World Pulse Travel

08/06/2024

TUESDAY TRAVEL TIP: For solo women travelers, there is now a service called Greether, where vetted local women in the cities you visit will "greet" you at the airport and help you get around safely, all while showing you the sights from a local's perspective. Want to become a Greether in your own city? Check out www.greether.com

07/31/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Niagara Falls. On a 90 degree day, who doesn't want to ride a boat under 600,000 gallons of water crashing down on you every second? Spectacular scenery and an amazing adventure!

07/30/2024

TUESDAY TRAVEL TIP: Before traveling, take a picture of a map of the area you'll be visiting. If you lose WiFi or cell service (as was the case for me in Toronto), you'll still know how to return to your hotel!

07/17/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Toronto, my next travel destination. It's the most populous city in Canada and the capital of the Canadian province of Ontario. Toronto has a thriving music scene, phenomenal trails, and a cool, cosmopolitan vibe. It is also recovering from torrential flooding, so thoughts go to our neighbors in the north.

07/16/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: If you're planning a road trip this summer, save yourself hours of waiting in traffic by checking the road construction schedule of the states you're visiting. In the Midwest, we have two seasons: Winter and Orange Barrel Season!

07/09/2024

TUESDAY TRAVEL TIP - Resort Travel Clubs are actually time shares in sheep's clothing. Some are relentless in their marketing. Before you agree to go at the reduced rates in exchange for spending 4-5 hours of your vacation in a shares presentation, know that attendance is NOT required. They rarely disclose the additional rates you'll pay for access to all-inclusive amenities. And if you sign a contract outside the U.S. for a timeshare or vacation plan in another country, you are not protected by U.S. Contract Laws.

07/03/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Anyone want to see Canada via glass-roofed train? Check out Rocky Mountaineer's "Journey Through The Clouds" video!

Witness the unparalleled beauty of some of the highest mountain peaks in the Canadian Rockies on our Journey through the Clouds route . This two-day route tr...

07/02/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: This one comes from friend and world traveler Leiott Smiley, who recommends checking your intended destination for holidays and festivals scheduled during your visit. Leiott was recently in Stavanger, Norway. She'd checked the holidays, but not the festivals, and was pleasantly surprised to discover her visit coincided with the Norwegian food festival "Gladmat." In her words: "Where else in the world can you get a Baguette Raclette at 9:49pm with the sun still shining?"

06/20/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Door County, Wisconsin - Welcome to five sprawling state parks, 19 county parks, dozens of beaches, and thousands of acres of wilderness. Welcome to waterfront dining, locally grown wineries and breweries, quaint lakeside communities, and a vibrant arts and culture scene that rivals any in the Midwest. Headed there myself and will report back on the experience!

06/04/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Book the aisle and window seat when traveling in pairs. Unless it is a full flight, people rarely select the middle seat, giving you the entire row to yourselves. If it IS full, middle seaters are only too happy to switch so you can sit next to your significant other.

05/28/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Understand what's behind a 5-star review. To get the full story on a property or a tour, it's helpful to know WHO the reviewers are and WHEN they traveled. The Cancun resort you're considering may be perfect for couples, but not families. Its beaches may be lovely in May and covered with seaweed in July. The reviewers' experiences are not necessarily yours!

05/15/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: The mountains are calling and so I must go. Railbookers is offering $400 off on their Grand Canadian Rockies Tour Eastbound. If you love train travel, this could be for you!

Journey through the Canadian Rockies with Railbookers. Enjoy stunning views of Vancouver, Victoria, Banff, & Lake Louise, & experience comfort & scenery onboard VIA Rail.

05/14/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Walk 300 feet (100 meters) and save 50%. Prices drop significantly for food and travel essentials when you walk a few blocks from the central tourist area.

05/08/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: In honor of clients about to embark on an Alaskan cruise, please enjoy this spectacular scenery and Norwegian Cruise Line Itinerary: https://worldpulsetravel.com/trip/6yw9rqk4dv2wqz2a2hxcsf96xv9zxkq

05/07/2024

TRAVEL "TECH" TIP TUESDAY: If you are traveling internationally and need an affordable phone plan, consider an eSIM like Airalo. You can set it up through their website before you leave so you'll arrive in destination with a working phone. These are data-only plans, with prices starting at $5 for 1GB, up to $30 for 20GB. No matter where you go, it's good to be connected.

05/01/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan starts this year May 4-12. I can highly recommend, as I spent four colorful days there last year, tip-toeing through the millions of beautiful displays throughout the entire community!

04/30/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Know your rights as an air traveler. New Transportation Department rules released last week require airlines to issue automatic cash refunds to passengers if their flights are canceled or significantly changed - by three hours for domestic routes and six hours for international. Automatic refunds also extend to a long delay with baggage reclaim or if paid ancillary services, such as WiFi, aren't provided.

04/24/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY:🤠 Cruising and Country just got married. Dust off your boots and saddle up to The Norwegian Gem's February 8, 2025 cruise, "Boots on the Water," a country music festival at sea. Featuring Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Craig Morgan, Jo Dee Messina, Lonestar, Montgomery Gentry, Pam Tillis, Little Texas, and more. Norwegian Cruise Lines is offering a $50 shore excursion credit per cabin if you book before May 5, 2024. I have details!

04/23/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: It's National Park Week, and a great way to experience one in-depth is to volunteer. There are nearly 500 positions, ranging from campground host to river patrol to volunteer wildlife photographer. There are even virtual positions available. Find your preferred park at NPS.gov; and click the "Get Involved" tab.

04/17/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Morocco, a fascinating mix of Berber, Mediterranean, Andalucian and African traditions, all present in the cuisine, clothing, music, language, customs and lifestyle. Heading there this fall, if you care to join me on Casablanca time.

04/16/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: When something good happens, travel to celebrate. If something bad happens, travel to replace that memory. If nothing happens, travel to make something happen.

04/10/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Anywhere the cherry blossoms are in bloom... Washington D.C., Japan; Traverse City, Michigan, Missouri Botanical Gardens; Portland Japanese Garden.

04/09/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Read the fine print. Anybody catch last week's news about 8 passengers stranded in Africa while their cruise ship left them behind? If you book a private excursion (one beside those the cruise line offers) that doesn't return you to your ship before embarkation, the cruise line does not have to wait for you. There are hundreds of other passengers expecting to get to the next port on time. This is something a travel advisor would make sure you knew!

04/02/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Cruise ship staterooms are somewhat compact. Stretch your space by brining magnetic hooks and clips to organize daily itineraries, cruise card lanyards, camera equipment and miscellaneous items that tend to clutter the room.

03/27/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Wyoming. It's just so beautiful. Plus also, what Jeff Foxworthy said:

If 'vacation' to you means going shopping for the weekend in Casper or Cheyenne (while the kids swim at the Comfort Inn)
You might live in Wyoming.

If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you're proud that your state makes the national news primarily because it houses the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you have ever refused to buy something because it's 'too spendy',
You might live in Wyoming.

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there,
You might live in Wyoming.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You might live in Wyoming.

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you know how to correctly pronounce Dubois, Kemmerer, and Fontenelle.
You might live in Wyoming.

If you measure distance in hours,
You might live in Wyoming.

If your family vehicle is a crew cab pickup,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you often switch from 'heat' to 'A/C in the same day and back again,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you've installed security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked,
You might live in Wyoming.

If the largest traffic jam in your town centers around a high school basketball game,
You might live in Wyoming.

If there are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at any given time,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in Wyoming.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction,
You might live in Wyoming.

If finding your misplaced car keys involves looking in the ignition,
You might live in Wyoming.

If you find 0 degrees 'a little warm,'
You might live in Wyoming.

If you actually understand these observations, then you ARE from Wyoming! Having spent the first 20 years of my life in this beautiful state, I can vouch for all the weather-related references. Thanks, Turano for posting this first.

03/26/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: The weather doesn't always cooperate with our plans for a sunny get-away. So spend a little time BEFORE traveling to research museums, theaters, or sports venues, just in case you need to move indoors for a day. Oh, and pack a travel-size umbrella.

03/13/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: Having just returned from a multi-generation trip to introduce my granddaughter to the Atlantic Ocean, I have to give a plug to the friendly folks in Savannah, Georgia, whose southern hospitality made our three generations feel welcome. Plus, Spanish moss in the trees, y'all. Just SO cool.

03/12/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: Speaking from personal experience, always verify your flights, accommodations, tours, and transports or car rentals at least one week prior to traveling. The hotel I booked for a recent holiday had water damage and was transferring clients to another property, but had not notified me. Thankfully, this was resolved when I called to confirm.

02/28/2024

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: For anyone in the Midwest who experienced 70 degrees yesterday and 24 degrees today, here is a reminder of what our seasons truly are, compliments of the local weatherman.

02/27/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY: It's Spring Break and safety is key. Avoid night driving to your destination, as traffic deaths escalate then. Grab a hotel business card in case you need to hail a cab and don't speak the local language. Do NOT share your location on social media. You are advertising that your home is empty and unprotected. When locals inquire where you're staying, give a general region, but never specifics.