for the price and the needs?
Answer:
I’ve owned nearly every kind of phone over the years. Samsung, HTC, Apple and others. They all have advantages and some disadvantages. Your carrier (like T-Mobile, Verizon or other) may have an offer for you to purchase or upgrade your current device. That’s the first place to check.
Many carriers now offer unlimited global phone calling, with some restrictions. You may switch carriers and get a free phone, too. Consider your options. A low cost alternative may cost you more in the long run. travelers should consider a second phone when they are in a Step 5 foreign country, so you don’t mix pleasure with your work. Burner phones are cheap and convenient if you need one.
Today’s destination: Normandy, France
Unless you have a car, the D-Day beaches in Northern France are best to be seen from a tour from a nearby town such as Bayeax. There are public buses, but they don’t run on Sundays. From Bayeax (pronounced Bai-oo), I took a taxi to Omaha Beach and the American cemetery in the summer. I also stayed in an airbnb in Caen. The trains there were easy to navigate. The city of “KAH” spelled C a e n is modern and commercialized. The Caen Memorial is a good place to see WW2 D Day history from the French perspective without going to the beaches. In town you will see the ruins of the chateau, which was William the Conqueror’s fortress, built in 1060 and restored. The Memorial was a must see for many visitors to the Normandy region. You may like to mix with locals at the flea market that I found in town, so check it out. Omaha Beach is where you will find the Monument to the Normandy Landings, and the Memorial d’Omaha Beach. It looks like a shed, big tanks and photography from the war. The outdoor hilltop at Omaha Beach, and yes, it is a beach, has the American Cemetery and Memorial. It is a stunning reminder of the price paid in human lives only decades ago.
Omaha Beach is a breathtaking experience.
The cemetery is huge and filled with dead soldiers.
This part of France belongs to the USA
If you have time and interest, you may also want to see Utah Beach and Gold Beach, plus Juno Beach, all along the English Channel. Another part of Normandy you may see is Mont-St Michel, a tidal island and commune. I did not get to visit and I want to arrive at high tide, when the water races across the sand. I hope to see that spectacular abbey on my next visit to Normandy.
The D-Day military invasion that helped to end World War II was one the most ambitious and consequential military campaigns in human history. In its strategy and scope—and its enormous stakes for the future of the free world—historians regard it among the greatest military achievements ever.
Today’s Mistake- Bringing too many heavy books
Today’s Travel Advice-Skip the airport food if possible.
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