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 Group Travel Associate I’ve some exciting news for you: The Women’s Travel Group  is offering a fabulous ‘Paris for the Holidays Tour’ December 21-28. We’d love for you to join us, and we still have a few seats left. BUT, whether you head off to Paris with us, or go later with friends, don’t miss these great money-saving travel pointers. For European travel stay within the Euro zone. France is a Euro based country and current rates are close to all time lows of 1.10. In addition, the economy is stagnant so many stores and restaurants... Read More

By Phyllis Stoller NABBW’s Associate for Group Travel Please share with friends who have lost a partner! Let me start by saying these  thoughts come from talking to you out there and from my friends. Traveling as a widow is not the same kind of travel. It can still be a meaningful experience with highs, lows and new memories. Some women use women’s travel as part of ‘re-entry’ after losing a partner. Here is our site: www.thewomenstravelgroup.com for reference. Your home social circle talks to you with unwanted pity and empathetic glances.  In a travel group, no one knows your... 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

By Phyllis Stoller NABBW’s Associate for Group Travel  We were again asked this week whether The Women’s Travel Group has an age limit on the upper end? As you know, we regularly travel with women aged from 30 on up. But potential first-time WTG travelers still regularly ask us what the health standards are — not just to come along, but join the tour and be assured that they will be able to have fun. To best answer these questions, since your physical capabilities — and each trip — are unique, we like to answer with a few questions of our own, which I’m including... Read More

By Phyllis Stoller NABBW’s Associate for Group Travel Everyone of us has, at some time in our lives, been “stifled/strong-armed” from doing something we love and thoroughly enjoy, by well-meaning family members who cite safety concerns. I recognized this recently, after I fell down 15 stairs in my beloved old house, which has steep, painted wooden steps. Everyone in my family had warned me about the perceived dangers of wooden stairs and and urged me to practice better “concentrated banister use.” They all fretted over my safety. Did I sell the house? Install an elevator?... Read More

Boomers Beware:  Surviving the Heat of a Summer European Trip Takes Knowledge, Planning  By Phyllis Stoller NABBW\’s  Group  Travel Associate   Why so many of us go to Europe in the heat of the Summer is a puzzle.  Northern cities like Paris and London have temperatures above 90-degrees F. And Southern favorites like Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, and Athens frequently scorch in the Summer with  days in the 100’s. Here are a few tips to survive: European hotels do not always have strong air conditioning. When choosing, pick one that is new or newly renovated. Expect daytime air to be... 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