Skip to main content

Rotorua, New Zealand


Today’s Destination is: Rotorua, New Zealand

Today’s Lesson Learned- Losing my reading glasses

Travel Advice:  Maps offline can help you find your way solo.

 

FAQ: Annie asks Dr. Travelbest; I’m so worried about traveling alone. I must build my confidence to go on a trip, even with another person. If I was to go alone, What would be the biggest concern for solo travel safety?

 

Answer: Annie, you should be aware but not worry unnecessarily. Travel at the step you feel comfortable.

You will be safer in many ways if you follow specific simple guidelines.

Always ask for help before you go solo when you need it. Others want to help you out. I’ve made a quick list here for you to follow.

 

 5  Quick Safety Answers for Solo Travel Safety

  • Stay Connected. ...Keep Others Apprised of Your Itinerary. ...

  • Stash Money, Credit Cards, and Passport in Separate Places. ...

  • Ensure Your Lodgings Are Safe. ...

  • Stay Healthy. ...

  • Pray for a safe trip.



Today’s destination: Rotorua, New Zealand

 

If you like discussing the climate, you will want to learn about geothermal, including geysers and mud pools.

One place to explore is on the North Island of New Zealand, in a small town called Rotorua. It’s a volcanic wonder space with unique geothermal attractions and landscapes. There are rare flora, fauna, and history of the Maori. The region has one of the world’s most active geothermal fields. Five minutes from the city, you will see a geyser called Pohutu. This erupts to a height of 100 feet and does it up to 20 times per day. You can’t escape the smell of sulfur, the clouds of steam, and the volcanic bubbling.

Besides this fantastic spectacle, what else is there worth seeing? Visit the shopping markets in the central city and then the free thermal reserve, which features beautiful public gardens, bubbling mud pools, colorful hot lakes, and free thermal foot pools.

Then consider a bike ride past four major geothermal attractions on the Thermal bike trail.  Stop along the way for a dip in a natural hot river. 

Visit a Maori village where the people live amongst the geothermal activity and use the boiling water for cooking, bathing, and warming their homes. I watched a dance of the Maori warriors and was entertained by the cultural experience. I recommend it.

Depending on the weather, you can float in a thermally heated public swimming pool or one of many luxurious thermal spas.

https://www.newzealand.com/us/rotorua-geothermal/

Today’s Lesson Learned-  Losing my reading glasses.

I lost my reading glasses and struggled with not having great vision. I was struggling with seeing the small print on my phone.

Don’t lose your glasses; if you do, have a spare pair handy

If you wear contacts, bring your eyeglasses as a backup when traveling.

Today’s Travel Advice-Maps offline can help you find your way solo. Free.

 

Check out the map dot me app, where you don’t need to have data, just GPS.

 

It will help you route yourself, even without an online connection.

They have offline maps of the whole world.

 

Search and discover travel maps, tourist guides, and navigation offline.

they have a web version, too.

Maps.me works with no Wi-Fi or cellular internet and is free. All it needs is your phone's GPS! It gets its data from OpenStreetMap. OpenStreetMap is an app you can download to your phone.

Find attractions, monuments, churches, viewpoints, museums, businesses, hairdressers, dentists, and cafes.

They have 140 million customers in 190 countries

and 1.5 million app store reviews and are based in Switzerland.

 


Check out this episode!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

5 Steps to Solo Travel for the Woman on the Go: What are the 5 Steps?

  Are you traveling? Tell me why or why not. Need a confidence boost? Here are the 5 Steps to Solo travel, summarized and a link to the book on Amazon.   https://www.amazon.com/Five-Steps-Solo-Travel-Womans/dp/B0BC2FXLPY Step 1: Local Solo Travel. Close to home local travel. Step 2: Domestic solo trips, familiar with the territory. Maybe cross country. Step 3: National travel with more complexity, such as Alaska or Hawaii Step 4: International travel in familiar cultures Step 5: Fully independent, adventurous international solo travel. I’ve been creating this podcast weekly since 2018. I’m on my way to helping more than 100,000 women travel solo. Are you one of us? https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com FAQ: You asked? Where am I traveling this summer? Here is your FAQ response: I start in Colombia, then Ecuador for Galapagos, then Peru for Machu Pichu, and then Brazil for some beach life in Salvador and near Rio. I will finish in Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, then return...

Travel Planning: Colombia

 Travel Planning: Part 1 Colombia In this episode:   Where an I heading series: Part 1   Today’s Mistake- avoiding potholes and buying new tires Travel Advice:  Safety and security tip FAQ: How do you use SERVAS? I use Servas International to help me plan my trips. You sign up on the website, and a representative will contact you and interview you. They will make sure you are a real person and check references. Then, you get a Letter of Engagement, and you can contact hosts and day hosts. Today’s destination: Planning my trip to Colombia   Friends to meet in Bogota. Peace Servas Secretary Colombia. She said YES! Reach out to her with my dates and any needs. I am friends with Fanny Vico.   Flights: Given your preference for flying over driving, consider booking internal flights between major cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena. Airlines such as Avianca and LATAM offer frequent domestic routes.​ Accommodation: Opt for reputable hostel...

Blue Zone Travel

Special Episode Blue Zone Travel   https://www.bluezones.com/exploration/#section-1   The five "Blue Zones" in the world, which are regions identified as having a high concentration of people living to a very old age, are:    Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California, USA. Notably, four of these Blue Zones are located near oceans, making them easily accessible by sea travel.    Ocean proximity: Blue Zones like Costa Rica and California are situated not too far from coastlines, making them ideal destinations for those interested in combining a healthy lifestyle exploration with beach vacations.  Mediterranean Sea: The regions of Sardinia (Italy) and Ikaria (Greece) are located in the Mediterranean Sea, which can be easily accessed by cruise ships or ferries.  Cultural immersion: Visiting a Blue Zone allows travelers to experience the local culture, cuisine, and lifes...