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: Need services for handicapped? Where can you go for information?
Today’s Destination is: Monarch Dunes and Paso Robles Wineries, CA
Today’s Mistake- Trusting the first person you ask for directions
Travel Advice: Visit your local zoo or park and get some outdoor fun.
FAQ: Need services for handicapped? Where can you go for information?
Answer: We talk about ability-travel here often, so listen if you want to know more.
I have a friend named Kathryn who is traveling the world now, when she can, and doesn’t let her handicaps keep her from going. She works full time as a teacher, and travels weekends and holidays. She went on a summer trip to Australia and New Zealand and we spoke while she was there.
She says there are plenty of services available to those with a lack of ability, and to seek help when you need it. The best advice is to try to stick to a morning routine, as much as possible.
Here’s a few companies that specialize in travel for those situations.
Arrange Accessible accommodations by contacting your hotel and requesting a special room.
Arrange assistance while flying and try to get special accommodations.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures
Make sure travel insurance includes medical, because medical is not covered by most plans when you are out of the country.
Enroll in the Smart Travelers enrollment Program (STEP)
Here’s a few companies that specialize in travel for those situations.
Mobile International USA
Curb Free with Cory Lee
Flying Wheels Travel
Accessible Journeys
Open Doors Organization helps people with travel challenges.
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/tour-companies-dedicated-to-travelers-with-disabilities
Today’s destination: Monarch Dunes and Paso Robles Wineries, CA
Monarch is a butterfly that was well-known in this farming area of Nipomo, CA. and inspired a development of 1200 homes surrounded by beautiful beaches and farming agriculture.
Many people travel to Nipomo for the golf experience. There’s a community of homes, built by Shea Homes that could double for a land-based cruise ship, except it’s not. It’s a community that pops out of nowhere of single family homes. The activities are resort-like and the atmosphere is healthy-looking adults in their 60’s and 70’s. These baby boomers are living large and have their desserts. Many drive Tesla’s. Many have 3 car garages. Some are on the golf course and others on the vineyard, facing the ocean. The breeze is nice here, but the blowing sand gets old fast. There is a ton of sand to sweep. The clubhouse has a pool and spa, plus there’s a shed for throwing pottery and Bocce Ball courts by the pickleball courts. It’s open to the public.
You’ll also find some great wine tasting in Paso Robles. less than an hour from Nipomo. The region got its reputation of being a wine destination in the 1960’s, starting with the soil scientist from San Luis Obisbo, and Jack Niven was the soil and fruit expert known in this region.
https://www.goldmedalwineclub.com/winery/niven-family-wine-estates-san-luis-obispo-county
In Paso Robles it is known by winemakers that the same fruit can taste different even when grown as little as 2 miles away. Patience is key in wine growing here as well as in other wine regions.
I visited this July 4 weekend 2022 and stayed in the resort-like area with friends. They played pickleball. And I went to the swimming pool and spa. We planned wine tasting and other cultural adventures. One of those was at the Baileyana winery, on a warm July afternoon, looking over the vineyards from a tent outside in the parking area, surrounded by grassy areas and a building that held the wines. We had a couple of hours tasting and eating our picnic lunch. We arranged this ahead of time and it was easy to find the location and parking.
Our wine expert was Martha, who attended UCSB and has been here for nearly ten years. Baileyana is owned by the Wine Exchange now, who also own Bread Butter in Napa and Chronic in Paso Robles.
Do visit a winery and tour a vineyard. Bring a picnic lunch and buy a bottle at the winery.
Don’t forget to make a reservation. Golfing, wine tasting or a meal. You may need to reserve in advance, so plan ahead if you can.
Today’s Mistake- Trusting the first person you ask for directions
I get lost a lot. I ask for directions most of the time. This week, I got lost in a casino. I was unable to find where I was going. I found an employee and asked for help. They sent me in the wrong direction, so I got lost again. The next person gave the right directions, and I found my way to my destination. Don’t always trust the directions until you find it’s correct.
Today’s Travel Advice-Visit your local zoo or park and get some outdoors fun.
Get outdoors. Leave the devices behind and spend time with the animals, tree life and make a friend. What is your favorite Zoo? My favorite is the World Famous San Diego Zoo. They are now part of the Wildlife Alliance.