Dr. Mary Travelbest

Dr Travelbest helps women to travel solo. FAQ is: How can I avoid the back row on the plane? Today’s Destination is: Lake Arrowhead Village Today’s Mistake- Wifi troubles in France Travel Advice:  Be kinder Connect with Dr Travelbest Website Drmarytravelbest.com Mary Beth on Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter   Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram Clubhouse: Travel Best Women Check out this episode!

Looking to travel more? The Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) is: I’m recently single, and I want to travel more. How can I get the group rate even when I travel solo? Special Destination is: Redwoods of California Mistake- Forgot utensils on a picnic Advice: Confirm your flight at least a day in advance. Check out this episode!

Dr Travelbest guides women in travel. In this episode: FAQ is: How do I find a good tour to join and what about some solo trips, too? I want to visit my ancestors in Ireland. Today’s Destination: Sapporo, Japan Today’s Mistake- Nude baths in Japan without a clue Travel Advice:  Water hydration options Check out this episode!

Dr Travelbest helps women travel more. In this episode: FAQ is: I get lost easily. Do you have any tips to help me find my way when I travel by myself. Today’s Destination is: Pacific Beach, CA. Today’s Mistake- Shopping duty free Travel Advice:  Travel inspires Check out this episode!

Do you travelbest yet? Dr Travelbest answers: FAQ: I want to travel somewhere I’ve never been before, but I can’t decide where. How can I choose? Today’s Destination is: Big Bear Lake and Mountain Today’s Mistake- Not wearing proper hiking footwear Travel Advice:  Know your phone’s settings. Ask if you are unclear about Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Cellular options. Know how to set up a Personal Hotspot if you need to access your laptop, too. Keep your master password up to date, and once you have that, you should be able to access all passwords. Check out this episode!

This is a special edition on Corona virus variants like Omicron. If you are considering foreign travel, especially solo, you should start paying attention to the latest medical news about a coronavirus variant, a global risk called Omicron, which follows the Delta variant as a fast-spreading virus. The website: Who.int has more information. Dr Travelbest helps solo women guide their own trips. Check out this episode!

Show Notes Destination: Ensenada, Mexico Caption: Wineries near Ensenada, Mexico Welcome to Dr. Mary Travelbest’s Travel Guide, an episode for women like you who need a little extra support traveling the world, (slowly) one woman at a time. In this episode: FAQ is: I travel with my family and this trip I want to be by myself or maybe with a girlfriend. Is that wrong? Today’s Destination is: Ensenada, Mexico Today’s Mistake- I’ve made so many mistakes Travel Advice: Leave some days unplanned, so you have time to enjoy the freedom you have FAQ: You asked about solo travel, without your family. Is that wrong? Answer: It’s a personal choice you can make, so think about it. Do you have someone to care for your family while you travel? Will they be able to feed, dress and take care of themselves without you? If you can say yes to these questions, you should be able to make the trip. You are able to do the solo trip you always wanted to take. You can even take a quiz online to see ...

Are you a woman who wants to travel independently? Take five minutes to listen here. FAQ is: What are my favorite travel apps? Today’s Destination is: Duluth, Georgia Today’s Mistake- Broken ear buds Travel Advice:  Sit in an exit row on the plane for more leg room. Check out this episode! Caption: Dr Travelbest in Georgia. Show Notes Destination: Duluth, Georgia In this episode: FAQ is: What are my favorite travel apps? Today’s Destination is: Duluth, Georgia Today’s Mistake- Broken ear buds Travel Advice: Sit in an exit row on the plane for more leg room. FAQ: What are my favorite travel apps? Answer: My favorite travel apps are the airline that I am traveling on that day, rideshare apps like Uber/Lyft, public transportation apps wherever I am. When in Atlanta, it’s MARTA, in San Diego, it’s PRONTO, Expedia, plus Turo. Expedia and Booking are basically the same type of booking engine. Turo is like AirBNB, but for cars. Today’s destination: Duluth, Georgia I had ...

Are you a woman who wants to travel more? Give this five minutes. You'll love the travel tips and my mistakes, too. FAQ is : If there’s a flight delay or cancellation, what can I do about it? Today’s Destination is: London, England Today’s Mistake- Passing my stop on the sky train to the airport gate. Travel Advice:  Raise your hand to switch seats if needed Check out this episode! Show Notes: London, England In this episode: FAQ is: If there’s a flight delay or cancellation, what can I do about it? Today’s Destination is: London, England Today’s Mistake- Passing my stop on the sky train to the airport gate. Travel Advice: Raise your hand to switch seats if needed FAQ: If there’s a flight delay or cancellation, what can I do about it? Answer: When the airline cancels, you could be entitled to either a ticket refund or a replacement flight. These rules are all subject to change. You could claim compensation if the airline informed you of the cancellation less than 14 ...

 Are you a woman who wants to travel more? Listen to this. The FAQ is:  Should I rent a car in London or not? The Special Episode is about Volunteer Travel Lessons Learned is:  How to get pushed off the road and survive. Travel Tip is: Get your passport Now. Check out this episode!

Looking for help as you plan travel? Here is a trusted guide. The FAQ is: How can I find a good tour for me? Today’s Destination is: Nerja and Frigliana, Spain Today’s Mistake- Leaving my house key on the rental car keyfob. Travel Advice:  Pack the night before, or earlier Check out this episode! Caption: Frigliana, Spain (near Malaga) Show Notes Destination: Nerja and Frigliana, Spain In this episode: FAQ is: How can I find a good tour for me? Today’s Destination is: Nerja and Frigliana, Spain Today’s Mistake- Leaving my house key on the rental car keyfob. Travel Advice: Pack the night before, or earlier FAQ: How can I find a good tour, they way I like it? Answer: Independent travel is the opposite of a tour group, however, there are times when you will need to be on a tour, based on the destination. Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good tour and tour guide. Want a list of the best tour companies of 2021? Top for singles is Exodus Travel and for seniors El...

Dr Travelbest helps women like you travel. Listen to this short podcast to become a "best" traveler.    Ann Arbor, Michigan is the destination. Learn from my mistakes.    Check out this episode!

This is one of my favorite Authors, Roald Dahl. Jackson, Mississipi has some wonderful authors, too. Faulkner is one that comes to mind. Show Notes Destination: Jackson, Mississippi In this episode: FAQ is: How long should my vacation be? . Today’s Destination is: Jackson, Mississippi Today’s Mistake- Oversleeping Travel Advice: Bring half of what you think you need. FAQ: How long should my vacation be? I’ve been planning to take a trip to see my family and combine with some sightseeing. Can you suggest a good length? Answer: This response would vary depending on which level in the Independent Travel Spectrum you are currently at. The lower the number, the shorter the trip. If you are a level 3, which is more adventurous, you would possibly travel for several weeks at a time. The longest that I have traveled is a month, but many people go for longer trips than that. If you have the time, the money and the desire, well why not travel longer? Today’s destination: Jackson, Mis...

This is for you if you are a woman who wants to travel more. This episode FAQ is: How can I travel better? I think that travel has a lot of glamour, but I don’t find that to be accurate when I am on the road. What can I do to improve my journey? Today’s Destination is Dallas Texas airports Today’s Mistake- Leaving a sweater on the plane Travel Advice:  Read the book: Wild Check out this episode!

This photo is from the Art Institute of Chicago, found on the southern side of the loop. Destination: South Side Chicago In this episode: FAQ is: Is it wrong for me to hate airports? . Today’s Destination is: South Side Chicago Today’s Mistake- Stranded in Dallas 3 days Travel Advice: Go with public transportation FAQ: Is it wrong for me to hate airports? I have to go there to pick up my grandkids but going to the airport is not fun. Answer: If you look at this as a chore, you’ll not enjoy the experience. I agree that airports can be a challenge. I think that you can shift your thinking and get that frown turned around with some attitude planning. Consider that you will be seeing your grandkids for the first time in a while and how excited they will be to see you makes this a fun trip and experience. You will change the world when you change your attitude. Today’s destination: South Side Chicago I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago for ten years, and rarely visited the...

Show Notes Destination: Pyrenees France How to avoid those pickpockets? Answer: My friend Nicole, originally from France, now in Brooklyn gave this advice. Don’t stand next to the door on the subway or put your wallet in pants back pocket. There are teams that know how to work the subway car, so save your wallet and phone from pickpockets. Be aware and use a hidden wallet for your valuables. Here are a three tips: 1. Stay away from the heavily tourist areas and surrounding streets. Usually there is more than one person. One distracts you, the other empties your pockets. Jostling on crowded buses and metro. 2. No dark empty streets, ok? 3. Keep your money out of sight. Don’t wear expensive jewelry or clothing that will attract them. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/madrid/narratives/practical-information/directory/dangers-annoyances Today’s destination: Pyrenees, France The region between Spain and France may not be on everyone’s short travel list, but you may want to consid...

Show Notes Destination: USS Midway Museum In this episode: FAQ is: How can I lighten my suitcase? . Today’s Destination is: Midway Museum Today’s Mistake- Forgetting my passport Travel Advice: Journal in your phone FAQ: How can I lighten my suitcase? It’s just so heavy and I wish it was not. Answer: Todays luggage choices are so diverse that you can get around with a lighter bag and less stuff. Start out by determining the purpose of your trip. Are you on a solo adventure or a guided tour? Are you combining two outings into one trip? There are ways to lighten the load. Consider that you may not need to bring a laptop, only a tablet or phone. That will save you time and stress. If you can pick one color clothing and keep the outfits to a minimum, you can pack fewer clothes, and focus on accessories. If you carry a book, re-consider how you can read from your device instead of the paper version. What weighs a lot should be removed. If you need to, ship your heavier items to yo...

Show Notes Dallas, Texas Airports In this episode: FAQ is: How can I travel better? I think that travel has a lot of glamour, but I don’t find that to be accurate when I am on the road. What can I do to improve my journey? . Today’s Destination is Dallas Texas airports Today’s Mistake- Leaving a sweater on the plane Travel Advice: Read the book: Wild FAQ: How can I travel better? I think that travel has a lot of glamour, but I don’t find that to be accurate when I am on the road. What can I do to improve my journey? Answer: Dr Travel BEST, that’s me is more than better. Travel used to be very glamourous. People used to dress up for the airplane, and it was an exclusive privilege of sorts. Now, some airlines feel more like busses than planes. The idea of travel during covid has turned a lot of people away from travel. If you are listening to this, you may be considering a trip and navigating the new rules of trave is on your mind. Take steps 1-5 in your travel planning. Start out...

Dr. Mary Travelbest’s Travel Guide to Alaska Fishing FAQ: How can I feel safe when I travel to a new place? I get an uneasy feeling when I visit somewhere I’ve never been before. Answer: Feeling safe and protected is part of why I have this podcast for independent travelers, and especially women who travel or want to travel. I researched through a survey of the listeners, and this is what you are most concerned about. The levels or steps of travel is what you should consider before you set out and it is part of your planning process. That is, you start at the first level of travel and work toward higher levels. Level one is for beginners and if that’s you, start there. Expect to practice and get more experience at the level where you are before you step into the next stage of travel. If you don’t feel safe, your trip won’t be what you expect, so follow good guidance and prepare ahead of time. Every trip will be different, so getting the experience before you travel and knowing th...

Show Notes: Special Episode for Independent Travel on Weather In this episode: The FAQ is where to stay in New York City? Today’s Episode is: Independent travel and the weather Today’s Mistake- Global Entry card has a typo Today’s Travel Advice- Store your luggage at a hotel FAQ: Where should I stay in New York City? I’m going for my first time, and have no idea of where I want to be when I’m there. I want to be close to most things if possible. My second question: Is it expensive to go from Hoboken to Times Square via Taxi? Answer: That really depends on the kind of trip you plan, but here are a few ideas that I have gathered on this subject. Based on your question, I think you may want to stay in mid-town, where you can get on the subway and head in either direction in about 15 or 20 minutes. Most of the main subway stations also switch in midtown, so you can transfer. The answer to Question 2, the Hoboken to Times Square is: You can spend as little as a dollar or as much ...

Dr Travelbest helps women with independent travel. Give a listen and enjoy the destination. In this episode: FAQ is: How to organize my meds when I travel? Destination: Coachella Valley, CA Mistake- Cell Service is blocked by mountains. Get coverage. Tip: Sleep during the heat of day. Sun Rash can go south fast The Bonus media is a drive through the Badlands of South Dakota. Check out this episode!

Do you want to travel independently? The FAQ is: How can I keep my car cool when it’s parked? Today’s Destination is: Space Coast, Florida Today’s Mistake: Tar on my skin from swimming Travel Advice:  Call ahead if you have limited mobility. Check out this episode!

Do you want to travel independently? Are you a woman? In this episode:  The FAQ is When I arrive in a new city, should I take one of those busses to show me the famous places or not? The destination is Madrid Spain and Today’s Lesson Learned-Spending too much time making reservations and the Travel Advice-Don’t run out of gas. Check out this episode!

This is Dr Travelbest, where women can enjoy independent travel more. Can you explain why sulfur from hot springs is good for your skin? You asked me about the rotten egg smell. Episode special edition is on California Beaches from Los Angeles and Malibu (part 5) Today’s Lessons Learned- Soaked shoes and sneakers. Today’s travel Advice: Fly nonstop whenever possible.  #womentravel Check out this episode! Caption: Malibu Beach, CA Show Notes Special Episode on California Beaches Los Angeles to Malibu (Part 5) Welcome to Dr. Mary Travelbest’s Independent Travel Guide. This is for those who travel, who want to travel, and especially for those who want to travel independently. I’ve been traveling independently since 1972 and soon to release a second guidebook on the Independent Travel Spectrum. Please share this podcast with your parents, loved ones and future travelers, so you make their trips the very best, like Travel-best! In this episode: The FAQ. Can you explain why sulfur ...

Dr Mary Travelbest helps women with the Independent Travel Spectrum for guiding your levels of travel by experience. In this episode:   The FAQ is  "How do I filter my drinking water? I want to be sure that I drink clean water when traveling remote." Today’s Destination is: Beaches of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Today’s Mistake- Losing a High School Ring. Travel Advice- Scorpions:  Be aware in hot weather. Check out this episode!

Dr Travelbest helps women travel independently. Follow the Independent Travel Spectrum and you will travel best, too. In this episode:  The FAQ What’s a good small town USA destination for independent travel? Today’s Destination is:  Fort Collins Colorado. Lesson Learned is- Mixing up day and night. Travel Advice- Remove worry Check out this episode!

This is for women who don't want to miss out on travel. Get going. How can I meet people when I travel without anyone else in my group? The destination is. China 1988 to Now Part 2 Travel Advice- Clear your mind of distractions and enjoy putting your toes in the sand, listening to the chirping birds and tasting a new flavor or where you are now.  Let us know your next trip destination. Check out this episode!

Are you a woman who wants to travel more? The FAQ is: My favorite place in China to see again is? The special episode is about travel to China, then and now….part one of 2 Lesson learned: Know my USA politics better (I knew less than they did….at the time) Travel tip: Be willing to meet a stranger and get to know them. Check out this episode!

This podcast is for women who travel, who want to travel, and especially on their own. The FAQ is:  what are the traits of Independent Women? The special episode is Ability Challenged travel.  The lesson learned is: Losing money from Covid travel. the Tip is: feel like a local, wherever you are Check out this episode!

This is for women who want to overcome the fear of travel without a group. The FAQ is from social media on packing light as an overweight woman, not a bikini person. The Destination is: Lake Havasu, Arizona. Lesson Learned- I tripped on a wire, 20 inches from the ground. Travel Advice- Travel is a privilege, not a right. Check out this episode!

  The FAQs are: Which route did you take and how long did it take you? The destination is Florida Keys. The Mistake-.Deleting the important apps for travel. Travel Advice- Gargle with diluted to 1% hydrogen peroxide for fresh breath and reduce sore throat. Check out this episode!

We help women travel independently, one step at a time. Give a listen to learn and enjoy your travel safely and have more enjoyment. The FAQ How can I get TSA Pre-Check? The destination is California beaches Part 4, Long Beach to Santa Monica. My mistake is broken fingernails, and the tip is watch out for snakes. Check out this episode!

Dr Travelbest helps women travel independently. The FAQ is:  How do I apply for a travel document? The destination is: Fairbanks, Alaska. The lesson learned is even in Alaska, you can sweat a lot. The travel tip is to try a new kind of travel. Check out this episode!

The FAQ is: You asked, how can I become a more sustainable independent traveler? The special episode is about Climate Change and Independent Travel. The lesson learned is not to drive a gas hog. The tip is on starting with small steps and habits that are sustainable. Check out this episode!

FAQ is How can I learn a new language, quickly? The Special Episode is about Finding your ancestry through travel. The lesson learned is poor planning for my travel. The travel tip is Visit a bookstore’s travel section. Check out this episode!

FAQ is Why do I pay a duty on goods that I purchase? Can you explain that to me? The destination is Tahiti The lesson learned is broken fingernails. and the tip is watch out for snakes. Check out this episode!

In this episode: The FAQ is: Why is starting a trip sometimes so hard? Special episode is Reunions for Independent Travelers. The mistake is: Forgetting something important in transit. The tip is: The Journey is a trip in itself. Check out this episode!

  Postcard from Hawaii from Dr Travelbest Show Notes: Dr Mary Travelbest :   Postcards from the Road   In this episode: The FAQ What’s the one thing not to miss in Mexico City? The special edition is about Postcards from the road. The lesson learned is getting a lousy roommate and the Tip is: Build memories one day at a time.   FAQ: What is a don’t miss thing, just one thing to do in Mexico City? I would say, see the Ballet Folklorico held at the Bellas Artes Theatre downtown.   I went there for the first time in 1973 and for the second time in 2017 and this was a memorable experience. If you only have one outing, attend this! You will experience the culture/dance of Mexico. Each scene showcases a part of the culture, history and geography. For example, for Jalisco, one of the regions of Mexico, there was a cowboy love story, with dancing for all to enjoy. There is no intermission, so just enjoy the show and soak it in.   Today’s Episode specia...

I help guide women in independent travel, one at a time. In this episode: The FAQ is on how to use packing cubes. The destination is Ayers Rock, Australia. The lesson learned is Don’t give up too easily. The tip is We May Never Pass This way Again, by Seals & Crofts, back from the memory banks. Check out this episode!

  Show Notes: Dr Mary Travelbest Independent Travel Guide: New York City part 2   In this episode: The FAQ is : What good are frequent flyer miles? The destination is New York City Part 2 and the lesson learned is don’t run out of water and the travel tip is Pack a small bag for “in flight”.   FAQ: What good are frequent flyer miles? Can I donate them?   Answer: They can get you free trips, but you need to work for them a bit. Unused frequent flyer miles can help a cause, so consider donating them. Most airline miles expire after 12-36 months of account inactivity. Some have made an exception during the pandemic. American Airline’s plan allows you to donate as few as 1000 miles. The program is Let Good Take Flight. Hawaiian allows you to donate and often will match your donation. See the show notes for more details and we’ll discuss this more in future episodes.   https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/airline-rewards/   h...