Dr. Mary Travelbest

Phu Quok, Vietnam   In this episode, the FAQ is: What’s the best water bottle for travel? Today’s Destination is: Phu Quoc, Vietnam Today’s Misstep- I Booked a room under construction and How I upgraded. Travel Advice: Take a small risk, not always a big one in Vietnam FAQ: What’s the best water bottle for travel? The top 10 water bottles for a solo senior female traveler will be on this list, including price, from the least to most expensive in the show notes. They range from $11 to $90. Vapur Anti-Bottle Collapsible Water Bottle - $11–$14 Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle - $12–$15 CamelBak Eddy+ Water Bottle - $14–$18 Brita Premium Filtering Water Bottle - $19–$25 Collapsible Nomader Water Bottle - $25–$30 Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle - $32–$45 S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle - $35–$45 Klean Kanteen Insulated Classic Water Bottle - $30–$40 LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle - $39.95 GRAYL Geopress Purifier - $89.95 Top rated 3 are: ...

Today’s Destination is: Edinburgh, Scotland   Today’s Misstep- Too much of a good thing   Travel Advice: Eat early, rest early   FAQ: How do I remember to stretch while on the road?   Answer: Tips for Remembering to Stretch: Set Phone Reminders: Schedule gentle reminders on your phone for morning and evening stretches. This way, it’s a built-in routine, just like brushing your teeth. Tie it to Daily Activities: Stretch after sitting for long periods, like after a meal or a bus/train ride. This helps to break up stiffness and becomes part of your rhythm. Use Cues in Your Environment: Place visual cues like a stretchy band or even a scarf in plain sight to remind you to stretch or exercise. Wind Down with Evening Stretches: A simple stretching routine before bed helps with relaxation and keeps you consistent.   Today’s destination: Edinburgh, Scotland, It’s got to be one of the favorite places in Europe for great walkable cities. There are...

Today’s Destination is Coventry, England Today’s Misstep- Manila Airport was a disaster Travel Advice: Bring the thing you usually forget   FAQ: What are some simple exercises for travelers, especially solo females in their prime? Here are five I recommend: Walking: Aim for a daily walk to explore your surroundings. It's an easy way to keep your body moving and enjoy the local sights. Leg and Ankle Stretches: Sitting stretches are perfect for waiting in lines or resting. Flex and extend your ankles, or gently lift and lower your legs. Back and Shoulderstretches: Do these to prevent hunching over bags or phones. Raise your arms and clasp your hands above your head, then lean side to side. Wall Push-Ups: Quick and easy in a hotel room, these push-ups are great for keeping your upper body toned. Balance Exercises: Practicing standing on one foot helps with stability and balance and is useful for navigating uneven terrain. Adding small moments of movement througho...

In this episode, the FAQ:  How do I best enjoy the Cabrillo Park?   Today’s Destination is Cabrillo National Monument Accessibility Part 2 Today’s Misstep- Don’t forget to stretch like I did.   Travel Advice: Swimming? Watch your valuables. FAQ: My friends ask me how do I enjoy the Cabrillo Park. I love this question. First, you have to plan for it, so bring your National Park Pass and try to visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the slow days. Park at the top and see the lighthouse. It’s iconic. Then visit the overlook to the city of San Diego and see the boats go in and out of the channel. The visitor center is worth seeing, even if you don’t make a purchase. Then hike the bayside trail if you are able, or if not follow the guidance that follows about accessibility. Today’s destination: Cabrillo National Monument Accessibility Part 2   Last episode was about the trails and the tidepools, plus what you can do there. This is a follow up for those who have li...

In this episode, the FAQ:  Can AI really help me travel?    Today’s Destination: Cabrillo National Monument Experience Part 1   Today’s Misstep- Mark Twain jokes about European tour guides in his travel books.   Travel Advice: If you are interested in travel and do as you listen here, why not purchase a guide that answers most of your questions in one place?    FAQ: Can really AI help me travel?    Answer: AI is a great tool kit for travel. Yes, but be sure to check for accuracy and hallucinations. You will also find bias. But you can start using your phone today to ask about some of the questions you have at this moment. “Do I need to bring an umbrella to England?” That’s a question you already are asking your Alexa, Siri, or other smart device. I just asked that. The answer was that it’s not raining right now in the UK. That did not answer my question, but it helped.  So don’t limit yourself and keep asking questions. Be sure...

  Today’s Destination is: Denali National Park, Alaska   Connect with Dr Travelbest Drmarytravelbest.com Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram email: info@drmarytravelbest.com Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast Dr. Travelbest on TikTok Dr.Travelbest onYouTube Check out this episode!

In this episode, the FAQ is: How do I manage increasing technology and security for travel?   Today’s Destination is: Milan, Italy   Today’s Misstep- I almost took a train to Switzerland at the Milan station   Travel Advice: Bring a handheld portable fan for the heat. It can be oppressive.   FAQ: The level of technology and security has stepped up for travel and entertainment. How do I manage it as a senior citizen in a very busy world?   Answer:    There is a growing level of distrust in today’s environment. For some venues, you can no longer use a screenshot of a QR code to access a ticket, so it must be a live link if you don’t have the paper ticket. If you are not on Wi-Fi, you may have trouble accessing the venue, like I did in July at the Symphony, where we used handwritten paper tickets.  The Crowdstrike tech shutdown of computers in July 2024, with thousands of airline flights canceled, was a peek into what could be an even lo...

  Today’s Destination is: Best of Hawaii's Big Island     Connect with Dr Travelbest Drmarytravelbest.com Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram email: info@drmarytravelbest.com Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast Dr. Travelbest on TikTok Dr.Travelbest onYouTube Check out this episode!

In this episode, the FAQ is: What should I tell people who think I can’t travel solo?   Today’s Destination is Lake Como, Italy Today’s Misstep: Sometimes, you don’t love your roommates when you share a room. Here’s why.   Travel Advice: Don’t buy another timeshare. If you have one, it’s really hard to sell it.   FAQ: What do I tell people who think I can’t travel solo?   Answer: Ask them why not. Then listen. Then, address each one of their questions or comments if you like. No one says you need permission to travel solo, but it would be good to tell them you are prepared, have planned for things to go wrong, and have taken this travel step by step to be more likely to be successful. They may be telling you in a way that they will miss you, but don’t know how to say that. They could also be jealous. They could wish they could make this trip themselves. So there could be a lot of hidden reasons why they have those opinions.   Today’s destination: ...

In this episode, the FAQ is: Using QR Codes. Are they safe?   Today’s Destination is: Belfast, Northern Ireland Today’s Misstep: My leaky water bottle was in the overhead bin on the airplane.   Travel Advice: Secondhand stores in Belfast are good deals.   FAQ: Using QR Codes. Are they safe?   Answer: When you open a QR code, pay attention to the context and the brand because it could contain a virus or even worse. Be careful when accessing websites on your desktop, laptop, tablet, watch, or phone. Preview the destination before you go there.    A QR code from a reputable source is more likely to be safe. It is best to proceed cautiously if you find a QR code in an unsolicited email or on a random website. Criminals have placed stickers over legitimate QR codes in public places like bus stops.   Today’s destination: Belfast, Northern Ireland   https://visitbelfast.com/   The best part of Belfast, in Northern Ireland, is outs...

Today’s Destination is: Buyacada, Turkey Today’s Misstep- My airline went bankrupt   Travel Advice: Tips on visiting Turkey   FAQ: This was an honest question from one of our fans: How do I share my senior status but not my age regarding travel discounts? Do they need to know my age, or can I make it up?   Answer: Let’s get real here. Many of us want to save a few bucks and are willing to share that we are seniors, but maybe we don’t want to give away our age. Why or why not? It may be your personal decision, so let’s respect that. When you fly, you must give the airline your date of birth so they know. What do they do with that information? Perhaps they save it for future marketing purposes. I’ve never been sent a birthday card by any of the hundreds of airlines I have flown, have you?    If you want to be sneaky, you can give the details in a fun way by saying, “I’m between this and this age, but I feel like I’m 50!”  Does that help some of o...

In this episode, the FAQ is: What are the best theme parks for those in their Prime Years? Today’s Destination is: Istanbul, Turkey (part 1 of 2) Today’s Misstep- Ask for specific directions and then listen better. Travel Advice: Get a better exchange rate than in a busy tourist city. FAQ:  What are the best theme parks for those in their Prime Years? Answer: I think the best theme parks for adults are the Disney ones. They have been friendly for generations, and you can always find someone to answer your questions, i.e., a cast member. You will pay more than for other parks, but you have the franchise behind you to almost guarantee you a good visit. Prepare ahead of time with any needs you have for accommodations. My friend Ron was in a wheelchair there recently and agreed that the multi-generation experience was good for him. Listen to some of my previous podcasts about Disneyland and California Adventure. Today’s destination: Istanbul, Turkey https://www.tripadvisor.com...

Jamestown Settlement, VA   In this episode, the FAQ:  How to budget while on your trip? Today’s Destination is Jamestown Settlement, VA Today’s Misstep- Too much caffeine on an empty stomach.  Travel Advice: Get TSA Pre-check for every flight.   https://www.jyfmuseums.org/visit/jamestown-settlement     Connect with Dr. Travelbest 5 Steps to Solo Travel website Dr. Mary Travelbest X Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast Dr. Travelbest on TikTok Dr.Travelbest onYouTube In the news   Check out this episode!

In this episode, the FAQ says that one of our followers does not fly much. She asked me, “What’s the best seat on the plane?” . Today’s Destination is: Marietta, GA Today’s Misstep- On Southwest, I paid twice for the Internet.  Travel Advice: Get a good night’s sleep on the road with a clear head in bed.   FAQ: What’s the best seat on the plane? That was the question asked by someone who doesn’t fly much.   Response: I think the best seat is a window seat, but you may prefer the aisle if you want to stretch your legs and walk around the cabin. On Southwest Airlines, there are no assigned seats, so you get the seat you want if you are one of the first to board.  I love looking out the window and feel I have more privacy with that view. I also have at least one elbow rest that I can use.    When I fly a budget airline, they ask me to buy a seat, but I rarely do that. They often seat me in the middle, but sometimes I get lucky.   Today’s des...

In this episode, the FAQ is: How do I keep track of travel memories so I don’t forget them?   Today’s Destination is: Venice, Italy Part 3 Today’s Misstep: Tickets to the Opera in Venice were sold out   Travel Advice: Stick to the outskirts for fewer tourists   FAQ: How do I keep track of travel memories so I don’t forget them? Answer: Our memories may not be as sharp as we age, so recording our best thoughts in writing may be more critical. I use the Notes app on my phone, my audio recording app, and take lots of photos and videos while I travel. I do not post to social media while I travel, but wait until later most of the time to curate my memories in blogs and podcasts like this one.   How you record and save your memories is really up to you. Whatever your process is, make sure you have enough memory and battery and that you capture the essence of your travel, whether it’s a person you met, a place you want to return to, or a special meal you ate. ...

The first Venice episode was # 247. I came back and added more to that here and the following episode.  In this episode, the FAQ is: Would I return to Venice? Today’s Destination is Venice, Italy Part 2 of 3 Today’s Misstep: Spend more time in the region of Northern Italy.   Travel Advice: In Venice, Get Lost FAQ: Would I go back to Venice?   Answer: The answer is yes because I hardly saw the main attractions the first time. I was in a crowd of tourists, and it was under construction. I think there will be better crowd control now that there's a fee. Today’s destination: Venice, Italy Part 2 of 3 Venice is called the City of Dreams.  It’s the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region and is built on over 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals—including the Grand Canal thoroughfare—lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, tiled with Byzantine...

Bucket List Episode: The Garden Route of South Africa, by Rose Kilian Hi there, I'm Rose Kilian, and I'm thrilled to share the magic of the Garden Route in South Africa, a place that has been my home and my heart. Growing up here was a dream, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and a rich tapestry of experiences. Whether you're planning a visit or just curious, I'm excited to take you on a journey through this enchanting region.   The Garden Route stretches along the southern coast of South Africa, from Knysna in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. This coastal corridor is renowned for its diverse ecosystems, pristine beaches, and charming towns. It's a paradise for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those seeking a peaceful retreat.   We are starting our journey in Plettenberg Bay, or 'Plett' as the locals call it. Plett is known for its golden beaches, perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. Visit Robberg Nature Re...

·        Bucket List Travel Crete, Greece ·          ·        Script from Kirsty Nunez ·          ·        Introduce Crete (Creta) o    Largest Greek island ·        Outline highlights o    Ancient civilizations o    Antiquities o    Beautiful beaches o    Stunning mountains in interior of island o    Shopping o    Food o    Lovely people ·        West v. East ends of island ·        Need to rent a car ·        Highlights: o    Three cities and their old towns: Irakleio, Chania, and Rethymno o    East: Beautiful views, Irakleio Archaelogical Museum, Knossos (...