Dr. Mary Travelbest

This episode is about Toronto, Canada. See Book A for addressing this challenge. Find it on the website​​ at 5StepsToSoloTravel.com or on Amazon. It’s a several-part series. Toronto is another example of Step 3 travel, advanced solo travel. Other step 3 destinations in my Part B book include Banff, Whistler, and Vancouver.   Destination Deep‑Dive Today’s special destination is:  Toronto, Canada, part two of two   You may arrive at Pearson airport, like I did, which was a lovely airport ranked high among international airports. I had the opportunity to experience the Priority Pass lounge both upon arrival and departure. If you have access, you'll likely enjoy it, even though the lounge was under construction. The city has a diverse mix of people from all around the world, along with a variety of flavors that come with it. Keep your eyes peeled and your nose smelling these scents.   Before I arrived, I booked my tour to Niagara Falls . Here are a few facts ...

Toronto Part 1 of 2 FAQ: Do you travel on public transport? Let’s explore one city. The FAQ for today is: How would I travel around Toronto on public transport, if needed? Here are a few facts about their public transit. Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is your central transit system—includes: Subway Streetcars (trams) Buses PRESTO Card is the smart fare card you'll want to use. It gives discounted fares for seniors (65+). Ask ChatGPT about the best travel options for you, whether it's the subway or any other mode of transportation. It will provide detailed information instantly. 📱 APPS TO DOWNLOAD: PRESTO App (to manage your fare/pass balance) Transit App (real-time TTC arrivals) TTC Official App (for alerts and maps)   If you like today’s Confidence Challenge, my book series dives deeper into public transportation and how to build confidence using it—link in description.”    See Book A, page 24, for addressing this challenge. Find it ...

Where in the world am I? In San Diego today. Trip Summary 2   Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, recently on a 90-day journey around the world, excited to connect with fellow travelers and share our experiences.   Listener Story Spotlight    Today's listener story is about 79 year old Sandi Biback who I met in Toronto and helped organize an afternoon with women from the JourneyWoman organization. She was called in to help and rose to the occasion. She is traveling to Bhutan in October and has shared several tips with me for purchasing Travel insurance. She's seasoned in Travel experiences and business conferences. She has been an active traveler for many decades. I tip my head to you, Sandi, and thank you for helping out in Toronto. Quick-fire FAQ: The FAQ for today is: about Single Supplements. These are extra fees that are essentially doubled when part of a package group tour. Refer to the notes for further information on this topic. When do I want to p...

  Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, coming to you from a recent trip, on a 90-day solo journey around the world.   Listener Story Spotlight   Alina, whom I met in Toronto and who hosted me for my final four nights, is trying to travel to Seattle this week, but she’s been affected by the Air Canada airline strike. She’s a great traveler who has visited Japan, Spain, and many European countries. She was an excellent Servas host. Look up Servas if you want to encourage world peace with cultural exchange.   Quick-fire FAQ:   The FAQ for today is: What was my favorite place during my 90-day journey? It’s what I get asked nearly every day. I don’t want to leave anyone out, so I usually say, 'Right here is my favorite place.' Right now, I’m home, so that’s my favorite place. It’s usually the NEXT trip that I’ll be taking. My next trip is for work, to Las Vegas, so that’s not a favorite. I can stay here for up to two nights, and then I need to get out. Howev...

Flashback to 2020 Travel This was Covid Travel. Solo Travel. Road trip around the midwest USA. This episode is unscripted, unedited and raw. Listen to Dr Mary Travelbest tell you about her travel to some of the best places for women to travel. Badlands, Sioux Falls, and hiking in the National Parks. You will enjoy hearing about me getting poison Ivy, hiking with animals in Centennial, getting a sunburn in the hot springs and driving 5000 miles without touching anyone and being fully masked. Let me know if you listen and what you think. It's an experiment to see how this content resonates with you. Check out this episode!

  Where in the world am I? Peru planning   Hi there. I'm Dr. Mary Travelbest, returning from a recent trip to Asia. I'm in San Diego now, sharing my best travel ideas and working on another book for you to enjoy: 5 Steps to Solo Travel, Part C. I'm about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world. Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Raquel from Peru. She has been a friend for 40 years and has encouraged me to travel to Lima since then. She created all the images and designs for my first published travel book in 1993. She's been a friend for swimming in the ocean, concerts, joint baby showers, the funeral for her eldest son, and many shared life experiences. She's an awesome traveler and has a lot of advice for me. Where am I headed? Peru   Lima Daytime: Stroll the clifftop Malecón in Miraflores for Pacific views, then relax on Playa Waikiki (the closest swimmable stretch). Evening – Barranco bohemian district (street art, sa...

  Where in the world am I? Brazil planning Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, returning from a recent trip to Asia. I’m in San Diego now, sharing my best travel ideas and working on another book for you to enjoy: 5 Steps to Solo Travel, Part C. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world. Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Juliana who is from Brazil. She was a student of mine and now she works with me. She gave me a list of all the places in Brazil that I should be going to.She and I have known each other for 3 years. She’s so beautiful and full of life. I’m so grateful for. Quick fire FAQ: The FAQ for today is:  Should I carry books with me to read on the trip? I recommend you download them from your local or cloud library. Then you read on the go. Don’t carry more than you need. 3 things: neighborhood selection, daylight itineraries, scam avoidance Select neighborhoods that are walkable and have public transportation nearby...

Where in the world am I? Eurail Travel planning   Hi there, I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest. I’m in San Diego now, sharing my best travel ideas and working on another book for you to enjoy: 5 Steps to Solo Travel, Part C. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world.   Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Kristen. Kristen loves to travel. She recently received a Fullbright Scholarship and took a trip with her husband and sons to a foreign country, Portugal, for several months. She’s full of great travel ideas and will be helpful as I continue to travel and make my adventures more mobile. She’s encouraging me to keep going in my travels and is a professor in Southern California. Quick fire FAQ: The FAQ for today is:  Do you find that air travel dries your sinuses? Do you get dry and scratchy throats afterward? Yes, it happens. Let’s talk about how to rid yourself of this in advance.    How to avoid the dryness of airlin...

This is a Best of..... Have any questions? Please ask. The photo was taken by me on the grounds of one of the many museums of the Smithsonian. Check out this episode!

  Episode title: SLO to San Diego by Train, GF Diets, and a Confidence Challenge Hi there. I’m Dr. Mary Travelbest, a world traveler who has traveled solo for over 50 years. I'm coming to you after a recent trip to Asia. I visited Taiwan and South Korea for 10 days. I’m here to share my best travel ideas and work on solo travel. I’m about to launch on a 90-day trip around the world solo again. The aim is world peace through cultural exchange. I’m about to travel the world for 90 days.   Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener who recently retired as a dental hygienist. Her name is Cathy A. She’s been a big supporter of this podcast. She is traveling to Wisconsin to see her family and attend reunions. She’s enjoying her retirement by playing Marjan and. She recently sold her house and moved back into a condo she had bought decades before marriage. Her contractor husband fixed it up to her specs before they moved in, and she’s so happy. She’ll be trav...

Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan FAQ Should I use public transportation abroad?   Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan    Lesson Learned: Don’t schedule everything Day 1   Travel Tip: Trust your gut instincts, if unsure, pivot fast.   FAQ Response:  Should I use public transportation abroad?   Yes, you should try it at the least, but not in rush hour with all of your luggage. One way to test it out is to try it early in the morning, before rush-hour workers arrive, but while it’s still light outside.  Most of the time, you only need a card to swipe, and you can add money to the card when you need to. Your first care purchase is often at a self-service kiosk, and usually there is English translations here. Go for it and try.   Episode: Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan This scenic region reminded me of Lake Tahoe, California.  If you are coming you will Arrive in Taoyuan airport and take the train to the Taipei Main Station and take the HSR t...

Seoul, Korea episode Listener Story Spotlight A friend and a listener named Lois recently went to Hawaii. She told me she spent much time getting travel insurance for herself and her partner. She had to pay more than she expected as her partner was having a birthday between the day she bought the service and the day of the trip. But she said it was well worth it for her peace of mind. The FAQ for today is: Where to find the best travel insurance for a long trip abroad. 1. Start with a neutral comparison engine; you can see this in the show notes. Why use it first? Where to click Smart filters to enable It lets you price 30-day single-trip plans from dozens of underwriters side-by-side, then click through to the policy certificate in one step. Squaremouth (toggle "Comprehensive" or "Medical-only" to see apples-to-apples pricing). Squaremouth Travel Insurance Medical ≥ $100k, Evac≥ $250k, "Cancel for Any Reason" if you want ma...

 Ecuador: planning Listener Story Spotlight I want to tell you about a listener named Pat who loves to take 40-minute walks. She does one every day. We have traveled together to Spain and have been ski buddies for over 10 years. She's a superb figure skater and loves cats. Maybe you even know my friend. Her last name is Brown, inspiring me to go to the Galapagos Islands this year. Thanks, Pat, for that encouragement.   The FAQ for today is:  How do you choose your outfits for weather conditions that constantly change? The answer is more straightforward than you think: It's basic colors, basic footwear, and layers, including a layer of insulated and waterproof clothing with a hat. You can also buy things along the journey, so if you don't have one now, you can get one later. What brings you more confidence? Is it knowing where you are going to sleep tonight? Is it knowing the language? Is it knowing you don't have to worry about anything? Let me know your thought...