Best of Mexico (From the Archives)
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
This podcast series helped launch the now famous book series, Five Steps to Solo Travel. Now you are able to listen to one of the eariest versions of the show, and it's still relevant today. This episode takes you to Baja, Mexico. You will learn to drive to Ensenada, the Valle de Guadalupe and other destinations. Find your confidence through the FAQ's and also my mistakes and errors, so you won't make the same ones. This is snackable, without any filters, just a great listen for you now. Follow Dr. Travelbest here on your favorite channel, on TikTok, on IG and FB. We have an...
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Quito, Ecuador and packing for South America
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
FAQ:” Let’s quickly address how to pack for South America. If you are in the winter, it's summer, so you don’t need many clothes; pack light. I only took a personal item, but I had to wash it often, and I had only one pair of sneakers. No laptop. It helped me travel quickly and efficiently on planes, trains, and buses. In their winter, our summer, you should have many layers and a raincoat. I was able to buy what I needed or forgot while I was there, and the dollar was strong. On my first trip to South America, about 30 years ago, I went skiing in Chile, and I had to bring...
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Niagara Falls, Canada
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
This is Dr. Mary Travelbest, and we'll be talking about Niagara Falls, Canada. See Book A for guidance on saving money on airline tickets and more. Destination Deep‑Dive Today’s destination is: “A Day at Niagara Falls – Solo, Soaked & Spectacular” Today, we're diving into the thundering wonder that is Niagara Falls, from a solo female traveler’s lens — and yes, I got a little wet. On the Road to the Falls I took the FlixBus from Toronto to Niagara Falls. The ride is scenic and comfortable, even with a bit of drama—my Toronto Metro train broke down this morning. I had to get...
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Best of Dr. Mary Travelbest - Dr. Travelbest History plus solo vs group travel
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
This episode aired in 2022, so if you missed it, find out more about the origins of the Dr. Mary Travelbest story. We are now on episode 350 and counting, so let us hear from you. @drmarytravelbest Give a gift of solo travel to a loved one. Find out more.... Thanks for Connecting further with Dr. Travelbest
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Lima Peru and airport luxury lounges
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
This is Dr. Mary Travelbest. I help you travel. The 60-second confidence challenge is on getting access to the airport lounges. It will take some experience, but it’s worth it. Check the fine print, too. If you like today’s Confidence Challenge, my book series dives deeper into best practices while traveling solo—link in description.” See Book A for addressing this challenge. Find it on the website at or on Amazon. It’s a several-part series. Today’s special destination is Lima, Peru. Hello, solo travelers—especially my sisters 50 and up. Today I’m...
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Cartagena, Colombia and safety in South America
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Cartagena, Colombia. Today, we're heading to Cartagena, Colombia —a vibrant and touristy Caribbean city bursting with color, music, and history. It's one of the most popular destinations on South America's northern coast — and I'll share my experiences and a few lessons learned for solo travelers like you. Get ready to immerse yourself in a culture that's as lively as it is rich. Let's start with the setting. Cartagena's Walled City — La Ciudad Amurallada — is the heart of it all. I recommend exploring early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and the heat. You...
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Lincoln Square, Chicago, using AI on the road and staying healthy tips
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Lincoln Square, Chicago. The FAQ is about using AI while traveling. How do I get the best responses to my prompts when I have a question? Is there a platform you recommend? There are thousands of platforms, and new ones are popping up every day. For travelers seeking the most current answers to their travel questions, you are in luck. You can navigate the territory solo better today than ever because you can ask the right questions. Practice is the best way to use them. 60-second confidence challenge If you like today’s...
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Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? In San Diego today, talking about Cape Breton, Canada . Hi there. I'm Dr. Mary Travelbest, world traveler, professor, marketing expert, and all-around fun person. And I'm excited to connect with fellow travelers and share our experiences. Quick-fire FAQ: Your mom, grandmother, or even your daughter told you to be careful when traveling solo. But did they ever do it? You are on your way. The question I get asked is: What should I tell someone who discourages me from traveling? Answer: You can turn it around and ask for specific information...
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Machu Picchu, Peru including lessons learned about Step 5 travel
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Machu Picchu Are there any tips to help me avoid being cheated or robbed while traveling? Yes, you can take precautions like removing your expensive jewelry before traveling and not carrying expensive purses or shoes. Don't look like a target. Look like you belong, and try not to stand out from the usual crowd. Check reviews of any Airbnb or turo car rentals you book. Be careful not to walk alone in the dark at night, as much as possible. Think of the odds whenever you go out. Please put them in your favor, not a criminal. If you like...
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Medellin Colombia Part 2
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Medellin, Colombia.Part 2 Welcome to Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide Quick-Fire FAQ: Drying Out Wet Clothing. How do you do that on the road? How do you dry your wet belongings while traveling, especially when you're solo? Especially in a humid area, it’s hard to get things dry. When you solo travel, you have more control over your time constraints, so plan to let things dry. When it’s damp, the best way to dry your clothes is by maximizing water removal before drying. Try the towel roll trick. First, lay the clothes flat on a towel, roll them up, and twist to ring out...
info_outlineWelcome to my shownotes for the History of Dr. Travelbest episode. In this episode: The FAQ is FAQ: People ask me, what qualifies as independent or solo travel?
Today’s Special episode: History of Dr Travelbest
Today’s Mistake- traveling with a baby crying
Travel Advice- Unplug
FAQ: People ask me, what qualifies as independent/ solo travel vs a tour group?
Answer: Even if one day of your travel is on your own, without a guide to show you all of the sights, you are now independent. If you are alone, that is solo travel. You are never really alone, though, right?
Let’s say you go on a cruise by yourself, and maybe even get paired up with a roommate. Are you still independent? Yes, because you are not on a “tour” . Are you going on a cruise excursion? That is likely a tour.
On a cruise, my ship stopped in Acapulco. I hired a driver for the day and that was independent travel, because I had the control of where I wanted the driver to take me.
Special episode: History of Dr Travelbest
Doctor Travelbest was founded in 1993/4 while I was starting my company, Sun Marketing. The name was an alias, because my name had nothing to do with travel, and I had not worked in the travel industry. My first book was founded with the idea of helping women travel independently, since I had been to every continent by myself or with a friend. except Antarctica. Nearly 30 years later, 5 Steps to solo travel, a series for women to travel in their Prime, has been launched with a part A and soon Part B and maybe more. Hundreds of thousands of women have discovered Dr. Travelbest and a billion miles has been traveled since the start. The stories and the lessons are authentic. No one has paid me to write about any of these companies or destinations. I currently teach marketing classes at Point Loma Nazarene University and consult with clients as part of my service to the community. I have a doctorate in Marketing, in Business, not in a medical field.
What kind of a traveler are you, Dr Mary?
When given the choice between solo, Independent, or tour travel I will choose Solo or independent depending on if I had somebody to go with or not. Tour travel works for places that can't be accessed without a guide. There's a place for that role in my travels, too.
My most recent trip was a train travel trip up the coast of California and back in a few days. I traveled light, carrying only two small backpacks, and healing from a broken wrist. I really enjoyed that trip because I didn't have to drive and I could relax and enjoy the company on the train. I met a few people who were really nice, including the conductors. I've even reached out to them afterwards to make a lasting impression.
In my first book, there was an appendix that gave types of travel to types of locations. Test yourself to find out what kind of a traveler you are. It’s easy and quick. My profile turned up “adventure travel”. What’s yours?
Once you know what kind of travel you aspire to, consider the options of where you want to go, not who you want to go with. What is the best season for YOU? What is your schedule looking like? Consider the costs, and the costs of staying home, too. For some of you, the cost to stay home is more than you think.
My friend Cindy and her husband Mike traveled independently for more than a year. They both retired and rented their home to a friend while they traveled the world. They researched and set some plans, and the rest of the planning was done from abroad. In today’s world, this kind of trip is not only possible, it’s doable. Another couple, Jim and Marlene moved to Panama in 2017. They are finding that they can live very comfortably in Central America, visit the grandkids here in the USA when they want, and not have to work the jobs that they had before. Talk about changing careers, he’s become a musician, instead of a businessman.
Lessons learned: traveling with a baby crying
As I write this, I’m listening to a crying baby on the plane across the country. The parents are trying to satisfy the child, but they are doing a terrible job. Is there something that can be done? I’ve been in this position before with a crying child, but I don’t think it went on for this long. This has been for more than an hour in all. If this is you, please take your baby for a walk down the aisle. That worked for my kids. Maybe the kids are overtired and overstimulated. They need to settle down and relax.
Tips: Unplug
Unplug yourself from the many creature comforts and technology that we have at our fingertips. Spend your time and money wisely and buy something that no one can ever take from you, memories. I don’t necessarily think that you should jump out of a plane like George Bush did two times. But you can experience a lot while in an airplane, in an airport, and on a train, as well as in the car driving to our wonderful National Parks, for example.
I want to bring meaning to your travels. Send a question or travel tip to info@drmarytravelbest.com. We can connect on my website, Facebook page, group, or Instagram. Subscribe to YouTube, Twitter, or other social channels. Find the 5 Steps to Solo Travel book series on Amazon. The show notes have more details for you to connect.
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email: info@drmarytravelbest.com