Romantic Places in San Francisco. Above the Golden Gate Bridge with a view of the city.

1. The Marin Headlands  is open space above the Golden Gate Bridge and a perfect place to watch the sunset with your sweetheart. It’s a hilly peninsula at the southernmost end of Marin County located just north of San Francisco.  Your view will be the one on all the postcards – through the Golden Gate Bridge with the city in the distance. Crashing waves add a sense of drama below you. Take a bottle of wine and enjoy the view or the sunset on a clear day. There are several pull-outs and your can find a place to sit that isn’t often crowded, despite the amazing views. Bring a jacket because it can get windy or the fog could roll in, which just makes it more romantic. For maps and directions click here.

2. Crissy Field and the Fort Point National Historic Site

The view here is understatedly indescribable and breathtaking at the very least and grandeur … and amazing as well. Walk on the sandy beach and look across at Alcatraz, the Marin hills and the Golden Gate Bridge. Have a hot chocolate or double latte at The Warming Hut. Cuddle into each others’ arms as you walk out on the pier and watch the crab fisherman and boats along the bay.

3. Romantic vistas from Land’s End.  Walk hand-in-hand through the epic ruins of the Sutro Baths, at the end of Ocean Beach. Then hike along the hillsides of cypress and wildflowers, views of old shipwrecks pm trail called Land’s End on the northwest corner of San Francisco.

 4. The rooftop of the California Academy of Arts & Science

If you were to visit the museum on Friday nights, you’ll join a spectacular experience filled with live music, great DJs, alcohol and cooking demonstrations full of great food and useful learning resources. Be sure to take your sweetheart to the 2 and 1/2 acres of live plants and flowers blanketing the roof and watch the sunset over Golden Gate Park.

5. The top of Russian Hill. Climb the windy, crooked street of Lombard to the corner of Vallejo and Jones Streets for expansive city views surrounded by historic homes. 

6. Golden Gate Park- Rent a paddle boat from the boat house in Stowe Lake

This park is very serene and nice in many areas and contains specialty places such as conservatories and museums with a huge … selection of specialty gardens, such as the Japanese Tea Garden and the Botanical Garden. My favorite it Stowe Lake. You can rent a paddle boat and steal a kiss on the water, or walk around the lake and enjoy the island in the middle and the waterfall.

Trip Planning Apps

• GasBuddy – Find Cheap Gas Prices
• KAYAK
• TripAdvisor Hotel & Restaurants and Reviews
• (remember to toss out the over-the-top and complainer-bottom reviews and read the middle ones).
• Hotels.com – Hotel Booking and last minute hotel deals
• Priceline
• Expedia Hotels & Flights
• Hotel Tonight  (Make your reservations after noon same day for big discounts)   
• Rental Car Sites
• Wi-Fi Finder
• Orbitz Flights, Hotels, Cars

Money App  XE- Currency

Food Apps

• Yelp
• Open Table (will offer you directions)
• Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
• Chefs Feed

 Lost? To Find My Way:

Maps by Google to get directions, distances, time for travel and even traffic conditions.

Around Me to find gas stations, restaurants ATM machines hospitals, hotels and more.

To Help me Pack

Packing Pro: This app is fantastic to help you prepare for your trip. In addition to helping create multiple packing lists, it also helps you create “to do” lists. Check out my packing tips too.

To Know What the Weather Will Be

Weatherbug is a great app to save, and track, the weather conditions in up to 20 locations throughout the world and offers live webcam views of the weather in action.

To Stay Safe:

An App to help you out of a tight spot

Emergenseeapp transforms your smartphone into a free personal security system (aka personal bodyguard). With just a click of a button, you can transmit video, audio and GPS to your selected friends and family so that they can hear, see and track what’s going on. They can alert authority if you can’t.  http://www.emergenseeapp.com/

Call A Taxi: This app finds the closest taxi companies in your area. Let’s say you are stuck in the middle of a city that you are not familiar with and can’t find a taxi, this app will connect you to the closest taxi station.

To Stay Informed:

PressReader: With PressReader, you browse and read full digital replicas of over 2,200 newspapers and magazines from 97 countries just like you would in print regardless of where you travels take you. You can download, disconnect and read the world’s most popular full-content newspapers on your favorite Android operated device, BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone or Smartphone. pressreader.com/

To Stay Organized:

Tripit:  Tripit helps you consolidate all your travel reservations (hotels, air, car rentals, etc). Simply forward all your travel reservations to plans@tripit.com and Tripit builds an itinerary for you. In addition to being convenient, we like it because you can share your itineraries with your friends and family members who will know exactly which flight you are taking, where you are staying, etc. It’s great in case of emergency.

To Stay Fit And Healthy:

Calorie Counter Pro by MyNetDiary: It’s always so difficult to eat healthy while traveling and to stay in shape. This app is so far the best one on the market. It tracks everything you eat, how many calories you lose exercising, and gives you advice to reach your fitness goals. It also syncs with the website www.mynetdiary.com. If you are trying to shed a few pounds or just stay motivated, it is a must have!

MindBody: This app lets you find a gym class near you. Many of us miss our usual yoga, spinning, or Zumba classes while traveling. Mindbody is an app that finds the closest classes based on your location. Unfortunately, not every fitness center or gym is listed, but it’s a start.
Gym Finder: This app will help you find a gym or fitness center near you! If your hotel gym is too small you can see which fitness centers are near your hotel.

To Travel Like A Local:

All Subway: This app contains subway maps from hundred of cities around the world!

iMetro: is a handy app that provides metro/underground transport maps for 28 cities throughout the world. Each map is scalable and you can manipulate the screen to zoom in and find your way.

Google Translate: This app will not just translate your sentences, but it also speak them so you know how to pronounce the word as well. One word of caution:  some translations are not perfectly accurate — particularly long sentences — but this is one of the best apps in its genre available.

Just For Women:

Period Tracker: This app reminds you when you will get your period, the moods you may be feeling, and when you are the most fertile. It will also help you not to forget to pack tampons for your next business trip as finding them in other countries can prove difficult.
The Pill: This app reminds you when to take your birth control pill. It’s really convenient, especially when you travel in a different time zone.

To Stay in Touch with Friends and Family with Free Phone Calls

Skype of course.

Viber
There’s a wide range of apps out there that offer travelers an opportunity to keep in touch with their friends and families back home. One such example is Viber, an application that allows iPhone users to make free phone calls to fellow iPhone users no matter where in the world they are. Providing you and the call recipient both have iPhones, then international calls using Viber or Wi-Fi are completely free of charge.

To converts measurements

HiConverter
Can’t quite get used to the measurement systems in place abroad? HiConverter is a very handy app that quickly converts measurements from one system to another. Temperature, shoe sizes, distance, currency; you name it, it can convert it. The app also has the added advantage of being integrated with Tiptulator, an app that allows you to calculate the tip on a restaurant or bar bill.

To Convert Foreign Currency

XE Currency
XE Currency is a very popular app because it allows for very quick currency conversions and is capable of performing multiple conversions at the same time. The currency rates can refresh every 60 seconds meaning that you have the most up to date rate available at your fingertips. You can also program the app so that it automatically tracks the performance of a number of different currencies over time, great for expats who are investments in a variety of locations.

 For Audio Walking Tours, Places of Interest Nearby

 Tourcaster Walking Tours
For travelers who are interested in exploring on foot without being armed with an attention-grabbing tourist book, the Tourcaster audio walking tours app offers walking tours in popular destinations throughout the world. Load your virtual map and follow the onscreen instructions to explore the city and learn more of its history. Each tour is categorized according to difficulty, length and distance so you can fit your tours in around your schedule and explore at your own pace.

Triposo:  Do you still pack a bulky guidebook? The Triposo App offers you a way to find places of interest nearby.  The app automatically takes in to account the time of day, the weather, your location, and the opening hours of nearby places, and then suggest a plan for you. For example, if open the app at 10:00 a.m. on a rainy day, it may suggest a nearby museums that are open as well as cozy cafes. Find it on Apple, Android; Free.

* Thanks for my colleagues who presented their best tips at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show, Feb. 2013.

• Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases including everything from autos to health care
• Women represent the majority of the online mark*

Women– young, old, single, married, widowed and gutsy are fueling an explosive growth in travel industry.Estimates are that women will spend some $125 billion on travel in the next year.

Whether we are single or married, career women or stay-at-home moms, traveling with other women is empowering and good fun!

80% of all travel decisions are made by women.

Regardless of :
• who they travel with
• who pays for the trip
• or where they go

A woman is the decision maker.

75% of those who take cultural,
adventure or nature trips are women.

There has been a 230% increase in the number of women-only travel companies in past six years.

With 67 million participants, the potential of the women’s market exceeds $19 trillion annually.

Women also travel differently than men do.

87% of women say they go for the beautiful scenery, compared with 72% of men,
According to Market Researcher Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell.

While statistics are limited, an estimated 32 million single American women traveled at least once in the last year, and about three in 10 made tracks five times or more, according to the Travel Industry Association.

Bachelorette-hood: The number of single women age 35 and older has been increasing and now totals 28 million, the Census Bureau says.

The average adventure traveler is not a 28-year old male, but a 47-year-old female. And she wears a size 12 dress.

Women spend an average of $295 annually per individual on outdoor apparel and equipment, according to OutdoorIndustry.org

Who’s Traveling?

- Many older women are also experiencing this rite of passage.
- An increasing portion of solo female travelers are Baby Boomers and single mothers.

The travel industry is just waking up to the economic power of women.

Latest Statistics

February 2013.

According to Intrepid Travel, who booked over 100,00 US passengers for 2012,  63% were female (this is on par with the global figure of 64%).  The majority of our travellers are aged between 25 – 39 (46%).  So female travelers between the ages of 25 and 39 are their biggest market.

The girlfriend getaway market represent a significant amount of money – four percent of all U.S. travel spending, which is almost $200 million a year. 24 percent of American women have taken a girlfriend getaway in the past three years, and 39 percent of American women plan on taking one in the next three years. Source: AAA Girlfriend Travel Research Project #070005

Over 80% of those working women who purchased travel products or services offline in the past month researched their purchases online beforehand. Sources: Nielsen Net Ratings/WashingtonPost.com and Newsweek.com

Don’t forget. An effective way to reach your female audience is through online community sites. According to comScore, women’s community sites jumped 35 percent, particularly Glam Media and iVillage.com.

Research about women’s travel trends is fragmented by age, activities, and nationality.

Tour operators and travel  agent research indicates that:

70% of travel decisions of made by women. This statistic applies to women who are booking cruises, group travel, tours or tickets through an agent. When you add in online travel purchases, the amount rises to 92%.

2012  PULSE POLL: WOMEN’S TRAVEL HABITS by Travel Guard
by the insurance company Travel Guard polled travel agents to learn more about women’s travel habits.
Results are below.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Women often travel together, and it is no different when it comes to booking trips. According to travel agents, the majority (91%) of female clients who book trips with other females are traveling with their friends, while only 8% are traveling with relatives.

Gutsy Traveler (HEY, thanks for using my website name and branding in your study!!) : According to the majority (55%) of travel agents, the most common reason women travel solo is because they value their independence and are sophisticated enough to travel alone. Some agents (28%) believe it is because they are interested in visiting an unusual destination, while 9% indicated their clients do so because they prefer making their own schedule. Only 4% of travel agents noted their female clients travel solo to reconnect with themselves.

Shop ‘Til You Drop: When women book travel, the majority (27%) of travel agents believe sightseeing and shopping are the most popular activities, as opposed to 1% who believe women book travel for voluntourism. Travel agents noted their female clients booking solo and group trips travel for a variety of reasons, including history, culture and education (17%), beach escapes (16%), adventure travel (15%) and cruises (13%).

Golden Years: According to 68% of travel agents, most female clients taking trips in small groups are over the age of 45. Women ranging between 35-44 years old make up 26% of those traveling in groups, while 5% are between the ages of 25-34. Only 1% are between 18-24 years old. Following the same trend, the majority (81%) of solo female travel clients are over 45 years old, while only 13% are between 35-44 years old. Only 6% of solo travelers are between 25-34, and 1% are between 18-24 years old.
Contact me for more up-to-date statistics, I keep track of many sources.

* Quote from Marketing2Women http://www.m2w.biz/

Toasting The Sundance Kid in the photo behind me at Sundance Resort.

Sundance Kid, a mail-order catalogue, a film festival, or a cable channel. To me, however, Sundance equals a majestic mountain retreat—nestled at the foot of a ski mountain in a grove of aspen trees.

Intimate, unpretentious and rustic by design, 
Sundance differs from o

ther resorts in more than size. Founded by Robert Redford in 1969, this 6,000-acre community preserved with ruggedly elegant guest accommodations is devoted to maintaining a balance of recreation, arts and the environment. Sundance is a short 50-minute (mostly interstate) drive from the Salt Lake City airport, yet it is a world away when it comes to atmosphere.

A gurgling creek winds through the forest and around bucolic cottages. Every detail of the property, lodge, restaurant and cottages is aesthetically pleasing. Stop to admire the mint-condition saddle at the entrance to the Owl Bar or enjoy the murals of horses and antique farm tools in the Foundry Grill over French Toast at breakfast.

Every season offers a reason to visit from summer cultural events in the mountainside amphitheater for concerts, plays and performances by the Utah Symphony to the Author Series, Film Festival and Food and Wine Festival.

Winter Wonderland. If you’re looking for a glamorous ski resort filled with action, lots of
dining options and chic entertainment, Sundance is not for you. If, like me, you enjoy nature, solitude and Native American and western décor in warm  cottages, then you’ll love Sundance.

Discreetly tucked into a rugged canyon of the Wasatch Mountain Range, Sundance offers guests a lodging choice of studios, or suites with full kitchens, and living and dining areas. Twelve rental homes up the canyon’s single road are also available. I stayed in a wood-beamed Mountain Suite, with a separate bedroom, full kitchen, dining area, and fireplace. It was tastefully decorated with Native American rugs and blankets. I built a fire in the stone fireplace and could have nestled in for a week, but powder skiing beckoned.

The overwhelming effect is one of warmth and comfort.
-Travel & Leisure -

The ski mountain, at 8,200 feet, has 41 runs. Although it is not as large or high as those found an hour away at Deer Valley,  Alta, Park City, or Snowbird, it has enough expert and intermediate runs to hold the interest of skiers who want to get away from the crowds and enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

After a day on the mountain, create your own piece of jewelry in the Art Shack, enjoy the warmth of a leisurely meal beside a crackling fire in the Foundry Grill, attend a yoga class, or go horseback riding.

After three days of skiing, and competing with myself on the slopes, I slipped into the art studio and let my creative self take over.  After collecting pine needles and choosing my own color palette, I made the first “print” of my life. It’s frame-able in my humble opinion.

Ready to relax? Then pamper yourself shamelessly at the spa, inspired by Native American philosophy for a sacred environment for the restoration and healing of the body and spirit. In six soft-lit, natural wood rooms, massage therapists blend Native American traditions, organic products, and the human touch to bring your mind, body, and spirit back into perfect balance. I indulged in the Sage and Sweet Grass Ritual which included a Great Salt Lake Mud body wrap and essential oil re-hydration. This purifying, energizing therapy is enriched with the ritual Smudging (sweeping the smoke) of White Sage and Sweet Grass.

The Salt Lake mud wrap at the spa is perfect after a day of skiing.

Why sage and sweet grass?

Sage, a powerful medicine and purifier, is burned as a protection against malevolent energies. It is used to establish a sacred boundary and to connect people with the spirit world.

Braided Sweet Grass reminds us of Mother Earth. It’s smoke is used to call blessings and send prayers to the Great Spirit (Wakan Takan). Sweet Grass is believed to carry the deep wisdom of the Earth.

The blissful body treatment was accompanied by the sound of soft Native American music and the crackling fire outside the door and the scent of burning sage.

The tree trunk rising through the restaurant’s roof brings you close to nature. The rustic elegance of candlelight and white linen tablecloths is complimented by the fine Native American art from Robert Redford’s private collection.

Evening arrives and it’s time to cozy up to someone special and revel in comfort food from the distinguished chef at the Tree Room Restaurant, recipient of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond and Wine Spectator Awards. The ambiance is romantic, with soft candlelight. The walls are hung with Native American art, and the room has a museum-quality collection of Hopi Kachina dolls and memorabilia from Robert Redford’s personal collection.

In the spring and summer things really heat up in Sundance.

Whether you cruise out to the Statue of Liberty, gaze at the flickering lights of lower Manhattan’s skyscrapers or explore SoHo or the East Village, New York holds immense romantic appeal for everyone.

 
New York City’s average daily room rate in 2012 was a whopping $290, according to NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization. My philosophy is to save on accommodations and spend on entertainment.

Affordable Stay     Pod 51  

Save your money for entertainment. Try the Pod Hotel bunks in private rooms.

With a room rates starting at $89 per night, Pod 51 was one of the originators of the micro-hotel concept and accommodates the needs of today’s savvy, “young-minded” traveler. Located in Midtown East and a short walk from Central Park, this hotel offers vibrant communal spaces and amenities including a seasonal outdoor/indoor café, and a beautiful rooftop garden where you can hang out and relax after exploring the city.

THE OUT NYC

-          Starting a $69 per bed per night, THE OUT NYC’s ‘Shared Luxury     Accommodations’ comfortably sleep four

people, perfect for families on the go, a group of friends traveling together or the social traveler looking to make friends while traveling. The rooms are just steps from some popular destinations including Times Square and Broadway. In addition to the desirable location, guests who spend a long day on their feet can relax and enjoy amenities at The Spa at THE OUT NYC including saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and more – the facilities are complementary to guests staying at the hotel.

Find Your Style in New York City Views from the roof of the Pod Hotel.

The cozy rooms at The Jane Hotel.

-          Following a full restoration, this 1907 West Village hotel has been reincarnated as an edgy 200-room micro hotel for plucky travelers with more “dash than cash.” The Jane’s famous 50 square-foot Standard room is offered at the exceptional starting price of $99 per night. All of the rooms are designed like luxury train cabins with a single bed, built-in drawers, luggage rack, personal television, and come with river views or a balcony.

Play

Many of New York City’s best landmarks and attractions can cost a pretty penny. Even with a great hotel rate there are additional ways to stretch your travel budget for a splurge-worthy treat while still experiencing the best frill and thrills.

Skip the Tour Bus

-          Sightseeing bus tours cost upwards of $54 a person. New York City was made for walking and Pod Hotels now offer their guests free guided city walking tours with authentic NYC tour company, Streetwise. From exploring the immigrant and hipster neighborhoods of Lower East Side and Chinatown to discovering the artistic character of the High Line and West Village, the Pod tours will show you the neighborhoods by day before you come back to experience them at night.

-          Have a DIY attitude? Pick up a custom made guide map at The Jade Hotel and explore the windy and historic cobble stone streets of Greenwich Village; where 19th century row hoses and warehouses became the places where Jazz, art, gay rights and culture thrived.

A cool book with 14 great walks through the streets of Manhattan.

Additional free activities can include…

-          Wandering around Central Park

-          Riding the Staten Island Ferry and experiencing amazing views of lower Manhattan

-          Visiting Grand Central Terminal – celebrating their 100 year anniversary

-          Reading your way through the New York Library

-          Gawking at Times Square

-          Visiting the Apple Store at 58th Street and Fifth Avenue which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year

-          Window shopping along Fifth Avenue

All Photos @Brent Miller, WineCountry.com

“The Gourmet Mile” in Yountville, a small town with a big reputation for exceptional cuisine and extraordinary wine. Located in the heart of Napa, about an hour drive from San Francisco, the dining tables of some of America’s most celebrated chefs are within walk distance of one another. In fact, Yountville boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants within the city limits of the town than anywhere in the world.

You’ll find plenty of sassy shops, antique stores, a full service spa, bike rentals, wineries for tasting and hot-air balloon rides. But foodies know Yountville best for its hedonistic dinning.

The culinary competition is fierce within a one mile radius in this little town and you really can’t go wrong with any of the stellar restaurants.

Where to dine?

The French Laundry is known as the “temple of gastronomy” and has been awarded Three Stars, the highest rating, in the Michelin Guide.  It is considered by many to be the finest restaurant in the United States.  Reservations are often made 60 days in advance, but once in a while they actually get a cancellation and the vacancy could be yours. Reservations got even harder when Chef Thomas Keller was named the top chef in America by the James Beard Foundation. Then the New York Times called the Laundry the “most exciting restaurant in the United States.”

A more affordable option and easier to get into than the French Laundry, the Parisian Bistro Bouchon offers reliable, irresistible classic French fare. Bouchon has been awarded One Star in the Michelin Guide. Don’t miss the French onion soup. You’ll want to come back for seconds.

Redd’s chef is Richard Reddington, formerly at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, Masa’s in San Francisco at Spago in Beverly Hills pleases guests with special tasting menus of five to nine courses. Redd’s also has the coveted One Star in the Michelin Guide.

Bottega – one of our favorites — is a quintessential Napa Valley hot spot, with indoor and patio dining, where celebrity chef Michael Chiarello showcases creative Italian cuisine.

Bistro Jeanty (we recommend the coq au vin and the crepe suzette), Brix Restaurant and Gardens, Ad Hoc and Hurley’s are also worthy of praise.

When to go?

Anytime. Winter in wine country is quiet and bucolic with no crowds and light traffic. The valley begins to warm up in March when the yellow, wild mustard starts to bloom and the daytime temperatures reach the low 60’s. April through October is the most crowded times to visit. In any season it’s wise to book your hotel and get dinning reservations in

The wild mustard blooms between the grape vines in March.
Photos @Brent Miller, WineCountry.com

advance.

Sleep, Spa, Shop at the Vintage Estate

The Vintage Estate boasts two award-winning boutique hotels – Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa – the luxurious Spa Villagio; Restaurant Boteggo; and specialty shops of V Marketplace. Flowing waterways weave through lush green gardens and olive groves, past the heated pool with private cabanas, to a setting accented by vineyards, fountains and statues at the French and Tuscany themed properties. A complimentary bottle of Chardonnay welcomes you to a spacious room with cozy fireplace, oversize whirlpool tub, and the finest linens. Complimentary afternoon tea service and champagne breakfast feature an abundance of local products.

The Spa Villagio is a haven for rest and relaxation in a garden setting with fountains and olive groves. Pamper yourself with the 100-minute “Aromasoul Mediterranean Ritual”. A scrub infused with basil, mandarin orange and lemon blended in jojoba oil, revitalizes even the most weary traveler. It is followed by a body wrap and full body massage.

Shopping meets the wine country lifestyle at the specialty shops in V Marketplace. Stroll through the 1870’s building for beauty and bath products, vintage clothing wine and wine accessories, or gifts to take home for family and friends. The variety of cooking accessories, gourmet olive oils, salts and cookbooks at NapaStyle will tempt you to buy gifts for all your girlfriends.

Planning Your Trip

Yountville Chamber of Commerce

www.yountville.com

Villagio Inn & Spa or Vintage Inn

www.villagioinn.com 707-944-1112

** Thank you WineCountry.com and Brent Miller for use of the photos.

Don’t get caught in a bind without cash or with credit cards that have been deactivated.

1. Plastic Promises Power

Bring  plastic and debit cards. Two credit cards, two debit cards. Forget about Travelers’ Checks, They are a hassle to get changed. Fewer and fewer banks offer the service of cashing travelers’ checks and be aware that is it is also increasingly difficult to converting U.S. dollars to the local currency.

2. Debit vs. Cash Advance

The easiest way to obtain cash in the USA and worldwide is to withdraw it from an automatic teller machine with your debit card. There are ATM machines available in most destinations (except in Myanmar and rural areas of developing countries).

NOTE: Most banks will charge a withdrawal fee if you don’t have an account with them. Ask your bank about fees before you leave. Some banks, like First Republic, will reimburse all fees charged.

NOTE: Using your Debit Card is the way to go. When you make a “Cash Advance” on your credit cards you’ll pay higher fees. Again, ask your Credit Card provider what they charge so you don’t have an unpleasant surprise when you get your bill.

3. Cash is King

The Asian tsunami hit when my family and I were in Thailand. We had a close call but were not injured. There was a power outage, so credit cards and ATM cards couldn’t be used.  I had a similar situation in Chatham, Massachusetts during a hurricane. Several hundred dollars in cash, in small bills, helped to buy supplies, baby food and flashlight batteries.

4. Don’t get stranded

Once in Budapest my debit card was suddenly deactivated and I was stuck for a weekend with no cash.  I learned that banks and credit card companies will deactivate your credit and debit cards if they see financial activity far from home to help protect you.  Before you leave home call all your credit card and debit card companies. The number is on the back of the cards. This simple phone call can save you this trouble. They will add a “Travel Alert” onto your account. If they are unaware you are traveling and see unfamiliar spending patterns from a foreign country they may freeze your credit or debit card.

5. Money in the bank but not in the pocket.

Another time in Paris I ran out of cash during a long holiday weekend and the ATM machines were also out of cash! Don’t wait until you’re out of money to get more cash. ATM machines can be broken or out-of-cash on holiday weekends.

With one small lock you can turn your luggage into a safe to protect your laptop, iPad, smartphone money, jewelry and other valuables when you leave your hotel room.

Lock it up

Many hotels, condos, or hostels don’t have “in-room safes”.  Put your passport, cell phone, tablet, and extra cash in your luggage when you leave your room. Use a small combination lock to secure the zipper so you have created your own “safe”.

Money Madness 

When you need extra cash select ATM machines in visible, well-lighted locations. Look around for lurking strangers before you begin the transaction.

                             Secure pockets are priceless

This travel vest has 17 pockets and most sizes have a pocket for your ipad too!

Prevent the loss or theft of valuables like wallets, passports, or phones by wearing clothing with pockets secured by zippers, button or Velcro. Men should keep wallets in a front pants pocket, vest or coat pocket. Ladies, if you carry a small purse, keep it zipped shut and wear it snuggled tightly against your body. Limit the amount of cash and the number of credit cards you carry and keep them in separate pockets.   My favorite travel vest has 17 secure pockets .

http://www.scottevest.com/

Bar behavior

Drugging occasionally occurs in bars.   Always open your own drinks, watch the bartender pour your drink, don’t leave it unattended while you go to the restroom or to dance and only take drinks from a close friends (not a new acquaintance).  Rophynol, the date rape drug, is odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is a tranquilizer that can be slipped into your drink by someone who would like to have sex with someone who is heavily sedated.  If you are at a party, don’t accept a glass of punch unless you trust the host.  Overall, avoid using alcohol and other drugs to excess. Switch between alcohol and water.  Impaired judgment can put you in potentially dangerous situations.

Safety in numbers

Practice the buddy system.  Select a friend on the trip that will watch your back and vise-versa. Promise each other you won’t leave a bar or party without them.  Avoid going off with strangers and never go to their apartments.

Use your city smarts.  When you get to your destination find out what are the safe and unsafe neighborhoods in town. If you feel something is off, wrong, strange – get out, move on, flee, scream, whatever is appropriate. Do it quickly.

An App to help you out of a tight spot

A new mobile app transforms your smartphone into a free personal security system (aka personal bodyguard). With just a click of a button, you can transmit video, audio and GPS to your selected friends and family so that they can hear, see and track what’s going on. They can alert authority if you can’t.  http://www.emergenseeapp.com/

• Free Homestays. www.tripping.com for couches to castles. Join their global community and meet locals for coffee, conversation, parties and homestays in over 175 countries.
• U.S. Servas www.usservas.org  members are hosts and travelers of all ages, abilities and walks of life. More than 1500 hosts cover the whole spectrum of diversity. Through Servas’ enlightening visits, participants come face to face with new peoples and cultures to further their understanding of the lives and concerns of others. Your participation and the friendships you’ll discover can make a difference in your life and the world you live in.In addition to the benefits of traveling and hosting, Servas also provides volunteer opportunities, hosts local gatherings and dinners, and sponsors national and international conferences, and summer universities. USSERVAS.org
• CouchSurfing helps you make new friends all over the world. And you may even get your own bed and bedroom! www.couchsurfing.org
• A free network of people around the world who offer free accommodation, advice and help when they are traveling – hospitality exchange is the Hospitality Club. Free membership.www.hospitatityclub.org
• meetup.com is for neighbors or travelers to meet others with a common interest ranging from sailing meet-ups to to French conversation.
• Meet others through your local walking tour guide. www.contexttravel.com offers scholar-led tours of the world’s cultural capitals. Context provides an in-depth alternative to traditional tours. We are a network of architects, historians, art historians, and other specialists who organize walks in 21 cities around the world—and counting.
• Stay in someone’s home. Check out www.airbnb.com to rent from people in 34,183 cities and 192 countries.

Hike or ride mules down into the Grand Canyon.

My parents saved all year for our summer family vacations.  Mom, dad and four kids piled into the station wagon and we headed west from Ohio to Wyoming, Arizona and California.

There is no better way to have an appreciation of our own country and our Wild West History than to visit America’s National Parks.

If you haven’t see the Grand Canyon or Old Faithful in Yellowstone, this summer may be the time to explore America.  Planning a vacation to the parks, many located in remote areas with limited accommodations, requires more advance work than a spontaneous trip to a resort or amusement park.

Wild bison on the road in Yellowstone.

1.    For the best lodging choices, make your reservations in advance. After emphasizing increased capacity from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s, parks have seen the number of overnight accommodations available to the public remain stable. The result is that travelers have learned to reserve their rooms and cabins early. In Grand Canyon National Park, Xanterra,operator of lodges, restaurants, and activities begins accepting reservations the first of the month for that month the following year. In Yellowstone, the company accepts reservations in May for the following summer.

2.    Follow the same early booking for camp sites. For links to all National Parks and campground reservations sites check out:  www.nps.gov/findapark/ or   www.recreation.gov/  877-444-6777

Seeing Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone National Park thrills every visitor.

3. But don’t assume everything is sold out. Because some vacationers make their plans far in advance, they often have to change or cancel existing reservations. Be as flexible as possible with travel dates.

4.    Be persistent. Rooms and c amp sites open up – and are often very quickly re-booked – every day. The quickest way to check availability is by going to the web site and following the link for reservations. Bookmark the web site and check it frequently to see if rooms have become available.

5.    Be web-savvy. The quickest way to secure national park lodge rooms is to book them online.  Websites are www.grandcanyonlodges.com,  www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com, www.zionlodge.com, www.craterlakelodges.com and www.furnacecreekresort.com (Death Valley).

Cabin with a view at Zion National Park.

6.    Choose your “dream” lodge, but resolve to be flexible. In Yellowstone, Crater Lake and Grand Canyon National Parks, the first lodges to sell out are typically the historic ones such as Crater Lake Lodge, Old Faithful Inn and El Tovar. There are already some summer 2013 dates that are sold out in these locations.  If rooms aren’t available at your first choice, look for other lodge choices or even different dates. Even if guests cannot find rooms at their first-choice lodges, they can always experience those lodges by dining and relaxing there. And remember that rooms do sometimes open up later due to cancellations by other guests, so it is possible to switch lodges later.

7.    Book  dinner reservations. Dining rooms do fill, so if you want a meal in one of the lodges, plan ahead. Popular activities like the Old West Cookout at Yellowstone’s Roosevelt Lodge fill up fast too.

8.    Travel during the first two weeks of June, the last two weeks of August or the first two weeks of September. Families with schoolchildren are either winding down after the end of school or gearing up for the beginning of school, so those periods — although still considered peak season — are a little slower than the rest of the summer.

9.    Watch out for third-party reservations web sites that charge a non-refundable fee to make reservations at in-park lodges.

10.    Consider packages. Yellowstone has introduced a series of value-focused Summer Adventure Packages combining lodging, some meals and variety of activities such as guided hikes and scenic boat cruises of Yellowstone Lake. Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz. offers a variety of packages including the Canyon Discovery Plus, with lodging in Williams as well as at the Grand Canyon South Rim, coach class train travel to and from the Canyon and some meals.