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_outlineIn this episode: FAQ is: Are cruises safe from covid or not?
Today’s Destination is Long Island, New York
Today’s Mistake- Sailing on a Catamaran
Travel Advice: Use your airline points now or risk losing them
FAQ is: Are cruises safe from covid or not?
Answer: The CDC has lifted the restrictions, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. The reporting of additional outbreaks is still happening. Don’t let that keep you from your cruise. Check the color status of your ship before you embark. Show notes have links to some helpful tips on staying safe.
Follow the requirements before boarding which include vaccinations and testing protocol. These are all subject to change.
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2022/03/30/1089748769/cdc-cruise-travel-covid
Today’s Long Island, New York
I was raised on Long Island, New York and I had an accent back then. I’ve worked hard to lose it, but it comes back when I visit. I also say funny words, like Orange and Florida.
What’s it like on Long Island? It’s a step one or two destination. Here are some things you may know and may not know about it.
It’s the longest and the largest island in the contiguous United States, Long Island extends 118 miles (190 km) eastward from New York Harbor to Montauk Point.
Long Island is densely populated with 8 million people in all. Along its Atlantic coast are Jones Beach State Park, Fire Island and Montauk Point State Park, at the end of the fork.
As kids, my parents took us to these places often. My mom told a story about almost drowning in the ocean there, but all went fine.
Long Island is home to the late-1700s era Montauk Lighthouse. On the east end, the North Fork is home to wineries and the East, South, and West Hamptons, characterized by upscale homes, trendy restaurants and antiques shops. When I grew up there, I never knew it was trendy.
https://www.discoverlongisland.com/
On Long Island there are Kings or Brooklyn and Queens, plus Nassau and Suffolk counties, split into two forks. North and South Fork.
There are wineries, farm stands, theaters, country clubs and well known beaches like Jones Beach, Robert Moses and more.
Plan a day trip. Choose one central location. Then plan activities around it. See what you can and come back again.
Today’s Mistake- Sailing on a Catamaran
I rented a sailboat, a catamaran on Mission Bay for an afternoon. I thought I was a good sailor at the time. I had finished a sailing safety course and knew a lot of the theory. But in practice, I was lousy. I invited my friends to join me on the boat and I tipped it over and could not get it back up again. That was a disaster. Don’t do what I did with a sailboat. Know your sailing and winds before you go.
Today’s Travel Advice- Use your airline and hotel miles now
If you have travel points or miles on an airline, use them up. I believe that soon we will see these rewards change to a new type of value, called tokens. The token economy is heading our way, and loyalty will look much different. Donate miles to a charity if you can. Give them to your children and grandchildren now, while they still have some benefit. They are not “your” owned items, as they belong to the carrier. They have the right to change the rules anytime, with you missing out.
If you notice the long legal disclaimers on these programs give all rights to them, and there are no rights to members.
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