What does your first pandemic vacation feel like? I just took 5 days off and traveled to a new location, stayed at a hotel, ate in restaurants, played golf, walked in parks and on a beach. I was able to chat with others at a distance or behind a mask and by Day 2 it all came together: We can do this and enjoy it.
We have time right now for insights into The Women’s Travel Group travel psyche. Do we have travel worries? Or travel addictions?
Do we really miss travel?
Do we really need travel?
Why do we miss travel despite what we don’t miss about travel?
Five things we really miss
We miss the anticipation of a trip: thinking about our first sighting of the domes of Florence (VisitFlorence.com Source), from the air or the crooked cobbled streets of a Moroccan souk.
Airplane rules? I was on an AA flight coming home from our Tuscan Cooking Trip– coach of course- and the meal choices were red sauce spaghetti or chicken with red sauce spaghetti. Well I am not allowed to eat tomato sauce, so was totally out of luck for a 7 hour flight. (Forgot to say, the snack was pizza with tomato sauce.) As I was traveling solo, had no one to complain to. Complaining is always a catharsis even when hungry. …
Shocking reasons women travel. To get away from routine or boredom. Many women travel to reaffirm independence. Many women travel to learn. Even more travel to avoid loneliness.
Who doesn’t like to get away from routine and miserable weather? Going South in winter is a welcome break. However, that women travel break can also include going to a beach alone with no one to hold your wallet. It can include trying to enjoy dinner amongst talkative families. My first trip to Ixtapan Spa in Mexico was alone (admittedly at the invitation of the owner.)…
Please share with friends who are widows who wish to travel. Vacations for widows?
Being quarantined has made loneliness worse. This blog post was originally sent out only about taking a first trip alone. It is revised to reflect what we are going through during the pandemic: March-May 2020. Vacations for widows are even more intimidating now.
Let me start by saying these thoughts come from talking to you out there and from my friends.
Planning a trip as a solo is a different exercise.…
A note about Jewish Travel. Visiting religious sites when you travel makes a difference in understanding history. Today is Passover, and The NY Times tells us that a Passover Service was held 5th century BC on Elephantine Island in the Nile, Egypt.
The Women’s Travel Group is multi-ethnic; however when we find a unique historical site of any religion we share it and try to add it to our trips. For those going to Greece with us end September, we contacted the Jewish Community for a Yom Kippur service.…
Learn more on a Women’s Travel Group cooking trip.
Ways to Make A Meal British at Home until The Women’s Travel Group and you are back on the road on a Britain tour. The time will come sooner than you think!
Food tastes better in Europe despite the fact that ingredients can be less plentiful than in the US. Europeans substitute expertly and we are learning to do the same, rather than risk going to the supermarket. The Women’s Travel Group is sharing a way to bring one hearty London dish to your family before you take our Britain tour.…
Video creation is new to most of us. In this post, Phyllis Stoller shares some treasures she brought back from The Women’s Travel Group trips. We are used to our phone cameras; but not to our video production. While at home and isolated, why not learn the art of video making. I am going to walk around my living room as a trial and talk about a few of the souvenirs brought home.
Here are some Do Not’s on Planes in Cold Weather. We suggest more comfort on planes in cold weather.
1–Do not sit next to the airplane window, unless you are wearing heavy socks. And if a long flight, consider compression socks.
2–Do not overdress, but layer with room in your carry on for the second layer you will take off (too easy to forget!) Note: you are more likely to lose clothing you take off if it is dark. Lighter and brighter items will show up on the seat or floor near your seat.…
Packing and Shopping Excessively. Sure it feels good to have new travel clothes. Shopping tinge is a prelude to travel excitement. We say: avoid these splurges! New shoes are dangerous as you have not tested them on tired or swollen feet. New clothes take up the attention you should give to important documents and money.…
