By Phyllis Stoller, NABBW’s Group Travel Associate For us Boomers, the time to travel is now. We can leave the United States and travel much of the world without anxiety. The Euro is close to $1 and the UK Pound, Mexican Peso, etc are very low; travel costs are way down to compensate for airfares which are up. Why should we feel safe now? Below I answer with facts and my personal feelings: Most of Europe is more vaccinated than we Americans are. Portugal is the outstanding example with 98% fully vaccinated.  Much of Europe has socialized medicine. What does that mean for Covid safety?... Read More

By Phyllis Stoller, NABBW’s Group Travel Associate You might be safer overseas than in the US or Canada. I just returned from 3 trips: one to Paris, one to Tuscany and London and an October one to Dubai/Abu Dhabi and Oman. Here is what I witnessed and what made me relax about Covid. And I am ready to take more groups to Europe beginning in May and to Mexico in a few weeks. Overseas masking is mandatory. In airports, on flights and in most places you as a tourist will visit.  Masking on a flight also means you no longer catch the cold of the guy in row whatever. Nor do you get snored... Read More

By Phyllis Stoller, NABBW’s Group Travel Associate Several weeks ago, I took connecting flights. On the first intra-Europe, the door to the pilot’s cockpit was open. At the second check in, I was grilled about why I was traveling, who I worked for, how long, what was the job description and more. So which airline was safer? Stats are that they both were! Here are a few items to investigate: Charters? ~ NO Most insurance companies will not cover you on either a charter or private plane. Code Shares: ~ YES  Code sharing airlines with US carriers are vetted by the FAA and the US... Read More

By Phyllis Stoller, NABBW’s Associate for Group Travel A few tips for traveling when you are older but not less adventurous. Summer brings crowds in airports and on the plane. Here are a few tips designed to help Seniors to survive the Summer crush: Bring some food for airport hunger. Some of the larger airports- Atlanta comes to mind, have much less food available than passengers who are hungry. Others are so large- Dallas for instance, that you might use up your available time just finding the gate. Alas water can only be purchased in the secure areas of airports but more stores sell... Read More

Smart Packing Tips for a Comfortable Multi-Weather Trip By Phyllis Stoller NABBW’s Group Travel Associate As airlines cut back on flights, travelers can expect to change planes somewhere en route. That somewhere might be a cold winter city while the ultimate destination is a summery Caribbean island. Examples of these combinations currently on The Women’s Travel Group Calendar are: India ~ (warm in October) with many of our travelers   stopping over in London or Paris (Europe’s Autumn and cool).  Sicily ~ Departing December 5th,  stopping over in Rome (coolish) and ending up in Palermo... Read More