Toronto Canada Part 1
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Toronto Part 1 of 2 FAQ: Do you travel on public transport? Let’s explore one city. The FAQ for today is: How would I travel around Toronto on public transport, if needed? Here are a few facts about their public transit. Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is your central transit system—includes: Subway Streetcars (trams) Buses PRESTO Card is the smart fare card you'll want to use. It gives discounted fares for seniors (65+). Ask ChatGPT about the best travel options for you, whether it's the subway or any other mode of transportation. It will provide detailed information instantly....
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Around the World Travel Summary Part 2
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? In San Diego today. Trip Summary 2 Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, recently on a 90-day journey around the world, excited to connect with fellow travelers and share our experiences. Listener Story Spotlight Today's listener story is about 79 year old Sandi Biback who I met in Toronto and helped organize an afternoon with women from the JourneyWoman organization. She was called in to help and rose to the occasion. She is traveling to Bhutan in October and has shared several tips with me for purchasing Travel insurance. She's seasoned in...
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Around the World Travel Summary Part 1
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, coming to you from a recent trip, on a 90-day solo journey around the world. Listener Story Spotlight Alina, whom I met in Toronto and who hosted me for my final four nights, is trying to travel to Seattle this week, but she’s been affected by the Air Canada airline strike. She’s a great traveler who has visited Japan, Spain, and many European countries. She was an excellent Servas host. Look up if you want to encourage world peace with cultural exchange. Quick-fire FAQ: The FAQ for today is: What was my favorite...
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Flashback 2020 Covid travel South Dakota
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Flashback to 2020 Travel This was Covid Travel. Solo Travel. Road trip around the midwest USA. This episode is unscripted, unedited and raw. Listen to Dr Mary Travelbest tell you about her travel to some of the best places for women to travel. Badlands, Sioux Falls, and hiking in the National Parks. You will enjoy hearing about me getting poison Ivy, hiking with animals in Centennial, getting a sunburn in the hot springs and driving 5000 miles without touching anyone and being fully masked. Let me know if you listen and what you think. It's an experiment to see how this content resonates with...
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Travel Planning: Peru
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? Peru planning Hi there. I'm Dr. Mary Travelbest, returning from a recent trip to Asia. 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 Raquel from Peru. She has been a friend for 40 years and has encouraged me to travel to Lima since then. She created all the images and designs for my first published travel book in 1993. She's been a friend for swimming in...
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Travel Planning: Brazil
Dr Mary Travelbest Guide
Where in the world am I? Brazil planning Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, returning from a recent trip to Asia. 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 Juliana who is from Brazil. She was a student of mine and now she works with me. She gave me a list of all the places in Brazil that I should be going to.She and I have known each other for 3 years. She’s so beautiful...
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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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Where in the world am I? Peru planning
Hi there. I'm Dr. Mary Travelbest, returning from a recent trip to Asia. 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 Raquel from Peru.
She has been a friend for 40 years and has encouraged me to travel to Lima since then. She created all the images and designs for my first published travel book in 1993. She's been a friend for swimming in the ocean, concerts, joint baby showers, the funeral for her eldest son, and many shared life experiences. She's an awesome traveler and has a lot of advice for me.
Where am I headed? Peru
Lima Daytime: Stroll the clifftop Malecón in Miraflores for Pacific views, then relax on Playa Waikiki (the closest swimmable stretch).
Evening – Barranco bohemian district (street art, safe pedestrian areas).
Airport → MA iraflores taxi ≈ Ucosts S $20. The Etropolitano bus is cheaper but busy. Keep valuables close . Lima is generally safe but practices big‑city vigilance.
The next day, Cusco Early Sky Airline or LATAM flight (1 hr 15 min; from ~US $31 one‑way) to acclimate gradually. Light walking tour of Plaza de Armas, San Blas artisans, coca‑tea stops. Book a morning flight so you can nap on arrival.
Day 3 Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) Shared van tour Pisac market & terraces → Ollantaytambo ruins. Stay here to cut altitude (2 800 m vs Cusco 3 400 m) and be close to the train. Hostel examples: Mama Simona (~US $25 private).
Day 4 Aguas Calientes PeruRail Expedition train 07:45 or 10:32 (~1 h 40 min). Check‑in, soak in town hot springs, early bed. Expedition seats run ~US $65–75 each way.
Peru Rail
Day 5 – MACHU PICCHU DAY Cusco (late) or Aguas Calientes (optional 2nd night)
Cusco Free day: San Pedro market breakfast, Qorikancha, café break, optional half‑day Moray & Maras salt ponds tour.
Morning flight Cusco → Lima; same‑ticket connection onward to Brazil (buffer at least three hours in Lima).
Don't-Miss Beach Breaks
If you'd like another ocean fix before Brazil, dedicate half a day to a Punta Hermosa day trip (1 hr south‑bound bus/Colectivo, US $4‑5). Choose calm Playa Caballeros for swimming or Playa Norte for quieter coves; eateries serve fresh ceviche on‑the‑sand.
Machu Picchu in Detail – 1 June
Step What to do Tips & costs.
1. Tickets (book now!) Buy on tuboleto. Culture.pe—choose Circuit 2B (Classic Lower Terrace) for the iconic postcard view with moderate stairs. It costs 172 PEN ≈ US $45. Sales for 2025 opened on 19 Dec 2024; the daily cap is 5,6000, so June slots sell out early.
Peru Rail
El País
2. Train 06:10 Inca Rail or 07:45 PeruRail Expedition from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes; arrive 08:30‑09:30. Sit on the left‑hand side for Urubamba River views.
Peru Rail
3. Bus up. Buy a Consettur round‑trip ticket (US $24) at the kiosk the night before; the first buses roll at 05:30, and it's a 25-minute ride.
Ticket Machu Picchu
4. Entry window Aim for the 09:00–10:00 slot (good light, less 6 am crowd, still before midday haze). Passport + ticket & small day‑pack only.
5. Guided visit (≈ 2 h) Hire certified guide at gate (~US $15 pp shared) to explore: Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, Intihuatana, Three Windows.
6. Optional short hike Huchuy Picchu add‑on (easy 1 km, 30‑40 min, extra 48 PEN) – great summit photo without the steep drop of Huayna Picchu.
Ticket Machu Picchu
7. Lunch & return Picnic outside gate (no food inside), stamp passport, bus down, 16:20 train back to Cusco (arr. 20:30) or stay 1 more night at Aguas Calientes if you prefer a slower pace.
Packing checklist: passport, printed tickets, layers (cool mornings/hot sun), rain shell, 1 L refillable bottle (no disposables), DEET, sunblock, walking poles with rubber tips, cash for snacks & toilets (2 soles).
Altitude & health: Machu Picchu sits at 2 430 m—easier than Cusco, but you'll feel stairs. Hydrate, avoid alcohol the evening prior, and ask your doctor about acetazolamide if you've struggled with altitude before.
Budget Snapshot (USD per person)
Item Low Notes
Lima hostel (2 nts) 2 × $20 – $40 Pariwana or Selina Miraflores (female‑only dorm vs private).
LI‑CU round‑trip flights $70 – $120 Book early; Sky basic fare includes 8 kg carry‑on only.
Cusco/Ollanta/Aguas stays (5 nts) 5 × $18 – $35 Mix of hostels & guest‑houses with private bath options.
Trains (round‑trip) $130 – $150 Expedition or IncaRail Voyager class.
Machu Picchu entry and bus: $45 ticket + $24 bus + $15 guide. Add $13 for Huchuy Picchu.
Food & local transport $25/day × 7 ≈ $175 Menu del día lunches ~$4–6; airport shuttles, colectivos.
Approx. Total $600–$750. It leaves room for souvenirs or a Paracas day trip.
Safe & Comfortable Stays
City Budget‑friendly, mature‑traveler‑approved Approx. price (private, en‑suite)
Lima Ibis Budget Miraflores (hotel), Wasi Barranco (B&B) $40–60
Cusco Niños Hotel (supports local kids), Tierra Viva Cusco Saphi $38–55
Ollantaytambo El Albergue (historic hostel‑hotel blend) $65 (splurge), dorms $25
Aguas Calientes Supertramp Eco‑Hostel (quiet female dorm), Terrazas del Inca $22–50
Quick Tips for a Smooth Trip
Book everything online in advance, including flights, trains, Machu Picchu tickets, and buses, to beat lines and lock in cheaper fares.
Cash is still king in small villages—carry small sol notes; ATMs are plentiful in Lima & Cusco.
Stay seaside savvy: Lima's Pacific is cold (wetsuits for surfers). Swim only on signed "safe" sections and watch rip currents. Lifeguards patrol Punta Hermosa in peak daylight hours.
Solo safety basics: use registered taxis (Taxi Beat or Cabify apps), avoid isolated beach areas at night, and keep photocopies of your passport in separate bags.
Enjoy Peru's vibrant coast, Andean culture, and the wonder of Machu Picchu
If you like today's Confidence Challenge, Chapter 3 of my book dives deeper
https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com
My brother says, "Never run in an airport," and that's excellent advice.
My sister says, when you get to a new place, tell yourself it's the "first" time you will visit, but not the last.
If you are looking for more solo female resources, you can find several tips and ways to navigate the pitfalls with Rick Steves and Lonely Planet travel guides.
The takeaway mantra is to see where the world takes you.
You can travel solo and never be alone. Dr. Travelbest.