Hello from Journeywoman: SEVEN PRIZES TO GIVE AWAY -- Let's start this March Newsletter with three juicy contests and seven juicy prizes. All three are oh-so-easy to enter and as usual, all winners will be drawn at random. #1 - BACKPACKERS WILL LOVE THIS CONTEST -- We supply you with the names and descriptions of 10 female-centered hostels around the world. Choose one and write a 5 point mini-itinerary (under 450 words) for interesting things to do around that hostel. The winner gets vouchers worth $200 towards her next hostel stays but you'll have to be quick. Contest closes March 31, 2011. Contest rules are posted at: http://tinyurl.com/4msn5mc
#3 - JEWELRY FROM INDIA -- When Journeywoman travelled to India, this lightweight, easily packable piece of costume jewelry caught her eye in the market. Wear it after six with a white or black T-shirt and your basic travel wardrobe will become 'evening wearable'. For contest details, click here. DO RAINY TRAVEL DAYS FEEL LIKE A WASTE TO YOU? -- As a JourneyWoman who always carries a lightweight rain cape plus an umbrella in her backpack, our JW Editor salutes the Rain Goddess when she sends precipitation her way. Evelyn understands that the Goddess is simply forcing her to be a more creative traveller. Read more... CHECK OUT THE FABULOUS FEMALE FRIENDLINESS OF THESE LISTINGS -- 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... CONTESSA VACATIONS IN SICILY -- Exciting excursions, fabulous food and interesting individuals are the ingredients of a Contessa Vacation. Immerse yourself in the history, culture, cuisine and hospitality of Sicily. Stay in our restored 19th C. villa and explore. Our talented team of experts will take you behind the scenes the New York Times has called, ?the great new frontier for cooking, culture and wine!? Website: www.contessavacations.com Email: shelley@contessavacations.com EXPLORE IRELAND IN SEPTEMBER! -- Join Wayfaring Women Tours this fall for a fun women?s tour of IRELAND! We?re spending 9 days visiting the Best of the West & South! Highlights include a nature walk of the Burren, the annual Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna, an afternoon baking course at the famous Ballymaloe Cookery School and more! Visit our website www.wayfaringwomentours.com or call 773-655-9514. WELL ARRANGED TRAVEL --Join one of our upscale women's group tours to Italy and enjoy breathtaking cityscapes and countryside in pursuit of fine art, ancient ruins and authentic cuisine. We’ll visit famous cities like Pompeii, Rome & Florence, filled with historic and artistic treasures, and get off the beaten track to explore family vineyards and hilltop villages in the Cinque Terre. Trips offered in 2011 include Bella Italia, featuring Rome, Florence & Venice; Rome & the Amalfi Coast; and Spotlight on Tuscany, as featured in USA Today. Call (866) 513-3968 for more information. DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT YOUR DIVACUP! -- Women worldwide, of all ages, have discovered this modern and revolutionary alternative to tampons or pads. No need to buy or carry menstrual products in endless absorbencies, styles and shapes. Up to 12 hours of reliable protection at a time, even when sleeping! Clean, comfortable and easy-to-use. Reusable, eco-friendly and economical. Perfect for travel, all sports, swimming, yoga, etc. Visit www.divacup.com for more information, store locator and testimonials. MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS, PRISTINE LAKES, SCENIC CANYONS -- await you as Women Traveling Together® explores America’s beautiful and unique national parks and monuments from the Atlantic to the Pacific. You’ll enjoy traveling in the comfort of WTT’s own Mercedes mini-coach with a small group of women who love natural beauty. Don’t have a travel partner? 80% of our travelers join us solo and we guarantee a roomshare if you want one. http://www.women-traveling.com/Trips/CurrentToursbyDate.htm 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.
ADVENTURE AWAITS WITH ACTIVE JOURNEYS -- We now offer a selection of specialty tours along with our standard hiking, biking and kayaking adventures. We?ve expanded both our women-only Girlfriend Getaway destinations, and our unique brand of Floating Adventures. Our Premium Program has been launched for those seeking extra comfort on the road, and our fully escorted Featured Departures have grown to six exotic international destinations. Contact: 1-800-597-5594 Email: info@activejourneys.com Website: www.activejourneys.com GUTSY WOMEN TRAVEL -- Explore Europe this year with like-minded peers in a safe and fun environment. Discover the magical coast of Amalfi, the unique villages of Tuscany and Cinque Terre in Italy, ever-popular Ireland, fascinating Turkey, the glorious Greek Islands. Our programs are specifically designed for women and their unique interests - and they sell out fast! Call us today at (866) 464 8879, email, or visit us online for information and reservations at www.gutsywomentravel.com It's Your Life..Live IT! tm THE TREASURES OF ATHENS, THE PLEASURES OF THE ISLANDS -- Sun, sea and ancient history! Our idyllic Aegean adventure includes deluxe stays in Athens and Mykonos, with a 4-night cruise aboard a luxury liner and FREE upgrade to outside staterooms. Our value pricing includes all port charges, cruise gratuities and fuel surcharges. Visit awayforwomen.com or call 973-998-7061 (877-845-1331 toll-free USA). Opah! EVER DREAMT OF SLEEPING IN A MAHAJARAH’S PALACE -- Or riding camels in the desert? Doing yoga or cooking Indian food in India. Visit India on our ladies only trip this September and experience all this and more. Sail down the Ganges at dawn, watch the sunrise over the Taj and trawl the markets for the perfect souvenir. To book, visit www.incredibleindiantours.com or email debbie@incredibleindiantours.com VOLUNTEER ABROAD -- It's the experience of a lifetime. As a Cross-Cultural Solutions international volunteer, you're making a meaningful contribution, working side-by-side with local people and sharing in the goals of a community that warmly welcomes you. Choose from 12 countries, start dates year-round and programs from 1-12 weeks long. CCS offers programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand. Website: http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org Email: info@crossculturalsolutions.org HOLIDAYS TO EUROPE -- Italy, France, UK, Austria, Czech Republic and more. We offer a wide range of women only tours to a huge number of European destinations. Whether you're after an active holiday, a real pampering or even a more independent tour, we’ve got something for you. Mother & daughter, a couple of friends or just you, you’ll find the perfect holiday at www.HolidaysToEurope.com.au/women Email: info@holidaystoeurope.com.au SEMESTER AT SEA -- The mission of Semester at Sea is to educate individuals for leadership, service, and success in shaping our interdependent world. Since 1963 we have led around-the-world semesters for lifelong learners on a ship outfitted as a floating college campus. If you are interested in sailing with us, please see our website at www.semesteratsea.org or call 1-800-854-0195 BROAD HORIZONS -- Canada's Premier Women's Travel Company has an array of female-friendly tours designed by women for women. Scotland, Southern France, An African Safari, Yoga, Fitness & Fun in the Sun, Vietnam and more. Travel solo, bring a friend or make it a mother & daughter reunion. Ladies this time it's YOUR turn! Visit us online at www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com, by Phone: 1-877-844-5444 or by Email: womenrock@broadhorizonsnetwork.com. WE NEED YOUR ADVICE ABOUT BERLIN -- Two well-travelled women 'of a certain age' looking for attractive, well-located, reasonably priced accommodation (2 single rooms) in Berlin May 23-26, as well as an English-speaking female guide for May 24. We would be happy to receive your suggestions at mlightstone@sympatico.ca A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR MAJOR JW ADVERTISERS -- Our Journeywoman site is made possible because of the wonderful and consistent support we receive from all our many major advertisers. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for supporting the concept of 'women and travel' and helping us to get our message out to thousands of women around the world. Take a look at who these companies are and support them when you can. That will make us happy, indeed.
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 London (UK), Dubai (UAE), Stockholm (Sweden), Melbourne (Australia) and Istanbul (Turkey) what follows are this issue's top twelve travelling tips. (see below) 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. Whether you are in Shanghai, St. Louis or New South Wales, 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! SHE WEARS RUBBER BOOTS IN VIETNAM -- writes Lisa in San Juan Capistrano, USA -- In January I travelled over 1,000 miles in Vietnam and was unprepared for the cold in the northern and central parts of the country. To be properly dressed you'll need thermal longjohns, gloves, scarves, heavy socks and rain boots (the mist was fairly constant). Don't bother packing your own boots which take up so much room in your pack. My pals and I purchased the exact same boots the locals were all wearing in the market. The cost was about $4.00. We hiked in the villages through the mud with the pigs and chickens, and loved every minute of it because we weren’t trying to save our shoes. After our journey was over we gave our boots to the locals. I don’t regret one minute of my wonderful journey in Vietnam. LOVED THE EATALY ITALIAN MARKET IN NYC -- writes Columnist & Writer, Meera Ashish from Dubai -- The next time you are in Manhattan try to visit Eataly. It has an upmarket food hall feel, much like Selfridges and Harrods but the food products are all Italian. It's energetic, upbeat and happening, a fantastic lunch spot! Thoroughly enjoyed the pizza and salad! Address: 200 Fifth Avenue Editor's Note: Eataly also offers tours of the market called: Eat-Ineraries. The description on their website: reads: 'Not quite sure where to start, how to navigate this massive market or just want to learn more? Let one of our senior staff members lead you through a guided tour. He or she will be sure to cover every corner with a behind the scenes peek at each department. You will also be treated to delicious tastes along the way. Space is limited to a very small group'. Fee: $35 HERMAIL.NET HELPED ME CONNECT IN NEW YORK CITY -- writes Debra in Toronto Canada -- Recently I had the fantastic opportunity to house sit for a friend in Manhattan, and was fortunate to meet a local Journeywoman with similar interests through HERmail.net, the directory of women willing to mentor other women as they travel. We took in three new exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art and then escaped the snowy day with lunch in a lovely Thai restaurant a couple of blocks away. I’m looking forward to paying it forward and being a mentor to other JourneyWomen who visit my city. Editor's Note: We keep track of all the feel-good stories that come from HERmail.Net meetings between JourneyWomen around the world. You can read their comments here: GREAT DESIGNS IN SWEDEN -- writes Rosalie in Stockholm, Sweden -- Designtorget (The Design Square) is a collection of shops that showcase modern Swedish design and artistry. It has a collection of the works of both up-and-coming as well as established Swedish designers and craftsmen. The shops have everything, from earrings to wine glasses, mirrors, clothing, slippers and toys. It's the perfect spot to browse and pick up gifts for pals back home. Address: Götgatan 31 is one of five shops in Stockholm. Website: http://www.designtorget.se/designtorget/en/ Editor's Note: Travelling to Scandinavia? Here's 50 tips to make you happy! CONTEMPORARY ART IN VENICE -- writes Lorraine in Tampa Bay, USA -- There's a new center of contemporary art in Venice called, Palazza Grassi. Can you think of a nicer setting? It's located in Campo San Samuele overlooking the Canal Grande (that's diagonally across the canal from St Marks square — you can take a commercial gondola across or get there by walking). Palazzo Grassi presents major temporary exhibitions — when we were there we saw a beautiful glass exhibit. However, we were also there during a heat wave, 110 degrees or more in July 2010. The venue is air-conditioned so this venue was a double treat for us. Editor's Note: Heading to Venice? Here's 7 restaurants recommended by JourneyWomen who live there. WONDERFUL GUIDE IN CROATIA AND SLOVANIA -- writes Peggy in Greensboro, USA -- I'd like to recommend a wonderful guide in Croatia and Slovenia. I signed up for a day trip with Patrick Kostic, the owner of Super Tours Travel Agency in Croatia. He's very polite, interesting, speaks English very well and is a very careful driver and conscientious guide. I was actually in Croatia with another large tour group and had taken a private day tour with Patrick. He was determined to get me to a dinner at a farmhouse to join with my original group. Though I repeatedly insisted that it wasn't necessary, he still tried throughout the afternoon to contact the tour group manager to set up a meeting place. When this didn't work out, Patrick drove me to the farmhouse himself. I can't recommend this guide highly enough. He was superior in every way. You can contact him in Dubrovnik at: patrick.kostic@supertours.ca STRESS RELIEF AND FUN IN THE AUSSIE MOUNTAINS -- writes Pia in Melbourne, Australia -- I was skeptical but now all I can do is wonder at my experience in the mountains of the Yarra Valley near Melbourne in southeast Australia. There is a website called: www.wellbeingholidays.com.au that lets you choose from different wellness, esoteric and other out of the ordinary experiences during your holiday in Australia. I was directed on how to get there by train and bus from Melbourne and found a little village called Warburton deep in the mountains with beautiful forests, a lovely river, great cafes and donkeys being led along the one main street. We had the best massages ever, a Reike healing (quite amazing) and Tarot Card readings. My friend had acupuncture for her back pain and we visited a sanctuary full of Australian wildlife. We felt better than we had in years and had a great holiday. I highly recommend it! PS. Love Journeywoman, keep up the good work. HOW I ORGANIZE MY TRIPS -- writes Carla in Fort Worth, USA -- I find planning for trips is half the fun. In the research stage I write up a separate page for each day of my journey. This includes all the details that I need about accommodation, transportation, directions, etc. By having separate sheets it gives me the room to expand on the details such as how to get from the bus station to my hotel on the day I arrive in a new city, etc. I also store each sheet in one of those plastic pockets you can put in a 3-ring binder. This way I can store all my paper odds and ends such as postcards, receipts, and museum brochures that one accumulates along the way. Putting everything together when I get home these sheets become a perfect souvenir of my trip. LONDON ZOO IS INSPIRED BY THE UPCOMING ROYAL WEDDING -- Where there's a Will there's a way— into the zoo. ZSL London Zoo has been educating and amazing visitors since it opened in 1828. As part of their special celebrations to mark the Royal Wedding, they are inviting namesakes of Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate to enjoy a free day out on their premises. So, if your name is Will or Kate (or William or Catherine) bring your passport on the Royal Wedding weekend (29 April - 2 May 2011) and spend the day enjoying London's wildest residents. Website: www.zsl.org/london-zoo GLUTEN-FREE IN ISTANBUL -- writes Marina in Istanbul, Turkey -- Food allergies can often make travelling problematic. If you are on a gluten-free diet and travelling to Istanbul, the blog, 'Delicious Istanbul' has posted an excellent guide for enjoying Istanbul's culinary delights while avoiding anything wheat-based. It's written by an expat foodie who shares everything she knows about dietary restrictions and Turkish cuisine, including tips on communicating with local servers when eating out. Even if you don't need this type of information, pass it on to someone who does. She'll love you for it. ENGLISH BOOKSTORE IN FLORENCE -- writes Pickett in Woody Creek, Colorado, USA -- It's called the Paperback Exchange, it has been around since 1979, and it's located right behind the Duomo in Florence (Via Delle Oche, 4/R). It's eclectic, and stuffed with books in both English and Italian. You can trade your used books against any new purchases. The Paperback Exchange offers a very nice selection of reading material, shelves are organized by subjects, and you'll be welcomed by helpful and knowledgeable, English-speaking staff. Editor's Note: If you enjoy browsing bookshops when you travel, this article will make you happy. ONE THING I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT -- writes Barbara in New York City, USA -- Here's a tip that's short and sweet. Always pack bubble wrap as well as tape in your suitcase. On the way there place the bubble wrap between garments to keep them from creasing. On the way back I use that same bubble wrap and tape to wrap the precious souvenirs I've picked up along the way. Try it. All your travel pals will think you're clever, indeed.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT THE JOURNEYWOMAN FACEBOOK PAGE -- Each and every day there's lively conversation going on about travel from a woman's point of view right here. Editor Evelyn Hannon offers her best links to news and stories. She posts travel photos and she answers your questions. Please join the conversation and don't forget to click on the 'like' button at the top of that page. Already 657 women from around the world are taking part in our fun discussions.
UNTIL OUR NEXT ISSUE -- I wish you fun reading, lots of laughter and safe, wonderful, exciting journeys. You definitely deserve it! --- |
#2 - LOVE YOUR COMFORTS? -- Then you'll want to enter Contest Two. The 
KNIT SILK PAJAMAS GREAT FOR TRAVELLING! -- Kim Allan Silk 70% knit silk / 30% cotton Lounge pyjamas are the perfect traveling companion. Easy-care ultra comfortable long pants and matching camisole or sleep shirt, this is one outfit you can wear to bed or sneak out for coffee and look great. Available in a range of colours, sizes, and styles. Please put Journeywoman in the comment box to receive special pricing of $49 for pants, regular cost is $90. Order at 
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE IN INDIA -- Travel writer Mariellen Ward teaches us how to avoid bedbugs, bad guys and bacteria while travelling in India. Read this practical article yourself and send it on to any of your girlfriends who are heading that way. They'll appreciate the information. 
THIS TRAVEL ARTICLE IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU CHUCKLE -- We can vouch it's a true story that happened this year at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, Canada. Grandma and her grandkiddies planned a heist to steal the gold bar on display. The Mint got wind of it. It wasn't pretty. 
DOES IT COST MONEY TO BE A MEMBER OF THE JOURNEYWOMAN NETWORK? -- No, it absolutely does not! All we ask is that you send us just one tip over the next year --that's all we need from each one of you. Tell us about a sweet B&B, an elegant hotel, a fabulous bookstore, a book, a brunch spot, a museum cafe/gift shop, culturally correct clothing or anything else you think other travelling females will appreciate knowing. Put the words, 'Here's my 2011 Tip' in the subject line and send it to | This email was sent to oomsatya1.travel@blogger.com. Manage your subscription or Unsubscribe from this mailing list. To ensure future delivery, add us to your address book or safe list. Permission marketing using greatBIGnews.com. Email and website monitoring by binarycanary.com. |  |
