Hello from Journeywoman: SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR -- Happy 2011 everybody! Whether you are a world traveller or an avid armchair dreamer, we wish each one of you good health, much happiness and a wonderful year of safe, meaningful, exciting journeys. You definitely deserve it. THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD -- As this new season begins I must tell you how pleased I am to be the editor of Journeywoman.com. Our solid network of travelling women worldwide is a testament to the adventurous spirit, creative energy and ability to connect that we all bring to this female-centered website. We're 72,880 strong now and what is so admirable is that each month (even after 18 years) our members continue to share terrific tidbits of travel information they've picked up along the way. Everybody in our network benefits from this insider information and that's what make us so unique. That's what makes us so strong. Thank you, everybody! WHAT DID YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE ABOUT US IN 2010? -- We believe that there's always room for improvement! In our last newsletter we invited readers to tell us what they liked and/or disliked about the Journeywoman website and newsletter. We were delighted to find out that 97% of all responses received were perfectly positive. We were also pleased that most of the suggestions for improvements were very helpful and we plan to implement them gradually over this coming year. Of all the submissions we received, we picked three at random to thank with copies of, 'Good Night & God Bless, Volume Two: A guide to convent and monastery accommodation in Europe (France, UK, Ireland)'. Written by Trish Clark, this book is a great addition to any travel library. AND THE WINNERS ARE: (1) Tamra, Cedar Rapids, USA (2) Beth Marie, Saskatoon, Canada (3) Georgia, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Congrats, ladies, and thanks so much for your feedback, everybody. CELEBRATING OUR NEW BABY BLOG -- She was born on December 11th, 2010 just before Editor Evelyn Hannon boarded the MV Explorer for an Enrichment Voyage to discover Central America. We named her, 'Where is Journeywoman?' and she's the younger sister of Journeywoman.com, online travel resource for women. Please pop by and visit (no baby gifts necessary), read some of the articles and leave your reactions in the comment boxes. Anybody who leaves a comment will be eligible to win a baby pink and turquoise Journeywoman bracelet crafted in Guatemala. Winner will be drawn at random on February 15, 2011. P.S. WHERE IS JOURNEYWOMAN can now be read in 10 different languages including Chinese, Korean and Italian. Simply look at the bar that appears at the bottom of every page and click on translate. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN VOTE FOR @JOURNEYWOMAN -- (1) Click here (2) Look for this line on the ballot: I nominate @Journeywoman for a Shorty Award in #travel because... (3) Simply fill in your reason for nominating @journeywoman after the word 'because.' (4) Click on the button 'Tweet your vote!' and submit. (5) Your job is done and appreciated!
10 REALLY GOOD THINGS I KNOW ABOUT PARIS -- We asked American Journeywoman, Robin Locker to give our readers 10 practical bits of advice that will enhance their next trip to Paris. She didn't disappoint. Click here. AND NOW IT'S TIME TO DREAM ABOUT FAR AWAY PLACES -- This month members of our JW Network of classified advertisers have submitted selections that are deliciously tempting. Click, browse, ask tour operators and product managers questions. They enjoy answering and it ensures that you find the woman-friendly holiday and products that are perfect for you. This is Step #1 to making your travel dreams a sweet reality. Ah-h-h-h-h... BEEN THERE, DONE THAT? READ ON! -- Dine at the home of IRELAND’s celebrity antiques expert. Tour the Lalaouinis jewelry museum in GREECE with Aikaterini Lalaouni. Experience southern hospitality in 2 SAVANNAH homes. Enjoy BALTIC folkloric festivals. Savor fine wine and cuisine with leading ladies of NAPA. Meet women who inspired the documentary “Voices Unveiled” in TURKEY. Only with AWAY FOR WOMEN! Visit awayforwomen.com AFFORDABLE 13 DAYS, WOMEN WALKING SAFARI IN KENYA -- Authentic itinerary – won’t coop you up in safari vehicle. Luxury tented camps, small groups 4-10. US$ 3525 - 3775 p.p. sharing. No hidden charges! Book direct with Anne Huysman of Ontdek Kenya – pioneer of women walking safaris in Kenya. Credible refs. www.ontdek-kenya-safaris.com/women-hiking.html. ’11 tours: May, July, Oct. Custom and co-ed year round departures. Email: walk@ontdekkenya.com BROAD HORIZONS -- Ladies this time it’s YOUR turn! Make 2011 a year to remember! NEW YORK CITY, SCOTLAND, SOUTHERN FRANCE, AFRICA and more…Broaden your Horizons with our female friendly tours. Whether you’re traveling solo or with a dear friend, Broad Horizons is your first choice for female-friendly travel. Visit us today at www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com and sign up for your free subscription of “Fe-mail”. Or contact us at info@broadhorizonsnetwork.com or by phone 1-877-844-5444. EUROPE BY CAR -- has been offering discounted car rentals and leases in Europe for over 50 years. So if you need a car for a couple of days or for a year, Europe by Car has the solution for you. Check our rates and place your reservation directly on our website at www.Europebycar.com. If you would rather talk to one of our travel experts, please contact us 800-223-1516 and mention journey11 for specials. TRAVEL PANTIES FROM KIM ALLAN SILK -- 100% Knit Silk Panties, Super easy care for traveling. Can be washed in sink with shampoo and dry overnight. Great for hot and cold weather. Buy three pairs get one pair FREE. Choose French cut or Full cut, in eight colours at www.kimallansilk.com or call toll free: 1-800-709-5366. Please put Journeywoman in the comment box for free panties. WAYFARING WOMEN TOURS -- Specializing in fun female-only cultural tours! Join us in New Orleans this April for our 4-day Jazz & Jambalaya Tour including a Cajun cooking lesson, plantation visit, and jazz brunch! In September come along to beautiful Ireland for a 9-day adventure of castle visits, nature walks, pub crawls & more! For full details visit our website: www.wayfaringwomentours.com or phone: 773-655-9514 GUTSY WOMEN TRAVEL -- Explore the world in the spring with like-minded peers in a safe and fun environment. From the magical coast of Amalfi, to Provence in France, to the glorious Greek Islands, our programs are specifically designed for women and their unique interests. Call (866) 464 8879, email info@gutsywomentravel.com or visit us online for info and reservations at www.gutsywomentravel.com It's Your Life..Live IT! tm P.S. Kenya Safari, Mar 5: Guaranteed shared room still available. See: http://gutsywomentravel.com/trip/12
DON’T BE A TOURIST, BE OUR GUEST -- Experience France and other European countries with eight women and a female native guide. Count on uncommon views of Provence, Tuscany, ... where you meet locals, discover unique sites unlisted in travel books, savor delicious food, and relax in charming luxury hotels. We’ll not show you A country, but rather OUR country. www.frenchescapade.com, 1-888 483 5713. SWIMSUITSFORALL.COM -- is an online retailer offering fabulous yet affordable plus size swimwear and women’s swimwear sized 8-16 at low discount prices, including tankinis, swimdresses, one piece swimsuits, chlorine resistant swimwear and more. SwimsuitsForAll.com carries high-style women’s swimwear designers such as Delta Burke, Beach Native, Longitude, Beach Belle and more. We’re the swimwear hub for curvy women everywhere. NEPALESE EXPERIENCE: IT'S NEPAL TOURISM YEAR 2011 -- come with us on an Incredible journey experiencing the very best Nepal has to offer on this amazing 15 day journey where you will get to trek the remote Mustang region, white water raft, explore the jungle, visit ancient villages and much more. Limited spots available on our small group 30 April 2011 departure. Web: www.incredibleindiantours.com Email: info@incredibleindiantours.com UPSCALE WOMEN'S TOURS OF ITALY -- Join one of our luxury women-only tours and explore Italy in pursuit of fine art, living history and hearty cuisine. On our Northern Italy Tour we’ll travel to Lake Como, Florence, Milan, and other must-sees; with Spotlight on Tuscany you’ll enjoy everything from wine and cheese tasting in the Tuscan countryside to the world-class museums and markets of Florence. BIG SPLURGE MEDITERRANEAN MEMORIES OPERA TOUR -- Marilyn Lightstone's message to her fellow Journeywomen: September 27 - October 9, I'll host an all-inclusive, Magical Mediterranean Memories Opera Tour on Regent Cruises' 700 passenger, all suite, all balcony 'Voyager'. I've many wonderful moderate-priced trips in my past, but once in a while I'm prepared to enjoy sheer luxury. Pique your interest? Then click here. SONG OF INDIA -- If you like journeys of self-discovery, you will enjoy the new book published by Mariellen Ward of Breathedreamgo: Song of India: Tales of travel and transformation. The 10 stories in this book follow Mariellen’s year-long odyssey in India as she recovers from grief, looks for the essence of yoga and rediscovers the joy of living. The stories “capture and give depth to an unfathomable place.” Available on Amazon and Chapters/Indigo. See: http://breathedreamgo.com/song-of-india/ NEED MORE JUICY TRIP SUGGESTIONS? -- Check out our classified listings for umpteen ideas guaranteed to make you smile.
KNOW A WOMAN HEADING TO JAPAN? -- We invited Mei, a delightful travel blogger who works for a Japanese company to tell the women in our Network, The Things She Loves About Japan. It's short, full of personality and very sweet. READY FOR THIS MONTH'S TOP JOURNEYWOMAN TRAVEL TIPS? -- As usual, your many female-friendly bits of advice from all over the world continue to inform, inspire and amuse. This time, from wonderful travelling women across the U.S. and Canada to those in Auckland (New Zealand), Ramat Gan (Israel), Tokyo (Japan) Durban (South Africa) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) what follows are this issue's top twelve travelling tips. Enjoy, everybody. PLEASE REMEMBER -- We are only as good as the travel secrets YOU share with us. In this case YOU = every single person in our JW Network. If you have a juicy tip to contribute please send it to: editor@journeywoman.com. Put the words 'My 2011 contribution' in the subject line. We'll love you for it! BOOKSHOPS AND STUFF IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND -- writes Marian in Auckland, New Zealand -- Visiting my part of the world and looking for some female networking? Try The Women’s Bookshop in trendy Ponsonby Road where you'll find an interesting selection of books and where they know lots of 'good female-friendly stuff.' All you have to do is ask. Also in that area are many trendy cafes and clothing shops to browse. If you're off to Wellington, I suggest you visit Te Papa (the national museum), the city's gorgeous waterfront, and (if it’s books you’re after) you must try Unity Books at 57 Willis Street. WHAT TO WEAR IN PARIS -- writes Lynne in Topsham, USA -- I've just returned from Paris and want to pass along what women are wearing this winter. Dark wool coats and jackets in many different lengths accessorized with ruffled scarves, wool cloches and berets are the choice of many women. Lots of young women are wearing very short skirts with boots and leggings and colored leg warmers peeking over the top. I suggest you leave your high heeled ones at home. Flat boots in any style keep you warm and sure-footed. It was cold in Paris and everyone was bundled up but looked very stylish. The most apparent fashion statement was the wearing of black Buddy Holly style eyeglasses on women, men and children. A GREAT BED AND BREAKFAST IN BARCELONA -- writes Diane in Ottawa, Canada -- I wanted to share information about a B&B I had the opportunity to stay in while I was in Barcelona. This spot is getting great reviews and it deserves them. Barcelonabb is in the Eixemple area of Barcelona - a safe neighbourhood (as per this solo female traveller) with great shops, restaurants and galleries. It is also within walking distance to most of the popular tourist sites. The hosts Kiku and John are extremely welcoming and guests stay in their home or in an apartment that is in the vicinity. Their home is decorated with interesting art work, antiques and other curios and the effect is wonderful. WIFI is available for guests via a computer. Here is their website http://barcelonabb.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: Want more great shopping tips for Kuala Lumpur? Read Shop Till You Drop in Kuala Lumpur. It's excellent! SHOPPING IN THE SEYCHELLES -- writes Bianca in Durban, South Africa -- This is a tiny tidbit of information other JourneyWomen might be able to use. The Seychelles are a beautiful jewel-like collection of Islands in the Indian Ocean. Mahé is the main island but I would recommend that if you are wanting to shop for souvenirs you do so on Praslin, the second largest island. Just comparing the airports shops, Mahé was sometimes double the price for the same items found in Praslin. That said, being anywhere in the Seychelles is just plain paradise. TAKE SOME TWIST TIES WHEN YOU TRAVEL -- writes Claudia in Hollywood, USA -- Twist ties take no space in your luggage but they're so handy to have when you need them. They can hold glasses together when the teeny screws fall out. Can secure luggage tags. Can keep various ipod, cell phone, computer and camera cables and cords together. Can make an inexpensive key chain and can secure a broken necklace or bracelet. EDITOR'S NOTE: Where else but in Journeywoman can you get this quirky information? Keep 'em coming, ladies! WALK TO DISCOVER ISTANBUL'S CULINARY SECRETS -- writes Jennifer in Ramat Gan, Israel -- This is an amazing way to spend a walking day in Istanbul. Istanbul Eats was founded by two American ex-pats. You explore narrow, winding streets behind the Spice Market hearing tales from Angelis, a guide who loves his city and imbues everything with his enthusiasm. You stop for breakfast and any number of delicious foods and drinks (that Angelis buys) in small places that no Journeywoman would notice and you'd be unlikely to enter alone. At the close of the tour you have a full lunch of even more scrumptious dishes you've probably never seen or heard of before. The groups are very small, which means you can go into tiny places and have really personal attention from the guide who even offered to carry my heavy shopping bag up the very steep parts near the end of the tour. As a lover of street markets and particularly food markets, this tour was to me heaven on earth! Visit: istanbuleats.com to see the web-site or write to istanbuleats@gmail.com CULTURALLY CORRECT BATHING SUITS -- writes Cindy in Tokyo, Japan -- I'm a woman approaching 60. Recently, in a search to find less revealing swimwear for water walking at my local gym, I found a company called Coolibar. They're based in Australia and offer a wide variety of swimwear that is UV protective as well as attractive. I bought the capri swimpants and a zipup elbow length swim jacket. They are comfy, very lightweight, they pack with ease and they dry quickly. They can be used as exercise wear and then can go right into the pool. However, best of all for JourneyWomen, you can always be culturally correct. I wore my swimwear in Jordan and Egypt, and I was quite at ease and didn't violate any customs or manners. TWO GREAT PLACES IN GREECE -- writes Elizabeth in Golden, USA --My partner and I traveled to Greece to celebrate my birthday and I want to share two great places: Santorini, of course but the best hotel there is the Hotel Keti, in Fira (Santorini's capital). It's down in the caldera, away from the crowds of cruise ship tourists. Although it may be a little hard to manage for those with 'mature' legs, the views of the sea and the rest of Fira from the balconies are spectacular. The other place is the little town of Myrtos on the southern coast of Crete, just west of Ierapetra. It's a quiet little town recommended by Lonely Planet Guide for the “mature European” tourist. I think we were the only native English speakers in town but we had no problems with language. Everyone was friendly and helpful. There are many apartments right along the beach and we were able to find one that was so beautiful, we decided to stay a second night. The following day we went exploring up in the mountains to the west and found Minoan ruins, picturesque villages and scenic picnic spots with the rare griffin vulture circling overhead. A perfect place to get away from it all. P.S. Thanks for your newsletter. It helps keep my travel dreams alive. DONATE TO NEEDY ORGANIZATIONS AT YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATION -- writes Jan in Raleigh, USA -- I learned about this Pack for a Purpose website and thought I'd pass it along to other JourneyWomen in our Network. This site lists over 90 destinations where some hotels and lodges support special programs for orphanages, schools and community centers that require help. Then it makes it easy to identify accommodation close to your destination and lists the items their projects need. It even offers suggestions on how to pack your donations. Just five lbs. of pencils tucked into the available space in your luggage can make a big difference. As you provide supplies to the communities you visit, you make a big change in the lives of children around the world. There's also a way to recommend any suitable projects you may know about. Website: packforapurpose.org Check it out. INTERNATIONAL SUBWAY SAFETY FOR WOMEN -- writes Editor Evelyn Hannon -- At their best, subways whisk you to your destination quickly, economically and efficiently. At their worst, they are stifling hot, smelly and potentially dangerous for a woman traveller. Here are 20 strategies Journeywoman has developed to differentiate between the two and to help women ride the underground easily and safely. Click here.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Carol writes a newsletter called, 'Pearls of Travel Wisdom' that we always take time to enjoy. Thanks, Carol for your fabulous sense of humor. Your quote made us smile BIG! BE THE FIRST TO KNOW -- Each day Editor Evelyn Hannon sends out juicy woman-centered travel tips and advice on Twitter. Want to join her group of 10,350 'followers'? Simply sign up at twitter.com (it's free and very easy to do). You can follow Evelyn at twitter.com/Journeywoman and then you can retweet her tips and any of her Journeywoman articles to friends around the world. UNTIL OUR NEXT ISSUE -- I wish you fun reading, lots of laughter and safe, wonderful, exciting journeys. You definitely deserve it! --- |
LET'S BEGIN WITH A CONTEST THAT EVERYONE CAN ENTER -- Winner gets $US50 spending money to use on their next journey. Simply use your imagination and tell us in under 45 words which famous woman you would like to travel with and why. Send your entries to: 
SEND OUR JOURNEYWOMAN EDITOR TO NYC FOR THE SHORTY AWARDS -- In early February a panel of judges will identify the best people and organizations tweeting about travel on Twitter. Evelyn Hannon is presently sitting at #3 in a field of 458 nominees in the TRAVEL category. The first six nominees in this race will be placed on the final ballot. We're asking for your help in putting our Journeywoman Editor (known as @journeywoman) on that ballot. This is a close race, it's the Academy Awards of social media, and every vote counts. If you are on Twitter please cast your vote before January 30, 2011.
A TRAVELLING WOMAN MEETS ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU ON A CRUISE -- We'll leave it up to you to decide if that meeting was successful or not. 
WOMEN’S RETREAT IN MEXICO -- MARCH 12-19, 2011; We invite women to gather for retreat and replenishment on Isla Mujeres, an island in the Caribbean historically a place for healing rituals among the Mayan people. Our abode will be 
PACKING FOR AFRICA -- Journalist and Journeywoman, Alexis Grant shows us how to find our packing mojo with 12 suggestions for Africa. 
A LOO WITH CONCIERGE IN KUALA LUMPUR -- writes Keith in Amsterdam, Netherlands -- The Mid Valley City Megamall is about a 15 minute drive outside Kuala Lumpur's city centre. This mall is one of Southeast Asia’s largest – I believe it’s almost a mile long. The serious shopper can definitely spend a day or two there. Next door, shoppers can continue to splurge at The Gardens, an up-market mall with a whole range of designer boutiques and ditto restaurants (check out the beautiful Alexis bar/restaurant for some great food and drinks). Their design lavatories are definitely worth a quick pitstop! The one on the ground floor even has a concierge in crisp uniforms! You’ll have to pay to get in but the lavatories on the upper floors are free. P.S. Taxi fare from the city center should set you back between $US2.00 to $US3.00 dollars. Always make sure you are stepping into a reputable cab and ask for a fare estimate as well.
BEST 2010 QUOTE PUBLISHED ABOUT JOURNEYWOMAN.COM -- Written by Carol Margolis, CEO of 
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