Hey! How’s it going and stuff? It’s been half a year since I last posted on TravelSmart Woman. Now I’m back to the blog, even though the world continues to discourage those of us who used to take our...
COVID, Cancellations, “Cave” Syndrome…and Return to Travel
COVID, cancellations, “Cave” Syndrome…and return to travel? When? How? I love to travel. Live for it, in fact. That’s what I always said–and did. One trip would barely end before I was planning the next…and the one after that....
What to Do While We Wait to Travel: 21 Awesome Ideas
It’s been a year since Covid-19 went from a scary-but-remote sickness to a full-blown shutdown around the world. Even then, I was deliberately stubborn/naive about the possible effect on travel. Now, we still wonder what to do while we...
Why Bucket Lists Are Bad
I have one. You have one. Doesn’t everyone have at least one, if not at least a dozen? I’m talking about bucket lists, of course. That all-encompassing, ever-growing lineup of the places we must see before we, well…kick the...
Plastic-Free Travel: Yes, We Can!
For decades, plastic products seemed perfect for travel: lightweight, unbreakable…and disposable. Downside? What downside? So why is plastic-free travel suddenly a hot topic? Because the the planet is choking to death on plastic. And we travelers are part of the...
Rick Steves Is Wrong About Athens…Don’t Rush Away!
I’ll just say it straight out: Rick Steves is wrong about Athens. For those who rely on his distinctive teal-and-gold guidebooks for exploring Europe, you know that Rick Steves is unsurpassed in his expertise about the Continent. In fact,...
Remembering Notre Dame Cathedral
If you’ve been to Paris, you have photos of Notre Dame Cathedral. Probably a lot of them, because it’s so hard to capture its grandeur and godliness. Or it was… With the terrible news of the fire in Notre...
How Millennials Are Changing Travel–For All of Us
Every generation makes a unique mark on the world. Millennials are no different. From upbringing to career to politics, their perspectives and preferences differ from those who came before. How and why they travel isn’t the same, either. Who...
Artificial Intelligence and Travel: What You Should Know
Artificial Intelligence–AI–isn’t new, but as technology advances and computers improve, its use in travel is becoming ho-hum common. As AI replaces humans, aspects like 24-hour service, instant responses, and client personalization can improve customer satisfaction rates. The Future is...