Travel News

The best of travel and discovery from around the web, curated especially for curious women 60+.

August 2017

• We all love the next big trendy thing, and that appears to be the town of Hudson, New York, about 100 miles north of New York City. (Full disclosure: Hudson is my new hometown, so I love this shout-out.)
• The BIG news for August is, of course, the solar eclipse on August 21st. Here’s everything you need to time it, watch it and track it, either from your front porch or along its diagonal path across the U.S. It won’t happen again for awhile. Pray for (eclipsed) sunny skies that day.
• Readers of this blog know I’m quite a fan of London. So trust me when I say, this is a pretty comprehensive list of what-to-do’s even if Mayfair isn’t my favorite.
• No official word yet, but AirBandB is poised to further shake things up in the luxury market.  It appears to be a quiet pilot….
• Considering a cruise for the first time?  Here is a list of the best, based on travel style, interests and budget.
• It’s high summer, but not too early to be thinking about Fall travel. Jet Blue has some offers on the table that will be difficult to refuse.
• Are you a worldly, can’t-get-anything-past-me traveler? Add these tips to your knowledge base.  Now you really do know everything.

July 2017

• Armrests are probably the most coveted airplane seat real estate, especially in coach.  Who do they belong to? Click here, and stake your turf.
• Walking across/around the U.K. is a national passion. Soon, you’ll be able to cross the Emerald Isle by canoe. Knees and hips are cheering this news.
• We know the big question on everyone’s mind: where to swim in Paris.  And here is the answer – it’s so simple, really.
• And here is the beach you’ve been waiting for in London. Isn’t there something we could do with the Hudson River?
• Meanwhile, we’ve got a solar eclipse a’commin’ across the U.S,  August 21st. Here are the best places to view nature’s rare event.
• Expect travel to become more expensive in 2018, say the experts. So book early, especially air fares.
• Flight attendants are always (usually) welcoming but behind that smile, they’re sizing you up.  Here is the inside scoop on their assessment, and here are tips to win their love.
• I love UNESCO World Heritage Sites – it’s always a pleasant surprise to run across one when traveling. Here is a list of favorites in the U.S. –  a reminder of how much there is to savor – historically, culturally, and in natural beauty – right here at home.
• The latest on ‘must have’ travel apps? Here it is. I will attest to City Mapper; it’s been a lifesaver London – have to say easier than Google Maps (sorry, Google)
• Travelers to New England: know your lobster rolls!  Do you know the difference between Maine and Connecticut variations?  Travel informed.
• It’s July, it’s hot. That means ice in your cocktail. Click to travel the world and savor the best refreshments without leaving your back porch. Or the air conditioner. Recipes included!
• Whatever your view on the climate, Mother Nature is changing things up. Nowhere more so than ANTARCTICA, with a bigger-than-Rhode Island iceberg now floating free-form in the South Atlantic.  Click here.
• Maybe you, like me, had a young flirtation with the idea of becoming what was then known as an ‘airline stewardess’. Click to see the latest in-flight uniforms though it’s hard to imagine how some designs suit every body type….be sure to check out the ultra-glam Hainan wardrobe, which resonates the golden era, long ago, of air travel.

 

April-June 2017

• For many of us, ordering wine in a foreign country can be daunting. Here are some tips to keep it simple, and be fairly assured of success at a reasonable price point.
• What’s the best day to book an airline ticket?  Many opinions, but here’s a report that puts teeth in the advice that Sunday is the day.
• There’s a whole culture around the Great American Road Trip. That and apple pie.  Click to see some of the best, sea to shining sea. (and, as Texas hill country is on that list, hop on over to the 3 Score blog post on same)

March 2017

•  If you’ve done a river cruise and you’re hankering for more exotic locals, click here.  Think small ships and big continents: Asia, South America, India.   All way beyond the Danube.
•  Even in the face of geopolitical change, some things are inviolate. Such as the tourism agreement between London and Paris, post-Brexit. 
•  Maybe I’ve taken too many AMTRAK trips but to me, this sets a new standard, worldwide. Reason enough to get on a plane, just to take the train.
•  Headed to Paris? Hot new restaurant to try; probably not on the tourists’ list.
• Looking for the ultimate afternoon tea experience? Try this, with a Willie Wonka theme.
• If afternoon tea in London isn’t your cuppa, try the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Can’t hurt.
• St Patrick’s Day is next week. A trip to Ireland? The bigger celebrations are across U.S. cities with large Irish-heritage populations.  Check out some surprising stats here.
• Tax season is here and hopefully so is your refund. What to do? Travel, of course. Here are some ideas.
• Air B&B is digging deep to broaden their luxury offerings. Think sleeping in a nicer guest room. Way nicer.
• Spring is around the corner, and no place on earth does Spring like New York City. Here’s the best list of ‘to-do’s’ I’ve seen in a while. Strongly recommend to locals and visitors alike. Note the outdoor fun – just another reason to enjoy – and love –  the world’s greatest city.
• The French are getting a wall, too. Naturally, theirs is much classier.  Not to mention having a real purpose.
• Nothing good about the middle seat? The Shore Hotel in Santa Monica is offering a free room upgrade for passengers into LAX who’ve braved the inconvenience. Offer good until May 26, 2017.  Hurry while those middle seats last.
• Living aboard a cruise ship. Isn’t that everyone’s passing fantasy? Just once? Click through to see how it’s done.

February 2017

• Wellness Retreats – doesn’t the sound of that just make you feel better? Best news: they are not all in the far-flung corners of the world. Check out this photo essay. Namaste.
• Starbucks to open its first store in Italy!  Talk about taking coals to Newcastle!
• In the ‘you always wondered’ department: why airlines insist on open window shades during take-off and landing.
• Tempted to try a cruise, yet have a long list of negatives, from boredom to seasickness? Here are some suggestions that might help you to re-consider…..
• With a long weekend approaching, getaways are top of mind. But when isn’t a weekend getaway on the radar? Here are some interesting U.S. city destinations, perfect for a 2-3 day ramble… and some of them might surprise you.
• Patagonia Sportswear has long been the gold standard of socially responsible merchandising in fashion. Here are more reasons to seek out the brand when looking for quality – and snazzy – outdoor wear. It’s about more than puffy jackets.
• Here’s a good list of must-have’s in your carry-on. For domestic flights, I’d swap out the passport for credit cards. For some reason the headline says “12 things”; I counted 11. Go figure.
• Cheers to Queen Elizabeth II in her sapphire jubilee year (that’s 65, and counting). Creating her own bubbly – now that’s the way to celebrate! Sadly, it’s sold out. Long live the Queen.
• Eurostar’s new lounge in Paris’ Gare du Nord. Champagne AND WiFi. AMTRAK, please note.
• Because you can’t plan too far ahead: Tickets for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea are now on sale. Get ’em while they last.
• Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Your plans may not include a trip to Paris, but just vicariously, here are some hotel suggestions that are, well, “Ooo! La La”.
• Headed to London, or even thinking about it?  Go soon,  before the city enacts a 5% tourist tax on hotel accommodation, an idea now under consideration.
• These days, flying Economy can mean different things.  Read how airlines are redefining what the new “Economy” really means, and why it might not be such a great deal after all.

 

• Up in the wild blue yonder: American Airlines is phasing out seatback video screens (and upgrading in-flight internet – YAY!); most vexing to all air travelers – small airplane bathrooms; and, the latest on the best time to buy airline tickets.
• Here’s an enticing photo essay on Air B+B destinations for that cozy winter getaway you’ve been dreaming about. Now all you need to do is book it.
• Oscar season is upon us but for travelers, the question is where was it filmed? Check out the locations of the 2017 Best Picture nominees. Some are sure to be next season’s hot tourist destinations (and some already are).  Each film’s “official” trailer is included for context.
• Sometimes travel is a state of mind. Just because you can’t go to Paris, doesn’t mean you can’t experience it. Which you can, with a subscription to this charming newsletter Do It In Paris. And you can do it in English or French. We won’t tell.
• Women-only clubs seem to be sprouting up all over. They’re a refuge, part intellectual hub, part social/professional networking center. And delightfully appointed, it appears. Here are a few that sound interesting; I’m ready to sign up!
• OK; you can stay at a hotel; Air B+B has made a business out of house-guesting; why not a castle, when in Scotland.  Here’s a photo gallery of a couple of nominees for Best Castle to Stay In when in the land of the Scots.
• Technology has certainly caught up with luggage – 3 Score reviewed Away’s phenomenal carry on (at a great price point, too) and here’s another, by Raden, that is hot, hot, hot.
• Expedia’s airline passenger poll reveals the most annoying in-flight behavior. Not surprisingly, the top 2: Rear Seat Kickers followed by Inattentive Parents. See how they go hand-in-hand? Click through to see how the full list compares to your own.
• Florida is a big winter destination; beaches, boating, and bikinis come to mind. Here’s an inspiring photo gallery of wildlife and eco-experiences found in the Sunshine State – from swimming with manatees to gliding over the Dry Tortugas, the most inaccessible national park in the U.S. And here is 3 Score’s recommendation for a Miami getaway!
• It happens to the most experienced traveler: going to the wrong departure airport!  It’s stressful but salvageable. Here is 3 Score’s take on damage control when realize….whoops wrong airport!
• Headed to Italy?  Train travel is, in my opinion, the ideal way to visit a country – fast, efficient, safe, linking fabulous cities via gorgeous countryside. Train information and station customs are sometimes confusing and not all information is available in English, especially in smaller cities. Here’s a great primer on the Italian train system.
• Leaving your dog behind when flying off to a vacation destination is often wrenching. Here’s a great guide for how Fido might travel with you, or, have a quality canine vacation, too!  Woof, woof!
• It’s January and all we can think of is a get-a-way to swaying palms, golden beaches, maybe a bungalow over the water.  Can’t get to the Maldives for this kind of paradise? It is now available in Jamaica, close enough to the U.S. for a long weekend of bliss. Ahhhh.
• O Canada!  In honor of Canada’s 150th birthday, the country is throwing the biggest and best party ever – waiving admission fees in all 44 national parks during 2017.  If you can’t make them all, here are a few suggestions…
• Bibliophiles, rejoice!  Here’s your chance to snuggle up to books day and night, at the U.K.s only residential library, in Wales.
•  It may seem obvious, but here are 10 Things You Should Never Do in an Airport
• New York women have a penchant – and reputation – for style. Here are some of the guidelines to achieve the “New York look”.  Spoiler alert – yep, black rules, but not exclusively.
•  Inspiring, fun and well, memorable, quotes on style from older women who DGAF.  I’m sure you can figure out the acronym.
•  I did this walk along Italy’s Cinque Terra in 1990, and it is still one of the most memorable trips of my lifetime.  It’s doable at any age and would be a great inter-generational adventure.