About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

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Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas! Famous for the “Las Vegas Bachelorette Party” or more low-key girlfriend getaways, Las Vegas offers it all. Here are tips to make your planning go smoothly.

 

 

KISS. Keep it small and simple. You may want to invite all your girlfriends, but be realistic. You will have more fun if the guest list is small. Plan well in advance so they can take time off work, arrange for pet care or childcare (if necessary).  

Budget out every detail beforehand and send it in writing to everyone. Extra charges or surprises may result in unhappy girlfriends at the end of the trip.

Take a walk down the Strip on a warm Vegas night to take in the lights. Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn
Take a walk down the Strip on a warm Vegas night to take in the lights. Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn

Find discount airfares online. Southwest Airlines and other low cost carriers offer great deals if you book months ahead of time.   For a free visitors guide, lists of discount airlines and more information about restaurants and entertainment, visit the official Las Vegas website.

Snag your room reservations well in advance. If you’re traveling at a peak season, holiday or long weekend, you may need to reserve months in advance. For example, the visitor’s center stated that for the end of the summer Labor Day weekend, Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World” was the #1 destination for travelers. Airfare sales were up 24 percent, making it the most popular destination for Labor Day travel. Do your research and book your hotel accommodations early.

Make your dining reservations in advance too. Ask your girlfriends what type of food they’d enjoy and what their preferred budget for meals is. Then give advice on “what to wear”.

Visit the Bellagio in Las Vegas to view a beautiful sound and lights show in coordination with waterworks. Photo Credit: Matthias Ott
Visit the Bellagio in Las Vegas to view a beautiful sound and lights show in coordination with waterworks. Photo Credit: Matthias Ott

R & R. Organize a relaxing day by the pool and leave unstructured time for spa treatments Everyone is taking days off work and may want time to recoup.

Photos, fun and safety. Take lots of photos, have lots of laughs, but be cautious.  Watch out for each other when you go out.

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Marybeth Bond