Travel Tips
Message from Marybeth
I’m excited to have you on my site. My credentials: Traveled to over 90 countries worldwide National Geographic Travel Book Author Meet the Gutsy Traveler. Video. Bon Voyage.
Ten Best Travel Books for Adventurous Professional Travelers. France. Italy.
“Books to spark your wanderlust for travel to France, Italy and beyond,” was the subject of an interview I recently did with PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). What do you think of the ten best books I recommended? France: A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway, La Seduction by Elaine Sciolino. The Piano Shop on the Left [...]
Ten Things to Pack in your Cruise or Travel Bag
What should every traveler pack whether for a trip by land or sea? Don’t forget the dental floss. 1. A large safety-pin or a clothespin to fully close the hotel or cruise ship cabin drapes. 2. Passport and a photocopy. Before you go make a PDF of your passport and full trip itinerary and store [...]
Disaster Tip: Panama Provides Emergency Medical Insurance
If you’re a thoughtful Gutsy Traveler, before you leave on a trip, you check to make sure that you’re covered by health insurance. Here’s good news from Panama. As an official Panamanian brochure states, “If you are a tourist and have a medical emergency, Panama gives you free insurance for 30 days.” The flyer says [...]
Meeting the locals at an Indian Village in Panama
In the far northwestern corner of Panama, tucked up next to the border with Costa Rica, the relatively undiscovered Bocas del Toro islands not only have both beautiful beaches and captivating marine animals, but this archipelago also contains intact indigenous Indian culture. In some locations, respectful visitors can be welcomed in an Ngobe Indian village. [...]
Budget Traveler Tells Five Things Not to Do in London
London has no shortage of attractions. Whether you’re into food (best Indian food, hands down), shopping (Harrods…need I say more?), sports (nothing better than a pint of ale and some footie in the pub), or art (Tate modern, V & A, the British Museum, to name a few)—there is something for everyone. Even for the [...]
Travel Advice. Three tricks to get the kids involved on a family vacation
The Three Ps of Engaging Your Kids in Your Family Vacation Every year, I’d take my kids on a family vacation—the Grand Canyon, the Monterey Aquarium, Yosemite. When they were little, it was easy to keep them engaged and happy. Then they hit their teenage years and it was all I could do to get [...]
The Perfect Travel Shoes and Carry-On Bag
I think I found the perfect travel shoes and carry-on. I wear out these black bags yearly. They’re big enough to hold all of your carry-on stuff: a book for reading, inflatable pillow, water bottle, soft socks and warm shawl, chocolate truffles, eye shield, ear plugs, head phones and toothbrush/toothpaste! Important qualities for travel carry [...]
Lessons learned from the Costa Concordia and Titanic tragedy?
Public’s memory is short and enthusiasm for cruising is high but there are some cruise survival tactics we can take away from this tragedy. See insurance Q&A below. Don’t panic. Have a plan. Make your own decisions. In an emergency pack your passport, and other IDs, credit cards, all your cash and warm clothes. Listen [...]
Ten Ways to Protect Your Eyes When Traveling
Some of us have to learn the hard way. After my two-year-around the world trip I discovered I had damaged my eyes by not wearing proper eye protection. My perfect 20/20 eyesight was compromised due to over- exposure to harmful UV rays. How do you protect your eyes from dry airports, hotels, and the elements? [...]
